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From forest bathing to cold water swimming, getting reacquainted with the natural world has been high on our collective agendas during the past couple of years. And a new fitness trendthat has garnered over 350K views on TikTokpotentially brings this craze to a peak. Say hello to quadrobics, a style of exercising that sees devotees using all four limbs, to mimic the movements of various animals, explains Tomi Akande, a personal trainer at UNTIL.

There is method in the madness: Quadrobics is a way of exercising that combines elements of aerobics and calisthenics, explains Akande. Its designed to engage all four limbs simultaneously, providing a really effective full-body workout. Not only does a quadrobics workout enhance strength and agility, but coordination too, since it targets a group of muscles referred to collectively as the quad muscles, which are crucial for a variety of daily activities and overall body stability, says Akande.

This group of muscles includes the quadriceps (the muscles on the front of the thigh), quadratus lumborum (in the lower back), quadriceps surae (in the calves), and quadriceps femoris (which encompasses all the muscles in the group, and forms the major muscle mass of the thigh). As well as being excellent for general movementand longevity of it, as we get olderthese muscles help with spinal stability and lateral movement, knee extension and leg raising, and ankle control and foot movement, says Akande.

While a peruse at those sharing their quadrobics moves on TikTok might show some of the weirder sides of the sportthere are a lot of incredibly flexible people dressed up as cats, prancing aroundlearning how to move in a functional way can pay dividends to our health. Examples of different movements include bear crawlswhich are a personal trainer favoritewhere you move forward on your hands and feet, mimicking a bears movement. This, alone, can enhance strength, coordination, and agility by engaging the core, shoulders, and legs, says Akande.

Other key movements include crab walks, where you sit with your hands behind you, lift your hips off the ground, and walk forwards and backwards using your hands and feet to target the triceps, shoulders, and core; or gorilla walks, where you move side to side in a deep squat position with your hands touching the ground, mimicking a gorillas moves. This targets the legs, glutes, and upper body, Akande continues.

View original post here:
Quadrobics Is the Fitness Trend That Improves All-Over Strength (and Your Abs) - Vogue

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As the sun breaks over the treeline on Wednesday, many residents of the Music City are just beginning their daily routines.

The Nashville Predators prospects, however, are already hard at work.

Lined up on the track at Montgomery Bell Academy, Nashvilles group of NHL hopefuls spend the earliest parts of the day putting in laps and breaking a sweat far from the comforts and familiarity of the rink.

For some, the hardest part is the running itself. For most, its the oppressive Tennessee heat.

I was ready for the track, 2023 first-round pick Tanner Molendyk said. I wasnt ready for the heat, I dont think. After the third run I was just pouring sweat.

Once you get the eyes and the body awake, its not bad, 2023 second-round pick Kalan Lind said. It's definitely a lot hotter here than it is in Saskatchewan, though. I was up at seven in the morning and it was probably already hotter than a normal day in Saskatchewan. It was definitely a little bit of a battle, but we all got through it together.

Regarded by many as the toughest part of Development Camp, the weeks two outdoor sessions may embody The Standard best when it comes to conditioning and physical fitness.

Were just trying to give them a little bit of exposure to the way we do some conditioning, Predators Strength and Conditioning Coach David Good said. A lot of these guys don't run that much. So it's a good eye-opener, as far as effort goes, to give an introduction to how hard things are. And that's what [Predators General Manager] Barry Trotz was speaking about yesterday during our intro. You have to do the hard things when you don't want to, and track seems to be that for a lot of the guys.

Entering his 21st season with the Predators, Good spends the week sharing his expertise with each of the camps attendees and equipping them with the necessary tools and resources to get their bodies up to peak physical condition.

They all need to get bigger, faster and stronger, so our role applies a lot to what they're doing, Good said. And it's mostly just education. We demand quite a bit of energy from them throughout the whole week, so we don't want to kill them during the workouts. We just try to give them a little bit of information and some exposure to all areas.

Those areas of education cover a little bit of everything, from pregame warmup routines to dietary decision-making - the latter of which is explored during an in-depth session with Predators Nutritionist Mari-Etta Parrish.

Its mostly just about choices, Predators Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Development Scott Nichol said. We're always on the road, so if you're eating out, what's your choice? Like instead of french fries maybe pick a baked potato Mari-Etta will go through all that. What's your pregame meal? If its fettuccine alfredo, thats probably not a good choice, right? And it's hard for some of these kids because they're college kids that dont cook for themselves or its our junior kids who live with billet families, so they eat whatever the billet family makes them.

After camp, prospects keep in touch with Parrish on a monthly basis to track their nutrition or ask for recipe suggestions. All of it stems from the ideas introduced and the relationships forged during Dev Camp.

We're with these guys for a few hours a day, but a lot of what we do, especially nutritionally, happens away from the rink, Good said. So, they need to have that discipline and be adults and start to develop these habits that will help them transition into professional hockey players.

For Mari-Etta, it's about communication - making them feel comfortable, so when they leave they can call her and say, Hey, I'm making dinner tonight, what's a good option? Nichol said. And that's what we take a lot of pride in. It's the first step of them basically becoming a pro.

The next step, for many of Nashvilles prospects, is bulking up. Of course, Development Camp can help there too.

Its lots of calories, Lind said. This summer, 4,000 calories a day is what I've been taking. So, my job pretty much all summer has just been working out and eating food all day. The start was a struggle but towards the end now I've gotten into it pretty good and I've put on quite a few pounds so far. So, I'm pretty happy with my progression.

Like Lind, each Predators prospect will be responsible for continuing their own personal fitness progression and upholding The Standard as they begin their respective seasons outside of Nashville this fall.

It's critical, Good said. We're a unique sport because we draft 17 and 18 year olds, where other sports are drafting men. So we're drafting players that haven't fully physically developed yet, and a good percentage of their physical development will come from their dedication to what they're doing. Genetically, they're going to do what they're going to do, but their work ethic and their discipline, what they demand of themselves, and what we demand of them, is going to dictate a lot of how they develop as well.

