Posts Tagged ‘Exercise’

Oblique workout: Saxon Side Bend

June 4th, 2010 by Fit Gizmos No Comments yet

The Saxon Side Bend was developed by Arthur Saxon, a nineteenth century strong man, to workout the oblique muscles. This oblique workout has been in use for nearly 150 years. Abs exercisers who do side bends with dumbbells will find the Saxon Side Bend far more efficient and effective for building core power. Here’s how it is done:

1. Stand up straight with feet about shoulders’ width apart.

2. Bend your knees slightly, but keep your torso and hips tight.

3. Pick up two dumbbells of equal weight and hold them close together over your head with your arms straight and your palms facing forward.

4. Without leaning backward or forward, bend to one side as far as possible, and then repeat to the opposite side.

5. Try the exercise with different weights until you find the weight that allows you to do 6 to 8 repetitions per side before fatigue.

Oblique workout: Saxon Side Bend

Oblique workout: Saxon Side Bend

It’s important not to use more weight than you can completely control. You should not be straining to lift the weights over your head and then let them drop to one side. If you do not have complete control over the weights throughout the full range of motion, you risk injury to your lower back. Use a smaller weight, or don’t stretch as far if there is any possibility that you would injure your spine.

How often should you do the Saxon Side Bend?

It gives the best results when it is used just once or twice a week, never three times or more. It is especially important to give core muscles a rest between workouts and to do your protein supplements or mini-meals immediately after your workout for maximum muscle growth.

Spacing your workouts with the Saxon Side Bend also keeps you from damaging fascia in your obliques or neck muscles, which can put you on the sidelines for days or weeks. The Saxon Side Bend is a much more challenging exercise than it appears to be. It is a great way to build your core, but it is an exercise you should only do if you can stay in complete control of the weights.

Belly Burner: Burn Stomach Fat

May 19th, 2010 by Fit Gizmos No Comments yet

The Belly Burner Belt is not like certain other kinds of belly fat belts that stimulate muscle twitches with tiny electrical shocks. Instead, the Belly Burner Belt has a low-power heating element that raises the temperature of the skin of your belly and the fatty tissues immediately below it.

Does the Belly Burner Belt Really Burn Fat?

In a word, no. The Belly Burner raises body temperature, but only when the fat cells make its own heat by burning fat is there weight loss. The “burn” you feel when you wear the Belly Burner Belt is just from the heating element, not from your body itself.

Belly Burner: Burn Stomach Fat

Belly Burner: Burn Stomach Fat

So Is the Belly Burner Belt Worth the Money?

Well, there can be benefits from wearing the Belly Fat Burner Belt. Your core muscles, your abs and oblique muscles, are essential for flattening your abs but they also needed for other very basic workout and exercise activities. Anytime you stand on your feet your body maintains balance with the help of your core. The Belly Fat Burner helps you remember your core. Wearing the belt makes it more likely that you will practice good posture.

Making the Most of Your Belly Fat Burner

The Belly Fat Burner also comes with a diet plan, meal planner, and food log. The reality is, no matter what exercise you do, you have to eat healthy and reduce your calorie consumption to lose the fat. Exercise, with or without exercise machines, is never just enough, but is part of the package deal to a better looking body and improving your general health.

Belly Burner: Burn Stomach Fat

Belly Burner: Burn Stomach Fat

Dumbbells Exercise: Shake Weight

May 17th, 2010 by Fit Gizmos No Comments yet

It’s a fact of life that millions of women, and not a few men, aren’t happy with the way their upper arms and shoulders look. Summer fashions call for sexy, sculpted, muscular arms and shoulders that look good exposed, and the Shake Weight, its manufacturers say, is one way to get them.

Better Than the Gym?

The makers of the Shake Weight say that exercise machines and free weights will give you large, bulky, ill-defined muscles. Their Shake Weight, on the other hand, is supposed to give women arms they will be proud to show off in just six minutes a day.

Dumbbells Exercise with Shake Weight

The shake weight is a dumbbell filled with loose material. Holding the Shake Weight parallel to the chest with the upper end pointed at your chin, and the lower end pointed at the floor, users shake the weight vigorously. The principle of inertia increases the amount of effort required by the workout.

