ASICS launches all-in-one fuzeX TR

Source: ASICS. The fuzeX TR training shoe.

ASICS has launched fuzeX TR, a training shoe that leverages lightweight cushioning and cross-functional design to offer greater workout efficiency. The all-in-one shoe that delivers support to athletes across a variety of fitness backgrounds and levels of expertise, from high intensity interval training (HIIT), lifting free weights to running on a treadmill.

The launch of fuzeX TR is the latest step in ASICS’ expansion into the training category, a category projected to grow to more than US$55 billion globally by 2020. ASICS’ expertise in developing innovative footwear leaves it ideally positioned to develop training footwear that will allow people to maximise their potential and continuously improve their performance.

Workout efficiency is typically hampered by the inverse correlation between weight and cushioning in footwear. In developing fuzeX TR, the ASICS Institute of Sport Science (ISS) was able to overcome this through its proprietary lightweight fuzeGEL midsole, so the shoe still provides effective cushioning for training, but with a thinner and lighter sole. Weighing about 260g (US Men’ Size 9 Half pair), fuzeX TR is 5% lighter than other ASICS training shoes in the same category*.

Built with versatility in mind, fuzeX TR offers broad-spectrum training features, including flexible forefoot grooves that deliver excellent floor traction for multidirectional training movements. Positive patterns on the outsole offer added traction across multiple terrains.

The no-sew upper also provides comfort in all movements. With a sole positioned closer to the ground fuzeX TR delivers a light and direct ride in the heel portion. The shoe’s low profile offers a comfortable and stable base, functional across a wide variety of training activities.

“FuzeX TR marks the beginning of a series of products developed specifically to meet a wide range of training needs,” commented Paul Miles, Senior General Manager, Global Marketing Division, ASICS Corporation. “In the spirit of ASICS’ ongoing WANT IT MORE campaign, we hope to engage with and motivate fitness enthusiasts to achieve their goals.”

Interested?

Available for men and women, fuzeX TR will go on sale in Singapore at ASICS stores on August 1, retailing for S$179 a pair.

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post about the ASICS Dynaflyte

Hashtag: #wantitmore

*Quantified research results measured against ASICS’ footwear products in the same training category by ASICS Institute of Sport Science with standard error up to +/-5g.

ASICS launches lightest-ever cushioning shoe for runners

Source: ASICS. The DynaFlyte.

ASICS has launched its lightest-ever cushioning shoe for runners. Delivering both light weight and cushioning, DynaFlyte features a full-length FlyteFoam midsole, ASICS’ patented* midsole technology in its purest form. With less weight to swing forward, runners experience less energy loss, more efficient running and the potential to unlock speed at any distance, the company says.

Maintaining effective cushioning while simultaneously reducing a shoe’s weight is a key challenge in running footwear development. Weighing in at about 270g***, DynaFlyte has become the lightest running shoe in the ASICS family**. 

At the core of DynaFlyte is FlyteFoam, ASICS’ patented lightweight and responsive cushioning technology — first trialled in the MetaRun shoe in November 2015. FlyteFoam is the result of about three years of development and over 300 prototypes tested at ASICS’ Institute of Sport Science (ISS), ASICS’ research & development center in Kobe, Japan. Built with reinforced fibres that work to maintain cushioning, it is approximately 55% lighter than the industry standard and is ASICS’ lightest midsole to date. Equipped with a full-length FlyteFoam midsole, DynaFlyte meets the highest level of cushioning standards among ASICS running footwear.

Interested?

DynaFlyte is available for men and women at ASICS stores and selected running outlets worldwide including in Singapore at a retail price of S$229 per pair.

Hashtags: #ASICS, #ASICSSG, #DynaFlyte, #WantItMore

*Patents: FlyteFoam: Japan
**Excluding light racing shoes and racing flats
***US men’s size 9: half pair

ASICS lightest-ever cushioning shoe is available for purchase. Get your pair of DynaFlyte running shoes today. #ASICS #ASICSSG #DynaFlyte

A photo posted by ASICS Singapore (@asicssg) on Jul 4, 2016 at 8:44pm PDT

Adidas launches clothing with heat management technology - in black

Source: adidas. Climachill apparel.

Adidas has launched the new Climachill apparel range, headlined by a black training t-shirt that features body heat management technology to cool wearers in hot conditions. Perfect for warm and humid climates, the adidas Climachill is designed to deliver maximum cooling benefit without compromising comfort or design.

