Showing posts with label Fitness MUST haves. Show all posts

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Ballet Barre Workout

Barre classes are a combo of ballet, yoga and pilates and work your arms, butt, thighs, and abs and engages the core in every exercise. Imagine lunges on relevé (tip toe) and exercises called the “pretzel”. It’s motivating and exhausting but afterward you feel amazing.

The "Booty Barre for Beginners and Beyond" DVD was like taking a dance class - a dance class that made my legs shake, my hips burn and my mouth curse, but a dance class all the same. The workout is full of simple, basic ballet moves that target the butt, hips, and thighs. I immediately recognized some of the moves, like first position and releve, although it did take me a few stumbles to get the hang of them again. The motions themselves aren't difficult, but the slow methodical movements, and focus on proper form and squeeze is what makes them so obviously effective.

Order @......

http://www.amazon.com/Tracey-Malletts-Booty-Beginners-Beyond/dp/B005SZ39VE

Only $13.99!

Below are exercise not from the DVD but effective Barre exercises you can do anywhere!!

With feet and thighs turned out ballerina-style, hinge forward to a flat back and lightly grasp the seat of a chair. Look at the floor to keep the neck long. Lift the right leg straight out behind you, hips open, until it reaches hip height. Then lift as high as you can and lower back to hip height. Repeat 10 to 20 times.

To start, rise onto balls of the feet, heels touching, hips turned out, knees slightly bent. Lower into a deeper plie, then return to start. Do 10 to 20 plies, holding the last one for 20 seconds.

Sit on floor with left knee bent (outer leg on the floor) and right knee bent behind it (inner thigh on the floor). Resting fingertips on either side of the left knee, lift the right leg -- either keeping it bent or extending it straight behind you (as shown). At the top of the last rep, hold and do 10 to 15 mini pulses up and down. Switch legs.

http://www.wholeliving.com/136445/ballet-barre-workout#88446

http://www.sdnews.com/view/full_story/19731346/article-New-business--New-workout-studio-raises-the-barre?instance=ljvn_business_page

http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/booty-barre-youll-be-looking-for-your-old-tutu-in-no-time.html#b

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

IGallop BadAss or Bad!?!?

IGallop

The IGallop has apparently been out for at least a few years and has been featured on TV shows like The View and Ellen. (As an aside: I greatly admires Ellen Degeneres, but not being a daytime TV watcher I only gets to see her on award shows and American Express commercials. I did some searching and found a clip of Ellen IGalloping, & most certainly had to share it)

.

The whole IGallop concept was a brand new one for me and I was quite intrigued. Despite having no actual experience with it, having done no research, and not even having seen a video of it in motion, I naturally felt that I must rush out and express some opinions about it.

So I found I have two opinions. The first:

It's Ridiculous and Silly!

One is supposed to use this to work core muscles like the abdominals and other ones you didn't even know you have. But because it does the moving, your job is just to stay on and ride. You can do it while you watch TV! It used to cost $600, but apparently they weren't "galloping" off the shelves, because now they're down to $350.

Am I the only one with a Dirty Mind? Because depending on what the surface of the seat is like, friction-wise, and how bouncy the ride is, I wonders if certain users might be aiming for a whole different sort of Peak Performance. Perhaps they wouldn't have had to mark it down if they'd renamed it the O-Gallop?(Get It!?!?)

"Mommy? Mommy? How come you always lock the door to the TV room whenever you're exercising?"

Okay, so maybe not. But even if it doesn't supply that kind of wild ride, I would suggest drawing the curtains. When seen by a passer-by from the waist up, an IGallop exercise routine could look, well, like a lot more fun than it probably is.

So what's my second opinion?

It actually looks kind of fun, doesn't it? I would love to build strong core muscles while watching TV. And I have never gotten the chance to get drunk and jump on one of those mechanical bulls at a cowboy bar, so I still have illusions that it would be a kick to have an exercise gadget that's actually a ride. If it ever gets down to a hundred bucks or so... who knows? Anything could happen!

Can you really get a decent abdominal work out from it? Is it entertaining?

