I was really excited to try this out. I liked the idea of being able to use the wall to help maintain posture. At first it feels really awkward for people who aren't used to squats because you have to extend your feet farther forward to prevent improper positioning of the knees. But it feels great when you're flowing through the movement.
I'm 5'4" and I feel like the bands don't engage until I am nearly fully extended. There would be more resistance for taller people. I would really like to be able to increase the resistance.
Backward lunges are much easier to do with this system because you don't lose your balance like you do with free weights. It doesn't hurt at all, but the links rest on my shin during the movement which is distracting to me. You can place it behind your leg, but then you have to use extra muscle to keep your heel planted. Be careful so it doesn't break free and flick you where it hurts most.
Also, the foam on the foot handles is very thin and flimsy. I don't see it lasting very long especially if you're wearing shoes. But you'll still be able to use the system even if the handles fall apart.
I loved the workout! I especially love the carrying case. I took it with me on vacation and it was perfect. It's small enough to fit in your luggage and you can assemble it in less than a minute. Just be sure to store it so that the foam rollers aren't compressed or else they become lopsided for a bit and you'll feel it when they're rolling along the wall.
I received this product complimentary in exchange for an honest trial and review. These are my personal opinions and experiences.
I have always wanted to try TRX. The gym that I used to go to actually offered it, but at an extra $25 per month. I just couldn't afford that much money on top of my membership. Plus, the class was only offered a couple of times per week when I was unavailable.
I finally got to try it though! And I LOVED it! It is quite the strenuous workout though. It's not a bad thing. I'm just warning you that you are most likely going to be sore the next day. You can get a killer full-body workout in along with your cardio.
If you're worried that you won't know what to do, don't worry. It comes with a manual that shows a couple of basic workouts. And if you do better with a program that you can follow then there are plenty of resources on the web. Here's a good one for beginners:
And this one explains a lot:
But there are way more out there. Just find one that fits your style and follow along. You can also find articles, pictures, and more out there. Google it and you'll be glued to your computer for awhile.
I have looked at the TRX straps online for a couple of years now, but I never purchased them because I really didn't want to spend $180+
That's why I jumped at the opportunity to do a review for a similar system. I have been trying out the Pinjian Suspension Strap System. It's on Amazon and quite comparable to the TRX System, but a whole lot cheaper.
It's way easy to setup. It only took me a few minutes to read over the manual and set up my door system. No need to bolt anything into your walls. If you use the door anchor then it just hangs over a closed door. Easy peasy. You can also set it up outside with the extra strap that comes in the kit. I love that I can do it outside while my kids are playing or inside when it's cold. You can also buy metal anchors to fasten into your wall or ceiling if you want a permanent fixture. I have one of those as well and it's way heavy duty!
The best part about this system is that it transports super easy. You just toss it in the mesh bag and can put it in your suitcase. You can do it at a hotel or while camping. It's the best workout system for someone on the go.
The straps seem to be of good quality with nice stitching. I haven't had any tearing or fraying yet. The handles have held up well so far, and are pretty comfortable to use. The carabiner is definitely strong. However, it does require the tool (included) to open and close. Don't lose that! It is really small and could possibly fall through one of the holes in the mesh. Be sure to keep it in a ziploc bag or something. The foot cradles are comfortable and big enough. The door anchor has held up really well. If it ever starts to wear down stop using it though! It could end badly. I see that happening in my distant future. Jkjk.
Overall, I am very happy with my purchase. This system is fantastic and will be getting tons of use! I just need to start building some more muscle so that I can do it better. I really didn't think I was as weak as I was until I tried to workout with my suspension system. Aaagghhh! Hope you enjoy! Once I get better at it maybe I'll make a workout video of my own!???
If you want to try the same one that I used then you can find it HERE.
Adios friends!
I received a discount on my purchase of this product in exchange for an honest trial and review. These are my personal opinions and experiences. Thanks for reading.
