Get a beach body with your computer

If you’ve always dreamt of having a personal trainer at your fingertips then the newest, high tech fitness trends could be for you.
Easy and convenient online plans that combine fitness and technology are the latest craze in keeping fit, but be warned this is no virtual workout – next time you log on it’s not just your fingers you’ll be exercising!

Theperfectbum.com does exactly what it says on the tin! Sign up on line in your lunch break (£45 for two week plan) and prepare for 14 days of killer squats and stretches that you can do for 20 minutes each day, any time you like and anywhere you like (as long as there’s a PC). We recommend at home or at a friends house – unless your collegues don’t mind you taking part at your desk! You could also combine the 20 minute routines with further excersise like jogging, yoga etc Motivational emails are sent daily as part of the plan.
Click here to visit the website.
Great for: Pre holiday preparations

Yoga-abode.com is a site for yoga fanatics everywhere, complete with shop, travel guide and online yoga magazine (which has some great reviews of books and DVDs). The site has a pose of the month and you can compare notes with other yoga enthusiasts and find Yoga teachers in your area.
Click here to visit the website.
Great for: Getting started or lunchtime inspiration

If you find even the thought of exercise dull then the Wii console is for you. The Wii Sports game lets you play golf, go bowling and swimming all using the remote control which senses your movements. All exercises are disguised as games (oh, those clever people at Nintendo) so you feel like you're playing rather than working up a sweat, there is even a dance mat for the Wii £44.99 plus game, perfect for a Saturday night in, just don't let the wine drinking spoil your hard work! The Wii Fit complete with Balance Board £69.99, takes computer workouts to a whole new level. The board measures your weight and works out your bmi, as well as testing your balance and fitness level so that each time you use the board you can see how much you are improving. Choose balance exercises to build core strength and improve posture, or cardio such as step classes and skiing (yes, skiing) to burn calories. The Wii even offers you a 'personal trainer' who will put you through your paces and motivate you through endless sets of squats, lunges and press-ups. Who needs the gym, when you have a Wii?
Wii console plus Wii sports, £179.99 and all accessories are available at Game, click here to visit the website.
Click here to visit the Wii website.
Great for: A complete fun workout in your home

miCoach is the new personal trainer for your mobile phone, which is a clever collaboration from Samsung and sports brand Adidas. It's a mobile phone which lets you set-up your own running schedule, all you need to do once you have the phone (£349.99 pay-as-you-go or free on contract) is to log-on to miCoach.com, enter your stats and fitness goals, download the programme to your phone and get out running. The phone then coaches you through your run and lets you know how many sessions you need to do each week and for how long.
Click here to view the Samsung F110 miCoach phone
Click here to visit the micoach website.
Great for: Motivating yourself to take on a new fitter lifestyle

By Amy Lawrenson

Posted: 19 May 2008