Fitness,First

The coolest fitness accessory to own right now is the FuelBand by Nike,a nondescript looking black rubber bracelet with a screen that tracks the exact number of steps you take daily,and gives you feedback on your activity levels throughout the day.

The coolest fitness accessory to own right now is the FuelBand by Nike,a nondescript looking black rubber bracelet with a screen that tracks the exact number of steps you take daily,and gives you feedback on your activity levels throughout the day. How it works is,you set a target at midnight (called the NikeFuel Goal) and it counts all active movement in a 24-hour circle,whether youre playing tennis or football,or leisurely strolling towards your TV. A normal day is pegged at 2,000 NikeFuel (approx one mile covered walking and a mere 80 calories burned). For the more tech savvy among us,you can log into Nikeplus.com to get weekly or daily updates on calories burned and distance covered. Its wired into social media so you can share your graph and achievements on Facebook and Twitter. Once youve spent Rs 15,000 on the Nike pedometer,youll be charged up and raring to log in as many steps as possible,at least initially. If its staring at you from the wrist,the guilt factor will keep you moving. The FuelBand is seriously trendy right now. It comes in a couple of colours,goes well with light denims and somehow,you dont feel like lunging for cocktail snacks when youre wearing it.

Every decade has its fitness fashion fads in the 80s,the look was Chris Evert headbands and neon or leopard skin leggings. The look was tight,shiny and bright,probably inspired by the queen of fitness,Jane Fonda,whose effortless leg lifts started the stay-at-home-and-workout craze. Choreographed cardio routines kicked off around this time,increasing the need for more fabulous fitness clothes and the truly fashionable started brandishing leg warmers,hairbands and big socks. The ghastly bicycle shorts made an appearance around then,and surprisingly,or thanks to spin cycling,are still around. The magic words Just Do It had infused a new determination towards fitness,and the 90s were more restrained and serious.

Maybe its the buzz around the Olympics but,in the 21st century,there is a distinct shift to running and some of the most unfit,unmotivated people I know are surprisingly enthusiastic about participating in marathons.

And of course,the 21st century has seen an explosion in fitness gear. According to a report by Global Industry Analysts,the worldwide sportswear apparel segment is projected to reach a staggering $126 billion by 2015. The differences between sports apparel and casual,active wear have become increasingly blurred. Blame it on Juicy Couture that made diamond-encrusted velvet track suits a must-have in every girls closet. Or the fact that post the Silicon Valley dot com boom,dress codes in offices have become more elastic with a new emphasis on convenience and comfort.

It had to happen sports clothes are highly relevent in an urban lifestyle that usually involves long commutes over public transport. Sneakers are no longer tardy. (Steve Jobs always wore New Balance during Apples keynote events.) More people are buying versatile and stylish sportswear,that double up as trendy-casual,and functional. Bollywood star Bipasha Basu has come up with her own fitness clothing line in association with Reebok BB Love Yourself. Kanye West has designed shoes. Big fashion names such as Stella McCartney are collaborating with sportswear brands to create fitness clothing.

Personally,whenever I enter a Nike,Adidas,Reebok or Puma showroom,Im amazed at the prices of sneakers,which are frankly,affordable,only during sales. But if a workout is part of a daily routine,gym gear is indispensable. But should one fall for the tall claims of sportswear companies that their fabrics regulate temperature,reduce friction,are wind and water resistant,and hence improve your workout? Maybe,if youre Roger Federer,and every shot counts. But lack of quality running shoes didnt stop Milkha Singh from becoming the fastest Indian. Fuelband or not,Dri-fit or not,dont let merchandise stop you from hitting the road.

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