Fitness

Best sports and fitness equipment: Turn your home into a haven of good health

Published

2 years ago

June 6, 2024

Best sports and fitness equipment: Turn your home into a haven of good health

Whether you’re looking to build a comprehensive home gym or simply add a few key pieces to your fitness routine, our selection will help you make the right choice. Fret not and explore our top picks, including high-quality treadmills, walking pads, exercise cycles, and various gym equipment designed to meet all your workout needs.

With treadmills and walking pads, users can conveniently meet their cardio needs and fortunately, most of our picks don’t require extensive space. This way, you can burn calories and improve your cardiovascular health without taking over your space.

Exercise cycles are able to provide a low-impact workout that strengthens your legs and core and with our range of gym equipment, from weights to resistance bands, you can perform a full-body workout without leaving home. So, what are you waiting for? Take advantage of these incredible deals to invest in your health and fitness and turn your home into the ultimate wellness retreat.

1. Kore PVC 16 Kg Home Gym Set With One 3 Ft Curl And One Pair Dumbbell Rods With Gym Accessories, Black

The Kore PVC 10-40 Kg home gym set includes a 3 ft curl rod and a pair of dumbbell rods, along with essential gym accessories, making it a great addition to your home gym. With this versatile set, buyers can enjoy a comprehensive workout at home, catering to various strength training needs. With the PVC weights, buyers can enjoy ease of use and long-term durability, making it perfect for both beginners and seasoned fitness enthusiasts. So, what are you waiting for? Transform your home gym with this all-in-one set that is designed to take your fitness routine to the next level.

Specifications of Kore PVC 10-40 Kg Home Gym Set:

Weight range: 10-40 Kg

Rod lengths: Includes one 3 ft curl rod and a pair of dumbbell rods

Material: Durable PVC weights

Accessories: Comes with essential gym accessories for a complete workout setup

Reasons to buy	Reasons to avoid Advertisement
Versatile workout: Suitable for various exercises	Limited weight range: Max 40 Kg
Durable material: PVC weights ensure longevity	Space required: Needs storage space

What are buyers saying on Amazon?

Buyers praise its suitability for beginners and ease of use, along with performance and value. However, some report missing pieces and material issues.

Why choose this product?

Choose the Kore PVC Home Gym Set for its versatile workout options, durable materials, and comprehensive accessories, ideal for home fitness.

2. Lifelong FitPro Motorised Treadmill

The Lifelong FitPro (2.5 HP Peak) manual incline motorised treadmill is designed for home use and features 12 preset workouts and a maximum speed of 12km/hr. In addition, it includes a Bluetooth speaker for an improved exercise experience and also supports a maximum user weight of 100 kg. With this treadmill, you get a reliable and efficient workout solution that’s perfect for people who wish to maintain fitness at home. With its robust motor and user-friendly features, the Lifelong FitPro will deliver an enjoyable workout experience at home.

Specifications of Lifelong FitPro Motorised Treadmill:

Motor power: 2.5 HP Peak

Incline: Manual Incline

Preset workouts: 12 preset workouts

Maximum speed: 12 km/hr

Reasons to buy	Reasons to avoid
Versatile workouts: 12 preset programs	Manual incline: No automatic adjustment
Entertainment: Built-in Bluetooth speaker	Max speed: Limited to 12 km/hr

What are buyers saying on Amazon?

Most buyers like the treadmill’s speed, compactness, and affordability. They mention it works well with 8 speed levels and is easy to install. Mixed opinions on noise and size.

Why choose this product?

Pick the Lifelong FitPro for its versatile 12 preset workouts, built-in Bluetooth speaker, robust 2.5 HP motor, and user-friendly features.

3. Reach AB-110 BST Air Bike Exercise Cycle with Moving or Stationary Handle | with Back Support Seat & Twister | Adjustable Resistance | Fitness Cycle for Home Gym

The Reach AB-110 BST air bike is a marvel for gym rats. This exercise cycle offers multiple workout options with moving or stationary handles and includes a back support seat and twister. Still want more? With this bike, you can enjoy adjustable resistance levels catering to various fitness levels, making it great for home gyms. In essence, this fitness cycle provides an effective cardiovascular workout, promoting overall health and fitness from the comfort of your home. With the Reach air bike, you can reach the height of good health without having to leave the comfort of your home.

