A bit of exercise humour! How to exercise with your cats!

Enjoy!

 

 

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If nothing else, at least sitting on an exercise ball at work is entertaining.

I mentioned in an earlier post about a former roommates nephew being told by his doctor to sit on an exercise ball at work because it would help his posture and relieve his back pain.  For him it worked.

As you’ll see in this article, not all doctors feel the same way about them.  Some believe they have no benefits at all, and see no evidence to prove otherwise.

When we listen to the debates going back and forth on the subject, we might also bear in mind that despite evidence into the millions, doctor’s have also believed throughout the years that there was no such thing as menopause, pms, or postpartum depression. 

So, evidence isn’t always accepted.  Personally, I believe a lot simply has to do with the individual themselves.  No two bodies are they same, and each responds in it’s own way to various therapies. 

Anyway, I really enjoyed this article and her humour.  Hope you do too.

 

Why I Switched My Office Chair with an Exercise Ball (and What It's ...

Many of us spend the majority of our professional lives sitting, which makes the office chair an all-important piece of furniture. Lately mine hasn't been cutting it, so as an experiment, I swapped my chair with an exercise ball.

 

 

 

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Are exercise balls to girly for guys?

The first time I saw a guy using an exercise ball I got the giggles and figured he was gay.  No guy in his right mind would be caught dead using one of those things.

I shared my opinion of them with my roommate at the time, and she said her nephew (not even close to being a girly guy) had to use one at work.  It was the only thing that helped with his lower back pain.  The ball forced him to sit up properly, and that’s all it took.

That made me curious and I bought one.  I loved it.  Fell off twice the first time.  Felt like and idiot, and laughed till I cried. 

What I learned through owning one, is that those guys who I thought were sissies because they used them – were soooo not.  They can make a workout pretty darn brutal. 

Try doing knee push ups (hands on the ball), hip bridge with roll out or single leg press on back, and you’ll discover just how tough it can be. 

Anyway, I really like this article.  The author provides pics, and explains how the muscles groups are worked using an unstable ball, as well as the benefits.  It’s pretty short, and totally worth the read.  Wouldn’t be surprised if it makes you want to run out an buy one. 

EXERCISE BALLS – THE BENEFITS ‹ Mansnaps – The style guide ...

…exercise balls…are also know as Swiss balls, stability balls, physio balls or balance balls. They're those multi coloured things that resemble 'Space Hoppers' from our childhoods…

 

 

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Now this is my kinda classroom!

View more videos at: http://nbcdfw.com.

I wonder how many kids fell on the floor pretending they couldn’t sit on them. LOL Poor teacher. (not)

 

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Total Gym XLS Trainer Product Review: A Great All-Around Home Gym

I have the best home gym set up I've ever had.  It consists of a few dumbbells, medicine ball, a couple kettlebells, treadmill, Gazelle, and my beloved Total Gym.  The kettlebells, Gazelle and Total Gym are the ones I actually use.  The others kind of take up space.  If you've ever used a kettlebell, you know why I have one.  They're fun.  The same goes for the Gazelle and the Total Gym.

Last week, I did a product review on the Gazelle, so this week I'm doing the Total Gym.  The Total Gym XLS is simply awesome.  They made significant improvements from the original model.  The padded glide board now has head support, the squat stand is brilliant, and the accessories are more than just the leg cables.  Now it comes with an entire Pilates kit, 5 DVD's, training cards, poster, and Dan Isaacson's nutritional program and meal plan.

The DVD's

1)  Start It Up: An introductory Total Gym XLS workout
2)  6-8 Minute Workout: 12 work-along workouts for men and women pressed for time
3)  Smart Training Workout: An efficient workout employing slow, precise movements to target specific muscles
4)  Pilates for Total Gym
5)  Body Makeover for Total Gym: High-energy, high-powered workout

Let's take a look at a few particulars.

Seller: Amazon 
Price:  $689.98 plus FREE Shipping. (As of July 23, 2013.  Amazon's prices on their products changes frequently, so that's where it is today.)
Savings:  $1,258.02 (65%)

DURABILITY

The Total Gym XLS Trainer is one tough machine, but like with any piece of equipment, you have to take care of it by following the instructions in the manual.  In consumer comments, some felt that the cables wore out quickly, and others disagreed.  Personally, I've never had any problems with mine.  The frame is sturdy, with a good weld on the joints. The leather covered glide board is tough.  Just make sure you give it a good clean now and again, because just like with any leather it can dry on you.

