I’ve got a Body Bugg.

I don’t really like it.

It’s uncomfortable on the arm and I feel dorky with the thing strapped to me all day. I also don’t like the idea of having to pay a subscription fee each month just to use a device I’ve already spent a small fortune on.

A new gadget, in a similar vein, was displayed at the TechCrunch50 conference in San Francisco. Called the FitBit tracker, it sits in your pocket and keeps track of your movements throughout the day. It’s small, unobtrusive, and cheaper than the Body Bugg. The software & website that FitBit uses are free (though they may eventually add an enhanced subscription version.)

It’s available in December and if FitBit sends me one, I’ll be happy to let you know how well it works.

Cheryl and Maks star in the latest Dancing with the Stars DVD: Latin Cardio Dance, which promises four different latin dance workouts, plus some stretching and toning exercises.

Reviews on Amazon.com are decidedly mixed though, with some complaining that the effort level of the routines isn’t high enough.

If you just want to experience it without actually experiencing it, you can live vicariously through this guy (I don’t recommend it though).

Stephanie Babines just wanted to open a pole dance aerobics studio in Adams Township, Pennsylvania.

After spending $10,000 remodeling an old children’s clothing store in Adams Township, Stephanie was denied a Certificate of Occupancy by the city. “Pole Aerobics” sounded a lot like “adult business” to them - even though Stephanie is an accredited pole instructor, classes are taught fully clothed, and there are no spectators allowed.

Stephanie got in touch with the ACLU, who decided to fight back with a lawsuit.

A recent report documented how the craze has even spread to China. But while a repressive country like China allows dance studios to teach pole dancing, the defendants in this small Butler County town have misapplied their zoning code to deny Ms. Babines her right to teach this new combination of
art and sport to interested adult women.

Good luck Stephanie in your fight for exercise freedom!

This video shows some stretching exercises that can be done while seated - could be a great warmup prior to the Paul Eugene exercises.

Paul Eugene demonstrates aerobic exercises performend to music in a chair. Great for folks with limited mobility.

The American Council on Exercise sponsored a study to see how well the Wii stacked up to “real” exercise.

Wii can provide some fitness benefits and help with weight management, but the key comes down to simulating the movements used in the actual sports, says Porcari. “If you want to get as good a workout as you can with Wii Sports, you really need to mimic the real movements as closely as possible.”

I don’t know about you, but when I pull out the Wii, I’m not using the same motions I would if I were, say, actually playing tennis. I’m using shorter, more abbreviated versions. (Actually, I’m probably not playing Wii Tennis at all, I’m probably just giving myself carpal tunnel jamming out on my little plastic guitar.)

You’ll still burn off more calories (and probably get a better rounded workout) with actual exercise rather than the Wii, but it still beats just staring at the television.

Just don’t kid yourself into thinking you’re getting much of a workout.

(Study).