Every time you shake the Shake Weight downward, the particles inside force it back up. When you lift the shake weight up, the particles pull it down. You get about twice as much resistance as the weight of the Shake Weight itself.

The dynamic inertia supposedly makes the fibers in your muscles firm up instantly, so you feel your muscles grow in your arms and shoulders while you work out. Actually, your muscles only grow after a workout—and only if you give them at least 48 hours to rest, restore their protein supplies, and reshape themselves into longer, bulkier fibers.

Break Out the Tank Tops

The makers of the Shake Weight say you can break out the tank tops, the summer dresses, your swimming attire, and love the way you look. Sleeveless attire looks good on you.

Can Shake Weight Really Work?

Well, yes. It’s true that you might get a small amount of benefit from using the Shake Weight, and if you aren’t getting any exercise at all, it’s not a bad place to start. If you don’t want to do pushups, but you don’t have time for the gym, then the $20 you spend on a Shake Weight is a good investment.

Dumbbells Exercise: Shake Weight

Dumbbells Exercise: Shake Weight

Ab Swing Ab Machine

May 3rd, 2010 by Fit Gizmos No Comments yet

Imagine what would happen if you did 10,000 crunches, and no other kind of exercise, each and every day. You would develop super-abs. Your upper abdominal muscles would be in such terrific shape but it won’t match the rest of the muscles in your body, which has been neglected. Even worse, crunching over about 200 a week (not a day), increases your risk of back and neck injuries that can do more than just interrupt your abs exercise routine.

Ab Swing for All Your Abs Muscles

Ab Swing is unique among abs exercisers in that it works out all the muscles involved in toning up and revealing a six-pack. It is one of the very few abs exercises that work out your lats. These are muscles at the sides of your back that keep you from hunching over your belly and pushing your belly out, making it look like you have a gut.

Ab Swing

Ab Swing

Benefit of Ab Swing Workout Routine

Another advantage of the Ab Swing is, if you take the time to do each exercise slowly in perfect form, you’ll develop good posture. Sitting up straight, keeping your chin forward, and pulling your shoulders back actually helps you develop ab muscles. And good posture also helps prevent future body aches and pains, like carpal tunnel syndrome.

Things to consider about Ab Swing

An important consideration in buying Ab Swing, or any other abs exercise machine, is that it takes more than just exercise to reveal beautiful abs. You have to burn fat to create and sculpt muscles. Not to mention, commit yourself to the right diet. Ab Swing can help you exercise. It will tone your abs and protect your back and neck from injury so you can keep your exercise routine for maximum results.

Ab Swing

Ab Swing

Six Second Abs Machine

April 26th, 2010 by Fit Gizmos No Comments yet

If you really know about abs exercises, you know two things about crunches. One is that crunches are not the only thing you need to do to get great abs. The other thing is that crunches are something you absolutely need to do to get great abs, and that they are easier to do on a machine.

Exercise Is Only Part of Your Workout Routine

The nature of abs exercise is that machines are never all you need. There is no such thing as an abs exerciser that will give you a wonderful well-defined six-pack. That is because machines can only help you exercise, and exercise is just part of the process of getting great abs. You have to have a healthy diet, too. It’s likely that many product reviewers take out their frustration with diets in their reviews of abs machines.

Inexpensive Abs Toner

An inexpensive way to tone your abs, try the Six Second Abs Machine. You sit on a chair, place your hands on the handles, and pull the base of the machine up to your thighs. Then you pull your chest to your thighs to work out your abs. You hear audible clicks counting off six seconds, the time required to give your abs a complete stretch. Weights of 15 to 55 pounds (7 to 25 kg) add resistance for additional training.

Six Second Abs Machine

Six Second Abs Machine

Six Second Abs Machine states…

The makers of the Six Second Abs Machine claim that their machine is “15 times more effective” than doing crunches without weights. There’s no concrete evidence to back up that claim, but there’s also no doubt that working out with weights helps you firm your abs faster. We just don’t know whether it’s really 15 times faster.

