After the Holiday Workout
Why? Because you KNOW you need one!
We all know how those holidays are. And you know what you did....:). So, let's fix it!
#fitness, #workouts #weight loss #holiday #fatburn #exercises
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Showing posts with label fitness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fitness. Show all posts
Monday, July 8, 2013
Saturday, October 25, 2008
The Hottest New Fitness Gadgets You Should Know About
What would health and fitness be without that good old standby, the fitness gadget?
Remember the gyrating belt waist trimmer? How about that Thigh Master? Come on, you know you had one! That thing sold over 2 billion units. We won't tell anybody that you were one of the lucky buyers! ;)
Well, fitness gadgets have come a long way since those little gems, and the technology used on some of the more recent ones is quite amazing. Here are a couple that need to be on your radar:
The Fitbit System
Using technology similar to the Wii gaming system, the Fitbit Tracker is a motion sensor that you can attach to your clothing and wear all day. It collects data on your movement, calories burned, and how much sleep you've gotten from day to day.
You also get what is called the base station which transmits all of your tracker data to the Fitbit website, where you go to check your stats. On the website, you also get an avatar. You get to see how well you're doing not only from the reports you read, but from the visible state of your avatar. You don't get enough sleep or activity, your avatar begins to show the effects of this by looking haggard and gaining weight. If you do all the right things, your avatar becomes vibrant and healthy. If you guys can remember those early hand held Pokemon games where you had to raise and feed this little electronic thing to keep it alive, then that's pretty much the concept here.
But this is serious, because it's your body and your own stats that you're keeping track of. You will know when you need to exercise more, sleep more or less, and also how many calories you need to consume to reach your target weight. The Fitbit system has just become available on back order and will begin to ship in January 2009. For more in depth info on Fitbit check their website Fitbit Tracking System
Yamaha Bodibeat Exercise Pod
For those of you that run, or just like to get out and create your own workouts, this is an ideal accompaniment to your routines. The Yamaha Bodibeat is like an Ipod for exercising. It has a library of songs, downloaded by you, that you can set to either match your running or workout pace by beats per minute, or to change songs when you go into different phases of your workouts. 
Those of you that take fitness classes will get that concept right away. For aerobic based routines and activities, you'll have upbeat tunes that match your pace, speeding up when you speed up, and slowing down when you do, always matching your pace. For slower paced, weight room based workouts, you can put a more intense, slower paced selection of songs to work out to. Be sure to download all of your favorites on here, and you'll be motivated to stay working out that much longer. Lightweight and waterproof, you can wear this for any type of exercise.
Tanita BC558 Segmental Body Composition Monitor
The Tanita Segmental Body Comp Monitor is one high tech scale. Not only does it measure your body fat, but it details your body composition, FROM LIMB TO LIMB! It assesses body fat, body water percentages, bone mass, metabolism rate, muscle mass, daily calorie intake and a few other things, as well.
It gives readings from 5 different segments of your body, not just the whole. That way you can really pinpoint your trouble areas. It also keeps charts and graphs of all your stats for up to 36 months. You can then download your stats and print them out on your computer.
If someone other than you gets on the scale, it reverts to guest mode, so your stats don't become skewed. Now, that's one smart scale! You can read more about the Tanita BC558 here.
And just for fun....
The Hawaii Chair
Okay, this came out last year, but it's still very much a hot item! Lose weight and get in shape from just sitting on your butt! Now who doesn't want some of that?
The Hula, or Hawaii chair claims to tone up your abs and mid region by sitting in it, and basically just trying to hold on. Supposedly, you can work, eat, drink and surf the net while getting a major calorie burn right from your Hawaii chair.
I'm not exactly putting this on my list for exercise, but I'd definitely get one as a gag to show off to my house guests and friends. I think that your laugh muscles will get exercised on this thing more than anything else. Here, we have a live demo of the Hula chair!