On-ice Dev Camp sessions continue at Centennial Sportsplex this Friday, before the Future Stars Game finale caps the week off at Ford Ice Center Bellevue on Saturday.

Click here to view a full camp roster and click here to view the full schedule.

See original here:
As Dev Camp Continues, Preds Prospects Learn 'The Standard' for Physical Fitness: 'You Have To Do the Hard Things ... - NHL.com

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11 Fitness: Resistance training at home

Updated: 1:10 PM EDT Jul 6, 2024

FOR 11 FITNESS CHARLES HARRIS JOINING US WITH HIS DAUGHTER CHARLIE. AND YOURE LIKE CONFUCIUS THIS MORNING YOU SAID YOUR BODY IS THE BEST MACHINE. YES. ALWAYS. SO GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THIS IS ONE WORKOUT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW. NOT NOW, BUT RIGHT NOW AT HOME. YOU DONT NEED TO BE AT THE GYM, SO GET OFF THE SOFA. OFF THE BED. TRY THIS. IT WORKS. TOTAL BODY. ITS LIKE BEING A SPIDER. EXACTLY, EXACTLY. SO NO MACHINE CAN GIVE YOU CARDIO TRAINING, FLEXIBILITY, TRAINING AND STRENGTH TRAINING AT THE SAME TIME. BUT YOURE A HUMAN BODY, SO WHY NOT USE THAT? UTILIZE YOUR BODY TO BURN CALORIES, TONE AND GET STRONGER. SO SHES DOING A WORKOUT WHICH WORKS HER CORE, HER LEGS. YOU CAN SEE HER. SHE HAVE THE BAND ON. THE BAND IS FOR RESISTANCE. WERE GOING TO GO RIGHT INTO A SIDE LUNGE. OKAY? WITH THAT? THAT WORKS. THE HIPS. YEP. HOW DOES THAT FEEL, CHARLIE? TIGHT, TIGHT TIGHT. YEAH. SO THIS IS GREAT FOR YOUR HIPS RIGHT. ADDUCTORS FOR YOUR THIGHS. YEAH I WOULD SAY DO 25 ON EACH SIDE. AND KNOCK THAT OUT. THATS GREAT FOR TONING. AND ITS USER FRIENDLY. AND THAT WAY YOU DONT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT INJURING YOURSELF. ANY FITNESS LEVEL, ANY AGE AND DIFFERENT TIGHTNESS OF THE BANDS. YES. AND SHE TAKES THE BAND UP A LITTLE HIGHER. IT GIVES YOU MORE RESISTANCE IN THE HIPS. OKAY, SO THIS IS A GREAT EXERCISE THAT YOU CAN DO. WORKS THE YES -- BACK THERE TOO. SO WERE GOING TO GO RIGHT INTO A PLANK OKAY. A UM LOW IMPACT PLANK. THE BEST WAY I LIKE PLANKS. YES. WHEN SHES DOING THAT. YES. WHEN SOMEBODY ELSE IS DOING IT RIGHT. BUT TRICEPS OKAY. YOU KNOW TRICEPS. LOOK THE DEFINITION IN HER BACK TOO. AND NORMALLY YOU SEE PLANKS LIKE THIS AT THE GYM. IM LIKE, OH MY GOODNESS. WHATS THAT A MOUNTAIN TOP? ITS NO MOUNTAIN TOPS AND WINDMILLS. ALL RIGHT SO THATS GREAT. SO SHE WONT GO TO A HIGH PLANK I CALL IT HIGH PLANK UP LIKE THAT. BOOM. TRICEPS KICKING IN. YEAH. INSTANTLY RIGHT. GO BACK TO A LOW PLANK AND YOU CAN DO A MOVING PLANK LIKE THIS. AND I WOULD SAY ONE MINUTE YOU DONT HAVE TO DO QUANTITY. JUST DO TIME ONE MINUTE. LIKE THAT. JUST GETTING STARTED IS THE THING. RIGHT OKAY. WHAT ABOUT THE SIDE PLANK. SO A MODIFIED IS ON THE ELBOW. SO SHE COME UP. WE DO THIS IN YOGA AS WELL. WORKING GOOD OBLIQUES LOVE HANDLES. AND SHE CAN TAKE THE HAND UNDERNEATH AND UP. AND THATS WORKING YOUR SHOULDERS. THEY CANT SEE THIS. BUT GREAT DEFINITION IN THE BACK CAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF STRENGTH IN HER SHOULDER TOO. TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. YES. YEAH. AND ONCE AGAIN YOU DONT WANT THE HIPS TO COLLAPSE LIKE THIS. YOU WANT TO COME UP. MHM. WE WANT TO GET FANCY JAN OKAY I LIKE THIS THIS LEGS GOING TO COME UP SLIGHTLY. BOOM. AND DOWN. NICE. BOOM AND DOWN. DO YOU HELP PEOPLE DO THIS. YES. THIS IS WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY. EVERY DAY ALL DAY EVERY DAY. YOURE GUIDING. YES. YOURE THE GURU. THANK YOU. I LIKE IT. ALL RIGHT. THATS GOOD. YOUVE TORTURED HER ENOUGH. WHAT ELSE DOES SHE HAVE TO WALK OUT ON THE STEPS WITH THE HANDS. SO ITS A PLANK POSITION. THEN SHE CAN JUST TAKE THE HANDS UP AND DOWN. ALL RIGHT. AND THIS IS ALSO A PLYOMETRIC MOVE. BUT YOU WANT TO BE SAFE. YOU DONT WANT TO POUND THE WRIST GOING UP NICE AND SLOW. AND THIS WILL GET YOUR HEART RATE UP AS WELL. SO YOU SAY PLYOMETRIC, BUT WHICH IS SUPER FANCY, BY THE WAY. BUT IS IT KIND OF LIKE THOSE COMPOUND MOVES WHERE YOURE MAKING THE MOST OF EVERYTHING YOUVE GOT? I LIKE MULTIFUNCTIONAL TRAINING. THATS A GOOD POINT BECAUSE YOU BURN MORE CALORIES WORKING MULTIPLE MUSCLES, AND ITS MORE EFFICIENT BECAUSE YOU GET MORE DONE. IM NOT GOING TO HAVE YOU DO THIS. THANK YOU I APPRECIATE THAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YOU A MOUNTAIN CLIMBER REAL QUICK ILL SHOW YOU A DANCE AT THE END, A CHISEL DANCE. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS. I LIKE THIS, OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY, SO THESE ARE GLIDERS. THESE ARE GOING TO HELP YOU MOVE A LITTLE EASIER. AND IF YOU DONT HAVE GLIDERS, YOU CAN USE PAPER PLATES. THEY WORK WELL. OH OKAY. THATS A GOOD IDEA. PAPER PLATES. HEAVY DUTY PAPER PLATES AT HOME. NOT THE PAPER ONES. OH MY GOSH. WOW. ABS. OKAY. QUADS. HAMSTRINGS, CALVES ALL IN ONE. GIVE THE UPPER BODY BEING WORKED. CORE BEING WORKED. WHOA. CUT BACK OKAY. YES. IM SORRY CHARLIE. NICE. IS THAT GOOD? GOOD. OKAY. YEAH. OH. SHES LIKE BURNING UP TOO. SO THATS LIKE BURNING ALL THE STUFF. NOT THAT SHE DOESNT HAVE ANY FAT TO BURN, BUT IF YOU DID, IT WOULD BE BURNING. IT WOULD BE ONE MINUTE. TAKE A BREAK. DO 10S TAKE A BREAK. YOURE LOOKING GOOD, CHARLIE. 987654321. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. THE DANCE, THE DANCE. OKAY. THIS IS. I GOTTA DO. IF THIS IS ALL I GOTTA DO, I GOT THIS, ALL RIGHT. WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. OKAY. YEAH. THE DANCE. COME ON. STAY WITH US. HAS ANOTHER LOOK AT YOUR WEEKEND. GET UP! EVERYBODY MOVE!

