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Total Heart Rate Training: Customize and Maximize Your Workout Using a Heart Rate Monitor

by: Joe Friel

October 31, 2006

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Body Fat Analyser

from: Zero

October 31, 2006
It's a cheap gadget. You have to enter your weight, height, age and sex. You then have to hold the sensors and it will 'detect' if you are holding it and start the 'measurement'. It does actually detect a person making contact with it - if you try and do it with gloves on, it won't work. It does this by passing a small electric current through your hands and detects the circuit you make - very simple, nothing fancy. However, I don't think that it really measures your body fat. I used it with both thumbs, the thumb and forefinger of one hand and also with my toes. The reading was the same each time. If you adjust the 'weight value' that you enter into the machine, and then do the test again - lo and behold it gives you a lower reading. ... Read More:

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Omron Walking Style II Pedometer

from: Omron

October 31, 2006
I won't go into describing the unit as that's been done by everyone else... I'll focus instead on my pro's and con's.

Pros: easy to use, accurate (other people seem to have had issues, I've found mine very accurate) and it really does work in a pocket/bag etc - this is the best feature really and justifies my buying it.

Neutral: It's in metric (I prefer this), you can't reset it (it works on 24 hour periods) - it doesn't track average speed, the manual doesn't explain what the 'g' figure under calories represents...

Cons: The screen has scratched badly from being in my pocket. It seems a very soft plastic and as such has suffered. Were I to get another one, I would get/make a screen protector.

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Zest: Running Made Easy (Zest Magazine: Made Easy)

by: Susie Whalley and Lisa Jackson

January 21, 2008
I've been running for a couple of months now and even tho I was told that running was a case of...well, just running, I always felt a bit out of my depth. Being a very competitive person I thought the best thing was to run till I thought I would die, then try and run harder the next day. In the end, total burnout for me.
As running is a such a natural thing, I didn't think there would be any books on how to do it, but I was amazed at how many there were. Out of all the ones I could have picked, this was by far the best choice. I started reading it and realised that I didn't have to feel bad if I couldn't run a 5 minute mile, and the relief was immense.
This book told me all the basics, clothing, shoes (which I already knew about) and it ... Read More:

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Powerball 250 Hz Pro

from: Powerball UK Ltd

January 21, 2008
Can become quite addictive, you will get lost of glances from strangers, but once they see what it is, then you can be assured they want one aswell

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Heart Monitor Training for the Compleat Idiot

by: John L. Parker

1998-04
I have never been able to stick to any form of running program in the past, so I have waited three months before submitting a review of this book.

I received this book for Christmas and read it from cover to cover before deciding that I would follow the twelve week novice program. I was already walk/running about 10 to 15 miles a week, but without any plan of where I was going. I often wore a heart rate monitor, but never really used it to train properly. This book changed all that, and I set myself a target of running 10km in less than an hour at the end of the program.

Before commencing the training, I did manage to complete 3 miles in 30 minutes, but my heart rate was around 90% MHR (Maximum Heart Rate) and I couldn't go any further ... Read More:

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Sennheiser PMX70 - Sportline Stereo Neckband Headphones

from: Sennheiser

October 12, 2006
I have had my Sportline headphones for 6 months and while I love the design which ensures it stays in my ears and the sound quality is quite good I have 2 gripes. 1) The stupid accessories they provide for clipping and rings for the earpiece fall off easily (don't even know how or when it fell off and now lost) 2) The clever design of the looped earpiece is not supported by re-enforced plastic and naturally is the weakest point for snapping. This is the case with mine where I now need to superglue it together but I know it will snap off completely soon. The life of this product will be short given its use in active physical conditions.

Great innovation but disappointing quality!

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Smart Trainer HRM

from: Oregon

1998-04
One of the reviews I read of this product on another site is that 'you need a PhD to understand the instructions'. Well, I've got one and I'm here to tell you that it didn't help. All the instructions say is 'see diagram 7a' or 'see diagram 8f' and so on, and the diagrams are tiny and incomprehensible. After several weeks of experimentation I found that you really can get the device to give you a figures for calories burned (the trick is to tell it how hard you intend to exercise in the initial set up (??) and not use the stopwatch).

It has some good points. The unit works OK although it is very sensitive to the position of the chest band - you constantly have to check the wrist unit to see if it is registering 0, double or your real heart rate. The stopwatch ... Read More:

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Powerball Neon White Pro Signature

from: Powerball UK Ltd

1998-04
This is why I bought the Power Ball to try and get some definition in my upper arms and it is working providing I stick with it and keep on doing 'rep's. For me as I am disabled and have slightly weak hands, I am glad it comes with a strap otherwise I can see it flying through the air straight into the tv or knocking someone out! My husband who suffers from tendonitis has also found it incredibly helpful in relieving the pain in his wrists.

One thing I have to add is...........when it arrived my husband was curled up with laughter watching my trying to start it, well, the last laugh was on him as I started it on the second attempt and he took at least 6 go's at it! Girl power! We still don't have the knack of starting the ball without the strings though but will perservere. ... Read More:

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Accu Measure AMF2K Skinfold Caliper

from: Accu Measure

1998-04
I recently purchased this product, I found it very easy to use with clear instructions. The caliper came with an instruction leaflet which had plenty of information in it.

The only point I'm not sure about is that you take one measurement which is used to estimate your body fat percentage. I thought that a few reading were needed to accurately measure total body fat. The product is claimed to be very accurate though.

In summary, very easy to use by one person and I would recommend it.