Or if, like me, you have no experience with the beast, would you be the least bit tempted by something this ludicrous?

http://www.crankyfitness.com/2007/06/igallop-yeeehaww.html

Sunday, September 30, 2012

FAB Ladies Athletic/Gym Shoes Fall 2012

$119.99 Brooks Pure Cadence

http://www.finishline.com/store/product/brooks-pure-cadence-women-s-running-shoes-?

categoryId=cat20013&productId=prod697745

The Brooks PureCadence women's running shoes offer lean construction mixed with a responsive fit. This lightweight shoe offers superior support through smart, streamlined features such as a wider Nav Band that's locked in to the medial strike pod. A reinforced heel counter provides great security for your foot, and the internal PDRB helps prevent overpronation. The PureCadence gives runners who need more stability the opportunity to experience what a natural foot strike feels like

$99.95 Merrell Pace Glove Cross-Training Shoes

http://www.rei.com/product/810569/merrell-pace-glove-cross-training-shoes-womens

The Merrell Pace Glove cross-training shoes feature a lightweight minimalist design that helps protect feet and allows them to move naturally

$79.95 New Balance 'REVlite 797' Training Shoe

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/new-balance-revlite-797-training-shoe-women/3241808?origin=category&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=SILVER%2F+VIRTUALPINK&resultback=8068

A nonmarking sole grounds a lightweight training shoe designed for a responsive, durable ride, while QUIX technology provides superior traction and side-to-side support.

$109.99 MIZUNO WOMEN'S WAVE PRECISION 12


http://shop.run.mizunousa.com/products/productdetail/Mizuno+Women%27s+Wave+Precision+12/part_number= 410486/1661.2.1.1.8625.0.0.0.0?pp=1000& Capturing the simplistic purity and beauty of Japanese Block Printing, the ultra lightweight Wave Precision 12 offers a phenomental running experience. Soft t durable blown rubber forefoot outsole design for cushioning and flexibility.			.

$89.95 ASICS GEL-Blur33™ 2.0

http://runningshoes.com/womens-asics-gel-blur33-2-0/black-electric-blue-hot-pink?utm_source=gs&utm_medium=sce&gclid=COfmsqSu3rICFUui4AodRAUAgQ

Featuring the original award winning GEL-Blur33 midsole and outsole, the GEL-Blur33 2.0 introduces an all new modified MONO-SOCK construction with stretch mesh for slipper like comfort. A supportive external cage wraps the midfoot providing secure and comfortable fit, ready for the road.

$99.99 Nike Free 5.0 V4 Women's Running Shoes White/Silver/Wolf Grey

http://www.finishline.com/store/product/nike-free-5-0-v4-womens-running-shoes/_/A-11706?productId=prod704009

The Nike Free 5.0 V4 Women's Running Shoes are comfortable and highly flexible so your feet become stronger with every stride. The women's shoes provide a customized, barefoot-like feel during your run. The lightweight upper features a breathable no-sew mesh upper for exceptional comfort. A fused Phylite midsole offers a resilient ride you can't wait to experience, and a modified Nike Free outsole with carbon rubber inserts and deep flex grooves enhances your foot's flexibility and natural range of motion

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Dumbbell Alarm Clock

Successfully getting our butts out of bed and helping us achieve our toned bicep dreams? Talk about killing two birds with one stone. This Dumbbell Alarm Clock ($20) keeps on blaring until you've repeated enough reps to convince it to shut off. As long as we don't end up smacking ourselves in the face with it in our bleary, semi-conscious morning state, it's a sure win.

http://www.lightinthebox.com/Dumbbell-Alarm-Clock-GD-0714-_p56713.html?AID=10677699&PID=3509426&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=3509426&utm_source=cj&litb_from=affiliate_cj

http://www.outblush.com/women/life/health-fitness/dumbbell-alarm-clock/

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Bad App Fitness Apps!

Calorie Counter by FatSecret

Awesome for counting calories weather you are eating out or at home! This app not only has a food and exercise journal but also a progress calendar. For people who are always on the go this is the perfect way to hold you accountable while dieting.

MyRunningTracker

"MyRunningTracker tracks steps, calories, pace, length of time, and distance.
MyRunningTracker enables a runner to record their steps, calories burned, pace, length of time, and distance of their runs. It'll save daily statistics and give you a total of all the statistics. It displays the route the runner has taken with a using your GPS."

Body Fitness(320+ Exercise)

If you are anything like me and get bored easily with your fitness routine then this app will give you some fresh ideas. This app is designed with beginners to advanced fitness levels in mind. With a wide spectrum of fitness activities from yoga to power lifting.

Pocket Yoga

Choose between 3 different practices, 3 different difficulty levels and 3 different durations. A total of 27 different sessions! Also featuring detailed voice and visual instruction that will guide you through every pose and breathing technique. There is also a dictionary of poses that will not only give you a description of the pose but also why it is beneficial.