So how’s your New Year’s resolution about going to the gym working out so far? It's just more than three weeks into 2016, and that newfound hope of getting in shape must seem so far away to many people. It can be a battle not only to simply go to the gym, but also to make sure you know what exactly to do while there.
These are the times that try men’s (and women’s) souls at the weight room or on the treadmill, but we have the technology to help you out. Whether it be wearables or smartphone apps, here are five things—all at $50 or less!—to help you reach your goals.
Garmin Vivofit ($50)
There are a million and one wearables out there seemingly selling you the same thing. From the ridiculously cheap Misfit Flash—selling at Amazon for $26—to the Apple Watch at $399, all these watches and wristbands track sleep, calories and heartbeats. So many choices can give you a headache when you are just trying to make going to the gym a little more palatable.
Garmin Vivofit is the best fitness tracking wearable on the market—for its price. The main selling points are that it is waterproof (then again, so is Fitbit and other wearables) and its incredible battery life. For the latter, Vivofit uses two watch batteries and can last for an entire year. The Vivofit is not there to wow you or anyone in the gym, but it will get the job done in motivating you to get to the gym. Every morning, the Vivofit will set up personalized goals to accomplish, which is a pretty smart idea for a smart gadget.
Ankovo Wireless Headphones ($30)
Bringing a tethered headphone to the gym can be a real pain. Headphones often won’t stay by your ears as you run on the treadmill or do sit-ups. While some people prefer the silence and convenience of working out without music, others need the music to keep their minds focused.
Like wearables, there are a myriad of wireless headphones available. We chose Ankovo wireless headphones because of its light weight and necklace-like strap that keeps the headphones from falling out. The headphones run on Bluetooth, and Amazon reviewers commented that the sound quality is good to excellent.
RIF6 Mini Tripod for Smartphones ($10)
For those who lift weights, form is everything. Bad form can mean muscle injuries. A common way weightlifters are correcting their forms is by using their smartphones to shoot videos of themselves doing squats or bench presses and uploading them to online fitness forums.
Instead of having your friend—or worse, a stranger—hold a smartphone to record, simply attach this RIF6 mini tripod onto a side of the machine, place your smartphone at an angle to capture you working out and record. It’s an unconventional gym hack, but it can pay huge dividends in the future, when you're practicing correct lifting form.
Zombies, Run! (Free)
If you have a competitive streak, going for a run alone or with your best friend may not be enough bad blood to generate motivation. Zombies, Run! is a fun, immersive game that lets you get your sweat going by running away from zombies. Through voice commands via headphones, the commander will tell you to stop or run faster.
This app has been around since 2012, making it ancient for a smartphone application. A new version of the game was released last October, so there is no need to worry about playing an archaic fitness game.
5X5 StrongLifts (Free)
Another free smartphone application, 5X5 StrongLifts is a workout tracking app that revolves around its eponymous workout. The entirety of the 5X5 StrongLifts workout is to do 5 sets of 5 repetitions for three different kinds of exercises. It’s a simple formula and has attracted many people who want to start lifting to use this workout as the beginning base.
5X5 Stronglifts allow you to keep track of the workouts, keep a timer during the breaks in between sets and allow adjustments in adding weights to future workouts. It’s incredibly simple to use, minimalist in design and costs nothing. That’s as ideal as a workout app can get
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