Hamilton Herald Masthead

Editorial


Front Page - Friday, March 12, 2010

Gadget Girl


Dumbbell Alarm Clock



I do not know about the rest of the world, but it takes a lot to get me out of bed in the mornings. I have a radio alarm clock that wakes me up around 6:33 a.m. to my favorite morning show. Depending if it’s just me in the house, I may or may not snooze it.
The Dumbbell Alarm Clock is one way to get you up and moving in the morning with its 30-rep mode that requires you to perform 30 bicep curls before it shuts off. (Photo from www.natter.co.za)
A little while later, my Blackberry Storm lets out an annoying recording that my boyfriend made for me. I usually only hear, “Wakey wakey! Eggs and bacey, baby! Time to go…” before I snooze it for another 15 minutes.
Then comes the alarm on my watch at 7 a.m. I always have to fumble around with each of the four buttons before it will shut off.
You would think all of those alarms would get me up and going for the day, but I like my beauty sleep. A lot.
Now that Daylight Savings Time is here, I will be getting one less hour of sleep since we have to spring the clocks an hour forward like the old adage tells us to do.
Maybe if I bought the Dumbbell Alarm Clock, it would help me get up – and shape up – in the mornings.
How it works
The Dumbbell Alarm Clock resembles a normal dumbbell. One side of the dumbbell has an illuminated digital clock face. The other end has all the clock-setting functions. The alarm has two modes – regular and 30-rep mode, which requires a person to do 30 bicep curls before it will shut off. It weighs about 1.5 pounds and is battery operated.
Pros and cons
Since I do not have any more nightstand room, I would not have a place for one of these. I suppose I could put one across the room next to my tennis shoes and yoga ball to jumpstart a morning fitness routine.
Then again, what’s the point of only one dumbbell? I could alternate sides, I guess, or just do one side a morning. But that is too reminiscent of the time I had to wear a cast from my knuckles to mid-bicep when I broke my right wrist, yet I still went to Curves and did the circuit training using only one arm.
At 1.5 pounds, it would not be much of a workout, unless you are weak or a child. Even still, getting up and moving muscles is better than just lying down and resting them, and it might get you used to waking up and doing a little bit of exercise in the mornings.
To me, it seems more like a novelty item rather than a serious fitness tool. I can just imagine my boyfriend getting one of these for me as a gift. He would have that sheepish smile that I know is really saying, “Get your lazy bones up in the morning and please quit hitting snooze!”
None of the descriptions talk about a radio, so I would not be able to replace my existing alarm clock since I enjoy listening to my favorite DJs in the morning.
Since it can operate in a regular mode, I could easily see this thing sitting and collecting dust somewhere.
Where to buy
While I have not seen these in stores, it is widely available online for prices ranging from $12.50 to $50 plus shipping and handling at places such as shopkami.com and gadgetbar gains.com. There are several brands of dumb-bell alarm clocks that are similar in form and function. They can come in grey, black, white, pink, red and silver metallic colors to match your bedroom décor.
Submissions
Have a gadget you would like to put to the Gadget Girl test? Send an e-mail to me at misty@dailydata.com or check out my blog at gadgetgirls .ning.com.