Want to get in shape? Get chased by zombies
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Want to get in shape? Get chased by zombies
You’ve seen those high-tech bracelets worn by everyone from Oklahoma City Thunder hoops star Kevin Durant to Apple CEO Tim Cook. And yet, Nike reportedly is going to shutter the division, and lay off the engineers, who make the athletic company’s FuelBand wearable fitness tracker.
Is the wearable fitness device market slowing down? No, not really. In fact, for many, the standard Fitbit or calorie-counter apps are too basic. Check out these unconventional additions to the list of tech aimed at getting you in shape.
Coach Alba
Not everyone can afford a personal trainer or a life coach who takes responsibility for their clients’ health. That’s where Coach Alba comes in. After answering a survey on pivotal moments in daily life, Coach Alba is designed to text users during “crucial moments” to remind them of goals, and to encourage good behavior. If, for example, late night snacking is your vice, Coach Alba will ping you in the evening with reminders of what you’ve already eaten that day. Find out more about Coach Alba here.
Pact
If you think words are cheap, then Pact might be the right phone app for you. Aside from allowing you to track your diet and exercise on your phone, Pact adds the element of financial reward if you keep your set goals. Your pay off comes at the expense of fellow users who did not make it to the gym when they said they would, or those who ate a donut instead of a salad. Be warned: fail at meeting your goals, and you end up paying more successful Pact users with your hard earned cash. Find out more about Pact here.
GymShamer
Like Pact, GymShamer uses public accountability as motivation. Unlike Pact, you pay with your dignity, not your money. GymShamer is set up to notify your friends via your social media accounts when you miss a trip to the gym. Winner of a Foursquare hackathon in January, GymShamer may be coming to an embarrassing social media debacle near you. Find out more about GymShamer here.
Striiv
If you’re a gamer, gameplay advantages may be more your speed. The Striiv Pedometer rewards the amount of steps you’ve taken by providing goods for a Farmville-esque game on your phone and computer. In this case, you’re populating an enchanted island with trees and animals. It’s like Lost, but with rewards for people who continue to pay attention. Find out more about Striiv here.
Zombies, Run!
Speaking of gaming and fitness, “Zombies, Run!” is an app that places the user in the middle of a post-apocalyptic dystopia where running isn’t just for exercise, it’s for survival. Like Striiv, the more you exercise, the more rewards you receive. Unlike Striiv, you’re also running for your life. “Zombies, Run!” will instruct the user on how far they have to go in order to escape the hoarde of imaginary zombies following close behind. Think “Running Dead,” not “Walking Dead.” Find out more about “Zombies, Run!” here.
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