While you could probably get by with the most basic fitness equipment, having a few accessories can help enhance your workout manyfolds. Below are some fitness accessories for your consideration.

Heart monitor
Some treadmills have a heart monitor built into the handles or available as a separate chest strap that feeds information into a central console at the front. But they can raise the price by a couple of hundred dollars or more. By contrast, a good separate accessory may be no more than a modestly priced watch, say about $69.

Several models, in fact, actually look and have features very much like a digital wristwatch. With sensors built-into the strap and/or case, these types offer a convenient way to measure the pulse or heart rate. You just strap them on like you would any wristwatch, press a button or two and the monitor shows the figure in a small LCD display.

photo credit: joebeone

Separate heart rate monitors are often more accurate than those built into a treadmill or elliptical, too. Chest straps, for example, can provide a very precise measure of the pulse. You just snap them on at the top of the rib case and the device transmits data to a reader/display unit.

Any good one will not only tell the time of day, but also offer a timer so you know how long to work on any given exercise. They should also be able to store multiple readings so they can be recalled later. Seeing a trend is often better than a single number. In fitness, the recovery rate (how soon your pulse returns to normal after vigorous exercise) is often a better gauge than a single pulse rate at a given time.

Body Fat Gauges
Measuring weight is easy with scales. But that can provide only an approximation of body fat percentage by using the BMI formula. [Mass in kg / (height*height) or (weight in pounds * 703) / (height in inches squared)] BMI is a valuable number, since it’s correlated with many health factors. But the body fat percentage is a more direct indicator.

There are a wide variety of body fat gauges on the market, many of which resemble a set of calipers with a small LCD display incorporated. You squeeze the calipers against a fold of skin, say on the abdomen or upper arm, and the display shows an easy-to-read figure.

The gauge should be able to adjust for gender, age and other parameters that make the number more personally meaningful. Storing multiple readings is helpful so you can monitor changes. An audible beep to indicate when you’re pressing with the right force is helpful, too.

There are many helpful fitness accessories in the market that can help you get the most out of your gear and your workout. After all, exercise isn’t an end in itself. Optimizing health is the goal. But optimizing your workout with accessories is one great way to do that.

Originally posted 2008-11-20 08:40:42. Republished by Old Post Promoter