 Six Second Abs Machine

Six Second Abs Machine

Japanese Fitness Machine: Coin-Operated

March 24th, 2010 by Fit Gizmos 1 Comment

It seems like a wacky way to lose weight, but it works.

Fitness Exercise Machine with Coins

The konbini coin-operated fitness exercise machine consists of two pedals that the aspiring fitness purchaser stands on. (In case you did not know, a “konbini” is a mom and pop convenience store. Some Konbini exercise models are switched on by the owner of the convenience store, instead of accepting coins.) The pedals move back and forth for 10 minutes, imitating the motion of an elliptical trainer or a Nordic track, only the machine provides the power, the buyer just has to stand on the machine and keep feeding it money.

The cost? Just $4 for 10 minutes. Convenient for people who have little time for a gym, or who do not want to invest in home equipment they know they’ll barely use. A worthwhile workout on this fitness vending machine in those ten minutes. You get a maximum workout when you combine tension overload and metabolic fatigue.

Getting Fit With Coin Operated Exercise Machine, Does It Work?

How do you get tension overload? This refers to working out a muscle until it gets really tired. You may not need to make every muscle in your body tired, but you need to have at least one muscle really needing a rest.

When you first start exercising, whether it’s on a coin-operated exercise machine or something a little more ordinary, this is not hard at all. Just step on the machine. The more out of shape you are, or the more you weigh, the harder you are going to work out to do even a little exercise. As you get more and more fit, you have to work out harder and harder, but when you first start, it is not hard to achieve tension overload.

Good Shape In 10 Minutes with this Wacky Exercise Machine?

Let’s be honest. This next part of getting into good shape—in just 10 minutes twice a week—isn’t the fun part.

To achieve metabolic fatigue, you need to work out so hard you feel a “burn” in your muscle. That isn’t because your muscle is literally on fire. It just feels like it is!

Metabolic fatigue is achieve by working a muscle so hard that it can’t get oxygen from the bloodstream fast enough to burn glucose for fuel. The muscle has to start making energy from the glucose stored inside its cells without oxygen.

This process generates lactic acid, which causes the “burning” feeling in our muscles. Eventually, the muscles clear the lactic acid away so they are ready to reshape and enlarge themselves.

Workout and Replenish Energy

Most people who do short and intense exercise routines forget the one thing that makes sure your muscles get bigger. After your workout, you have to eat!

Everybody knows that muscles need protein. You need some kind of complete balanced protein right after you work out, even for 10 minutes. This can come from a quick serving of meat, or a protein bar made from whey. If you are vegan or vegetarian, a soy bar also works just fine. But protein is not all your muscles need.

As hard as it may be to believe, right after you work out is the one time that a little bit of sugar is good for you. To get the energy to absorb the amino acids they use to build up their own proteins, every muscle needs a little glucose from the bloodstream. Right after a workout, muscles are 50 times more sensitive to sugar. They soak it right up.

However, the key word about sugar here is “little.” A single piece of fruit, a cup of yogurt or an energy bar containing no more than 10 grams of net carbohydrates (50 calories from sugar) is enough.

Try the Konbini Fitness Exercise Machine

Konbini exercise is something you need to try out if you ever go to Japan. In the meantime, just be sure to work out hard for at least 10 minutes, to the point of just a little muscle “burn.” (You don’t need to see literal flames.) Then follow up your exercise with a balanced snack containing carbohydrate and complete protein.

Give your muscles 48 hours to grow before you work them out again—and watch your fitness levels soar!

Have you tried this machine before? Leave your comment here….

Japanese Fitness Machine: Coin-Operated

Japanese Fitness Machine: Coin-Operated

Exercise for Busy Lifestyle

February 22nd, 2010 by Fit Gizmos 1 Comment

The era of technology has its pros and cons. Pro, we have technology that can make our lives and jobs easier. Con, technology constantly makes us available and assessable at all times, and therefore we are still busy, if not, busier.

As we prioritize ourselves with tasks, assignments, and deadlines, our attention to health ends up taking a backseat. We all know that our health is important, but somehow we just can’t seem to incorporate it into our busy lifestyle.