On the humorous side, if you have a cat, when you go to put your Total Gym away, make sure the glide board is facing the wall.  As far as they're concerned - it's a nice looking scratching post.  Also, hide the foam attachments (leg pull, etc).  Mine is now covered in duck tape.  (Thank you, Jeff the Cat.)

PERFORMANCE

Brilliant performance.  Those, like myself, love the smooth glide, and being able to workout without having to lose time changing weights.  Some folks think working out using just your bodyweight for resistance is not enough.  The Total Gym XLS takes those folks into consideration and offers a weight bar attachment you can pick up so you can add your free-weights to it.

In the old days, I used to mock stuff that said you could get a great workout in 6 - 8 minutes.  Of course, back then, it was a lie.  It's not with the Total Gym.  In 6 - 8 minutes, you get a good, fast aerobic workout, and your muscles will feel the burn.  So, if you're short on time, you can still give yourself a good go before leaving for work.

WHO THIS PRODUCT IS SUITABLE FOR:

The Total Gym XLS if versatile.  It doesn't matter your age or fitness level, you can use it.  I first bought mine after a series of strokes.  It was too dangerous for me to use even light dumbbells because I could easily lose my grip and drop them on the floor - meaning my feet.  When I found out the Total Gym was first used in rehabilitation centers - I picked one up.  It was exciting because I was able to do exercises I could have never done with regular weights, and made faster improvement as a result.

A word of warning though.  It might be for anyone over age 12, but there are some precautions you have to keep in mind.  You don't want little ones around the machine when you're working out.  It would be very easy for a small child to grab the bar and accidentally get their fingers ran over when you're gliding up and down.  So, you have to use common sense.  It's not a toy for kids to play on.

Otherwise, if you really want to get in great shape and have fun doing it - you want to get the Total Gym XLS.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

I'm pulling straight from amazon for this one.  It explains it perfectly.

"The smooth, gliding motion is easy on the joints; the various height levels accommodate every fitness level; and the padded glide board provides excellent support for the back.

(It)helps you strengthen and sculpt every major muscle group in your body using a single glide board and a few handy attachments.

The Total Gym XLS works by making you lift a percentage of your body weight against gravity, creating a smooth and fluid resistance. As your strength and conditioning improve, you increase the total resistance by boosting the incline, thus increasing the body weight lifted in the exercise.

The Total Gym XLS not only works your upper body, but also your lower body, abdominals, and even your cardiovascular system. And by reducing body fat and increasing the proportion of lean muscle mass in your body, the strength training effectively turns up the thermostat so that your body burns calories constantly."

OVERALL THOUGHTS

Admittedly, since I own one, I'm very biased when it comes to the Total Gym.  I honestly don't think it can be beat.  For me, it's a fun machine, an easy way to tone up, build muscle, and get a great aerobic workout by not having to stop between exercises. 

Check out the video below for a great video review, and then click here to buy it at amazon.

Really good review!

 

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Fight it with exercise!

This find is a little gem. It's short, to the point, with great content. He gives a tip I've never read before on how to avoid over-eating (let me know if you've ever heard of it), how to get a good workout in while traveling, how to calm down so you can sleep, and more!

He mentions a few things that remind me of a book I'm reading at the moment. It's called Time Warrior. I'll write up an article on it later, but in the meantime - enjoy!

 

Fitness pro: How exercise fights stress
USA TODAY
Physically, we get an incredible endorphin release to make us feel better, and mentally we earn an amazing sense of accomplishment for the rest of the day..

 

 

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Fitness motivation and expanding your horizons!

One of the things that's helped me pull myself back up by the bootstraps and get back to exercising after being down for months from muscle spasms every time I tried to work out, was reminding myself of how much I love the feel of running on air when I'm on the Gazelle. I love that floating sensation. In fact, I just finished a 20 minute Turbulence Training interval on it before sitting down to write.

For some folks, exercise can be a chore. For others, an addiction. So for those of you who find it to be a chore - I post this link for you. Hope you enjoy it!

 

Why I Exercise:
Jerusalem Post
I was running on our home treadmill, watching the Wimbledon finals, when a little voice began to insist I push myself. Usually, for my workout, I set the speed at a moderate pace of 8.5 kilometers per hour, but suddenly I had an urge to go faster. I ...