Can your workout run a stereo?

The health conscious are reducing their carbon footprint by exercising on machines that run on their own energy, not electricity. Coming soon: A workout that will in fact, produce electric power

Can your workout run a stereo?

The health conscious are reducing their carbon footprint by exercising on machines that run on their own energy, not electricity. Coming soon:u00a0A workout that will in fact, produce electric power

Asam Boesel, a personal trainer who runs The Green Microgym in Portland, Oregon shows you how. He has hooked up two spinning bikes to wind-generator motors so that every rotation of the pedals generates electricity that can be used in batteries that power the gym's music system. Plans are afoot to figure out a way to transfer energy from the bikes to the circuit box, so that they can even power their own lights.

Akshay Raj Mishra
27, Stock Broker
Uses: The treadmill
Energy consumed:3.5 KW
For an hour (approx)
Akshay says he's always used a treadmill at Mogre's gym and it works well for him. "I even trained for the 6 km dream run for the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon earlier this
year, and built my endurance and lung capacity by running on this treadmill," he says.

Saudamini Sawant
43, Interior Designer
Uses: The Jacob's Ladder
Energy consumed:Zero
Saudamini has been exercising on the Ladder three times a week for the last three months. "It's tougher, more challenging because I'm setting the pace myself, instead of the machine doing it for me. And I've seen results: in combination with the trampoline, it has strengthened my stomach muscles and helped ease digestion problems."
u00a0
What's up back home?
Back in India, gyms may not be powering their own DVD players yet, but they are trying to take the pressure off the planet. At Madhuri Ruia's Half-The Functional Health Studio at Colaba in Mumbai, instead of restricting cardio workouts to electricity-sucking treadmills that use anywhere between 3-5 KW (kilowatts) per hour, she offers you The Jacob's Ladder, a machine that uses no electricity and operates on the strength of your body alone. A belt is strapped onto your waist to give posture, as you push one rung for another to appear. "You use your energy to push your way forward. It's driven by the intensity of the human body, enabling a full body, intellect-engaging workout. You have to watch out for the rungs, so, it engages the mind too. You don't run like a robot on the treadmill while watching TV. It's more challenging," Ruia says. The Rebound Air Trampoline, like the kind kids love jumping on, operates on the same principle and helps build immunity and deal with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Machines can't be completely omitted
Other fitness trainers are not quite sure if machines can be omitted from a workout. Celebrity fitness trainer Deanne Pandey, who runs Play-The Fitness Studio in Bandra, says the two can't be compared. "Electric machines have been created for a reason. Equipment that uses your own weight is great, but each individual requires a different kind of exercise. A combination is best, if you really want results. You can't really omit either exercise completely." Gym owner Leena Mogre says a functional exercise is futile if you aren't in the required heart rate zone. "To see results, you need to concentrate on maintaining your heart rate. You may be spending an hour on the Jacob's Ladder and may run for 15 minutes on the treadmill. But if you are not in your required heart rate zone, it doesn't make sense."

Kickboxing reduces treadmill usage
But each one seems to be doing their bit. Mogre's Bandra-based gym is fitted with Automatic Power Factor Correction Equipment that reduces transmission and distribution losses, so that power is optimally used. "We request members to get their own bottles to avoid using disposable cups. Clients are profiled before they join the gym, and given the option of outdoor cardio exercises like kickboxing to minimise treadmill usage," Mogre adds.

Play is fitted with full-length sliding glass windows. As often as possible, the windows are opened to let in natural sunlight and fresh air. That conserves electricity and is healthier because you are not breathing recycled air. "We use CFL lights, and encourage open-air skipping, kickboxing and running in our terrace. We've kept the gym small in size and have just 5 cardio stations so that it's never too crowded. This, in turn, reduces AC consumption," Pandey says.

Rock climbing wall that'll produce, not use energy
It gets better. Ruia is currently in talks with product designer and engineer Vinay Savla, to purchase the CLIFF, a motorised indoor rock climbing wall that consumes 1 KW per hour of usage. That's 2KW lesser than what an average treadmill consumes. In fact, Savla's company Vertical Infinity is working on a version of the CLIFF that will generate rather than consume electricity, a la Boesel's power-generating spinning cycles. "The new design will use your body weight and gravity to force the climber to work harder. A generator attached to this system will rotate and generate power," he explains.u00a0
We can't wait.

Go Alfresco to save electricity, cash
Instead of running on the treadmill, put on your running shoes and head to the neighbourhood park. Keep to level grass instead of paved tracks to reduce impact on knees.
Instead of hopping on to the spinning cycle, run up the stairs of your building, then jog down, and repeat; it's a great way to interval train.
Instead of going nowhere on a stationary cycle at the gym, take a tour of your neighbourhood on a real bicycle.
Instead of sweating it out on the cross-trainer, try jumping rope on your terrace. Or sign up for swimming lessons for a full-body workout.
Juzer Ali, fitness trainer at Play-the Health Studio, demonstrates how you can ditch machines and work out using everyday tools and your own body weight.

Leena Mogre
Clients are profiled before they join the gym, and given the option of outdoor cardio exercises like kickboxing to minimise treadmill usage.
Deanne Pandey
We use CFL lights, and encourage open-air skipping. We have 5 cardio stations so it's never too crowded, so that reduces AC consumption.
Madhuri Ruia
We're in talks to purchase a motorised indoor rock climbing wall that consumes 1 KW per hour of usage. That's 2KW lesser than what an average treadmill consumes.

How to beat the orange peel on your thighs
Twenty per cent of men think "cellulite" is a sort of battery. And that probably leaves the women fuming even more when a peep at the mirror reveals the dimpled skin effect on their thighs and butt.
What is it?
It's fat, and usually found on areas where the body tends to store fat.
Why the guys are lucky
Since the fat cells lie close to the skin's surface it's easier for the fat to pop through, leaving a dimpled effect. With men, the fat cells lie deeper into the skin.u00a0
What to eat, and not
Avoid high-fat foods like cheese and meats. Restrict your protein intake to fish and chicken. Tofu and soya are great for vegetarians.
Starchy carbohydrates are not your friends. Avoid double cheese pizzas, sandwiches dripping with mayo. Replace with baked potato with cottage cheese, wholegrain pasta and dals.
Get your sugar fix from low fat yoghurt (tastes divine with a spoon of honey). Replace a cup of Chocolate ice cream for a raspberry lolly.
Booze has a strong impact on fat deposits, so if you drink a few times a week,
it's going to add to your cellulite stock. Do the math: 2 glasses of wine every day adds up to 3,500 odd calories in 2 weeks.
Ordering takeaway is out of bounds. An oily curry and parathas are going to land up as fat or dimpled deposits on your derriere.
The miracle foods
Green tea is said to have anti oxidants, making it a great choice to burn fat. Those of you who can take spice, can devour on chillies. Since it ups your heartbeat for a few hours after eating it, it's said to speed up your
metabolism rate.