Okay, you know you want one! LOL. Anyway, that's it for this edition of the hottest new fitness gadgets. Check back again soon for updates! ;)
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Fitness Before Technology
****by Fitness Diva Fitness Before Technology  There's no big secret that the obesity epidemic is on the rise in this day and age, causing a battery of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, chronic heart disease, hypertension, and joint instability and deterioration, among many other ailments. In a world that has seen amazing leaps and bounds in technology and electronic innovation, we've become a species that now finds more opportunity to sit on our butts and do far less work than our predecessors. Remember the days of using a washboard, butter churning, and chopping your own wood? Probably not. Times were pretty hard back in those days, and for the most part, folks had to depend on their own elbow grease to get even the most basic of life's needs taken care of and tended to. Who needed a gym? Just working from sun up to sun down was enough to keep most folks in those days fit as hell. From keeping up house and land, to keeping food on the table, and even just staying sheltered and warm, you had to use a whole lotta muscle to survive! Here's a rundown of calories burned doing daily chores and work.... the old fashioned way! The following are based on these activities being done by someone weighing 150 lbs for a duration of 1 hour. For each 10 lbs more of weight, add approximately 1 additional cal per minute burned. By the same token, for each 10 lbs less, subtract 1 cal per minute to estimate total calories burned. Okay, let's roll up those sleeves, now, and get busy... Sweeping 175 cals Hand washing clothes (with a washboard) 420 cals Hanging wash on clothesline 140 cals Scrubbing the floor 510 cals Washing windows 305 cals Churning butter 276 cals 
There are a few here that I missed, I'm sure. If you think of any more, let me know and I'll post them. By the way, tired yet? That's a lot of work! |
Like what you've read so far? Sex and Fitness ** The Trainer's Corner ** Martial Arts Junkie |
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Getting Fit Without Spending a Dime!
Many seem to think that getting fit involves plunking down fat membership fees to join a gym, buying every new fitness device and DVD that those infomercials pitch on TV, or shelling out money for a personal trainer. For some, this works, and is the way they prefer to go. I'm not knocking that; if not for these folks, I'd have no job! :)
But for some, these are not viable options. Well, guess what? If you're one of those in the latter group, then you don't have to deny yourself some fitness just because you don't have the disposable income to do so. You can get fit all on your own, no $$$$ required. All you have to do is take advantage of the resources right there at your fingertips.
In a perfect world, fitness would be free, and for you, it can be, and is. Stumped for ideas on how to go about it? Well, here are a few things to consider, and that you could be doing right now to get healthy and fit, and they don't cost a cent!
Whether you live in the city or in a more suburban or rural area, it doesn't matter. Right there in your home or neighborhood are tools just waiting for you to pick up and take advantage of. Here are but a few things you could be doing to add some free fitness to your lifestyle.
Now, I'm not even going to mention the park, because you know it's there, and if you haven't gone already, no one can drag you there! That one's too easy. Let's dig a bit deeper.....
Got stairs anywhere in or around your house? All in one gym right there. As the weather starts to get a bit colder, I'm looking at the stairs in my building with some renewed interest. Even if it's one short flight, you can use it to get a killer workout that will leave you exhausted and worked right down to the bone.
Staircase fitness moves:
walking up flights repeatedly
push ups on the stairs
toe tap hops
step and knee lifts
sideway climbs
backwards climb
running up the stairs (10 times, minimum!)
the plank
tricep dips
Now let's move into the kitchen or the living room. Surely there's a chair or two in there? Of course, there is! Let's use it!
Chair moves:
almost seated squats
seated leg extensions
tricep dips
standing or kneeling leg lifts
heel raises while resting your hands on the back of the chair
side leg lifts
crunches, you on the floor legs folded over the seat of the chair
bridges (on your back, one foot on the seat of the chair)
How about some weights? You have to get a bit inventive here, but most people have cans of something in their cupboad. You can either pick a pair of large canned goods, or even better yet, use two filled water bottles as weights. You have many sizes to choose from, from those long, large Poland Spring water bottles to the gallon ones with the handle. There go your weights right there!
Water bottle exercises:
bicep curls
overhead press
tricep kickbacks
back flyes
upright rows
hammer curls
chest flys (laying on your back)
Now, no matter where you live, there's a sidewalk. If you're somewhere in the suburbs or the country, you have a driveway. Let's use it!
