Welcome, fitness fans, to another fitness review. Here's a glimpse into the good, the bad, and the ugly. Each review will provide an in-depth review. A complete description of what you're getting for your money. Then, my opinion will follow; marking what I liked, what I didn't, and what I was indifferent about. Then, my star rating. Then lastly, a link to where to buy it.
Sunday, January 9, 2010 The Shake Weight
Description: From Case -- "Shake your way to Firm & Fabulous arms & shoulders in just 6 minutes a day! Fun & Easy to use. Use at home while watching TV or in the office.
Includes:
2.5 lb shake weight (women's)
6 minute workout DVD
What I Liked:
It burns! In a really good way. Yes, this Shake Weight has become somewhat of a spoof item due to what some believe are 'suggestive' ads and exercise motions. It's true. It's awkward and funny when you do it. But, I've used this a few times now, along with the 6 minute DVD, and you really DO get a good muscle toning burn. I was skeptical, and pleasantly surprised by the level of workout my arms got.
Secondly, just 6 minutes! Sure, you're supposed to do it everyday, but it's better than trying to find an hour. As I noted above, I was worried 6 minutes wouldn't be long enough to feel anything, but it definitely was.
Lastly, I like that it's a manageable weight for most women. Weighing in at just 2.5 lbs, nobody is going to be overwhelmed by this weight. Additionally, due to the weight, this is really easy to travel with (should you want to). Far easier than carrying a full set of dumbbells.
What I Didn't Like: First, the noise. With every ...
Our children.. I say that in reference to our nation's children.. to our world's children. The industrialized world is killing our population; and it's saddest to see in the kids. Kids with morbid obesity. Kids with high cholesterol. Kids with diabetes. The numbers are staggering. It makes one wonder, "Is anyone listening?"
Fitness and nutrition professionals have been sending out warnings, giving tips and gameplans for years. Our culture is saturated with the topic of weight loss. So, why aren't people getting it? Why are we getting fatter?
Perhaps it's the wrong kind of media. We're given false promises from infomercials. Well, wait.. let me be fair to the equipment/DVD side of it. Those things WILL work. IF you use them. Use them OFTEN. And eat right. Otherwise, you're throwing your money down the drain.
But, I'm talking about Biggest Loser. Yeah, I'm guilty of watching it. But I also know that losing 20lbs a week is not normal, generally isn't healthy, and isn't realistic to achieve in the real world. Problem is, millions of viewers start the "Biggest Loser Plan" and end up only losing a few pounds.. so they give up. Defeated. And end up gaining even more back.
There's fad diets.. all protein, no carb, only cookies, Twinkies, and so on and so on. Complete madness. It has to stop. All these extreme and very nutritionally unsound diets are making us even more obese than when we started.
Then there's belts that zap your ab muscles. Waste of money. Powder that you sprinkle on food to control your diet. Waste of money.
We're being sold "quick fixes" when there aren't any. Do you get that? There aren't any.
Most people don't like to exercise. Oh well. Do it.
3. Sunday Fun Fitness Review - My Fitness Coach - Ubisoft (Wii)
Welcome, fitness fans, to another fitness review. Here's a glimpse into the good, the bad, and the ugly. Each review will provide an in-depth review. A complete description of what you're getting for your money. Then, my opinion will follow; marking what I liked, what I didn't, and what I was indifferent about. Then, my star rating. Then lastly, a link to where to buy it.
Sunday, January 24, 2009 My Fitness Coach (Wii game)
Description: Release date: December 2, 2008 From Case -- Let Maya, your very own personal trainer, lead you through an intense fitness program featuring more than 450 unique exercises uniquely customized to fit your mood, preferred environment, and choice of music.
Includes: Wii game disc
What I Liked: First, a lot of you may not know that this game is actually a re-release. Back in the day.. all the way back in 2004, a game called Yourself!Fitness was released on the original Xbox. I happened to own the game. So when I came across this title and actually started reading the description, needless to say, I immediately noticed that I had once owned it and used it quite frequently. In turn, I was curious to see what they might have updated and changed. So, to summarize, the first thing I liked about it is that I was familiar with it; as I owned the original title and enjoyed it then.
Second, this game has a LOT of options. You can choose the workout music style (hip-hop. latin, 80s, etc), tell the game what equipment you have so those items can be incorporated in your workout, select from a few different locations for Maya to work out in. No, the location doesn't affect the workout, but sometimes it just feels more appropriate to do yoga in ... >>full...
Okay guys, this one is for all my local peeps (in the Lafayette, IN area).
We're at the start of a new year, and it's time to get started. No more excuses. The time isn't tomorrow. The time is now.. it's always now. Don't put it off.
Remember this.. You are only one workout away from being someone who works out. You are only one meal away from being someone who eats healthier.
Now, to help you on your journey, I decided to give you a little extra incentive. I've compiled a few fitness necessities into a gift bag. So, how do you get it? Here's how you get entered into the drawing.
Go to my website (http://www.carollorton.com) and take a gander at my Services page. Pick a package that involves at least 4 full hour sessions. Contact me to sign up and pay for the package. Anyone who does this by January 16th, 2010, will be entered into a drawing to win the gift bag.
So, here's the small print to keep in mind. 1) You can be a new customer who has never worked with me before. Or, if you already ARE a customer, you can add a package onto your current one. For example, if you have 5 sessions left on your current package, you can decide to add the 4 session package; giving you 9 sessions, and an entry for the gift bag.
2) You don't have to use the sessions right away (though I recommend you do). The sessions are non-refundable, but they don't expire for one year after purchase. So, if you're sick, injured, or going on vacation soon, it's okay. You have plenty of time to schedule and use the sessions.
I've been getting that question a lot lately. Tis the season, I suppose. But since my answer is longer than a status will allow, I decided to take the blog route. So, here goes.
The easiest guideline for exercising while sick is called the neck rule. If your symptoms appear from the neck up (runny nose, sneezing, sore throat), then yes, you can continue with a low-intensity workout.
In fact, studies have shown that exercising at a moderate-intensity level does not intensify cold symptoms or compromise the immune system. Avoid high-intensity exercise, such as heavy weight lifting and high-intensity aerobic/cardio training, which has been shown to have a negative impact on the immune system during a cold or any respiratory infection. Your body is already busy trying to protect and rebuild itself from whatever illness you have; so putting a taxing workout on top of that, is just too much for your body.
If, on the other hand, your symptoms are below the neck (diarrhea, intense coughing, vomiting, fever, sweats, cold chills), then the American College of Sports Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest you let your illness run its course before resuming physical activity.
So take this as a reminder to take your rest days.. not only from exercise.. but also the stress in your life. After all, stress increases your chances of becoming ill. In other words, whether you are sick or just need a mental-health day, be good to yourself by taking those much-needed days off to rebalance your energy. You may have all the pieces together for eating right and exercising, but if you're not taking the time to chill out from the crazy world of work, your personal life, or school, then you're not really on the path ...
