30 August - One less questionable exercise device

Is the device on the right capable of the claim, “…shrinks, shapes and speeds away excess fat and flab in just 7 minutes a day”? Of course not!

A Current Affair (ACA) ran a story we filmed last month about the Power Speed Shaper. I wrote about this one in my July Snacks, as these kinds of products really get me uptight.

As it turns out the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) did get involved, and according to the ACA report, the company has written to customers offering a refund. I would have preferred a full page of corrective advertising, but at least a resonable outcome if consumers to take up the offer of their money back.

28 August - Burning calories to power your iPod?

When I saw the cover of this week's New Scientist (25 August 2007 Australian issue) I thought that a lot of people would like the idea of burning off a few extra calories by using their body's own excess energy to power an iPod or some other digital device.

The cover story said, "The most elegant power source for implanted medical devices would be the one your body already uses as it's energy supply: glucose. There's an enormous amount of energy there - the food you eat each day packs as much energy as a thousand AA batteries - so diverting a little of it to power implants shouldn't cause any distress."

I was getting excited at the prospect of simply impanting a couple of electrodes in muscles somewhere and siphoning off some glucose energy from carbohydrates. But then the author Bob Holmes, answered the question on everyone's hips, "Incidentally, the relationship between power and electrode surface area means you are unlikely ever to be able to use a glucose fuel cell as an aid to lose weight. To do this, the fuel cell would have to consume a substantial fraction of the 100 watts that your body gets from a normal diet, and this would require electrodes with an area thousands of square centimetres. Just get on a bike instead."

Good advice and more excuse not to exercise knocked on the head.

1 August - Enough second hand exercise machines, please!

There were no less than four homemade advertisements for exercise equipment posted on the community noticeboard this morning. I can't help but think that every one of these represents a failed attempt at fitness. I could be wrong though. Perhaps, just someone trading up to a better piece of at-home fitness gear?

But I think I'm more right than wrong and I'd like to see an end to second-hand exercise equipment ads on community noticeboards. To achieve this, people should try before they buy wherever possible. If you like the rented gear and you demonstrate to yourself that you'll use it for a month straight, then go out and buy an item of your own. This must be a better way to turn a wish into a commitment without such a financial and emotional risk.

Top | Subscribe | Send to a friend