Sidewalk and driveway moves:
sprints
walking lunges
walking front kicks
frog hops
side shuffles
jogging
running
jumping rope
And last, but not least, let's not forget the one thing you have available to you AT ALL TIMES, THE FLOOR. Yes, this state of the art piece of fitness equipment, the floor, can be found anywhere! In fact, you never go anywhere without it! You know this! Let's use it! ;)
Floor exercises:
crunches
plank
bridges
pilates exercises
push ups
mountain climbers
side plank
yoga poses
side lying or prone leg lifts
supermans
I could go on....
So, no more excuses! Who says you have to shell out big bucks to get fit? Not me! Getting fit without spending money is really just all about thinking outside the box, which I do daily. So should you!
The great thing about using those things so readily available to you is not just the fact that they're free, but also the absolute convenience of them. So, the next time you start thinking that you have to go join a gym, or buy the latest fitness gadget to get fit, think again. The opportunity to work out, and work out often is already there, right at your fingertips. Take advantage of it!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Obama's Workout Routine
Well, unless you've been hiding in a cave, you've heard that presidential candidate Barack Obama adheres to a strict fitness routine. Are you surprised? This man leaves no stone unturned in his quest to be the best!
So, just how does Barack maintain that lean, wiry frame of his, even in the midst of a grueling political campaign? Well, he hits the gym just about every day. Yes, with all that he has on his plate these days, the man doesn't miss one workout. Now THAT's some diligence and determination. I'm impressed! I'm sure Michelle really likes it too! ;)
Here is a brief sum up of Obama's fitness routine:
His cardio:
Treadmill 15 mins, stationary bike 15 mins, elliptical 15 mins
Weight Training:
Shoulder presses - 50 lbs
Overhead dumbbell extensions - 50 lbs
lying tricep presses w/ 15 lb dumbbells in each hand
tricep push downs
step ups on a high platform holding dumbbells
heel raises (calf machine) 70 lbs
He does reps until complete muscle fatigue
This weight training routine was obviously on his tricep and shoulder work out day
Obama also engages in a bit of basketball when time permits, and when he can find a game. So, who's the man, seriously? LOL!
I'm liking the idea of a fit, lean, mean president. A role model already in so many ways, the fact that he's also a fitness guy is bound to be a good influence on more than just a few. And I wonder who would win in a street fight between him and McCain...
McCain is a tough old bird, and I wouldn't underestimate him. I bet he's got tricks! But I'd bet on Obama to win in the end! ;)
Now, if this man can keep his gym commitments even in the midst of all that he has to deal with during this exhausting and grueling campaign, while also still being a Daddy and attentive husband, what's your excuse for not getting out there and getting your fitness in?
Next time you start dragging your feet about going for a run, getting down in the floor to do some push ups, or getting dressed for the gym, just think about Obama! I bet he's working out RIGHT NOW..... :)
Friday, October 5, 2007
Wedding on the Horizon.....
Ughhh....as fun as they are, I am not looking forward to it! No, it's not MY wedding, but I still feel the pressure to show up looking exceptionally good, since everyone knows I'm a fitness queen. It's a pressure I put on myself, because I'm such an anal perfectionist. Yes, I am! And also, it's FAMILY (ones I haven't seen in years), so they all wonder what the hell is happening to me up in old NYC. (the wedding is in North Carolina, home of fried everything, thick gravy, fat and REAL butter). I just always feel like I gotta represent. I have to show them how great it is to be fit, down there in that land of XXXX sizes and all you can eat buffets. Most of my family in the south is overweight, and loving it! I need for them to see that it's worth it, all the sweat, toil, muscle ache and sacrifice I go thru to look and be trim and fabulous! Yep! That's why I live!
Anyhow, I am looking forward to seeing the fam, dancing, laughing and drinking to exhaustion, and trying to avoid 3000 calorie plates of food all weekend. Should be a blast!
Hey, has anyone invented a low calorie wedding cake yet? Just wondering..... ;)
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