Slideshow: 7 Gadgets to Help You Get in Shape

THERE'S ARGUABLY LITTLE room for improvement in Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps's butterfly stroke — he currently holds the world record in the 200-meter. Nevertheless, Phelps, like many of his competitors and teammates in Beijing, opts to further improve his chances by wearing the latest in high-tech swimsuits: Speedo's LZR Racer. Using a fabric engineered to mimic shark skin, the suit streamlines bodily curves to reduce drag in the water.

While wearing the LZR Racer is unlikely to turn your average Olympics spectator into the next world-record holder, employing a little technology into a workout can do wonders toward helping wannabe athletes achieve results. "It motivates a fair number of consumers to exercise, who might otherwise not," says Cedric Bryant, chief science officer for the American Council on Exercise.

From software that tracks eating and exercise habits to running outfits that let you know when you're slacking, view our slideshow for seven technologically-advanced training helpers: