Follow Me (Real-Time Posture Trainer)

Interesting device.

Interesting device. Follow Me is a small sensor-laden device which sits on your upper back, keeping an eye on your posture. A curved spine will immediately result in a notification being sent to your phone. Additionally, the device keeps track of your daily step count; and has an hourly stand reminder (many smartwatch owners will already be intimately familiar with both of these). It'll be interesting to see if they add more of these fitness-centric features over time. For now, a little video :
Follow Me.

'The Future Of The Science Of Aging' Presentation (Dr Andrew Steele)

Loved it.

Two weeks ago we noted Andrew's wonderful book 'Ageless' (highly recommended). If you're more of a visual learner - or know someone who is - you might like to check out the above presentation. Loved it.

Looking At : Jan 24, 2021

What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

Whipr (Travel-Focused Training Machine)

Interesting combination.

Interesting combination. Although you may not be doing all that much travelling right now, you may wish to keep this in mind for later in the year. Or whenever you plan to start looking at hotels again. The device in question is the Whipr - a portable ERG machine which combines paddling, rowing, swimming and kayaking. Great mix. To give you an idea of just what's on offer, a little video :
Whipr.

Sleep Cycle App Review - Apple Watch Science Test (The Quantified Scientist)

Very interesting look at the Sleep Cycle app on the Apple Watch.

Very interesting look at the Sleep Cycle app on the Apple Watch. Not bad at all.

Looking At : Jan 17, 2021

What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

Ageless - The New Science Of Getting Older Without Getting Old (Andrew Steele)

Looks great.

Looks great.

We briefly looked at Andrew Steele's work yesterday in the form of the article 'Do We Have To Age?'. As you'd expect, the book Ageless is a much more detailed exploration of those topics. I'm about to dig into it myself, and will share a few thoughts shortly. In the meantime, you can check out the ebook/hardback/audiobook versions over here. Looking forward to it. Ageless.

Partial vs Full - Were The Bros Right About Range Of Motion? (Jeff Nippard)

Very interesting look at the research behind the use of a Full ROM vs a Partial one.

Very interesting look at the research behind the use of a Full ROM vs a Partial one.

Looking At : Jan 10, 2021

What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

Lumos Ultra (Bicycle Helmet With Inbuilt Lights)

Great combination.

Great combination. The Lumos Ultra is a bicycle helmet with inbuilt lights. A wonderful blend of fitness and safety. Lightweight, customisable & easily rechargeable (USB-C). It can even be controlled (think turn signals) via an Apple Watch. A little video :
The Lumos Ultra.

Performing the Hanuman Push Up (Karate TV)

Wonderful exercise.

Wonderful exercise.

Looking At : Jan 3, 2021

What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

Cardlax 2.0 (Portable EMS Device)

Interesting idea.

Interesting idea. The Cardlax 2.0 is a credit card-sized portable massager for impromptu massage sessions. Electrical Muscle Stimulation, 10 intensity levels. Wireless, and washable. A little video :
The Cardlax 2.0.

The Future of Fitness : Health & Fitness Predictions for 2021

A few thoughts.

We've looked at the possible future of both health & fitness many times over the years - Workout Clothing, Virtual Training Partners, various medical discoveries and of course the Gymchats. Particularly 176 and 224. Continuing those thoughts, here are a few items that may make an appearance over the next year or so. Health & Fitness Predictions for 2021. NB : I always receive some wonderful feedback on these 'peer into the future' posts - greatly appreciated. If you'd like to drop me a line, just point me to a tweet or leave a comment on the relevant Straight to the Bar post. Cheers.
Several ageing-related clinical trials begin. I suspect that we'll see the end of 'death from old age' by the end of this decade, with some wonderful advancements between now and then. Neuralink begins human trials (Initially looking at restoring movement in tetraplegics and paraplegics). Other BCI products such as Paradromics Inc's 'Argo' and Synchron Inc's 'Stentrode' launch publically. 3D-printed temporary hospitals begin appearing. Initially as tests, with emergency uses coming shortly afterward. Many more electric cars are launched, and EV chargers will seem to appear regularly. If you're in a position to, this is a great time to install a couple at your place of business. At the same time, several ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicle bans begin, and many more are heavily discussed. The ability to train outdoors gets a little easier as a result, and many of the pollution-related health impacts continue to decline. SpaceX's global satelite internet constellation 'Starlink' is available in most countries worldwide, with other areas being gradually filled in. Although ideal in many situations, it's the emergency use that I'm most excited about (think of the ability to communicate in a town which has just been hit by fire/flood/hurricane etc). NB : Amazon's 'Kuiper' service (same idea) will follow shortly afterward, with launches beginning at the end of the year. Autonomous driving gets a whole lot closer. Tesla's FSD builds are fairly solid, and rolled out to a global fleet of testers in order to find edge cases. Incredible potential for those who can not (or should not) drive. Autonomous delivery of food & medicine tested in several locations, prior to their commercial roll-outs. Small, electric and wonderfully convenient. Intelligent home air-conditioning systems (with inbuilt water and air filtration in many cases) begin to appear. Healthier homes, and much less expensive to run. Perfect. Gene sequencing becomes much, much cheaper over the year; and is used more and more broadly. In many cases, genetic modification follows close behind, and the diseases solved impact larger and larger groups of people.

