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

Exercise for Heart Health

I've heard different things about how much exercise you need for optimum health, but how much exercise do you really need to protect your heart? —James, Los Angeles

In the "Nurses Health Study" of 70,000 nurses looked at over a period of 8 years, the nurses who walked 3 hours a week cut their risk of cardiovascular disease by about 30-40%. People who exercised more than this did not get any kind of increased benefit or protection from strokes or heart attacks. So an activity as simple as walking for 30 minutes every day can have a major beneficial impact on one's heart health. —Sam