Specifications of Reach AB-110 BST Air Bike:

Handle type: Moving or stationary handles

Additional features: Back support seat and twister

Resistance: Adjustable resistance levels

Intended use: Fitness cycle for home gym

Reasons to buy	Reasons to avoid
Versatile workout: Moving or stationary handles	Compact design: Limited space required
Additional features: Back support seat and twister	Limited resistance levels: Few options for intensity adjustment

What are buyers saying on Amazon?

According to buyers, the bike offers realism, sturdiness, and ease of assembly. They value its appearance, performance, and affordability. Mixed opinions on comfort and durability.

Why choose this product?

Consider buying the Reach AB-110 BST Air Bike for its versatile workout options, adjustable resistance, back support seat, and compact design for home gyms.

Also Read: Best gym ball to achieve your fitness goals: Top 10 options to enhance your workout routine

4. PowerMax Fitness TD-M1 (4HP Peak) Pre-installed Motorized Foldable Treadmill for Home Use | Manual-Incline Treadmill | Semi-Auto Lubrication | Multifunction Console LCD Display, BT, Speaker, MP3, AUX

The PowerMax Fitness TD-M1 is a foldable treadmill designed for home use. It comes with a host of features and capabilities, including a 4HP peak motor and manual incline. It’s also equipped with semi-auto lubrication, a multifunction console with LCD display, Bluetooth, speaker, MP3, and AUX compatibility, making this treadmill a dependable workout companion with numerous options for added convenience. With its compact design, home gym owners will enjoy working out without compromising their available space. This way, you get an efficient cardio workout solution for all fitness levels.

Specifications of PowerMax Fitness Motorised Foldable Treadmill:

Motor: 4HP Peak

Incline: Manual

Lubrication: Semi-Auto

Console: Multifunction LCD Display with Bluetooth, Speaker, MP3, and AUX compatibility

Reasons to buy	Reasons to avoid Advertisement
Powerful motor: 4HP peak for efficient workouts	Manual incline: Lack of automatic adjustment
Convenient features: Bluetooth, speaker, MP3	Lubrication system: Semi-auto may require maintenance

What are buyers saying on Amazon?

Customers praise the treadmill’s ease of installation and user-friendliness, citing smooth operation and performance. They appreciate its durability, value, sturdiness, and quality. Mixed opinions on service and noise.

Why choose this product?

Buy the PowerMax Fitness TD-M1 for its powerful 4HP motor, convenient features like Bluetooth and MP3 compatibility, and foldable design for home use.

5. Reach Mini Bike Digital Pedal Exerciser | Home Exercise Equipment | Mini Cycle for Home Workout with Fixing Strap, Adjustable Resistance & LCD Display | for Light Exercise & Physiotherapy at Home

The Reach Mini Bike Digital Pedal Exerciser is a great choice for home workouts and physiotherapy. This exerciser comes with adjustable resistance, a fixing strap, and an LCD display, making it a convenient way to engage in light exercise. It’s also compact and may be used for multiple purposes, making this mini cycle an effective means to stay active and improve mobility from the comfort of your home. If you’re looking for a rehabilitation companion or a regular exercise tool, this practical tool will mark a worthy addition to any home fitness routine.

Specifications of Reach Mini Bike Digital Pedal Exerciser:

Adjustable resistance: Yes

Fixing strap: Included

LCD display: Yes

Exercise intensity: Light

Reasons to buy Advertisement	Reasons to avoid
Adjustable resistance: Tailored workout intensity	Limited exercise intensity: Designed for light exercise
LCD display: Track progress	Basic features: Few additional features

What are buyers saying on Amazon?

Buyers appreciate the stationary bicycle for its effectiveness and portability, ideal for home exercise and quick workouts. They value its quality, comfort, and value, but have mixed opinions on the display.

Why choose this product?

Check out the Reach Mini Bike for its convenience, offering adjustable resistance, LCD display, and portability for light exercise and physiotherapy at home.

