Friday Favourites: Fitness Apps

I love my iPod Touch.

One day I will graduate to an iPhone, but for now, the Touch does the trick.

I love to listen to music during my workouts and loading on some fantastic fitness tunes for my clients and classes.  I have also discovered some pretty cool apps to help you reach your fitness goals.  Here are three of my faves and I hope you find them helpful too.

Fitness Gimmicks: What to Ask Before You Buy

I have written quite a bit on some of the ridiculous fitness products out there.  The weight loss industry is a multi-million dollar one and people will try to market just about anything to get a piece of the pie.

However, not all products that hit the selves are useless.  Many of theme started out as gimmicks (think: the step) and prove to be very effective and popular fitness tools.

So how do you distinguish the good for the bad and the ugly?  Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before you run out and purchase the latest fitness fad.

Don't let you purchase end up like this poor Ab Lounge :(

Who designed this product?
Is the creator a certified fitness professional?  Are any of the product claims backed up with true exercise science?  Many infomercials are endorsed by a celebrity who may not be in the fitness industry and/or include paid testimonials.  It is so important that you research the product before you buy to verify any claims made.  Look online for real reviews.  Ask your friends and make an informed decision before you buy.

Can it really deliver on it's promise?
"Lose 6 inches in 6 days!"  "Eat whatever you like and still lose weight!"  Most fitness gimmicks promise very dramatic results in a very short time.  Ask yourself if it is really possible for this product to do everything it claims it can.  If the answer is "yes", can it be done safely?  Some of the systems may be able to produce the desired results in combination with vigorous exercise and a near-starvation diet.  Step as far away from these products as possible.

What makes this product different?
All new gadgets are are marketed to look like the best thing to ever hit the fitness world, but are they are they really that revolutionary?  Is this DVD/equipment/system any different than the one that your are already using (or have collecting dust in the basement)?  Do your research.  (See point 1).

What other questions should you ask when considering the latest fitness fad?

Stay Healthy,
Tracy

Crazy Fitness Gimmicks: What Were They Thinking?

It has been a while since I have scoured the Internet in search of the latest and greatest exercise gimmicks and my search did not disappoint.

Not surprisingly, I found many crazy contraptions and fantastical promises.  So today, I share with you three more fitness gimmicks in a post I have appropriately titled "What Were They Thinking".

Garage Sailing for Fitness Finds

Out on my run the other day I noticed a sign at a church up the street for a yard sale and decided to stop by to see if I could find any fitness treasures.

The sale was pretty small and I picked up a few Christmas videos for my niece and nephew to watch with us this year.

On my way home, I saw that there was a sale at another church so I stopped in thinking it would be similar to the first one.

Wrong.

Crazy Fitness Gimmicks...Again

I admit it.  I bought this a few years ago.

The Ab Glide.

Having a (Stability) Ball

What a beautiful, sunny Saturday in TO.  It is so nice to see the sun after a few days of grey and gloom.

Today I wanted to talk about one of my favourite pieces of exercises equipment:  The stability ball.

Quest for a New Blender

I bit the bullet.

Crazy Fitness Gimmicks Revisited

Poor Ab Lounge

Have you ever fallen victim to a fitness fad? 

You can admit it. 

The infomercial comes on late at night with promises of a firmer butt and tigher abs in just minutes a day.

You quickly find yourself intrigued and before you know it, you are online placing your order.

You happily recieve the product 4-6 weeks later, only to discover that is not easy to assemble, it does not take minutes a day and you are out $100.

In previous posts, I have talked about the beloved Thighmaster, the Sauna Belt and a few other fun fitness gadgets.  Well, here is the lowdown on 3 more crazy fitness fads.

Crazy Gimmick # 3: Leg Magic
Do you beleive in magic?  This is the catch phrase for this crazy contraption.  The infomercial claims that this lower body toning system gives you major muscle sculpting and will change your life. 

Well, I am not too sure about that. 

While it does look like you are working your hips and inner thighs, the range of motion is limited. The handle bar is also placed quite low, which could cause back strain. 

There are many fantastic ways to work your lower body, so save your money and do some squats or hit the streets for a run.


Crazy Gimmick #2: Ab Lounge
What we really need in the fitness world is another machine to work the abs (note the sarcasm). 

I have to tell you that I actually tried the ab lounge (I found it in my apartment gym.  It has been out on the patio for months now.  Poor Ab lounge.)  I found it quite awkward to use.  You really have to pull with your arms to get it moving, which leaves very little work for your abs. 

As is the case with Leg Magic, with so many option out there to get a great abdominal workout, why would you spend money on an expensive chair that will most likely be used as a clothing rack.


Crazy Gimmick #1:  The Bodi Pro
This is the first time I have ever seen this product, but it looks to me like a glorified Thighmaster.  It appears to be made out of plastic, so its durability maybe also be questionable. 

It is yet another gadget that claims to tone the entire body in no time flat.  I am alway weary of products that are "too good to be true" because they often are just that. 

For the price you would pay, go out and get yourself a few sets of hand weights, a stability ball and a resistance band to get a more verstile workout.

Have you tried any of these products?  
What are your favourite crazy fitness gadgets?

Stay Healthy,
Tracy

Building a Better Blog(ger) for Fitness Professionals

A few weeks ago,  I talked about the benefits of blogging for fitness professionals. It is a great way to increase your online presence and brand.

As you can see, I use Blogger (I know many of you prefer Wordpress, but lets save that talk for another post :) Over the last few months, I have been looking for ways to  improve my blog and I have stumbled across some pretty cool features.

When I tweeted about it, I got this request by the lovely Lisa @ Vegan Culinary Crusade

 Ask and you shall receive.