---

Incidentally - if you're wondering how we've done in the past, here are all of the previous futurism articles.
Over to you. What are your thoughts on the various predictions above - both the content and the timeframes? Anything you'd change, or add? And what are your own predictions for next year, both for the fitness and medical worlds? Drop a comment below, or over on Twitter.

Betting Big On Genomics Stocks (Steven Mark Ryan)

The potential upcoming changes in genomics (many of which we've discussed on this site, if you're looking to dive in a little deeper), and just one of the many ways to get behind them.

This video highlights the potential upcoming changes in genomics (many of which we've discussed on this site, if you're looking to dive in a little deeper), as well as noting just one of the ways to invest your money into such possibilities. Interesting mix.

Looking At : Dec 27, 2020

What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

OYEET NEX (Portable Massage Gun)

Looks good.

Looks good. The OYEET NEX is a Portable Massage Gun for impromptu percussive massage sessions. Nice and deep, nice and fast. And cordless. There's a cradle for recharging it. If you've never used one, the video below will show you exactly what it can do.
The OYEET NEX.

Apple Fitness Plus Review (KevTheTrainer)

Remember the announcement of Apple's Fitness+ service? It's now here (either individually or as part of 'Apple One'), and looks great.

Remember the announcement of Apple's Fitness+ service? It's now here (either individually or as part of 'Apple One'), and looks great.

Looking At : Dec 20, 2020

What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

QUELL (Fitness Gaming Setup)

Looks fantastic.

Looks fantastic. QUELL is a fitness-focused video game, complete with a dedicated sensor-laden wearable. Fight various opponents in the game, as the wearable outfit gradually ramps things up. Also included is a smartphone app, to keep track of everything and to include your workout info from other (outside the game) sources. To give you an idea of the complete offering, a little video :
QUELL.

Can You Do 1 Rep? (THENX)

Interesting challenge (and a great way of showing that different people have different strengths and weaknesses).

Interesting challenge (and a great way of showing that different people have different strengths and weaknesses).

Looking At : Dec 13, 2020

What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

CLMBR (Cardio Machine With Virtual Classes)

Interesting piece of equipment.

Interesting piece of equipment. With the home gym rapidly becoming an essential item for many people (myself included - particularly right now), the CLMBR is superbly timed. Think of it as an indoor climbing machine with a screen. The screen is for a combination of health stats (heartrate etc) and a virtual class or three. A companion smartphone app (iOS & Android) will hook everything up. To give you an idea of what's on offer, a little video :
The CLMBR.

Sissy Squats - Good Or Bad For Knees? (FitnessFAQs)

Keen to hear your thoughts.

Keen to hear your thoughts.

Looking At : Dec 6, 2020

What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

Olive Pro (2-in-1 Hearing Aids & Bluetooth Earbuds)

I look forward to seeing many, many similar devices.

I look forward to seeing many, many similar devices. The Olive Pro is a combination of hearing aid & bluetooth earbuds. Beautiful. There's also a companion smartphone app, complete with a hearing test which can be performed as often as desired. To give you an idea of what's on offer, a little video :
The Olive Pro.

The BEST Pull Up Training EVER (Trevor Bachmeyer)

After watching the video, I agree entirely.

After watching the video, I agree entirely. Easily the best 'how to do more pull-ups' video I've ever seen.

Looking At : Nov 29, 2020

What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

Earth 2.0 (Jump Rope System)

Looks great.