The moment I heard that you could slice vegetables and use them like noodles I knew I needed a vegetable slicer. I finally found one at the local kitchen store. It was $50 though! That was way more than I expected. I spent at least 30 minutes debating the purchase while I browsed the shelves. I ended up buying it because I didn't want to live without it.
A couple of years later I received a handheld spiralizer. I did not like it nearly as much. It was far cheaper, but 10x as much work. Plus, it only came with two options - large noodles or small noodles. The cleanup wasn't particularly easy either. The one perk that it did have was that it takes up very little space to store.
I like my 5-Blade Spiralizer by Brieftons so much better. It is very similar to the model I already have in my cupboard. I like the one that I paid $50 for the most because it came in the best condition. For some reason the Brieftons Spiralizer's claw came really dirty and damaged. It looked as if it had been dropped and smashed on the warehouse floor. However, if you want something that works and is $20 cheaper then you should definitely get Brieftons Spiralzer.
It comes with 5 separate blade options: Angel-Hair Blade, Fine-Shredding Blade, Crude-Shredding Blade, Curly-Fry Blade, and Flat Blade. These five blades make it possible to make - curly fries, potato twists, gourmet salads, vegetable pastas/noodles/spaghetti, vegetable pizza toppings, apple chips, garnishes, onion rings, coleslaw, soups, and much more.
However, not all fruits and vegetables are well-suited for this machine. I wanted to make carrot ribbons, but could not find a way. I tried to use the Flat Blade on a carrot and failed miserably. I could not get the carrot to stay on the food holder. It fell off as soon as I started to twist. I tried multiple times, but gave up quickly. I have had great success with sweet potatoes and zucchini though. They advise against soft foods. They have listed recommended fruits and vegetables for your success:
You can store the unused blades in the storage compartment, but I've only been able to put to blades in at once. If you store another one in the slot on the top of the slicer then you only have two floating in your cupboard. I wish the had a safe and covered storage compartment for all of the blades.
You can easily take the machine apart for cleaning. They suggest using warm water nd mild detergent to rinse it. And it is dishwasher safe! I have handwashed it and it's not too bad. You have to be REALLY careful so that you don't slice your finger in the water bath. There are a lot of parts and it takes up a decent amount of space, but it's worth it.
The meals that you can make with a spiralizer are absolutely delicious and healthy. I love that I can get so much fiber and nutrients in my meals now. Plus, I now have access to recipes for my spiralizer thanks to Brieftons.
If you want to start spiralizing as well you can find one like mine HERE.
I received a sample of this product complimentary in exchange for an honest trial and review. These are my personal opinions and experiences. Thanks for reading!
Ok, so I have been wanting to start yoga. Actually, it's one of my New Year's Resolutions. I just feel like there are so many health benefits that I'm missing out on. It is good for your emotional, physical, intellectual, and spiritual well-being. And when you do it as a game it even helps your social dimension. That's 5 out of the 7 Dimensions of Wellness. It's a lot of goodness.
The only problem with yoga is that I'm not good at it. I am a beginner and I have no idea what I'm doing. I have always loved health and fitness. I've been exercising since I was in elementary school. This is one of the categories in which I feel like a fish out of water though. I just don't know where to start.
That is why I love the Yoga Spinner Game by Think Fun. It is designed for kids. It is meant for the youngest of beginners - which includes me. It's not a routine that you have to memorize. It doesn't include any mantras, meditations, or transitions. It is simply a fun way to introduce you to the positions and names while increasing your flexibility.
There are 54 different cards each with a different position or movement. Some are extremely simple while others a little more challenging. They are simple enough that my almost 4 year old can complete the majority of them, but challenging enough that there is plenty of room for improvement. I like it because we can learn the basics together.
The game play is also very simple. The spinner adds a fun Russian Roulette feel to your yoga routine. It actually makes it possible for anyone to win the game. You don't have to be a yoga rockstar to win. The newbie can actually trump the pro in this game.