Exercises for busy people

Creating an exercise workout plan is often daunting, and anticipated to be most unpleasant if you see it as forcing yourself to do it just because. This is what deters most people from starting or even committing to their workout plan. Whether you are a busy man or busy woman, if you think positively, and take it step-by-step it’s really not all that bad.

Assess your level of physical capability, and consider your options for exercise activities.  What could you fit, or easily accommodate into your lifestyle? Are you able to visit the gym on your way from point “A” to point “B”? Can you squeeze in time with any home workout equipment?

Choose activities that are easy and you would enjoy. Individuals are more likely to follow through with activities they consider fun, compared to something that seems like hard work and painful.
Tip: Exercise doesn’t always have to come from the gym, or a workout machine. Try casual activities like walking, which you can incorporate into a daily lifestyle. Attaching Velcro lightweights to your limbs as you do work, or doing on spot exercises like lunges, jumping jacks, push ups, etc.

Set a goal and a plan of action to achieve them. Be sure to take into account your capabilities and limitations by being realistic when choosing the intensity, frequency, and duration. This will help prevent injuries, burnouts and disappointments.

Did you know…It is best not to burnout from an exercise. Instead, exercise to the point you feel energized as this gets your metabolism going and you will still have energy for the day. You’ll also feel better after exercising too.

Stick with it. Consider your exercise program as a long-term goal, which will get you into the habit of continuing your exercise regime. Also, if you create your workout plan to give you results, you will feel more positive about continuing your workout when you feel and notice improvements.

Exercises for Busy Lifestyle

Exercises for Busy Lifestyle

Home Fitness Exercise Equipment: Air Climber

February 15th, 2010 by Fit Gizmos No Comments yet

Cardio is one of the best ways to slim down, because it gets your blood pumping and your metabolism going to help burn calories. There are many ways to get your daily cardio, it can be a daily run, or even casual walks. Reviews usually enjoy the workout while using the DVD.

Home Fitness Exercise Equipment

Air Climber, a new innovative piece for a home fitness exercise equipment, cardio workout. A stationed piece of fitness equipment, with pedals that is connected to an air pump, resistant settings, and hand pulleys to work your arms.

The Air Climber uses air pressure to exercise your muscles. Each step pushes their air from one pedal to the other, to keep your legs moving while reducing the impact on your joints. The continuous movement of your legs is stated to help get you fast results.

Air Climber Review

Cardio is actually the best way to lose weight. Because it gets your blood pumping, and your metabolism going to help burn calories. When you burn calories, you burn fat. I should think that if this is to be effective (and that goes for any workout) you have to make it a workout that counts. Casual stepping on this is good exercise nonetheless, but to see results better and faster, you have to put in the effort.

Workout Tip: For an effective workout routine that you can maintain on a regular basis, make it something fun and that you know you would enjoy. It motivates you better to stick with it.

Home Fitness Exercise Equipment: Air Climber

Home Fitness Exercise Equipment: Air Climber

Ab workout machine don’t work: Why?

January 20th, 2010 by Fit Gizmos 3 Comments

There is quite a suspicion these days, as to whether ab equipment, or fitness equipment will work on getting you that promised body image. We see tons of commercials and images today, enticing us to buy the workout machine that will give us the body of a god.

Considering our options, either we are suspicious as to how effective the workout machine would be; or buy it – then realize that doesn’t work, and regret the wasted investment. It is a common problem that products advertised to work, end up not working.

Why Ab workout machine don’t work…

Before you buy new home workout equipment, here are some insightful bits so you won’t end up disappointed.

Same movements – When purchasing ab fitness equipment, or workout machines, many of them drill the same repetitious workout movements. Doing only the same motion, up & down, side-to-side, over and over again. Repeating enough will have your body get use to this motion that abs will no longer form.
Tip: Repetitious exercise can work, so long as you are able to increase pressure and challenge your muscles. Similar to weight lifting, it is a repeated exercise, but you are to increase your weights as you progress and build your muscles.

