High-tech fitness brings gym classes to your home

Ben Whetstone isn’t alone in his push to burn fat, even though he exercises by himself in his garage. 

“In the last 30 days I’ve covered 34 miles, burned 5,132 calories, and exercised using the Peloton devices about 7.5 hours,” he said.

Whetstone, a busy realtor in Apollo Beach, is among Peloton’s one million subscribers. He has the original spin bike and the new connected treadmill. Both stream high-end fitness classes live to the user.

“The system gamifies fitness. I think it’s definitely motivated me to use the treadmill and bike more than I would’ve otherwise,” he explained.

And Peloton, valued at $4 billion, isn’t alone. Companies like FightCamp, a home boxing gym, and Mirror, a home yoga studio that uses a fancy magic-mirror, are also getting in on the connected fitness craze.

There is a big downside to all this new tech: Your wallet will get skinnier too.  

A Peloton bike will set you back more than $2,000 and the treadmill around $5,000. There is also a $40 monthly fee.

Carlos Mercado plays coach and hype man during spin classes at the Spurlino YMCA in Riverview. He says there are some things only a real class can replicate.

“It brings more energy, sustainability and it brings more confidence to a group as well. It reminds us we're not alone in the battle,” he said.

Whether you prefer to go old school or you want to get fit the high-tech way, there’s good news: You don’t have to go far to find a good partner.