Also Read: Best workout bike for home: Pedal toward your fitness goals with our 8 picks worth considering

6. PowerMax Fitness JOGPAD-2 Treadmill

The PowerMax Fitness JOGPAD-2 is a multi-purpose 2-in-1 treadmill and walking pad that offers a compact design for easy storage. With a 4.0HP peak motor, this treadmill provides a powerful workout experience. This treadmill has a slim profile that allows for convenient storage under the bed or sofa. In addition, it also comes with a remote controller and Bluetooth speaker for extra convenience and entertainment during workouts. Who is this ideal for? If you’re looking for options to stay fit at home, consider this treadmill that’s perfect for users who wish to stay active in compact spaces.

Specifications of PowerMax Fitness JOGPAD-2 Treadmill:

Motor: 4.0HP Peak

Design: 2-in-1 Compact Foldable (Treadmill + Under Desk Walking Pad)

Storage: Slim design for under bed or sofa storage

Features: Remote controller, Bluetooth speaker

Reasons to buy	Reasons to avoid
2-in-1 design: Treadmill and Walking Pad	Limited features: Basic functionality
Compact and foldable: Easy storage	Motor power: Peak power may not suit all users

What are buyers saying on Amazon?

Buyers appreciate the treadmill’s quality, ease of installation, value, and portability. Mixed opinions exist on speed and noise levels.

Why choose this product?

Pick the PowerMax Fitness JOGPAD-2 for its versatile 2-in-1 design, compact foldable structure, remote controller, and Bluetooth speaker convenience.

7. Reach NM-200 Curved Manual Treadmill

The Reach NM-200 Curved Manual Treadmill is designed for a well-rounded workout experience for walking, jogging, and running. This treadmill comes with a maximum user weight of 150kgs and provides a sturdy platform for a full-body workout, making it ideal for home gyms. With this treadmill, users can achieve their fitness goals with cardio exercises tailored to their needs. In addition, its curved design means a natural running motion, promoting better form and reduced joint impact for a hard-hitting workout session everyday at home. Bring one home today!

Specifications of Reach NM-200 Curved Manual Treadmill:

Type: Curved Manual Treadmill

Maximum user weight: 150kgs

Fitness functionality: Walking, Jogging, Running

Usage: Suitable for Home Gyms

Reasons to buy Advertisement	Reasons to avoid
Versatile workout: Walking, Jogging, Running	Manual operation: Requires physical effort
High weight capacity: Supports up to 150kgs	Limited features: Basic functionality

What are buyers saying on Amazon?

The treadmill’s space-saving design, value, quality, and comfort, with a spacious running pad and ease of use are appreciated by users. There are mixed opinions on noise and service.

Why choose this product?

Pick the Reach NM-200 for its versatile fitness functionality, sturdy build supporting up to 150kgs, and effective full-body cardio workout capability.

Also Read: Best air bike for your home gym: Pedal your way to fitness with top 10 picks for intense workouts

8. amazon basics Air Bike Exercise Cycle With Moving Or Stationary Handles, Adjustable Cushioned Seat, Max User Weight 110 Kg, Multi

The Amazon Basics Air Bike is a worthy consideration for your exercise needs. Why do we say that? This bike promises diverse usage with moving or stationary handles and an adjustable cushioned seat. It comes with a maximum user weight of 110 kg and accommodates users of various sizes. This exercise cycle provides a full-body workout that promotes cardiovascular health and muscle toning. In addition, its sturdy build ensures stability during intense workouts, making it a reliable addition to any home gym. Look no further and enjoy personalised fitness routines with this multifunctional exercise cycle from Amazon Basics.

Specifications of Amazon Basics Air Bike:

Handle type: Moving or stationary handles

Seat: Adjustable cushioned seat

Maximum user weight: 110 kg

Functionality: Multifunctional

Reasons to buy	Reasons to avoid
Versatile handles: Moving or stationary	Limited weight capacity: Max 110 kg
Adjustable seat: Cushioned for comfort	Basic functionality: Few additional features

What are buyers saying on Amazon?

Most buyers value the stationary bicycle for its affordability, performance, and easy installation. However, some report issues with service. Mixed opinions on noise and quality.

Why choose this product?

Pick the Amazon Basics Air Bike for its versatile handles, adjustable cushioned seat, and sturdy build supporting up to 110 kg.

What specific fitness goals do you wish to meet with fitness and sports equipment?

If your goal is to improve cardiovascular health, cardio equipment like treadmills or stationary bikes may be suitable. For strength training, consider weightlifting equipment.

