will it post status updates to Facebook or at least have GameCenter highscores and achievements? You know, if it's not on Facebook it didn't happen.
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Apple Granted Patent for Weightlifting Tracker That Utilizes Watch-Like Device
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This thing wouldn't have to be just a rep counter. It could also detect how quickly you're doing the reps. Are you using inertia to cheat and powering through, or are you going slow and steady for maximum benefit? Depending on what exactly the sensors are and how good the software is, this could be very useful indeed, even for those who can count 
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A true weight junkie does NOT care about gadgets like this. Chalk and a barbell is all we need
Very true very true. LOL. But im more than than just a weightlifting junkie. Im an athlete, so Im into WORKING OUT which involves some of everything: weightlifting(preferably cross fit), 100/200/400 meter sprints, and a lot of plyo and agility drills.
Exactly! thats why i say this is a good start. They get it not just because they have created some patent for a gadget. They get it becuase obviously this is a sign that the future is bright taht we can eventually get to a point where they do create something that can track the things you mention. Its progress in the right direction.
possibly
I think the parent poster was implying that weight training for him/her is not necessary but that he/she does resistance training. You can do resistance training with just your body weight and get the same health benefits from weight training. As you said, cardio plus resistance training has the best health benefits (and I'd add in something like meditative yoga to round everything off).
If health is your goal, the majority of people do not need to lift weights. Jog/bike/swim/briskly walk + resistance (pushups, pull-ups, planks, etc.) + meditation would be great. Lifting weights, when done properly, is great but not necessary for health benefits.
/I work in health care.
This is awesome. As an avid weight lifter it's depressing to see zero effort to track this, everything is geared towards cardio. Hopefully this becomes a reality.
I don't understand why you would attach a device to the bar at all. Just strap a device to your wrist really close to the bar, like a watch, and have the sensor in that. Then it is easy to move from bar to bar.
Get a trainer. A good trainer will use body recomp software to calculate every gram of food and every calorie burned by lifting certain weights for certain reps.
They will also adapt a program to suit specific dietary needs and your lifestyle. Plus they provide motivation and correct form.
No app or apple gadget is ever going to provide you with that.
Thank you, Captain Slippery-Slope. I understand if wearable devices aren't your thing (I'm still on the fence, myself,) but that doesn't mean the sky is falling.
This is really the key point that should be taken from this thread. Everyone knocking can't see the forest for the trees, but the big gaping hole in current trackers is as you stated. If Apple has cracked the nut of accurately counting machine workouts (treadmills, stair climbers, etc) and low body movement its band will be far away from the competition right out of the gate. Of course there is still the question of predominantly lower body workouts like leg lifts or cycling.
It will only be "fashion" in that Apple designed it and they don't usually release ugly products. But it's likely not going to be a "fashion" watch in the traditional meaning of the concept. It's probably going to look very similar to an existing fitness band, just sleeker. It has to be light and "transparent" or it will be awkward to wear working out, running, etc., i.e., no one will use it for fitness tracking.
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Perhaps it will motivate them. I can tell you that when the Fuel Band first came out I could barely walk 3 miles in an hour. I'm now running 4 miles 5 days a week and 8 on Sunday @ 60th percentile for my age -- not raving fast but decent considering where I came from health wise. I owe it all to the Fuel Band for making a game out of working out and challenging myself to get more fictitious fuel points.
But aside from me look at all the fitness bands out now. They must be popular or companies wouldn't be wasting their time making them.
Meme reference - i wasn't actually asking anybody in particular.
http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/do-you-even-lift
What would you use this for? count your reps.... pfft!
True weight room junkies I know, care little for gadgets. And no gadget helps them where is counts, higher weights. These boys careless about calories burnt.
Get some chalk and a training partner that will shout at you, not some silly gadget
What is it that you would like tracked? The weight you did last? the Reps? All these I store in my head as part of my work out plan. Or would you like to know how many calories you burnt lifting weights?
I'm just asking cause I train intensively during the rugby season, and could not think of watch or app that would help me.
Everything is geared towards cardio, cause people care most about weight loss.
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If they are that HUGE, this will not fit around your wrist
What would you use this for? count your reps.... pfft!
True weight room junkies I know, care little for gadgets. And no gadget helps them where is counts, higher weights. These boys careless about calories burnt.
Get some chalk and a training partner that will shout at you, not some silly gadget
Yes, this alone will only count reps, but im talking about what other technology from Apple this will lead to down the line for weight lifting.
And true weightroom junkies jarheads who only lift and brush their teeth with mustle milk and not into tech wouldnt use this. Those guys have no clue about true fitness. They just bodybuild or lift to say they lift.
The modern day ATHLETE:
Track Stars(who have to lift)
Football players(who have to lift)
Crossfitters(who have to lift).....
all would be into technology like this.
Lets see what this tech is. Cause something that counts reps. the modern athlete could care less about.
I doubt any of this will be aimed at Athletes, these gadgets will be aimed at your average health punter.
What is it that you would like tracked? The weight you did last? the Reps? All these I store in my head as part of my work out plan. Or would you like to know how many calories you burnt lifting weights?
I'm just asking cause I train intensively during the rugby season, and could not think of watch or app that would help me.
Everything is geared towards cardio, cause people care most about weight loss.
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If they are that HUGE, this will not fit around your wrist
One reason is I do a lot of periodization, adjusting reps, sets, intensity levels, etc. These are tracked over months and sometimes years through differing lengths of cycles. It's important to track all of this in order to define when cycles are over and it's time to move on to next one, or even define when I'm overtraining and it's time to cycle to a different workout paradigm. Unfortunately I'm not gifted so cannot keep this amount of numbers in my head.
Sure everything is geared towards cardio for weight loss, although a ton of recent research shows how flawed using cardio for weight loss is, at least the ingrained 30-60 minutes at 70-80% HR which is what most of this is geared towards.
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Well said, just the right amount of ignorance and, well ignorance, did a weightroom junkie pick on you when you were a kid?
Bodybuilders, weightlifters, powerlifters, etc are one of the smartest most well informed subset of the fitness community. We have to be, the body adapts so well to exercise you need to know how to manage it.I think the people who have no clue about fitness are the ones who do the same workout day in day out, or the poor slobs who get on a treadmill and work within their HR range. Every single person you see in the gym who is trying to change their body composition, yet years later they look exactly the same.
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It depends what app can be built around it. If it just counts reps then yes, that would be a bit redundant, and only useful to save me from having to write something down.
I had a similar situation. I've always played sport, But over the last decade I had stopped doing exercise outside of my regular nights of Hockey.
between 2003 and 2013 I went from 180lbs (I was always slightly hefty) to 215lbs.
I had a heart scare in Jan 2013.
So i went out and bought a fitbit. I truly saw how inactive I was. I started tracking my food, and realized how bad I ate.
Using the fitbit I started trying to reach goals for just walking. Then stairclimbing. Then I hit a limit and still wasn't happy. I Joined a gym.
I'm now 175lbs (got 10 more to my ultimate goal).
While I don't see how this particular thing has a wide usage. If it's enough to get some people off their asses and healthy, fine. Get it out. I attribute a good portion of my health and fitness to having a health tracker.
P.S. The biggest gains (losses) I saw weren't related to any techie gadget, online resource or fancy science. I hired a personal trainer and I busted my ass.
That's one area that Apple's efforts are going though; once apps are developed to work with built-in sensors, you will get exactly all that information without having to consult with a trainer. It won't put trainers completely out of work but they will have to adapt to keep their jobs.
Every idea comes from somewhere. Every idea is the extension of another idea. It's called evolution.