Sportbrain -- Fitness is the Ultimate Reward
Written: Jun 13 '03 (Updated Jun 14 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Helps you work towards your fitness goals.
Cons: This is minor, but -- the rewards are not very exciting.
The Bottom Line: The Sportbrain allows you to set goals and see your progress.
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| magenta321's Full Review: SportBrain |
A Sportbrain is what I'd call a "smart pedometer". A pedometer is something that one wears on one's hip to keep track of the amount of steps one takes. With each step, a mechanism inside of the pedometer registers that one step has been taken. As the steps add up, some pedometers can also tell the amount of miles (or kilometers) walked, and how many calories the average person would burn during that activity.
A Sportbrain is a smart pedometer because it can do everything that a pedometer does (count steps, count distance, and count calories burned), and then some.
A Sportbrain is an egg-shaped device you wear on your hip. Like a pedometer, it registers each step. But, you can't look at your Sportbrain and see how many steps you've taken -- you upload your steps. Once your data has been uploaded, you visit the Sportbrain webpage and have charts and graphs full of data showing what you have accomplished.
Why would you want this information?
Well, studies have shown that walking a minimum of 10,000 steps a day is beneficial for your health. So, if you want to know if you're doing your part, you'll want to have a device to keep track of this.
But why a Sportbrain?
With a regular pedometer, you would have to keep a log if you want to see your trends and patterns over time. Then you'd need to use your math skills to see how many miles you've walked (unless your pedometer does that for you), as well as having to figure out what percent of your goal you have achieved.
Sportbrain helps you keep track of all of the steps you've taken, the miles you've walked, and the calories you've burned. It also allows you to set your own goals based on your current fitness levels.
Best yet, Sportbrain has a reward program. You choose the reward you want to work for, and, set a goal. If you achieve your goal, you get your reward. If not, "tough titty". But, there is always next month, and, you can try even harder. It really gives you something to work toward.
How does the program work?
First you need to buy a "Brain" (the egg shaped pedometer device) and a "Port" (the device that uploads data). You wear the Brain, and whenever you want, you take it off, and put it in its port. The port hooks in to your phone line and dials an 800 number to upload the data you've collected as you walked.
Next, you'll want to see your data. All you have to do is log on to www.sportbrain.com , and you'll be overwhelmed by charts, graphs, and percentages.
It's a wonderful device, but it doesn't come cheap. The starter kit with the Brain and Port is roughly $150. Then there is a monthly charge. The charge depends on how many months you sign up for at a time, but, plan on spending $10-15 a month for the privilege of using your Brain.
Is it worth it?
That's up to you. If seeing results in statistical form will motivate you to get off your butt, and get moving, it could be very worth it. I personally am motivated by the Brain. I feel it is worth it.
Recommended:
Yes
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magenta321
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