How much space do you have available for fitness and sports equipment?

Measure the available space in your home or gym to ensure the equipment fits comfortably without overcrowding.

What is your budget for fitness and sports equipment?

Determine a budget based on your limits and the quality of equipment you require. Consider both upfront costs and potential long-term maintenance expenses.

What features of fitness and sports equipment are essential for your workouts?

Consider factors such as adjustable resistance, workout programmes, display features, and durability to ensure the equipment meets your specific needs and preferences.

Also Read: Best home fitness cycle: 10 smooth, quiet, and effective picks to meet your workout needs everyday

Factors to consider while buying fitness and sports equipment

Fitness goals: Consider your specific fitness objectives, whether it’s weight loss, muscle gain, or cardiovascular health.
Space: Evaluate the available area in your home or gym to ensure the equipment fits comfortably.
Budget: Determine a realistic budget based on the quality and features you require.
Quality and durability: Invest in equipment made from durable materials to ensure longevity and safety during workouts.
Versatility: Choose equipment that offers a variety of exercise options to accommodate different workout routines.
Safety features: Look for equipment with safety features such as secure grips, adjustable settings, and emergency stop buttons.
User-friendly: Opt for equipment that is easy to use and adjust, with clear instructions and intuitive controls.
Warranty and support: Check the warranty coverage and available customer support services to address any issues or concerns after purchase.

Also Read: Best manual treadmill: Top 10 options to boost your home workout experience, pick from the budget-friendly options

Top 3 features of best sports and fitness equipment

Best sports and fitness equipment	Workout Device Type	Workout Features Advertisement	Target
Kore PVC Home Gym Set	Home Gym Set	Dumbbells, Curl Bar, Gym Accessories	Strength Training
Lifelong FitPro Treadmill	Motorized Treadmill	Manual Incline, Preset Workouts, Bluetooth Speaker	Cardio
Reach AB-110 BST Air Bike Exercise Cycle	Air Bike	Moving/Stationary Handle, Back Support Seat, Adjustable Resistance	Cardio
PowerMax Fitness TD-M1 Treadmill	Motorized Treadmill	Manual Incline, Semi-Auto Lubrication, Multifunction Console	Cardio
Reach Mini Bike Digital Pedal Exerciser	Mini Exercise Cycle	Fixing Strap, Adjustable Resistance, LCD Display	Light Exercise
PowerMax Fitness JOGPAD-2 2-in-1 Treadmill	Foldable Treadmill	Under Desk Walking Pad, Remote Controller, Bluetooth Speaker	Cardio
Reach NM-200 Curved Manual Treadmill	Curved Manual Treadmill	Walking, Jogging, Running	Full Body Workout
Amazon Basics Air Bike Exercise Cycle	Air Bike	Moving/Stationary Handles, Adjustable Seat, Multi-functional	Cardio

The future of fitness: How AI coaches are changing the way we exercise

Published

8 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

The future of fitness: How AI coaches are changing the way we exercise

Fitness and health apps have been promising “smart coaches” and “personalised training plans” for years. But, to date, most programmes have been like online shopping recommendations, with exercises broadly matching your demographic profile and performance level.

However, the rapid advances in real-time image recognition, generative AI and natural language processing are bringing an AI coach worthy of the name within our grasp. And not just for high-tech gyms like Lumin, but also for people working out at home or in the park. Peloton, for example, films how you exercise and provides feedback in real time. Google has also announced AI-powered personalised fitness and health advice for its Fitbit range.

HYROX pro athlete Jake Dearden putting in the work on an indoor bike

Market analysts think the AI fitness market could be worth close to $35b USD by 2030. But how close are we to that future? Which company is training up the supertrainer? And how will that change the way we exercise, sweat and track our progress? And what do we need to know about this new world?

Harnessing AI’s potential to make personalised training available to all

Lucy Charles-Barclay prepares for training in London, England, on July 14, 2021. — Most fitness apps give generic exercise suggestions
Advertisement

© Patrik Lundin/Red Bull Content Pool

Confidence Udegbue has the perfect CV for designing an AI coach. The Vice President of Product at fitness app Freeletics studied electrical and computer engineering and teaches fitness classes in his free time. His broad shoulders, muscular biceps and infectious spirit are a dead giveaway: this guy knows what he’s talking about.

