Get Fit Without Gadgets

According to new research by the Consumer Electronics Association, ?more than one-third (37 percent) anticipate purchasing a fitness technology in the next 12 months.? That?s a whole lot of cash for the consumer electronics and fitness industries and a whole lot of wasted money for people looking to get fit.

No gadget, doohickie, or gizmo is going to get you in shape, no matter how many times Chuck Norris or Tony Little tells you it will. The fact that more and more people are purchasing fitness technology doesn?t mean a third of the country is going to be in amazing shape; it means that a third of the country is throwing money away thinking they?ll get in shape.

My apologies to businesses trying to swindle unassuming Americans into buying their ?groundbreaking, cutting-edge? product, but it?s time people knew. I?m sick of seeing people wasting their money on technology, thinking that if they own these products that they?ll somehow have a better shot at getting in shape.

Jack LaLanne was in pretty good shape, wasn?t he? Did this fitness icon need an app to help him work out? Did Bruce Lee stay in amazing shape because of some iPhone? Than what makes anyone think they need this junk to get in and stay in shape?

I have friends who are in shape and friends who, well, enjoy eating Doritos and sitting. None of my friends use any type of special electronic device to stay fit. They stay in shape by lifting weight, by running, swimming, biking, etc.

People who don?t want to put in the work or aren?t educated enough about fitness often convince themselves that if they only download this app or wear these sneakers that they?ll get in shape. With a proper fitness routine in place, an app or electronic device can be beneficial in keeping track of mileage, reps, etc. These devices alone, however, do not fit people make.

Go ahead, download that weightlifting app. Buy a $400 GPS tracker watch. Order a bunch of workout DVDs. Just make sure you?re getting a good workout. You can?t just buy a set of P90X DVDs, throw them up on your DVD shelf, and expect to get ripped. Before anything else, your motivation and commitment will bring about physical change.

But really, in this economy, there?s no point in any of this stuff. Why buy a DVD when you can watch a bunch of YouTube videos and learn the right movements? Why purchase a GPS watch when you can get online and track your mileage? Why buy an iPhone app when you can write stuff down? Unless having this physical product in your possession is some kind of necessity, then don?t buy it. Unless you need it to remind you to work out, save your money for stuff like high protein foods and new workout clothes.

Do yourself a favor and go easy on the gadgets in 2013. Invest in yourself, not gadgets, and you?re sure to see real changes.