11 Fitness: Resistance training at home

Updated: 1:10 PM EDT Jul 6, 2024

Fitness expert Charles Harris is joined by his daughter to demonstrate bodyweight exercises you can do at home with little to no equipment required. Watch to see the proper form for planks, resistance training, and mountain climbers.

Fitness expert Charles Harris is joined by his daughter to demonstrate bodyweight exercises you can do at home with little to no equipment required. Watch to see the proper form for planks, resistance training, and mountain climbers.

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Resistance training at home with at-home tools - WBAL TV Baltimore

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I love Pilates. The practice has helped me build full-body strength and mobility, allowing me to move freely and keep injuries at bay. Its also my favorite way to break up a day sitting behind one of the best laptops, other than a jaunt

If you want to give it a go, Pilates expert Portia Page says there are five foundational moves worth learning above all others; the hundred, kneeling side kick, saw, push-up and leg circles.

Below, she walks you through each one, explaining the many benefits on offer and some optional modifications to make them more accessible.

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Portia Page has been in the fitness industry for more than 30 years. She is an NCPT (nationally certified Pilates instructor) and a Balanced Body master instructor for Pilates, Barre and more.

She also holds further certifications with the ACE (American Council on Exercise) and AFAA (Athletics and Fitness Association of America).

Modifications

If you feel your lower back lifting off the floor when doing this move, Page suggests two possible remedies. You can try bending your knees so your shins are parallel with the floor, or bending your knees and placing your feet flat on the ground.

She also has tips for anyone who feels their neck straining when reaching it towards the chest.

Try keeping the head and shoulders propped up with either a towel or pillow. O you can take a towel folded lengthwise in your hands, place it behind your head, then hold your head up and hold the position for 30-60 seconds.

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Benefits

The hundred warms up the body, Page explains. It also teaches correct breathing with abdominal engagement, increases abdominal strength and increases upper back flexibility.

Everyone needs strong abdominals to support their torso and limbs throughout daily activities. A strong core is also helpful for maintaining good posture, which keeps the body in a relaxed-yet-ready state throughout the day in all positions, whether youre sitting, standing, walking or otherwise.

Modifications

If you have limited flexibility in your legs, you may be unable to extend them vertically towards the ceiling. If this is the case, Page recommends lifting your thigh vertical with your knee bent so your shin is parallel to the ground, then making small circles with your knee rather than your foot.

Benefits

This move increases the flexibility of the hips and legs, Page says. It also warms up the hip joint and pelvis, strengthens the abdominals, builds awareness of the upper body muscles and develops control through the torso and arms.

Modifications

Some people may experience discomfort when supporting their weight through the planted wrist. To avoid this, Page suggests lying on your side as you do this move, pushing your bottom leg into the ground and extending your lower arm in front of you for stability.

You can also reduce your range of motion in any part of the exercise to make it challenging but achievable (this might mean not lifting your leg as high, or moving it as far forward or backward).

If your flexibility is limited, reduce your range of motion.

Benefits

Doing the kneeling side kick stretches the hamstrings and hip flexors, and strengthens and sculpts the outer thighs, says Page. It also brings awareness and control to the lumbo pelvic region for everyday activities.

Modifications

If your lower back is tight or your hamstrings are less flexible, preventing you from sitting tall, you can sit on a pillow or small box to lift the hips off the floor and give you room to sit up on top of your sit bones, Page explains.

Benefits

Do this move to increase your mobility and rotation of the spine, Page says. It teaches correct sitting posture too, as well as strengthening and stabilizing the core and pelvis.