“The body’s core temperature can increase by 3 degree Celsius when we are exercising. To maintain a stable temperature, your body needs to work a lot harder to lose excess heat. This may result in impaired physiological functions, which will ultimately affect performance,” explained Dr Maarten Hupperets, Director of Future Sport Science at adidas. “When it comes to performance, every degree matters. The Climachill apparel is the smartest and most advanced sporting product and can provide maximum cooling experience.”

Employing industry-first 3D aluminium-cooling spheres, Climachill apparel provides an instant cooling sensation upon contact. In addition to the aluminium dots, the ground-breaking SubZero flat yarn also contains titanium and is woven throughout the inside of each Climachill jersey to deliver more cooling capacity.

In Singapore, the Climachill training tee will be available at S$59, the Climachill polo retails for S$69 and Climachill tanks are priced at S$55. The Climachill product range is available at the adidas online store, adidas Sports performance stores, Sports Interlink, Sports Intersport, Sportslink outlets, Alternative Sports and Royal Sporting House retail stores.

Balanced protein intake slows dieters' muscle loss

Source: Nestlé.

The Nestlé Research Center, working with an international team of scientists, has found that a balanced intake of protein through the day can help reduce the risk of muscle loss when people try to lose weight.

The study, published in the American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, looked at how to promote weight loss in older obese men while avoiding loss of muscle mass which can hinder further weight loss and lead to reduced strength and functional capacity as well as increased risk of disability and mortality. 

In an international collaboration with researchers in Canada, Australia and the UK, Nestlé researchers set out to establish whether this loss of muscle mass could be counteracted by a two-pronged approach: 

• Ensuring that the protein provided by a reduced-calorie diet is balanced throughout the day rather than the usual tendency to receive the bulk of daily protein intake from the evening meal 
• Regular exercise in the form of resistance training

Twenty obese men around the age of 65 were recruited for a four-week study. For the first two weeks, they were placed on a low-calorie, high-protein diet and continued with their normal daily activity. However, half of the volunteers received a balanced intake of protein from the four meals/protein drinks provided throughout the day, while the second half received the more standard ‘skewed’ diet, with the majority of their protein intake coming from the evening meal. 

In the second fortnight of the study, the diet was combined with a whole-body, progressive resistance exercise regime to see if it would counteract any negative impact of the reduced-calorie diet on muscle mass. Rates of muscle protein synthesis – the driving mechanism behind maintaining or increasing muscle mass – were measured at the end of each phase by blood sampling and muscle biopsy. 

As expected, both groups displayed reduced fat mass and reduced muscle mass during the first fortnight when both groups were on a low-calorie, high-protein diet without resistance training. While the fat reduction was the same for both groups, the reduction in muscle protein synthesis rate was less marked in the balanced intake group. 

During the second half of the study with resistance training, both groups continued to lose body fat, but muscle loss was noticeably slower than after the first half of the study. In fact, with the balanced intake group, the protein synthesis was comparable to the levels seen with ‘normal’ energy intake before the study began. 

This research demonstrates that a reduced-calorie diet does indeed reduce the rate of muscle protein synthesis, confirming that weight loss can also lead to muscle loss. However, the study also demonstrates, for the first time, that a balanced protein intake throughout the day increases muscle protein synthesis when compared to a skewed protein distribution. This beneficial effect is further enhanced when combined with resistance training. 

The company notes that this research remains to be confirmed in long-term studies, and that the daily optimal amount of protein required to maximally stimulate muscle protein synthesis in older adults also remains to be established. There may also be differences in weight loss profiles for women.

*Murphy C.H, Churchward-Venne T.A, Mitchell C.J, Kolar N.M., Kassis A., Karagounis L.G., Burke L.M., Hawley J.A. and Phillips S.M., Hypoenergetic diet-induced reductions in myofibrillar protein synthesis are restored with resistance training and balanced daily protein ingestion in older men. American Journal of Physiology 2015.

Kinetika Xtreme introduces new workout technology for improving fitness

Sukumaran is certified in Italy, and
is one of only two TechnoGym Master Trainers
in Singapore, the other being his wife, Santhi Haridass. 

Losing weight does not mean losing fat. Ghaneswaran Sukumaran, owner of Kinetika Xtreme, a gym at Turf City in Singapore that focuses on movement-based functional training, fears that people are joining gyms without enough due diligence, and beginning with exercises that can do more damage in the long run than good. 