Only exercise one part - When people look to tighten ab muscles, what they don’t realize is that the tummy has a lot of fat covering the abdominal muscle. Unfortunately, single, repetitious movements are not enough to burn the covering fat. To burn stomach fat requires various exercises, which a single static ab machine cannot provide.
Tip: You need variety. Purchasing more ab fitness equipment and workout machine with different movements and levels of intensity.


Why people buy ab machines …

If these exercise workout equipment don’t work, then why do people buy them? There are many answers to that question, but here are a few of the top reasons why:

Reduce chance of injury – Floor exercises like sit-ups, is hard on your back and neck. An ab exercise machine makes things much more comfortable, which is a perk for people who are physically weak and still want to exercise.

Easy to do – That’s how it was advertised, and that’s how it is. Many people who are looking to shape up want to do it the easiest and quickest way – however, the easy way is promising to an extent. Again, the easy usage doesn’t give your body much challenges as you get accustom to the repetition; but it’s great for people who are unable to do a lot.

Convenient – A reason why we buy home workout equipment in the first place. Busy schedules make it hard to find time to visit the gym. If we have workout equipment at home, we may be more inclined to fit it into our schedule. And the machines are cheaper than signing a yearly contract with a gym.

Ab machine don't work: Why?

Ab machine don't work: Why?

How to stay awake in class or at work?

January 6th, 2010 by Fit Gizmos 4 Comments

The most dreaded week after holidays, returning back to school or work and the attempt to get you back into a proper sleeping pattern. Days of sleeping late and sleeping in are now on hold till weekends, or until your next break. In the meantime, how can one expect to function properly during the daylight hours, with so little rest from the night before? Whether you need to stay awake in class or at work, here are some tips compiled to help you stay awake, while maintaining healthy lifestyle.

Tips to stay awake

Eat Breakfast - Having a healthy breakfast is a good way to get your metabolism and energy up and running for your day. Many people skip having breakfast in busy morning. However, skipping out may leave you unfocused, and unable to concentrate or stay awake until lunch.

Cold Water – Splash your face with cold water in the morning. Not only does this wake you up, but it also helps to close your pores from the pollutant elements in the air. During the day, if you feel tired, drink or splash your face again with cold water.

Caffeine – A common solution in society today to stay awake. Coffee and tea have become our main options, and for your health, tea is better than coffee. Many people these days are making it a point to cut coffee from their diet for health reasons. While tea is a better, cheaper, and a healthier choice for a caffeine source, one cup of coffee a day is okay compared to three cups in one day. Energy drinks are heavily marketed these days.

Energy Drink – Don’t get tricked by manufacturers’ hype and avoid relying on these products. These may cause side effects such as vomit, nausea or irregular heartbeats. Also think about how it works. What it does is that it stimulates you to bring and use your energy for tomorrow. How would you stay tomorrow? This is why many people still feel tired the next day and this cycles over and over.

Music – Music has been studied and known to affect a person’s mood. We get it all the time in movies, shopping, etc. Listening to upbeat, fast-track sounds are great wake up music (avoid soft & slow music, like jazz or classical). Either between classes, transiting or in the work place with headphones can help you stay awake, rather than silence which can be boring.

Snacking – Healthy snacks: Granola bars, cold veggies, nuts, etc. Work that requires a lot of thinking and a lot of concentration uses a lot of brainpower. Keep the energy going and stay awake by gradual consumption of munchies.

Exercise – A bit of light cardio in morning is a good way to get the blood pumping and your metabolism going. Just remember to have a bite after to replenish the energy you used.

Napping – (Not mandatory) It’s not a bad thing if you have time and you need to rest your eyes. A nap 15 – 30 minutes is best for a power nap, making you feel energized and refreshed when you get up. Anything longer will make you feel even more tired and lazy.

Gadgets – There are products available in the market to help you stay awake. One of the keep awake gadgets is the Wink Glasses. It is a glasses with a sensor that stimulates your brain to keep awake whenever you are about to doze off. Another gadget is Aroma Diffuser. Place it on your desk and enjoy the natural smell of essential oils. This not only kills bacterias near you but also refresh your brain.

Click Here to read more about the Wink Glasses

Click Here to read more about the Aroma Diffuser

How to stay awake: in class or at work

How to stay awake: in class or at work

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