Modifications

If you feel pain, discomfort or a lack of control in the lower back when bending and straightening the elbows, lower your knees to the ground when in the plank position, Page advises.

If there is discomfort in your upper body or wrists, perform the plank and push-up against a wall, or a raised surface like a windowsill or sturdy chair.

Benefits

The push-up strengthens the entire body, says Page. It's simple, but effective.

More:
A Pilates expert says these are the five 'essential' moves most people should be doing - TechRadar

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When their cardiorespiratory fitness improved over time, men were less likely to develop prostate cancer, according to study findings published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

A growing body of research shows that cardiovascular and respiratory physical fitness is associated with reduced cancer risk and improved outcomes, but previous studies of prostate cancer that were limited to a single point in time have yielded mixed results.

Kate Bolam, PhD, of the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences GIH in Stockholm, and colleagues examined links between changes in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and the occurrence of prostate cancer and related mortality.

In this study of employed Swedish men, change in cardiorespiratory fitness was inversely associated with risk of prostate cancer incidence, but not mortality, the researchers concluded. Improvements in CRF in adult men should be encouraged and may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

For this prospective study, the researchers used data from the Health Profile Institute in Sweden. The analysis included information on more than 180,000 men who completed an occupational health profile assessment between 1982 and 2019. Data on prostate cancer incidence and mortality were taken from national registries.

The analysis included men who had two or more tests of cardiorespiratory fitness conducted at least 11 months apart. The test gauges how efficiently oxygen is delivered from the heart and lungs to the muscles while exercising. Participants pedaled on a stationary bike and their heart rate was used to estimate the volume of oxygen consumed during exercise.

Men who experienced a 20% increase or decrease in CRF in a year were excluded, leaving a study population of 57,652. The average age was 41 years, and the mean body mass index was 26 (in the overweight range) at the beginning of the study.

Over an average follow-up period of 6.7 years, 592 men (1%) were diagnosed with prostate cancer after their last fitness test, and 46 (0.08%) died with prostate cancer as the primary cause of death.

The study authors found a clear positive association between improved cardiorespiratory fitness and lower risk of prostate cancer occurrence, but not death. Overall, better fitness was linked to a 2% lower risk of developing prostate cancer. When fitness levels improved by at least 3% per year, men were 35% less likely to develop prostate cancer than men whose fitness dropped by 3%. The authors suggested that the number of deaths due to prostate cancer may have been too small to detect an association with fitness.

When the researchers grouped participants according to their initial fitness, more dramatic improvements in prostate cancer risk were observed for men who were moderately fit at baseline. In this group, the risk of prostate cancer dropped by 15%. For people on either end of the fitness spectrum, however, risk improvements were more limited.

According to the researchers, people who were already physically fit may be unable to further improve their fitness to a point where additional risk reduction is possible. On the other hand, people with low fitness levels may be in poorer health and may have other conditions, such as obesity, that affect prostate cancer risk.

Click here for more news about prostate cancer.

Read more from the original source:
Improved Fitness Linked to Lower Prostate Cancer Risk - Cancer Health Treatment News

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The best fitness trackers weve tested do much more than count your steps. Many help you train for a marathon, guide your workout recovery, provide insights into sleep quality and even monitor for life-threatening health anomalies.

From the entry-level Fitbit Inspire 3 to the advanced Apple Watch Series 9, the best fitness trackers also perform the basics like monitoring heart rate, recording physical activity and rest, and providing daily progress reports. Some devices, like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, even have on-the-spot SpO2 and ECG readings.

Many can also pay for groceries, play music, answer texts and check the weather, including the Fitbit Charge 6, Fitbit Sense 2, and Garmin Forerunner 265. But with so many capable devices to choose from, honing in on just one can be tricky. That's where we come in.

We've put the most popular fitness trackers and smartwatches to the test over numerous weeks by wearing them walking, running, biking, swimming even sleeping to see which models excel and which couldn't make it past the starting block.

Jane McGuire

Jane McGuire is Tom's Guide's Fitness Editor and she's spent years writing about all things health and fitness. She crossed the finish line of her last marathon in 3:38, with the Garmin Forerunner 965 on her wrist.

These are the best fitness trackers you can buy right now based on our testing and reviews. Scroll on for our full in-depth reviews.

Best overall

Best for most people

The Fitbit Charge 6 ticks all of the boxes when it comes to affordability, built-in GPS, a bright screen and all of the best fitness tracking metrics Google has on offer.

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Best value

Best value

The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a lovely little fitness tracking device for those on a budget. For $100, youre getting ten days of battery life, a colorful band and a bright screen, plus heart rate and sleep monitoring.

Read more below

Best smartwatch

Best fitness tracking smartwatch

The Fitbit Sense 2 is a smartwatch jam-packed with health and fitness tracking features, including an EDA sensor, stress tracking and on-board GPS. Plus, it looks beautiful.

Read more below

Best for runners

Best for runners

The Forerunner 265 is a stunning running watch with a bright, AMOLED screen. The watch comes in two different sizes and boasts an accurate GPS with advanced training and recovery metrics.

Read more below

Best Apple Watch

Best for iPhone users

The Apple Watch Series 9 is more than a fitness tracker. Its an extension of your iPhone on your wrist, but it additionally tracks sleep, workouts and even your menstrual cycle.

Read more below

Best ring

Best fitness tracker for sleep

In 2024, fitness trackers dont have to just be worn around your wrist. The Oura 3rd Generation looks like jewelry but is one of the best sleep and wellness trackers weve tested.

