Eight exercise gadgets to give your willpower a boost and get you into tip-top shape for the year ahead.
Muscle stimulators are proven enhancers of sports performance, but are usually administered by a trained medical professional, says Trevor Tan in The Straits Times. With PowerDot, however, anyone can use a muscle stimulator anywhere, anytime.
It mimics the brain's transmission of nerve impulses to engage your muscles before or after a workout. It's even useful for "desk jockeys", delivering a ten-minute anti-stress massage that can relieve lower back and wrist pain. £275, PowerDot.co.uk.
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The Apple Watch is the obvious choice of fitness tracker, says Lee Bell in Forbes. But it's only obvious because it is genuinely one of the best you can buy. It is waterproof, so ideal for tracking your swimming, and is "full of features to help keep you active, motivated and connected". From £329, Apple.com.
Inside this ordinary-looking pair of headphones is Vi, an artificial-intelligence personal trainer that learns your workout and evolves over time to help you achieve your goals, says Jeff Parsons in the Daily Mirror. It acts as a workout companion and monitors your heart rate and speed. Getvi.com, on Amazon for £178.
The Netatmo is a "healthy home coach" that helps maintain a healthy indoor environment by constantly monitoring humidity, air quality, noise level and temperature, says Katie Linendoll on Today.com. It alerts you to any problem and gives advice on how to remedy the situation. Its sleek design will "look attractive in any room". £90, Netatmo.com.
PainPod is a drug-free alternative to painkillers, says Lee Bell in Forbes. It sends microcurrents through the body to help massage and relax muscles and provide acupuncture. It is nothing short of a "miracle worker", says Rhian Atherton in Cyclist, and could transform sports rehabilitation. £319, PainPod.co.uk.
The Fitbit Alta HR is a fitness wearable that can count how many steps you've taken, how many calories you've burned, and monitor your heart rate and the quality of your sleep, all without the bulk of more fully featured devices, says Alan Martin on ExpertReviews.com. It has a slim, elegant design, is discreet enough to wear all day, and has an impressive battery life. £100, Fitbit.com.
The price may seem steep for a pair of shorts, but these are no ordinary hip-huggers, says Lee Bell in Forbes. The Myontec Mbody fitness-tracking shorts are designed for professional athletes, and monitor your muscles to collect vital data on heart rate, cadence, speed and distance run. The electronics and sensors are seamlessly integrated into the material. From £1,860, PerformBetter.co.uk.
The humble exercise bike has come a long way since the first mass-market versions were sold more than 50 years ago. The is designed to recreate specific cycling conditions, and, indeed, every aspect of a custom racing bike (including the price), says Kit Buchan in The Guardian. "Using a smartphone or tablet as its screen, you can climb the Col du Tourmalet without ever leaving your bedroom." £1,500, WattBike.com.
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RBS to close a fifth of branchesRoyal Bank of Scotland plans to shut 18 branches across Scotland, resulting in the loss of 105 jobs. We have the full list of closures.