Looks great. The Earth 2.0 is a jump rope system, with the ability to add weight (the cables themselves are various thicknesses, and are easily swapped out). There's also a companion smartphone app, complete with a virtual personal trainer. To give you an idea of what's on offer, a little video :
The Earth 2.0.

How To AWAKEN Your Glutes (Redefining Strength)

Great information.

Great information.

Looking At : Nov 22, 2020

What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

Stemoscope PRO (Wireless Stethoscope with in-built Noise Cancellation)

Looks great.

Looks great. The Stemoscope PRO is a wireless stethoscope with in-built noise cancellation. Perfect for the current medical environment - remote wherever possible, recordable and shareable. Would love to see this combination in a range of medical devices. To give you an idea of what's on offer, a little video :
The Stemoscope PRO.

10 'Rules' For Calisthenics (FitnessFAQs)

Great information.

Great information.

Looking At : Nov 15, 2020

What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

CTRL (Personalized Golf Training Tool)

Interesting.

Interesting. The CTRL is a biokinetic sleeve with a pair of sensors (and a companion smartphone app), acting as a bespoke Golf Training Tool. Would love to see the capabilities expanded for use with other sports. Despite being a fairly complex device, it's a simple idea. To give you some insight, a little video :
The CTRL.

Old-Time Strongman Training with Bud Jeffries (Stick Mobility Podcast #28)

Nice one.

Nice one.

Looking At : Nov 8, 2020

What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

VAE (Energy Spray)

Interesting.

Interesting. The VAE is a pocket-sized energy spray, designed to provide a quick pick-up whenever needed. I suspect 'prior to a heavy workout' will be a popular use case. I'm keen to give it a go - particularly for the above use. While we're waiting (it doesn't ship until early next year), a little video :
The VAE Spray.

Long-Term Review of the Tonal Smart Home Gym (Garage Gym Reviews)

Since we first mentioned the Tonal, there have been a few other entrants into the 'Smart Home Gym' space. Does it still hold up?

Since we first mentioned the Tonal, there have been a few other entrants into the 'Smart Home Gym' space. Does it still hold up?

Looking At : Nov 1, 2020

What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

Hela Bio (Wearable Sweat Glucose Smartwatch)

Looks great.

Looks great. The Hela Bio is a glucose monitor which uses your sweat for its readings. Much simpler than the blood-based methods typically used. Although I'd love to see this functionality added to existing smartwatches, this is an intriguing device nonetheless. A little video to give you an idea of what's on offer :
The Hela Bio.

Movement Training Explained - Ido Portal, Animal Flow, and Primal Workouts (The Bioneer)

A wonderful glimpse at an oft-overlooked area of training.

A wonderful glimpse at an oft-overlooked area of training.

Looking At : Oct 25, 2020

What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

STUDIO (Smart Hub For Your Home Gym)

Interesting approach.

Interesting approach. The STUDIO is a large screen which sits in the corner of your home gym, connecting to any cardio machines you have available. Any age, any brand - as long as they support bluetooth (and there are sensors available for any that don't). The screen displays various workout classes, as well as the information the machines capture. Running speed, a bike's cadence, your heart rate - whatever you're tracking. Although it's a fairly crowded market, the ability to connect to older equipment is interesting. A little video to give you an idea of what's on offer :
The STUDIO.

What To Eat/Drink During Your Next Ultra (Courtney Dauwalter on the Spartan Endurance Podcast)

A fascinating glimpse into Courtney's nutritional intake during a race.

A fascinating glimpse into Courtney's nutritional intake during a race.

Looking At : Oct 18, 2020

What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

SpoonTEK (Taste-Enhancing Spoon)

Interesting idea.

Interesting idea. The SpoonTEK spoon is a typical piece of cutlery with an intriguing addition - the use of a small electrical current to stimulate your taste buds, enhancing the flavour of any food. I'm curious to see how it performs on a particularly bland diet, or an unfamiliar one. As well as for people with a damaged sense of smell. The video will give you an idea of what's on offer :
The SpoonTEK spoon.

Carbon Nanotubes Help Eat Plaque Responsible for Heart Attacks (ColdFusion)

A wonderful look at a recent discovery of nanotech's ability to help eat the plaque responsible for heart attacks.

The TBI 'nanocage' we pointed to yesterday got plenty of people discussing medical nanotechnology in general. Here's a wonderful look at a recent discovery of nanotech's ability to help eat the plaque responsible for heart attacks.

Looking At : Oct 11, 2020

What we were talking about this week on Facebook, Twitter and in The Daily 'Paper'.