Read more below

The best fitness tracker overall

Heart rate monitor: Yes

GPS: Yes

Water resistance: 50 meters

Display: 1.04-inch AMOLED touchscreen

Weight: 1.1 ounces

On-board music: No

Mobile payments: Yes

Sleep tracking: Yes

Battery life: 7 days (smartwatch mode), 5 hours (GPS mode)

Support for Google Maps, Youtube Music and Google Wallet

Lightweight, slim design

Accurate heart rate sensor

Bright, crisp touchscreen

No support for Spotify

Some limitations in sports modes

The Fitbit Charge 6 is Fitbit's flagship fitness tracker, replacing the Fitbit Charge 5 in the brand's line-up of devices. It has several exciting updates compared to the Charge 5 the haptic side button is back, making it easier to navigate than before. Plus, you can now use the Charge 6 as a heart rate tracker when using NordicTrack, Peloton and Tonal gym equipment.

It's also the first Fitbit fitness tracker to get Google Maps, YouTube Music and Google Wallet. However, Charge 6 users will need a Google Account now.

Of course, you buy a fitness tracker to track your fitness, and the Charge 6 does a solid job of this. Built-in GPS lets users accurately track runs, hikes and bike rides outside. It also has more sports modes than the Charge 5, allowing you to mix up your training.

During testing, we were impressed by how comfortable the Charge 6 is around the wrist and how easy it is to read in the bright sunlight. Simply put, the Fitbit Charge 6 is one of the best fitness trackers for most people today.

The upgrades made on the Fitbit Charge 5, namely the re-addition of a side button and the Google apps, have made what was already a great fitness tracker even better, in our eyes.

Read our Fitbit Charge 6 review here.

The best value fitness tracker

Heart rate monitor : Yes

GPS: No

Water resistance: 50 meters

Display: 0.7-inch AMOLED

Weight: 0.62 ounces

On-board music: No

Mobile payment : No

Sleep tracking: Yes

Battery life: 10 days

Bright AMOLED screen

Lightweight and easy to wear

Excellent battery life

6 months of Fitbit Premium included

Small screen wont be for everyone

No on-board GPS

No third-party apps

The Fitbit Inspire 3 is the best value fitness tracker because it nails the basics: heart rate monitoring, accurate workout tracking and logging sleep stages. The fact that it doesn't have built-in GPS is slightly disappointing you can connect it to your phone's GPS but the Inspire 3 makes up for it with other features, such as Fitbit's inspiring (get it?) community of fitness-focused users. You can participate in challenges to out-pace friends, colleagues or even strangers.

For $100, you'll get Fitbit's Active Zone Minutes metric, ten days of battery life, touch controls, and, in the biggest update from the Fitbit Inspire 2, a bright, beautiful AMOLED screen. The Fitbit unit is only available in black but is sold with three different band colors black, lilac and morning glow. The wristband comes in two sizes: small and large.

During testing, we loved how lightweight and comfortable this little tracker was to wear for 24/7 health tracking. We also appreciated how much more premium the tracker feels with a color screen. It won't be for everyone, but if you're looking for an affordable fitness tracker, you can't go wrong with the Inspire 3.

The Fitbit Inspire 3 won Best Fitness Tracker in the 2023 Tom's Guide Fitness Awards because you get an awful lot for under $100, and we were impressed at how easy it was to use.

Read our full Fitbit Inspire 3 review here.

The best fitness tracker under $50

Heart rate monitor: Yes

GPS: No

Water resistance : 50 meters

Display: 1.1-inch AMOLED

Weight: 0.8 ounces

Onboard music: No

Mobile payment : No

Sleep tracking : Yes

Battery life: 15 days

Affordable

Lightweight, comfortable design

Actionable sleep tracking insights

Display is hard to see in sunlight

No GPS

No third-party apps

The Amazfit Band 5 is a $50 fitness tracker that promises many of the marquee features found in more premium smartwatches but at a fraction of the price. It has blood oxygen (SpO2) readings, stress monitoring, high heart rate alerts, Amazon Alexa built-in, sleep tracking and several other tools found in pricier offerings.

In our testing, the fitness and sleep tracking on the Amazfit Band 5 were good, not great, but respectable for the low cost while still offering more than other ~$50 trackers. Better yet, the 15-day battery life meant we didn't need to worry about charging it all the time.

Read our full Amazfit Band 5 review.

The best fitness tracking smartwatch

Heart rate monitor: Yes

Read the original post:
Best fitness trackers 2024: Tested and rated - Tom's Guide

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President Bidens TV interview didnt reverse his problems but instead raised new questions about his mental acuity as he said he wouldnt take a cognitive test, sidestepped questions about mental lapses and said he he didnt believe he had a historically low job-approval rating.

In the first interview since his debate disaster, Mr. Biden offered few new insights to save his embattled candidacy that has Democratic lawmakers openly questioning his fitness to campaign or serve another four years.

Mr. Biden, 81, repeatedly chalked up his confused and at times incoherent debate performance as a bad night and not a symptom of a serious condition. Mr. Biden simply insisted he was feeling terrible.

He doubled down on his claim that his incoherent answers and meandering statements were due to exhaustion and a cold.

ABC News George Stephanopoulos, a former Clinton White House official, told Mr. Biden that he had never seen a president with a 36% approval rating get reelected.

Mr. Bidens response was to deny reality.

SEE ALSO: President Bidens decline raises questions about Jill Bidens power

I dont believe thats my approval rating, he said.

The New York Times/Siena poll found Mr. Bidens job-approval rating was 36% this week.

When asked if he watched a replay of the debate, Mr. Biden was unsure.

I dont think I did. No, he said.

Mr. Biden also sidestepped questions about whether hes had more mental lapses in recent months.

Can I run the 100 in 10 flat? No, but Im still in good shape, when asked about increased mental lapses.

SEE ALSO: Biden plans no more post-8 p.m. events, saying he needs more sleep

Mr. Stephanopoulos asked Mr. Biden if he was more frail than he was last year and the president responded, No

The president also refused to commit to taking cognitive and neurological exams and releasing them to the public.

I get a full neurological test every day, Mr. Biden said, referring to the arduous work of being president.