Plus, they have spots on the spinning board that add a little oomph to the game. The different choices are: Color Match, Steal a Card, Partner Up, Opponent's Choice, Lose a Card, and Player's Choice. This adds a lot more uncertainty, competition, and possibilities for teamwork. It is so much fun to see where this game takes you.
The objective of the game is to earn at least one card of every color. The first person to collect all four colors wins. The twist is added when you land on one of the options besides Color Match. You can steal cards from the other players, choose any color for yourself, or everyone else can choose which color you have to pick. And you only have to hold the pose for 10 seconds to complete it!
However, I think that as we progress and my children are a little older I will add the rule that you have to hold the pose until your next turn. Muah hahaha! That will give me a couple of years to practice though. Jkjk.
Overall, I am absolutely in love with this game! I think that it is brilliant fun. It's the perfect way to introduce my kids to exercise. It's a great way to turn off the television and get their minds and bodies working. Which is so vital nowadays. This is the perfect introduction to yoga so that we can focus on becoming more well-rounded.
If you would like to check it out for yourself, you can find it on Amazon HERE.
I received a sample of this product complimentary in exchange for an honest trial and review. These are my personal experiences and opinions. Please use caution and discretion when performing yoga with your kids. Thanks for reading!
This past month has been rough. Sickness has been all through our house. Over. And Over. And Over Again! It has been horrible.
Luckily, I have had my little buddies to help cheer me up.
Aren't they adorable??!!
I just love them. Personally, I think that they should've called it Mister and Miss Tea though. I guess they could both be misters, but my pink one is a miss.
My Dad grew his own Elderberries this past Summer and dried and ground them in the Fall. He had heard about their use as a cold remedy and decided to try it. It actually tastes amazing when paired with honey. In order to enjoy it at my house I needed a tea infuser. I purchased this pair on Amazon and hoped that they would work.
They worked perfectly! I have been enjoying Elderberry Tea all month long thanks to Mister Tea.
The pants remove from the body so that you can place the loose tea leaves inside. Then you simply connect the legs back to the body and place him in the water to steep. Be sure to hook his arms on the lip of your mug though!
It looks like he's relaxing in an amazing hot bath. Honestly, I was a little jealous watching Mister Tea soak while I sat with the sniffles trying to keep up with three and one year old girls. I should have gotten the shark or manatee. Haha.
Cleaning Mister Tea is super easy as well. You can simply rinse him out under running water and everything comes right off. If you need a little help then you can just use a sprayer to help remove all the small particles or a baby bottle brush. If you happen to leave him out accidentally and the tea dries onto him, no worries! I simply flipped his pants inside out and scrubbed for a second and he was clean.
The only thing that I wish they would change is his torso. It's hollow. If they made it solid then it would be much easier to clean. You cannot flip his upper half inside out. My daughter got a hold of my Mister Tea and shook him while he had wet particles in him still. I set him in the sink and forgot to rinse him out. Everything ended up getting dried on inside of him. I just used my spray nozzle to clean his torso out and it worked very well. However, if he was solid on top then I wouldn't have to worry about that happening again.
All in all, I love my Mister Tea Silicone Tea Infusers! They are super cute and great quality. They would be an adorable and hilarious gift for any tea lover. Even the box was good for a laugh. I would definitely buy these again.
I remember when stability balls became the hottest new thing for exercising. Everyone wanted them and every exercise video used them. Somewhere along the way they kind of got tossed to the side though. Why?
I love using stability balls. I always felt like I was the only one that ever used them at the gym though. Is it because they aren't made of metal? Do people think they belong on the playground? Is it awkward and embarrassing to use in front of others? If so, then people need to grow up... err umm... find their inner child.
My favorite ab exercises include stability balls. I mean it is right there in the name. Stability requires a center of balance and a strong core most of all. If you want abs then I suggest using a bright pink bouncing ball.