“In the gym, I can see immediately when someone I’m teaching is making a mistake,” says Udegbue. “But that expertise is hard to scale.” Freeletics is trying to solve that problem with AI. The app has been using a predictive algorithm since 2019 to suggest workouts based on demographic data and self-assessed fitness levels. This means that a 39-year-old man who has been training for two years and is at level 63 in the app won’t receive the same instructions as a 25-year-old beginner.

Freeletics uses AI-based motion analysis powered by models like those from Google’s MediaPipe framework, which includes BlazePose – the successor to the earlier PoseNet model. The models provide a skeletal muscle database that can replicate all types of exercises, for which Freeletics sports scientists then define the movements. That way, the system can assess whether that squat you just did went low enough.

Can an AI coach give useful real-time workout feedback?

One of the most revered sabre fencers in the world, Olga Kharlan, checks her phone during training — World-class sabre fencer Olga Kharlan checks her phone

© Yurii Strokan/Red Bull Content Pool

In 2024, Freeletics introduced the Coach+ feature – an AI-powered chatbot with Freeletics expertise and access to anonymised data from over 59m user journeys. Users can ask the virtual coach questions like, “How can I build muscle mass?” or “I feel weak – how can I motivate myself?”

Freeletics is currently testing a version that will allow the app to see you work out. As of April, users have been able to record themselves exercising on their smartphones. “AI counts the reps and gives direct feedback,” Udegbue says. That is particularly helpful because even experienced athletes do not always perform pistol squats or burpees correctly.

Democratising the personal coach experience

Max Verstappen of Oracle Red Bull Racing stretches before a F1 Grand Prix — Max Verstappen warming up before a F1 race

© Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

A personal coach was long the preserve of Hollywood actors, top models and CEOs – a highly competent service provider, always available whenever a slot opened up in their client’s busy schedule. They know their clients’ allergies, preferences and weak spots. They always know how to set the pace. Sometimes they’re pushy, sometimes they go easy. They are a mix of therapist, personal assistant and best friend – open 24/7, all major credit cards accepted.

In the soccer world, the manager is often called “boss” – a figure of respect who takes care of the players both on and off the field. A good coach can tell when something is off in a movement – when the person’s mind is elsewhere, or they’re lacking energy. Anyone who has had that person in their life knows that a good coach is worth their weight in gold, which is why there are coaches for everything – careers, relationships, nutrition – and why the idea of a personalised fitness coach is so appealing.

AI has no body or talent. It doesn’t know what it feels like for sweat to run down the skin or for muscles to cramp or for adrenaline to rush through the veins. But it does recognise patterns and make predictions that we humans can use increasingly often and, in the best-case scenario, find out more about ourselves in the process.

How AI will allow us to ‘chat with our body’

Mutaz Barshim powers through a workout in the gym — High-jump star Mutaz Barshim lifting heavy
Advertisement

© Diaa Amer/Red Bull Content Pool

Mirrors show you how you see yourself. But the Magic AI Mirror promises that you will like what you see if you follow the exercises and tips on the reflective screen. Behind the glass surface is an AI coach who steers your workouts in real time.

Growl goes even deeper into movement detection. The start-up has developed an exercise boxing bag that captures every movement with 3D cameras and Lidar (light detection and ranging) technology. AI corrects your posture or encourages you when your energy decreases.

Whoop’s fitness trackers combine biometric data with generative AI. If you’re wondering when you got your best sleep, you’ll get a precise answer: “On July 14, because the allergy season was over and you didn’t drink alcohol.” You can chat with your body.

Freeletics is also banking on predictive AI. “Soon the system will recognise that user X has had an increased resting heart rate for days, so I won’t suggest high-intensity exercises,” says Udegbue.

The vision all companies are working on is a multimodal coach: AI that unlocks information – biometrics, genetics, video, training history – and conveys it intuitively to the user. But a perfect coach is more than just an algorithm. Researchers are working on reinforcement learning systems that set individual step goals that are challenging but achievable, and adapt whenever progress has been made.

