Starling Fitness: Daily writings on Fitness, Diet, and Health

Ever since my obsession with DDR and Yourself! Fitness has worn down, I’ve been looking for a new exergaming option. It looks like Nintendo is happy to feed my obsession with Wii Fit. It’s a new game with a new controller called a Balance Board. You can see the full story about the announcement at E3 at Engadget:

• Nintendo Wii Fit gets you stepping – Engadget

Here is some information on the Wii Balance Board:

“The Wii Balance Board is a Reebok Step look-alike, with dual sensors that can detect your weight and balance on each side as you exercise to the various on-screen Wii activities in Wii Fit. The board is wireless, and holds the potential of full-body games involving the Wiimote and the Wii Balance Board simultaneously.”

Yes! That’s what we’ve been waiting for. I had no idea that it would be Nintendo to fulfill my wishes.

I checked Nintendo’s website, but they haven’t put any mention of this new product on it yet. That’s one thing I like about Apple. When they announce things, they usually have something on their website about it the same day. Nintendo wasn’t ready for fan girls like me to bombard their site looking for more information. I guess we’ll have to wait. I’ll keep you posted.

This is EXACTLY how it feels to run with the Nike+. It’s one of the main reasons I don’t own an iPhone, because I can’t give up that little voice in my head.

I am addicted. Beginning workout…
I’ve collected footsteps before dawn, seen places I never knew existed, run to the moon and back. Current pace is 6.5…
I’ve been a rabbit for the neighborhood dogs, Halfway point… obeyed the voice in my head, let the music carry me when I couldn’t.
I’ve raced against yesterday, let the world be my witness, measured myself in meters, kilometers, and finally character.
I’ve plugged into a higher purpose, left this world and come back changed. Workout completed…
Run like you’ve never run before.

Of course, sometimes, THIS is exactly what it feels like to run with the Nike+.

God, I hope they make the iPhone work with the Nike+ soon!

With the recent release of the iPhone, I was tempted to dump my iPod Nano in favor of the shiny toy. Since the iPhone doesn’t work with the Nike+ (I FINALLY have an answer to that question), I thought that maybe I should switch to a REAL workout wrist computer like the ones available from Polar.

After reviewing their website and all the documentation, however, I am unconvinced it would be a proper replacement. The biggest advantage of the Nike+ system are the online challenges. You can challenge a friend who also has a Nike+ or join the many challenges against people in your own fitness level.

The Polar watches track MUCH more than the Nike+ system: Heart Rate, altitude, bicycling, and much more. Their computer system allows you to track this information, graph it out, and even upload it online, but there is no mention of any ability to compete with other Polar watch owners. I know the runners who use Polar outnumber the Nike+ owners, but Polar has no way of you contacting and competing with people of your same caliber.

It’s a huge loss for Polar, if you ask me. Their products are superior to the Nike+ system. If only they understood the competitive incentive of trouncing someone, they would allow me to compete.

Yet another reason to skip buying the iPhone and just stick with my iPod Nano. It looks like Apple is leaving Nike+ in the background. I hope Nike picks up the pace and keeps Nike+ alive with or without Apple.

If you would like to join a Nike+ Challenge, Starling Fitness sponsors several levels of challenges:

• Level 1: 0-10 miles a week
• Level 2: 10-20 miles a week
• Level 3: 20-30 miles a week
• Level 4: 30-40 miles a week
• Level 5: 40-50 miles a week
• Level 6: 50-60 miles a week

If you have a Nike+iPod, you can sign up for the weekly challenges here:

• Support Forums : Starling Fitness Weekly Challenge …

Telll me what level you would like to start at when you sign up and come run with us!

It looks like the folks at the University of Udine are working on making exergaming more interactive. They are using an accelerometer and a heart rate monitor to affect gameplay:

• HCI Lab – University of Udine – Projects

You can see how the game works here:

It looks like a simplistic version of breakout, which typically isn’t a very exciting game. What I would like to see is DDR with a heart rate monitor. The dance steps increase or decrease depending on customizable heart rates. Why hasn’t Konami done this?

Via: Video game follows your movements, adapts to your heart rate – Engadget

Nike+ has started a group event that bugs me. It’s called the Run Like NYC Challenge.

You’re supposed to pick a ‘hood and run. Coming from someone who doesn’t live in New York, I DON’T CARE. It actually makes me kind of angry how New York centric the world is. Do we really need ANOTHER event focusing on New York?! I live in SLC. I don’t care whether Uptown, Midtown or Downtown win. I want to run for SLC.

How hard would it have been to have a run for your state challenge instead? It certainly would have been more inclusive, if not USA centered.

This is the sort of thing that happens when all your employees work in one city. Stupid stuff like the Run Like NYC Challenge happen.

Most of you don’t live in New York. Do you care which ‘hood wins? Does this challenge make you want to join up?

Just makes me want to punch something. Bad form, Nike, bad form…

Street View on Google Maps is a new feature that allows you to see an image of the street on the map. Jason Kottke has been fantasizing about the future of Street View here:

• I’m sure this functionality is coming, but when using the new… (kottke.org)

I’m sure this functionality is coming, but when using the new Street View feature in combination with driving directions on Google Maps, I want a play button that drives me from the starting point to my destination, showing me the street-level view along the way.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could just set up the computer in front of your treadmill and tell it to map out a route and a speed and you could pretend you’re running around the streets of New York? That’s why I started filming my Starling Fitness Walking DVDs so I could do just that. I’m perfectly willing to pass the torch to Google if they are able to pick it up.

For more information about Street View, watch this video:

It has been a long time since a exergaming machine has surfaced. Say hi to Motivatrix, the newest exercise-gaming machine.

