Working out is FUN. It may not seem so in the beginning, but after a while, it kind of grows on you and you find yourself yearning for the release that it gives you. I have to admit, though, that I cannot run on the treadmill or ride the stationary bike without my trusty mp3 player. Without music blaring in my ears, I would die of boredom.

Taking a look at the gadgets on sale today, I realized that I am not alone – people want toys to go with their workout routines; and I am not only talking about mp3 players! For those of you who want to work on becoming fitter in the coming months, here are great gadget ideas that will entice you to shed those pounds off.

Nike Plus Sportsband
This is the standalone version of the Nike + iPod nano tandem that was released several years back. The idea of the original gadget was to have a sensor inserted into a slot, which some Nike shoes have. This sensor will then send back data wirelessly to your iPod nano; data such as your pace and the distance you’ve covered. This standalone version does away with the need for an iPod, if you do not want one (I can’t imagine why!) and only costs about $60.

Garmin Forerunner 310XT
As much as I like the Nike + iPod tandem, this other gadget has more to offer. More than giving you information on your pace and distance, the new Garmin Forerunner also has a heart rate monitor option. For someone who is obsessed with heart rate while exercising, this is perfect as I do not have to manually count how fast my heart is beating. This model also works under water for up to 165 feet – perfect for triathletes! It’s quite expensive at $350, though.