The power of human and AI combined

Adriano de Souza in seen during the video recording of Se Prepara series in Florianopolis, Brazil, on April 30, 2019. — Training is possible anywhere

© Marcelo Maragni/Red Bull Content Pool
Advertisement

“We will not be able to deliver on the promise of absolute personalisation for the mass market,” Eskofier says. But before you lose hope, you should know what he means by personalisation.

His laboratory supports, among other people, Sebastian Steudtner, the big wave surfer and world record holder. To do this, they measured his body in an MRI scanner, carried out psychological assessments, calculated strength curves and even fitted his surfboard and wetsuit with sensors.

Eskofier’s team created Steudtner’s digital twin. By the time the project concluded in May 2025, their AI system could already discuss with a real coach what angle Steudtner should surf a 100-foot wave at, and whether he’d be strong enough to do it.

The one thing AI will never change in fitness training

Constantin Popovici of Romania stretches at the athletes' area during the training day of the final stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Boston, USA, on September 18, 2025. — No equipment, no excuses – embrace the simplicity of pure movement
Advertisement

© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool

“We can’t offer that service to millions of people,” Eskofier says. “But these systems can still create real added value.” He believes AI coaches are a good base: “AI can take over data processing and routine personalisation, while real coaches can focus on mentoring.”

AI coaches are getting smarter all the time, too, which is why it’s important to know what they can and can’t do. Limited data sets can lead to bias if too few women or people of below-average height are represented in the data.

“No matter how good the technology gets, one thing will never change,” says Udegbue. “A coach can only make you better if you want to be better yourself, too.” It’s all in your hands.

Fitness

The Case for Ditching Your Fitness Trackers

Published

20 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

The Case for Ditching Your Fitness Trackers

Credit: René Ramos/Lifehacker/ZaZa studio/Adobe Stock/Andriy Onufriyenko/Moment/Vadym Kalitnyk/iStock/Getty Images

I have a love-hate relationship with the smartwatch on my wrist. This relationship is no doubt shaped by the fact that I write about fitness tech for a living, but I know I’m not alone in succumbing to an obsession with numbers from my wearables. Did I hit 10,000 steps? What’s my resting heart rate today? Is my sleep score better than yesterday’s? When did progressive overload turn into screen time overload, too?

The fitness tech boom is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon—and with it, we consume a constant stream of promises that this data will make us healthier, stronger, and faster. With the sheer amount of health insights potentially available to us at any time, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. I’ve watched my least health-anxious friends become consumed by metrics they’d never heard of two years ago. They’re tracking bone density trends, obsessing over cortisol levels, panicking about stress scores that fluctuate for reasons no algorithm can fully explain. I can feel my fitness trackers pull me away from genuine wellness and into a mental health disaster. The good news: When I look up from my screens and start talking to real people, I see I’m not alone in wanting to unplug and push back against the overly quantified self.

A growing anti-tech fitness movement

When I put out a call on Instagram asking people about their relationship with posting workout data and fitness content, I received hundreds of responses from people exhausted by the performance of fitness. Even if your only audience is your own reflection, simply owning a wearable can create a real barrier between feeling good about your body and your fitness journey. Did I work out enough today? Will my friends see that I skipped a workout? Should I push through injury to maintain my streak?

For these reasons, celebrity trainer Lauren Kleban says she doesn’t like to rely on wearables at all. “Counting steps or calories can quickly spiral into a bit of an obsession,” says Kleban, and that “takes the joy out of movement and away from learning what’s truly best for us.” She says her clients want to focus on their mind and body connection, now more than ever. There’s a real, growing desire to rebuild a sense of intuition that doesn’t depend on feedback from a watch.

Similarly, Marshall Weber, a certified personal trainer and owner of Jack City Fitness, says that he’s “definitely been surprised by the growing push towards unplugged fitness,” but that he “totally gets it.” Weber says he’s had clients express feeling “overwhelmed with their Fitbit or Apple Watch micromanaging their training.” When every workout becomes about numbers and keeping up with an average, it’s all too easy to lose touch with your body. “The anti-tech movement is about taking back that personal connection,” Weber says. After all, when was the last time you finished a workout and didn’t immediately look at your stats, but instead just noticed how you felt?

This is the paradox at the heart of fitness technology. Tools designed to help us understand our bodies have created a new kind of illiteracy. Maybe you can tell me why you’re aiming for Zone 2 workouts, but can’t actually recognize what that effort feels like without a screen telling you. In a sense, you might be outsourcing your own intuition to algorithms.