I am happy to share some of my discoveries in the hopes that they will help you build a better blog(ger).

  
Google Friend Connect. When friends follow you, they are able to get updates about you on their Blogger Dashboard.  This makes it easy for them to come back for more of your fantastic posts.  You can also use Friend Connect to allow users to subscribe to a newsletter, by adding the feature found here.  It is super easy to use and it is a great way to keep your fans updated.

 
Stats.  This is a relatively new feature for Blogger, which you can find  in your Dashboard under "Manage Your Blog."  It keeps track of how many people visit your blog, which pages they are viewing and how they got there.  It is a great tool for you to see which topics are most popular, when people visit and to give you some direction for future posts.

Social Media Gadgets.  Do you use Twitter?  Have a Facebook page?  Add them to your blog! You may only have your reader's attention for a few minutes so make it easy for them to connect with you.  Many of these other sites have gadgets ready for you to use.  All you have to do is copy the HTML code, click "Add Gadget", select "HTML/Javascript", paste and save. You can find the Twitter badges here and the Facebook page badges here.


Which gadgets have you added to your blog?
Any Blogger tips to share?


Stay Healthy,
Tracy

3 More Crazy Fitness Gimmicks

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Last winter, I did a post about some of the crazy fitness gimmicks that I have come across online and on TV. Since there are so many great gadgets out there, I thought I would do another installment.

And away we go...

Craziest Gimmick # 3: The Thighmaster

One of the biggest informercial products of the 90's, the thighmaster promises to tone your thighs, abs and even your arms. While the product does offer some resistance, there are no options to increase the intensity of the workout or allow for a greater range of motion in exercises.

Craziest Gimmick # 2: The Hawaiian Chair

The Hawaiian Chair "takes the work out of your workout" while you sit in a swiveling seat that is meant to simulate a hula-hoop. As appealing at it may seem to have a sit-down workout, I have to say that I am a bit skeptical (to say the least) about its ability to provide any aerobic benefits.

Craziest Gimmick #1: The Shake Weight

What can I say about the Shake Weight that hasn't already been said? Even if there were any benefits to using this product, no one could ever get over the "ridiculous" factor.

What do you think? Did I miss your favourite fitness gimmick? Post away!

Stay Healthy,

Tracy

Return of the Sauna Suit

The weather has been so hot in Ontario the last few days; I decided to opt for a morning swim instead of my daily walk. The pool at my apartment is a separate complex with change rooms and a small workout area. As I was entering the pool area today, I looked up through the window into the gym area and saw a woman on the treadmill wearing a sauna suit.

A sauna suit! Really?

For those of you who are not familiar with this contraption, a sauna suit looks very much like a track suit and is typically made with vinyl, nylon and even plastic. The idea behind the suit is to trap heat so the body will sweat more during a workout. This is thought to increase calories burn and help shed weight.

Sounds good, right? Not so fast...

The only thing the body will lose is water that will easily be replenished when you drink and eat. You can also run the risk of overheating the body which can cause dizziness and fainting.

People are always looking for a quick fix and although you might lose some water weight using a sauna suit, it will not lead to permanent weight loss and can be dangerous.

The bottom line: Stay on the treadmill, but skip the suit.

Stay Healthy,
Tracy

5 Gym Bag Must Haves

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When you are ready to hit the gym for your favourite class, it is important that you have the right gear with you.

Here are my top 5 gym bag essentials that will help you cruise through your next workout.

5. Shoes - You want to try several different brands and styles to ensure that you have the right fit. You also want your shoes to suit the type of activity you are doing: Cross trainer are great for a gym workout but running shoes would be best for, well, running.

4. Water Bottle - I think this one goes without saying as we all know by now how important it is to stay hydrated when we exercise. Try to get a bottle that is made of stainless steel or BPA-free plastic.

3. Towel - Many gyms provide towels to clean equipment but I think it is a great idea to have one just in case. You may also want to clean yourself up during or after your workout.

2. MP3 Player - Music is a great way to stay motivated during your workout. You can also download some great exercise podcasts and videos to use during your workout.

1. Touch Up Kit - OK, maybe this is more than one thing but it is great to have if you are going out after your workout. My kit includes deodorant, lip gloss, body spray and face powder.

So, what is in your gym bag?

Stay Healthy,
Tracy

3 Crazy Fitness Gimmicks

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You can't turn on the TV or surf the internet without seeing ads (many in the form of infomercials) for the latest and greatest products to help make exercising and losing weight "faster and easier with better results".

You will notice the quotes on that last part. While some of these products have certainly been proven to be effective, many of them are more laughable then result-driven.

In honour of these fantastic fads, I have put together a list of the top 3 in the last 20 years. There are certainly many others but these are the ones I consider to be the most difficult to swallow in term of research and effectiveness.

Let the countdown begin:

Craziest Gimmick # 3: 6 Second Abs
If you watched TV in the mid 1990's you are surely familiar with this contraption used to tone your abs. The commercials would imply that the participants (with very well-defined abs) were only spending 6 seconds a day with this product to achieve these results....that is a bit hard for anyone to believe.

Craziest Gimmick # 2: Sauna Belt
There were many incarnations of this product but essentially you place a heated belt around the part of your body that you wish to target and "sweat off the inches". Most people know that sweating is a result of water loss, not fat loss and that this products is not going to have any long lasting effects.


Craziest Gimmick #1: Rock-N-Go Exerciser
This exercises involves sitting on a product that looks like a riding saddle where you rock back and forth. That is it! No movement, no muscle activity, just sitting. I don't think this product is currently available and it perhaps not so surprising as to why.

Do you agree or disagree? What are some of your favourite fitness gimmicks?

Stay Healthy,
Tracy