Medical doctors from the best of the world travel with me everywhere I go. I have an ongoing assessment of what Im doing. They dont hesitate to tell me if they think something is wrong, Mr. Biden said.

When asked if hes had a cognitive test, Mr. Biden responded, No one said I had to. They said Im good.

Doubts immediately emerged that the prime-time interview would be enough to undo the damage to Mr. Bidens image.

Even before the interview was set to air, Rep. Mike Quigley, Illinois Democrat, became the fourth House Democrat urging Mr. Bdien to bow out of the race. Id say, Mr. President, your legacy is set. The only thing you could do now to cement that for all time and prevent utter catastrophe is to step down and let someone else do this, he said on MSNBC

He joined Democratic Reps. Lloyd Dogged of Texas, Raul Grijalva of Arizona and Seth Moulton of Massachusetts in calling for Mr. Biden to drop out of the race.

Mr. Doggett, who was the first House Democrat to publicly call on Mr. Biden to step aside, said nothing he saw in the interview changed his mind about the presidents situation.

Joe Biden is a good man. Hes an American patriot. Yet the need for him to step aside is more urgent tonight than when I first called for it on Tuesday, Mr. Doggett said on CNN.

Democratic strategist David Axelrod, who was the architect of President Barack Obamas reelection victory, said the interview did little to reassure voters.

The president is rightfully proud of his record. But he is dangerously out-of-touch with the concerns people have about his capacities moving forward and his standing in this race. Four years ago at this time, he was 10 points ahead of Trump. Today, he is six points behind, Mr. Axelrod wrote on X.

In the interview, Mr. Biden unveiled a new excuse for his frequent errors during the debate, saying former President Donald Trump kept speaking while his microphone was muted. The president claimed Mr. Trump kept shouting, even after his microphone was shut off, and that distracted him.

At one point, Mr. Biden gave a rambling answer in which he falsely claimed a poll by The New York Times released after the debate showed he gained support. However, the poll showed he dropped three points against Mr. Trump following the debate.

I prepared what I usually would do sitting down as I did come back with foreign leaders or National Security Council for explicit detail. And I realized partway through that, you know all I get quoted The New York Times had me down 10 points before the debate, nine now, or whatever the hell it is. The fact of the matter is he also lied 28 times. I couldnt I mean, the way the debate ran. Nobody elses fault. No one elses fault, he said.

Asked if hed step down if he became convinced that he would lose to Mr. Trump in November, Mr. Biden remained defiant saying he would only drop out of the face if the Lord Almighty tells him to do so.

If the Lord Almighty came down and said, Joe, get out of the race, Id get out of the race, Mr. Biden said. The Lord Almightys not coming down.

When Mr. Stephanpoulos asked if Mr. Biden would bow out if Democrats told him they would lose the House and Senate if he stayed in the race, Mr. Biden insisted Its not going to happen.

He repeatedly dismissed concerns from top Democrats.

Mr. Biden was asked about a Washington Post report that Sen. Mark Warner, Virginia Democrat, is working to gather a group of Senate Democrats to discuss the future of Mr. Bidens campaign.

He claimed that Mr. Warner tried to get the nomination too.

Mr. Warner was not a presidential candidate in 2020 or 2016. He had reportedly considered a run in 2008 but never launched a campaign.

Mark and I have a different perspective. I respect him, Mr. Biden said.

Link:
Democrats still worried about Biden's mental fitness after his prime-time TV interview - Washington Times

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Emotional Fitness: Getting to your goals | Lifestyles | thedailynewsonline.com - The Daily News Online

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In 86-degree Italian heat, amid a sea of burnt yellow fields, an armada of robot lawnmowers tend to lush green grass. Behind them sits a vast building made from sheets of spotless glass. This is the Technogym Village.

The Italian fitness giant is known globally for making some of the best treadmills and exercise machines on the market, and stocks commercial gyms and hotels worldwide. If you've been to one or two popular gym chains in your life, and not just used exercise equipment like Peloton at home, it's likely that you've tried a Technogym product before.

Its Cesena, Romagna headquarters are a monument to all things wellness. To a fitness fanatic like me, the chance to peek inside triggers a feeling similar to that of Charlie Bucket when he spotted a golden ticket in his Wonka bar.

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It didnt disappoint either. From the moment I stepped through its sliding doors, every element was almost hyperbolically health-driven my intro meeting took place at a fruit-covered conference table, which was surrounded by inflatable exercise balls in lieu of seats (to prevent slouching, my tour guide explained with an acrobatic demonstration, much like we use the best under-desk treadmills alongside standing desks).

The buildings shape mimics rippling waves so every inch of the site is hit by natural light, the foyer is filled with exercise machines and a sequence of Olympic torches are proudly displayed along one wall Technogym has been the official equipment supplier for the event for some years now.

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After my induction, which included a hype-laden video account of the companys history, I was directed to a balcony overlooking the factory floor; an immense space where each Technogym machine, from ellipticals to treadmills, has its own production line.

This is a far cry from the poky garage where Technogym founder and president Nerio Alessandri pioneered his first exercise machine in the early 1980s. The then-engineer was working in fruit packaging but after spotting someone squatting with poor form at his local gym, he set out to build a solution. Thus, the hack squat machine was born, and many people (myself included) now have him to thank for some very sore legs.

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From the factory I was directed down a dark tunnel, the contents of which were secret and off-the-record, so before reaching the end I was instructed to make a sharp about-turn whatever lies beyond is top secret and for Technogym eyes only, for now at least.

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Next it was on to the science lab; three adjoining rooms where memorabilia from the likes of Formula Ones Fernando Alonso and footballer Lilian Thuram cover much of the walls.

The team proudly tells me how the labs have been a big part of the Technogym set-up since the beginning, before pointing out 30-plus plaques showing scientific partners (largely universities) that Technogym has teamed up with on studies and research papers to support its work.

