These seem like two things that wouldn't really go together: fitness and home theater. A big screen is meant to be watched, normally fairly passively, whereas fitness and working out mean not sitting on a comfortable chair with your eyes glued to the screen.
There are exceptions of course, such as watching the small TV while running on a treadmill or playing an active video game on the Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation Move or Microsoft Xbox 360 Kinect. But actual fitness where you get into the activity with the TV still seems like a disconnect of sorts. However, this is the new trend in fitness simulations or sports simulators -- activities that work with your big TV and still provide a bit of a workout, or at least let you hone your skills.
Here are my favorites in the world of big screen fitness.
VirtualActive
With winter coming many of us will be forced to ride stationary bikes and run on a treadmill. And while that indoor requirement is hard to avoid, particularly once the blizzards hit, VirtualActive can make your indoor workouts feel more like outdoor adventures.
These videos are designed more as a complement to your workout rather than a replacement for it. In a way these are just the latest in a series that began back in the 1980s with those home fitness routines. The difference here is that, instead of watching a bunch of ladies in sweat suits, or Richard Simmons "sweating to the oldies," you get to choose from a tour of California wine country to the Swiss Alps, with programs specifically designed for running, hiking and cycling routines.
Where to Buy:
Elite RealPower CT Indoor Bicycle Trainer
This system from Elite is a bit more interactive than VirtualActive's video series using GPS-based software to enhance your workout experience. Now in release 6.0 this program works with an Elite trainer that attaches to a rider's actual bike, and this is synched to a computer that can be displayed on TV.
The trainer responds to the onscreen locale and terrain, so if you reach a point where you are going up hill, the trainer will increase the resistance on your exercise bike. As you climb and ascend to the top, the resistance lets up. Thus it is intended to emulate real riding conditions, where the device can simulate up to a 20 percent grade with up to 1500W of resistance. The latest version adds touchpad wireless console compatibility, Internet competition with five video races, as well as personal training software. It even comes with a heart rate transmitter belt so you can track your fitness goals. It isn't quite as good as a serious ride, and it costs as much as a plane ticket to Europe ($2833.95), but in the dead of winter it will get your heart pumping and get you ready to ride come spring!
Where to Buy:
b.There
This system is similar to the RealPower training system, but it is good for those who already have an exercise bike or trainer. This downloadable software program tracks efforts via an ANT+ compatible heart rate monitor cheststrap and receiver ($119 for receiver; $189 for receiver and chestrap). The information is sent wirelessly to a computer or laptop, where the video reacts accordingly. b.There gathered their courses, including the 2011 Tour de France routes, via GPS and provides them as high definition videos so users can still hit the road - even if the real roads in your area are covered in snow or you're an ocean away from the course.
Where to Buy:
OptiShot Infrared Golf Simulator by Dancin' Dogg
This might just be the next best thing to trekking out to the back nine, and best of all you won't even have to leave the living room. The Optishot Infrared Golf Simulator doesn't actually offer the fitness benefits of the cardio-based training systems, but it is a nice option for those itching to get to the fairway in the dead of winter.
This virtual golf program, which is available for $399.95, promises to be easy-to-use for both casual golfers and diehard hackers alike. It replicates world-renowned courses, so can think of it as a mini-vacation every time you boot up the Windows compatible program. For those where space can be a serious issue, it is worth noting that the OptiShot needs just eight and a half feet of swing space so you can get teed off in a home office or den. The plug and play program allows up to four players to compete with one another by hitting real balls, foam balls or even no ball at all. The device relies on infrared sensors and a durable swing pad to accurately record club head speed, face angle and swing path. Caddies not included.
Where to Buy:
