Fit or Fiction: Are There Any Workouts Requiring No Batteries or Plugs?

Why is everything geared to improve your workouts electronic these days? I like simple things! – Erica Anderson, Brooklyn, NY

I can understand why you are a fitness Luddite. Since when is electricity required to power you through a workout? Even many of the machines at the gym nowadays are computerized. I can see the advantages, but I often miss the feeling of grinding the gears on a cycle and the clanging and banging of the weight stacks.

So in the interest of turning back time (or at least remaining frozen in the moment) here are three fitness tools I've demoed recently that require no battery or plug. Oh, and if you're interested, follow me on my personal twitter @lizzyfit. If I like what you have to say I will actually go to the post office self powered by my own feet, lick the stamps myself and snail mail you one of them absolutely free. (I've got two samples of each to give away.)

My Gym Trainer: This handy dandy notebook features 24 different workouts designed by personal trainer Jill Coleman. You can tuck it into your bag and carry it around the gym to help take the guess work and intimidation out of your workout. (Most of the routines will work for home users, too.) The booklet is set up loose-leaf style as a series of sturdy, removable, washable cards arranged week by week in a six-week routine that takes you through a 3-6 day a week plan, complete with a detailed directions, photos of the exercises, and goals. It's also packed with tons of useful fitness tips and info. I have the "My Gym Trainer 3" which is for advanced exercisers; Trainer 1 and 2 are for beginners and intermediates, respectively. At $50 a pop, the books are pretty pricey -- but according to the disclaimer on the Web site, that's because the flexible layout is more costly to manufacture. If you're just starting out, it's cheaper than hiring a personal trainer so it may be worth it. I also like the easy-to-use fitness diary "Ultimate Workout Log."

Home Workout: I absolutely love this brand new book, "Home Workout," because it is written by some of the top pros in the business. The Pilates chapter, for example, was created by Alycea Ungaro, one of the most respected Pilates teachers in the country. In this section, Ungaro leads you step-by-step through a beginner's Pilates session. The instructions are spot on easy to follow; the photos are sharp. Fitness expert Joan Pagano designed the Abs and Total Body workouts -- the total body is especially good. The routines in A Better Back and a Gentle Yoga round out the twenty express workouts, making this the perfect sampler for someone just starting out and who wants to work out at home. At $24.95, it's a good deal. The book does come with an instructional DVD, so okay, maybe I cheated a little on this one.

Speed Rope: I am a jump rope fanatic, largely because it is a cheap, portable and highly effective fitness tool. And did I mention skipping burns up to 15 calories per minute? I am also very particular about the rope I use. I don't like the ones with leather lines because they're hard to break in and I find they don't give you a fast, smooth turn, something I think is essential to mastering technique. The plastic beaded ones are fine, especially for novices, but as your skills improve and you learn to spin faster, there is a danger of the thin nylon chord busting, sending the beads flying like little projectile missiles in all directions. (It's happened to me twice. Makes you memorable but does not increase your popularity with other gym members.) There is no pun intended when I say skip the ropes with weighted handles. You'll get a better, longer workout by staying with a light rope. My personal favorite is the Speed Rope with the plastic line and rubber handles from jumprope.com. They spin smoothly and quickly and come in a variety of colors so you can make a style statement. They're pretty durable, too -- and for $5.95 apiece you can afford to replace it if it breaks.

So all you anti-technology fitness buffs out there (who are, er, using the Internet) what say you? Got anything further to recommend that doesn't need a press of the recharge button?

For more on this topic, check out AOL's Ten Cheapest Ways to Exercise and Choosing Exercise Equipment Wisely.