• Motivatrix

I have seen so many of these companies come and go that I never believe that their products exist until they are available on Amazon.com. Granted, Motivatrix looks like they are promoting their exercise equipment to sports facilities, but the lack of an “order now” button on their website really makes me doubtful of their existence.

Did they build one prototype and a spiffy flash-based website? I can’t tell. I’m trying my hardest not to get excited about this product, but it looks like it has the potential to be a lot of fun.

For more information:

• Motivatrix’s MX9 Workout Master replaces aging stationary bike – Engadget

• Silicon sweat / High-tech, full-body machines merge multimedia and exercise

• Get an interactive workout sans game console | Crave : The gadget blog

Last week, we bought Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 for the Wii. Mike and I have been testing it for its exercise capabilities. Sadly, as far as exergaming is concerned, it comes up short. Most of the exercise that you get when you golf comes from walking from hole to hole. With this game, you get none of the walking. Sure, you get to swing your arms to take the shots, but it has no cardio impact at all and very little muscle training. I played two days in a row without any muscle pain, which is something that I would have never been able to do with Wii Sports or Rayman Raving Rabbids.

As far as keeping you in shape during the winter months, I don’t think this game would be good for that either. I actually think that it might have the potential to hurt your game depending on how you have to swing for the game compared to swinging with a real club. Since I’ve never played golf in the real world, I wouldn’t be able to compare those two, but I highly doubt that this simulation will keep you in practice.

That said, I actually love the game. I liked that I was able to make my avatar look as close to me as I could. I didn’t have to choose between ten men and one blond famous golfer, I was able to make a golfer that looked kind of close to what I look like. I was even able to make her as fat or as thin as I wanted. Creating my avatar was really enjoyable, actually. Playing golf with her is even more so. They have animated certain reactions to good shots and bad shots. It’s funny to see how my computer golfer reacts to my miserable performance.

Additionally, it’s a lot of fun playing the courses. They have beautiful scenery, lovely clouds and tweeting birds. I can play the game at midnight and feel like I took a walk in the sunshine through a gorgeous park. I love how the trees sway when there is a lot of wind. I love how my golf ball skips across the water when I aim poorly. I even love how my golf ball got stuck inside a tree. Even the bad programming has funny effects.

Is it exergaming? No. Did it get me off the couch and interacting with my family? Yes! Most importantly, it introduced me to a sport that I might want to try in real life. It taught me the rules and got me interested in something that I never considered before. If sport video games pique the interest in a real live sport, then I’m all for them. My verdict on Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 for the Wii? Go for it! It is a lot of fun and it might even get you interested in real-life golfing!

Starling Fitness is sponsoring Race Across the USA. It is a cooperative event using the Nike+ Challenge. You can still join up if you hurry! The goal is to run across the United States. Going the route I chose, it would take 3,227 miles to cross the USA. The map above is the route that I have chosen. We already have 52 confirmed racers, so join in now to log your miles!

We will walk to the following cities:

• Los Angeles, California – Starting Point
• Sacramento, California – 384 miles
• Salt Lake City, Utah – 1,036 miles
• Omaha, Nebraska – 1,971 miles
• Chicago, Illinois – 2,439 miles
• New York, New York – 3,227 miles

You can see the route in detail here:

• Across the USA Route

There are prizes for the people with the most mileage:

• 1st place – Most miles run – Four DVD set of Starling Fitness walking videos: Swami’s Beach, Sugarhouse, Moab and the as yet unreleased San Antonio Riverwalk.
• 2nd and 3rd place – Choice of three Starling Fitness DVDs.
• 4th and 5th place – Choice of two Starling Fitness DVDs.
• 6th through 10th place – Choice of one Starling Fitness DVD

To enter, you have to have a Nike+ and link it up to their online system. You cannot leave a message here to be sent an invitation. You must click on this link and ask to be added to the Race Across the USA on the Nike+ website:

• Race Across the USA

You will be invited to a Distance Goal race of 1 mile. You’ll be able to achieve that goal quite easily, but keep running. We’ll add the miles of everyone together. I will check the mileage every day. As soon as I notice that we have achieved the goal of 3,227 miles, I will stop the race and prizes will be announced. The Race Across the USA starts March 1st (Thursday), so come walk across the USA with us!

Since Nike’s system isn’t set up for a cooperative event like this, you will need to check here at Starling Fitness for progress and winners.

We reserve the right to limit participation in the challenge due to our time constraints or the limits of Nike’s system.

This event is not sponsored by Nike or Apple. Starling Fitness will choose the winners based on total mileage. Our decisions are final.

A special thank you to our regular commenter from iPortion for bringing this to my attention. Yourself ! Fitness seems to have gotten past whatever issues that were stalling them and are soon to be releasing a new product called Y!F Lifestyle.

• yourself ! fitness: A Letter From the responDESIGN/Yourself!Fitness Team

We are working on the next Yourself!Fitness title called Y!F Lifestyle to be released on the new game consoles and the PC. Y!F Lifestyle has many of the new features that you asked us to create and we will be releasing the details for this new product soon!

Please stay tuned for more great fitness gaming products from your friends at responDESIGN and Yourself!Fitness.

Of course, my imagination goes all haywire when I hear an annoucement like this. They said that they will be releasing this on the new game consoles and the PC. Does that mean the Nintendo Wii? Can you imagine how fun that would be? They could sell the game with a weighted Wii controller that you have to move how Maya says. It would be an even better upper body workout!

I’m excited to see what Yourself ! Fitness has in store for us!

Via: Iportion: Yourself Fitness, Oatmeal and You