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Facebook, Twitter, in The Daily 'Paper' and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

Skill Board (Balance Board)

Deceptively simple.

Deceptively simple. The Skill Board is a balance board & ball (rather than the typical cylinder) - challenging your moves in 360 degrees. Think of it as the foundation of several types of agility training. Although I'm keen to test it out myself, I'm also curious to see what it commonly gets paired with. Will it make its way into the home gym, or is it best suited to more commercial spaces? Keen to hear everyone's thoughts. A little video :
The Skill Board.

If you love talking about training, make sure you check out the Gymchats. There's a full list of previous shows here.

To give you an idea of what they're like, here's an example :

Gymchat 277 - Barefoot Running - Believe the Hype! (Steven Sashen)

Fantastic discussion.

NB : if you'd like to be interviewed on an upcoming show (or know someone who should be), drop us a line. It's great to find out how other people train. And if you'd like to add your comments and suggestions on the Gymchats in general, we'd love to hear them. Cheers.

what we're saying

NB : As well as leaving a comment or two beneath the articles themselves, you might like to swing by the Daily 'Paper' for a somewhat more frequent dose of training goodness.

ready to get in shape?

A dose of Online Personal Training is ideal. Your place, their experience.

As you'd expect, I work with a number of Fitness Professionals myself - including the wonderful Josh Hewett. If you're about to begin your own strength-training journey, swing by his site at :

top-form-fitness.com/online-coaching

Highly recommended. If you're looking to get serious about 'getting in shape', book some time with Josh. Fantastic guy.

setting up a home gym?

If you're getting ready to put together a solid Home Gym (fantastic thing), here's how.

And for more, swing by the full guide. Absolutely free.

images of strength

Want to see (and learn) more Feats of Strength like this? Dive in.

reading : Ferocious Fitness (Phil Ross, Marty Gallagher)

Remember this? Great book. Ferocious Fitness : A Fighter's Proven Action Plan to Develop Blazing Power, Animalistic Strength and Killer Conditioning is a distillation of Phil Ross' training wisdom, in the form of a superbly comprehensive book. We took a look at the digital version recently, and you'll be pleased to know that the paperback version is now available. Definitely worthy of a place on the fitness shelf. Phil Ross' Ferocious Fitness.

community

talking about If you tweet a lot about fitness and would love to be on this list, let me know.

love your grip work?

Check out The Grip Authority. Fantastic site.

daily newsletter

For some people, this site's weekly newsletter (The Strength & Fitness Weekly - part of the Strength Kit) isn't quite frequent enough. For those I produce a daily version, which you can grab here. Absolutely free.

in the wild

It’s always great to see how other people train.

If you’d like to send in a photo of yourself in action (wearing one of the Straight to the Bar Shirts of course - info here), just upload it somewhere and send us a link. Cheers.

the future of fitness

Over the years we’ve looked at the fitness industry from a number of angles - discussing the history, present approaches and potential future trends involved. Fascinating areas.

When it comes to the last part - discussing potential future trends - things get a little, well, unusual. If it’s an interest you share, or you just want to find out the types of things we think are likely, check out the posts tagged ‘Futurism’. And of course, Gymchat 224 (Roundtable) - The Future of Fitness. Superb discussion.

air pollution & health

We discuss air pollution quite a bit on this site - particularly the various health impacts involved. If you'd like to dive in a little deeper, I invite you to check out the following :

• The 'Electric Cars' list on Twitter
• The 'Leave it in the Ground' newsletter
• The daily 'EVs in Australia' 'paper'

and of course :

• The Straight to the Bar Daily

Cheers.

checking out

Follow Me (Real-Time Posture Trainer)

Interesting device.

Follow Me is a small sensor-laden device which sits on your upper back, keeping an eye on your posture. A curved spine will immediately result in a notification being sent to your phone.

Additionally, the device keeps track of your daily step count; and has an hourly stand reminder (many smartwatch owners will already be intimately familiar with both of these). It'll be interesting to see if they add more of these fitness-centric features over time.

For now, a little video :

Follow Me.

And for the full list of the Books & DVDs we recommend, swing by the Recommended Books & DVDs page. To check out what we're reading at the moment (and to make suggestions), join us on Goodreads.

See you there.

Straight to the Bar copyright ©2004-2021 | Scott Andrew Bird

about | contact | giving | privacy | images | feeds & newsletters | write for us