If nothing else, the data risks are real. (Because if you think you own all your health data, think again.) Every heart rate spike, every missed workout, every late-night stress indicator gets recorded, stored, and potentially shared. Still, for me, the more insidious risk is psychological: the erosion of our ability to know ourselves without consulting a device first.

What do you think so far?

How to unplug and exercise intuitively

So what does unplugged fitness actually look like in practice? It’s not about rejecting all technology or pretending GPS watches and heart rate monitors don’t have value—I promise. Look, I crave data and answers as much as—and maybe more than—the average gym-goer. I’m simply not woo-woo enough to ditch my Garmin altogether.

Instead, I argue for re-establishing a hierarchy in which technology serves your training, not the other way around. “Sometimes, the best performance boost is just learning to listen to what your body is saying and feeling,” says Weber. But what does “listening to your body” actually look like?

If you’re like me, and need to rebuild a connection with your body from the ground-up, try these approaches:

Start with tech-free workouts. Designate certain runs, yoga sessions, or strength workouts as completely unplugged. No watch, no phone, no tracking. Notice what changes when there’s no device to check.
Relearn your body’s signals. Can you gauge your effort level without looking at a heart rate monitor? Do you actually know what “recovery pace” feels like for you, or are you just matching a number? Practice assessing fatigue, energy, soreness, and readiness without checking your watch.
Replace metrics with sensory awareness. Instead of tracking pace, notice your breathing pattern. Instead of counting calories burned, pay attention to how your muscles feel. Instead of obsessing over sleep scores, ask yourself a simple question in the morning: how do I actually feel?
Set goals that can’t be gamified. Rather than chasing step counts or streak days, aim for qualitative improvements. Can you hold a plank with better form? Does that hill feel easier than last month? Are you enjoying your workouts more? These are the markers of real progress.
Create tech boundaries. Maybe you use your GPS watch for long runs but leave it home for everything else. Perhaps you track workouts but delete the social features. Find the minimum effective dose of technology that serves your goals without dominating your headspace.
Reconnect with in-person community. The loss of shared gym culture—people actually talking to each other instead of staying plugged into individual screens—represents more than just nostalgia. There’s real value in working out alongside others, in having conversations about training instead of just comparing data, in building knowledge through shared experience rather than algorithm-driven insights.

The bottom line

Unplugging is easier said than done, but you don’t need to go cold turkey. Maybe in the new year, you can set “body literacy” as a worthwhile resolution. At the end of the day, exercise should add to your life, not become another source of performance anxiety. It should be energizing, not exhausting—and I don’t just mean physically. The never-ending irony of modern fitness culture is that in our pursuit of optimal health, we keep inventing new forms of stress and anxiety. When all forms of wellness come with trackable metrics and social pressure, I think we’ve fundamentally missed the point.

Fitness

How to avoid exercise burnout and still build muscle, according to an expert

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

How to avoid exercise burnout and still build muscle, according to an expert

Many of us have experienced the overwhelming feeling of mental and physical exhaustion that comes with exercise burnout. When you push yourself too hard without sufficient rest and recovery, it ultimately becomes counterproductive to your fitness goals, and your energy will tank along with your motivation. Not only that, your performance will suffer when you overtrain and under-recover, and you’re left sinking further into the couch, wondering how you’ll lift that next weight, swim that next lap, or run that next mile.

With a combo of the right nutrition, rest, recovery, and lowering your training intensity, you can get back on track. To learn more about avoiding burnout and torching fat while sculpting muscle for men, I asked certified personal trainer and Vice President of Education for Body Fit Training, Steve Stonehouse, to share some of his vast knowledge on the subject. With decades of experience in fitness education, fitness programming, and personal training, Steve Stonehouse developed an in-depth knowledge of weight loss, improving body fat composition, building muscle, and the best exercise plans that generate serious results.

Expert advice on burning fat

The Manual: As the Vice President of Education for Body Fit Training, what are your top tips for burning fat and improving body composition for men?