"People believe that losing weight is a good thing, and jogging excessively is the only way to lose body mass and achieve a slim figure. This is a myth, as losing weight might not be losing fat at all. The way to lose fat and tone muscles effectively is not to rely on jogging alone; a combination of cardio and resistance training is required," he said. 

"Dedicated trainers at Kinetika seek to empower their members with the knowledge to better themselves, and guide them through their workouts and track their progress over time."

Here's what Kinetika Xtreme members can look forward to when they join Sukumaran's gym:

Each Kinesis session can hold up to a maximum of eight members. 

Kinesis circuit training offers both cardio and resistance activities. Kinesis utilises Full Gravity Technology allows 360° tri-dimensional movement that provides variable resistance to every movement according to the range and angle of the radius of the action. The Kinesis pulley system allows maximum freedom of movements, and it is not restricted by gravity, unlike traditional weights.

Kinetika Xtreme holds eight sets of Kinesis Class equipment, the largest number of such equipment available in any gym in Singapore. 

TechnoGym-certified trainers from Kinetika Xtreme monitor each of their members closely, and progressively increase the intensity of the exercise while guiding them to minimise injuries, and maximise results. 

Members are tracked by dedicated instructors from day one of their training programme, and trainers will perform measurement of their body statistics; weight, height, body fat and muscle mass, as well as Kinetika’s unique flexibility and balance test known as Vitruvio Testing, allows trainers to tweak the programme based on each member’s body type and individual strengths and weaknesses.

Sukumaran guides a Kinetika Xtreme member with the “Fire” element ARKE exercise.

The ARKE training system is a core-centric training regime that focuses on natural movement. The name is derived from a Greek word meaning 'the origin of things'. The ARKE training system is divided into four categories, named after the natural elements based on the type, energy intensity and the position of use. Earth (green) represents stability and proprioception; air (orange) is for dynamism and reaction time; water (blue) for agility and balance, and fire (red) for adaptability and control.

A trainer conducts cool-down stretches with Kinetika Xtreme members to relax the muscles and prevent injury after 45 minute of intense workout.

Kinetika Xtreme believes that effect training is only effective when proper stretching is done. Each session of training with Kinetika Xtreme ends with proper cool-down stretches so as to prevent injury and relax the muscles after 45 minutes of intense workout. The cool-down stretches are guided by TechnoGym certified trainers, and are specifically designed to target muscle groups that are used during the training session with Kinetika Xtreme. 

*All images courtesy of Kinetika.

Install a treadmill at your desk to get more productive

A study published in research journal Plos One in February has shown that walking on a treadmill at your desk may make you more productive than if you are at a standard desk and chair arrangement. 

Source: Plos One

Authors of "Treadmill Workstations: The Effects of Walking while Working on Physical Activity and Work Performance" Avner Ben-Ner and Chimnay Manohar from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Darla Hamann from the School of Urban and Public Affairs, University of Texas-Arlington, and Gabriel Koepp and James Levine from the Obesity Solutions department, Mayo Clinic and Arizona State University, conducted an experiment at a financial services company over 12 months to study how the availability of treadmill workstations would affect physical activity and work performance of employees. 

Half of a group of sedentary volunteers received treadmill workstations during the first two months of the study and the rest in the seventh month of the study. They could walk on the treadmills at speeds of 0 to 2 mph (0 to 3.2 km per hour), if they wished, in place of a chair-desk arrangement. 

According to weekly online performance surveys from participants, their supervisors, as well as sedentary colleagues, overall work performance, quality and quantity of performance, and interactions with co-workers all improved as a result of the treadmill workstations. Specifically, the treadmill workstation led to about 77 fewer sedentary minutes per day, out of about 600 ‘discretionary’ minutes for non-sedentary activity, including approximately 500 minutes at work during a weekday. This accounted for an increase in total average daily activity caloric expenditure of more than 74 calories. 

Management will wonder if participants did less work as a result of walking on the treadmill, but the researchers say no. Both participants and supervisors rated the volunteers as more productive over time, especially after "an early decline in performance" as participants had to learn how to handle walking on the treadmill while working on various tasks. 

The researchers caution that while the volunteers have been found to be similar to their colleagues, they might have been motivated to be more active in the first place. They also suggested that the complexity of the work tasks might also affect the results.