Fitness Gadgets: Do They Help or Hurt?

Every day, it seems I'm bombarded with tons of exercise devices, gadgets, special shoes, and the like. Do they really help, or speed things up, or are they purely there for "motivational purposes?" —Phil, Redondo Beach

Many of these gadgets and workouts are really just toys. Think of them as new forms of entertainment. Folks don't want to be bored when they work out, they want to be entertained, and they want to have fun! After all, for most of us, fitness competes with our social time. This is probably why you don't see a lot of people on stationery bikes anymore, because there's something a lot more fun and engaging now: spinning, which is a high intensity cycling workout led by a coach with loud, pumping music.

Remember, fitness is a lifestyle choice. Successful exercisers are those who commit to a series of "unbreakable appointments." There's no such thing as a quick fix. There's no machine or device that can replace just "putting in the time." —Sam