One room of the lab, called the motion room, contains a rowing machine set up on a pressure-sensing tile, surrounded on all sides by 1,000 frames per second cameras. Another room focuses on metabolism, using a treadmill and a medical-looking mask wired up to a machine to delve into users inner workings.

We prefer to be very specific with the science, a top engineer and 25-year Technogym veteran tells me. This, he says, prevents phenomena such as magic calories, where machines from (unnamed) competitors exaggerate calorie burn to give people the information they want to see, rather than the accurate figures they need to inform their training.

Technogym also tests the equipment with a wide range of subjects, from recreational exercisers to elite athletes. Olympians make the worst customers and the best product testers thanks to their extreme shapes, sizes and performance levels, Im told If it works for Olympic athletes, it will work for everyday people.

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As the tour continues, a mounting thrum of excited chatter, humming treadmill belts and clanging weight plates can be heard coming from somewhere nearby. At Technogym, these sounds are synonymous with lunchtime. Every employee is given a two-hours break and, while theyre free to do as they please, exercising and eating well are encouraged.

Fuelling yourself effectively is made easier by an on-site wellness restaurant, which serves a buffet of freshly-cooked food for a daily donation of less than $2.

When I described my usual noon go-to of a hastily-prepared sandwich to Technogym team members, I was met with looks of pity. After polishing off a plate of spaghetti, tomato sauce and parmesan with a side of mixed vegetables at their wellness restaurant, I understood why.

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Workers are also served a smorgasbord of optional workout classes during their lunch break, as well as free rein of Technogyms two-storey gym. As someone who loves little more than lifting weights, this was the part of the tour I was most looking forward to.

The first thing I noticed in the gym was the vast array of cardio equipment, from rowers to static bikes to treadmills if youve been to a swish hotel gym, youll be familiar with these products.

Exercise machines are, arguably, what Technogym is best known for a few years ago I remember seeing a gym-focused TikToker lamenting the brands lack of bodybuilding options. But the on-site gym is far from a cardio-only zone.

Outside youll find basketball and volleyball courts for intra-company tournaments, downstairs I discovered myriad resistance training machines to work every muscle group, and upstairs there are power racks, lifting platforms, free weights and cable machines.

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Despite the plethora of ultramodern training tech on offer, Im happy to report that there was still someone squatting under a heavy barbell, armed with a taut lifting belt and a friend acting as a spotter some things never change.

There are also dedicated areas for a range of training styles, each signposted with bright yellow light-up signs; cardio and strength, bootcamp, skillX, pure strength, group cycle and mindful training, to name a few.

What I was most surprised by, however, was that the place was packed. Six exercise classes were running at any one time, all with healthy attendance levels, while countless other employees chose to train under their own steam using the eclectic collection of kit on offer.

As I was admiring this impressive turnout, the formerly-suited and booted engineer from the lab trotted past in his workout gear my turn now, he laughed before hopping on an exercise bike and setting the wheels in motion.

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Another employee tells me: Wellness isnt something you can explain, its something you feel.

This is a bit too close to clich for my liking, and Ive always been skeptical of the word wellness. To me, it feels like a vague umbrella term thats of more use to marketers than those actively trying to improve their health and fitness.

But Technogym has taken the phrase and run with it, defining it as the right mix of eating well, sleeping well, feeling protected, relaxing and being active. And, from what Id seen, those inducted into the Technogym fold practice what they preach.

Case in point: model David Gandy doesnt just have a home gym filled exclusively with Technogym gear, he picks his hotels based on whether theyre decked out with the stuff too.

The brand isnt stopping with its employees either. As I walked from the gym back to the front desk to conclude the tour, my guide alerted me to founder Nerio Alessandri's Wellness Valley project, which calls on key players in the surrounding region of Romagna to promote healthy behaviors. This, he hopes, will turn the area into a living lab of sorts.

What this didnt mean was that I was surrounded by six-packs and protein shakes while staying in the nearby port town of Cesenatico. Bakery windows are still filled with the sweet treats you associate with a trip to Italy, and lazing on a deckchair is a popular pastime.

But there was an undertone of activity wherever I walked. The face of local Tour de France winner Marco Pantani is around every corner, cycling is commonplace (I saw the sites via a bike tour), the seafront is lined with beach volleyball courts, and chefs I speak to say most of their ingredients traveled mere minutes from source to kitchen.

Theres a generous provision of bike lanes, a wealth of playgrounds for children, and as I explore the town I spy workers painting part of a road bright yellow as the town prepares to host part of the Tour de France.

The Wellness Valley projects website suggests these subtle changes are working. The active population in the area is almost 10 per cent higher than the figure for all of Italy (55.1 per cent rather than 46.2 per cent), and the sedentary portion of the population is almost half that of the national average (16.1 per cent compared to 30.6 per cent).

As I wrapped up the tour and left the Technogym Village through its smudge-free glass doors, it was hard not to be swept up by the slick operation. But I forced myself to apply some skepticism to the situation.

By providing longer lunch breaks and a wide variety of exercise options, the brand has bulldozed many of the barriers that stop people from leading a healthier, more active lifestyle; time, accessibility, cost, resources.

But would its wellness-led approach work in offices elsewhere, or has Technogym just curated the ultimate echo chamber of like-minded fitness fans? This is no bad thing, but everyone who works here applied for a job at a fitness company, which you would imagine means most of them had an interest in the field.

What I can say for certain is that I thoroughly enjoyed the tour, bouncing between shiny new machines like a kid in a candy store or chocolate factory, if you will.

I also think its telling how many of the employees had been with Technogym for a decade or more, with every one I spoke to oozing an irresistible passion for their work and the resulting products.

Yet, however infectious their enthusiasm was, it may be some time before I swap my office chair for an inflatable exercise ball.

