It’s a little early for snow, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start training for this year’s ski season. The “Pro Fitter” is a device that lets you slide back and forth to work on muscle endurance, cardio, and balance. Whether you’re into downhill or slalom, it can give you a work out. It looks like you can actually do a number of non-ski-related exercises on the Pro Fitter (though it can be argued that anything that helps build core strength will help you on the slopes), such as leg extensions and kickbacks, ab crunches, and various arm exercises. (And, of course, this is all stuff that can be done in front of the television if you wish.)
The device is available over the web for just over $500: Pro Fitter
If you’re still getting your exercise on that old stationary bike you got from Sears years ago, you might be interested in some of the settings and features available on today’s exercise machines. The Keiser M3 is a new stationary bike that’s pretty high-tech looking. Some of the features are that it’s “ultra quiet” (yay, maybe that means you can actually watch television on this thing without turning the tube up so loud the upstairs neighbors start thumping on the floor), it comes with an “anti-slip belt,” the resistance is smooth (this would be nice… a lot of the cheaper stationary bicycles I’ve used get jerky when you increase the resistance), it’s fully adjustable to seat people of many sizes, and (perhaps most important) it has a water bottle holder. A computer between the handlebars measures RPMs, trip distance, trip time, heart rate, gear (resistance), and power output. Now the only question is when is the company going to send me one to try out for them?
Are those stationary bikes at the gym just too much work? All that effort you have to expend sitting up, on top of pedaling? Well, the Luxury Hypoxi aims to make your workout more, uhm, comfortable. With this “bicycle,” you can lie flat on your back and read a book while you pump your legs. But it’s more than just an exercise machine. It’s specifically designed for weight loss: “At the heart of the L250 is Hypoxi’s unique vacuum chamber. Through a combination of alternating vacuum therapy, an integrated lounger for the client to relax on and a bicycle ergometer so that gentle exercise can be undertaken, the L250 promotes targeted inch loss and increased lymphatic drainage from the lower body.”
Sounds kind of hokey to me, but hey, it’s weird and it’s fitness-y, so I gotta write about it. Maybe the company would like to send me a free one to try… 
A home gym can be a great way to sneak your workout in without having to spend valuable time commuting to the local 24 Hour Fitness. Now if you’re limited on space and funds, something like the Bowflex might do, but if you would rather have multiple pieces of quality equipment, rather than some all-in-one machine that doesn’t do anything particularly well (yes, I’ve owned a Bowflex, so I know of what I speak), check out Keiser.
They have gym-quality exercise equipment, such as their Infinity Series cable machine, squat racks, and power racks (these let you do bench, incline bench, shoulder presses, etc. without a spotter). If weights aren’t your thing, they also have some nice looking cardio equipment, such as treadmills, elliptical trainers, recumbent bicycles, and ergometers (if you haven’t tried one of these, they’re a bit like a stationary bike for your arms… good idea for someone with lower body mobility issues). You can get more information at the company’s web site:
Ho, boy… if you thought the Aquaskipper was a funky fitness gadget, check this bad boy out: the “Pumpabike.” According to the manufacturer’s site, all you have to do is bounce up and down to send the machine flying through the water. And it goes pretty fast too; they say it can whiz past rowers. Relatively few mechanical parts means it shouldn’t break down easily, and it looks like a decent workout. If you like getting your exercise outdoors, then the Pumpabike might be just the ticket.
Bicycles are traditionally a good workout for your legs. But what if you want to give your back, arms, and abs some exercise? Well, you get a Rowbike, of course. I first saw the Rowbike on the same show that featured the Aquaskipper, and I’ve since seen someone using it out on the Burke Gilman Trail here in Seattle. It looks pretty fun, and it’s a good way to get a rowing workout without signing up for a crew team or buying a rowing machine for your basement gym. Hey, it’s always more fun working out in the fresh air (as long as it isn’t raining) than in the gym, right?
Actually, the Aquaskipper is a new way to exercise on the water, or above it even. I saw the gadget on TV a few weeks ago, and thought it looked neat, but I forgot to write about it at the time. Today I was down at the ship canal by the University of Washington, and I saw someone using one of these bad boys. It was really quite interesting, and everyone was staring at him and looking impressed as he hopped across the water (so, guys… if you want to get a chick, just get one of these…). If I’d had my suit with me, I might have asked him if I could give it a try. But I remember on that TV show how the newbies tried it and most of them went face first into the lake. There’s probably a bit of a learning curve involved, but it did look like it could be a fun way to get your workout once you’ve got it down.
So, what’ll it cost you? $500 for a new one, or $350 if you get a factory refurbished one.