Steve Stonehouse: As the programmer and head of education, this is a little cliché, but I go for balance. Not every workout can be this CrossFit type, give it all you’ve got, smoke yourself, and work out — that’s not sustainable. The other end of the spectrum is just walking at a moderate pace for 20 minutes on a treadmill three times a week, because that’s not going to do it either. There’s value in both of those scenarios.

It’s best to have a session or two each week where the intensity is very high, and you’re testing yourself and pushing yourself closer to your limits. That’s anaerobic exercise, which is 90% intensity or above. It’s fine, safe, and healthy to get there occasionally, but every workout can’t be one of those. Your body isn’t built to train that way; you’re gonna burn out, and you could get injured, or both.

There’s a place for some moderate intensity as well, so if I were focusing on heart rate, I would say in the 80s, so it’s hard but not max effort, and it’s more sustainable. When you’re in that 70 to high 80s range, we categorize that as building aerobic capacity. Overall, I suggest an approach with recovery, moderate intensity, and then high intensity every now and again to test yourself.

The best cardio for fat loss

TM: How does cardio help with fat loss, and what types of cardio do you recommend?

Steve Stonehouse: I’m a big fan of high-intensity cardio. Sometimes, people think if some is good, more is probably better, but more isn’t always better. If I were putting a program together for six days a week, I’d have three days as some type of cardio-driven day, and three of those days I would have some version of resistance training. Maybe some days are heavier, and other days are a little lighter with higher rep targets and less rest.

Of those three cardio days, I’d recommend that one of them be a high-intensity max effort type HIIT session. Another could be hard with a heart rate in the 80s, but not max effort. That third cardio day could be more metabolic conditioning, like kettlebell swings, sled pushes, rower, or SkiErg, and things like that.

Ramping up muscle growth

TM: What types of exercise are the most effective for ramping up muscle growth?

Steve Stonehouse: We’re moving into a great space right now in fitness, and it seems like every 10 or 15 years, there’s this new movement. CrossFit first popped up and led the charge for metabolic conditioning and no days off. It’s the idea that if you still feel good at the end of a workout, you didn’t train hard enough. I think we’re phasing out of that and into wanting to lift heavy again. People who wouldn’t have touched a barbell ten years ago are lifting heavy now.

Keep in mind that heavy is a relative term. You can get stronger with some lighter dumbbells, but there are limits to that. A blend is nice, but you do need to include those times when you’re lifting heavy and challenging yourself at a low rep target.

Say, I’m going to do barbell deadlifts for five reps. If I can do eight, then that weight is too light. It’s intended to be a weight that you can’t get 15 reps of. There are advantages to lifting heavy with low-rep targets and longer rest times. For example, we’re going to do four sets of five reps of barbell deadlifts with two minutes of rest in between sets. If you can do more than five or six reps, that weight is too light. There’s a lot of value in lifting heavy.

TM: We know it’s probably difficult to choose, but what are your top three favorite fat-burning, muscle-building exercises right now?

Steve Stonehouse:

Barbell Zercher squat
Barbell deadlift
Flat barbell bench press

TM: How often should you work out to build muscle?

Steve Stonehouse: For the heavy session with five or six reps and longer rest periods, you could have a day each week that’s primarily focused on upper-body heavy strength training. Then, you could split it up and have another day that’s primarily focused on the lower body. You could do that, so you’re not in the gym for two hours; it’s more like a reasonable 45 or 50 minutes. If you were feeling ambitious, you could get a third one in toward the end of the week and have a bit of a mixed session where there’s not as much volume, but you have upper-body and lower-body focus.

With that type of heavy volume, you’re going to need a decent amount of time to rest. So, if I were doing a heavy bench press today, I probably wouldn’t do that again until next week — same thing with squats, deadlifts, or any larger main lifts.

Incorporating sufficient rest days and progressive overload

TM: Are rest days important for the best results?

Steve Stonehouse: Yes. Rest and recovery are two different things. A recovery session would include a bit of activity, but at a lower intensity. Recovery is restoring to a natural, healthy state, and rest is inactivity.

TM: With resistance training, do you recommend incorporating progressive overload, where you gradually increase the weights over time to develop muscle strength and mass?Steve Stonehouse: 100%. We do strength training regularly at BFT. We have a portion of our performance app, and you can enter your five-rep max. On different days, the performance app tells you how much weight you should be lifting on that day to appropriately follow that progressive overload model.