Originally posted here:
I visited Technogym's bizarre and brilliant treadmill factory and it's like Wonka's Chocolate Factory for fitness fans - TechRadar

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Jalopnik is more than just a car blog. We cover and review all sorts of transportation, from boats to trains to motorcycles, but this review is of something much more nebulous: The Polaris Slingshot. You know, that three-wheeled, two-seat, open-topped tricycle thing with a single belt-driven rear wheel. My apprehensions ran high prior to driving this Volt Orange 2024 Polaris Slingshot SL, and after a week living with the Slingshot, those apprehensions were validated. The Slingshot really isnt for me.

What's Better Than an E-Bike? An E-Trike

Full disclosure: Ive seen Polaris Slingshots terrorizing the streets of LA for years now, and I can honestly say that I never thought Id drive one, but the generous folks at Polaris changed that. They loaned me a Volt Orange 2024 Polaris Slingshot SL with a five-speed manual transmission and two helmets, and this is how it went.

Hopping into the Slingshot requires you to step over the tube frame structure on the side of the vehicle, as there are no doors. Once you get into the seat theres a surprising amount of legroom, almost enough for my 6-foot-8-inch frame to fit comfortably. Almost. Of course, headroom is a non-issue since theres no roof over your head, but because Polaris requires anyone riding in one of their press cars to wear a helmet, I didnt get the wind-in-your-hair feeling I had hoped for as a lover of convertibles. Weirdly, both of the Slingshots seatbelts are anchored in the center of the vehicle, so as the driver you have to reach over your right shoulder to grab the belt and buckle it on your left side. This decision paired with the lack of doors and lack of adequate seat bolsters amplifies the already perilous feeling of piloting a Polaris.

Driving the Slingshot through LA is a stressful experience, as proven by my Whoop fitness watch tracking all of my drives as times of elevated stress. You sit very low to the ground, with no airbags, no doors and no roof. The engine is thrashy to the fullest extent of the word, yet gutless until its 8,500-rpm redline where it finally makes peak horsepower. The clutch is stiff and heavy, the transmission tunnel gets concerningly hot to the touch while youre driving, the ride is harsh, and because the Slingshot is such an unusual shape, its hard to gauge where the vehicle begins and where it ends. All of these factors contributed to my elevated stress levels from behind the Slingshots tiny steering wheel, combined with the knowledge that any one of the three-row mommy mobiles on Los Angeles roads could run me over without even noticing.

The Polaris-built 2.0-liter inline-4 engine in the Slingshot SL is rated at 178 horsepower and just 120 pound-feet of torque, the latter of which hits its peak at 5,500 rpm, and the Slingshot weighs just 1,633 pounds in total, nearly 1,000 pounds less than a Mazda Miata. This should make it a ton of fun to drive, but as soon as the power builds it just spins that single driven rear wheel, which can make you smile if you dont need it to hook up. And its far from fast, and the engines demeanor is conflicting. You have to rev it out to redline to get power, but the engine is so rattly it sounds like its going to blow up. I was not a fan of the exhaust note either, since it sounded more like a leaf blower than a car, which might be excusable in a side-by-side, but not in something thats meant to be an on-road fun machine.

Driving the Slingshot on winding roads was also a harrowing experience. My canyon road of choice had some occasional debris, which would cause the Slingshot to lose traction no matter how slow I was going. In one situation there was a little stripe of dirt in the center of my lane on a curve; I slowed down to 10 mph and still nearly slid off the cliff because the rear wheel hit the dirt and lost traction in a big way. Thankfully, the Slingshot does have traction control and ABS, but the single rear wheel makes it too volatile to be trustworthy enough for me to push it on twisty mountain roads. Its also unreasonably difficult to judge the width of the thing, because the front end is freakishly wide and the rear is freakishly narrow, so threading the needle becomes an exercise of faith and elevated cortisol levels.

My tester came with the no-cost 5-speed manual transmission, which made the driving experience more engaging but still had its faults. The transmission is notchy and feels just fine to shift, but the high-revving character of the Polaris engine doesnt match well with the gear ratios. First to second gear is fine, but when you shift into third gear the RPMs fall so drastically that it drops you right out of the power band and the car bogs down.

So what about cruising on the world famous Pacific Coast Highway, you might ask, if it isnt any good in the twisties maybe its at least a good cruiser? Nope. Theres no time when you can relax behind the wheel of the Slingshot. The rear wheel feels like its constantly bouncing around, requiring endless steering inputs to keep it centered in the lane. Wearing a helmet makes the cruising experience even less relaxing. If you get stuck in traffic, youll start cooking in the sun, youll get gassed out by the smelly exhaust, and your left leg will start cramping from the heavy clutch.

The seats on my tester were heated and cooled, which is a welcome option. Unfortunately, when combined with seatbelts that are tethered in the middle of the vehicle instead of over the occupants outside shoulder like in every other car, it felt like I was about to slide out of the Slingshot around every corner. Other creature comforts include Apple CarPlay that requires a bluetooth headset to be connected to allow operation, so I never tried it.

My test vehicle came with minimal options, including heated and cooled seats for $1,629.99, a $100 phone mount, and a $549.99 navigation and CarPlay package, bringing the total MSRP to $30,428.97. The cheapest new Slingshot S sells for $21,999 without any options, and the most expensive Slingshot Roush Edition starts at $38,149 before any options. In my opinion, there are a litany of better ways to spend $30,000, like buying hair plugs and a face lift as an alternative way to prove to the world that you still got it, or by buying a used sports car, or $30,000 of lottery tickets.

Overall, Im not a fan of the Polaris Slingshot, but then I dont think Im the target audience. What is the target audience, you may ask? Beats me, but people buy them and seem to love them, so if you swoon when you see a Slingshot drive by, go try one. Theres certainly nothing quite like the experience of driving a Polaris Slingshot, for better or for worse.

More here:
Driving The Polaris Slingshot Was So Unpleasant It Set Off My Fitness Tracker's Stress Monitor - Jalopnik

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