More exercise stuff? Who have I become? Anyway, the Fitness Pro 360 pedometer by Sportsline ($39.99 at Dick’s Sporting Goods) is another item I THOUGHT I needed. The 360 does have some good qualities, it keeps up with time, can work as a watch, counts steps fairly well, tracks mileage, and gives an estimated calories burned. It works well when walking, not so much when running. With a walk mode and run mode, which requires you to switch modes for accuracy, it’s more annoying than helpful while running. I have yet to get close to the same distance numbers when traveling the exact route while running, which either means I’m not wearing it correctly or it’s not picking up all my steps. And since the distance seems to be accurate while walking, I am going to go with the later. Mainly when running I use it for keeping time rather than distance which is the exact opposite of what I really wanted. However, since it does have a walk mode and it works well with that setting, I can’t give it a bad rating. So therefore, I’ll bite my tongue and say it’s a fair buy, but I’ll keep my eye out for something better.

A little late with this review, but I wanted to wait six plus weeks before giving an assessment. Around Thanksgiving I purchased the Bowflex Blaze ($899 plus shipping from Bowflex.com) with the idea I would wait until the New Year to really get into it. First, overall let me say this might turn out to be my best purchase of 2006. The pros include: super easy to put together, informative work out and diet plans, offers over 60 exercises, and when folded up takes up a minimal amount of space. The only cons are the 8’ by 6’ workout space needed when fully extended, pricey upgradeable resistance bars ($99 for two 50 lbs rods), and a few of the exercises result in uncomfortable cable rubs (bench press is key here). With that being said, the 6 week fitness guarantee is pointless, because if you use it, there is no way you will not be satisfied with the results (22 lbs lost for me). Truly 20 minutes a day, three times a week, and a consistent diet actually create amazing results. The bowflex diet plan is a little rough for heavy eaters to get accustomed to at first, but once the routine sets in…bye bye pounds. Now I think $899 is a fair price for this unit (especially priced against bowflex’s other products), I think this product would be a bulls eye for under $775. Keep your eye out for the people giving up on the New Year’s resolution in March, this could be a great find.

Ok—Just when you think they have this wireless thing all tapped out, someone surprises you with another great idea.  As a cell phone junkie, I occasionally switch between my cell phones week to week, and after purchasing a new cell phone (Treo 650) I was looking to buy yet another set of accessories.  Stopping by Target to pick up a memory card for my phone I perused through the car chargers and as I was about to spend another $30 on a PalmOne Treo specific phone charger I happened to see the answer to the Middle East crisis (see ratings scale).   A phone charger which can accommodate more than one type of cell phone!!!  To my delight, I found a charger that would fit the Blackberry (6200-7700 series), Treo (650), and Motorola Razor (the latter two I own).  And what would I pay for such a great invention?...$12.99!!!  Though I have yet to find where I can buy just the extra phone connections, I have confidence it must be out there.  For those of us that have multiple brands of cell phones, this is a must have.  And at only $12.99 it gives you a reason to buy another cell phone.