Okay, it doesn't have to be pink, but my new one is and I LOVE it! Pink is my absolute favorite color, and this is the perfect hue. I know it is completely ridiculous, but I am much more prone to work out if I feel cute and I like my equipment. I just enjoy WAY more than if I am feeling blah.
This is actually the third stability ball that I've owned. I had a large blue one and a smaller gold one. This is the first one that has come with a measuring tape however. They always posted the intended size on the box, but I always pumped them up until I assumed they were full and called it good. I now realize that I could've been 10+ inches off! What??!! Yeah.
I started pumping this one up until I thought it was firm. I then pulled out my measuring tape and it was nowhere near the 81 inches it was supposed to fill to. I was only at 66 inches. So, I kept pumping. I got it to 73 and I thought for sure it was going to burst! Nope. I got it to 77 inches and put the plug in and called it good. I didn't want to ruin my pretty ball. Then I decided it wouldn't be a true review unless I put it to its limits. So, I made my daughter leave the room just in case it exploded and killed us all. I removed the plug (they actually give you a tool to do this) and I kept pumping. I pumped until the circles lined up on the measuring tape at 81 inches. WHOA!!! How did it grow another 14 inches??? I was kind of nervous about sitting on it. How embarrassing would it be if I popped it? Nope. It held me just fine. And it has suffered tons of abuse ever since. My kids love to play with it. It has been pressed up against our rocky fireplace, thrown down the stairs, kicked, and sumo-smashed. It is way tougher than I thought it would be!
I also love this ball because they give you 2 plugs! My other balls only came with one each. If you lost the plug while it was deflated and being stored then you were screwed. As I mentioned before, it actually comes with a tool to remove the plug. It is super easy to do. No more gnawing at your ball or whipping out the butter knife and praying that you don't cut your ball. They also give you an instruction guide that directs proper inflation and deflation. And a manual of suggested exercises and proper form with recommend repetitions. Not to mention, the LIFETIME guarantee.
Ok, so I put together a short routine for you to try out. I am extremely out of shape right now, so my form kind of sucks so please forgive me. Plus, my house is a disaster zone. After two weeks of sickness it looks like we live in our own filth. I am so sorry. P.s ignore my lovely husband's Dr. Pepper. That is not mine. Just remember that you should hold your abs in tight and keep your back straight. Try to keep a straight line from the top of your head down then entire length of your spine. Try to point your toes as well and keep your legs straight. Good Luck!
Try to do each move 15x (reps)
And complete the workout 4x (sets)
I got my Peak Win Athletics Stability Ball off of Amazon. You can find it HERE.
I received this product complimentary in exchange for an honest trial and review. These are my personal opinions and experiences. Thank you for reading!
I have always wanted to try Battle Ropes. They always look so Bad-A. Now I know why - because they are. It's a simple piece of equipment, but it gives you a killer workout.
If you have knee issues and need to get some cardio in and you don't want to hit the pavement then these are a great alternative (if you're not combining lunges, squats, etc. into your routine). It will get your heart rate up in no time. Plus, it will give you the shoulders you've been dreaming about.
And did you know that there are tons of variations that you can do with ropes? Here is a good video I found that demonstrates how many different moves that you can do.
Ok, so I know that he makes it look easy, BUT IT'S NOT!
If you want a good video with names to each move so that you can reference them then I recommend this one-
I finally got some battle ropes for working out and I can't wait for the snow to melt! I don't have my dream at-home gym built yet, so I have to use mine outside. I tried taking them to the gym, but they said that we can't bring outside equipment. Lame!!! However, we did sneak in a short session before we got the boot.
I've also put together a short 10-minute routine that you can blast some calories with.
Battle Rope Burn
0:00 - 0:30 jog in place
0:30 - 1:00 Battle Rope Jumping Jacks
1:00 - 1:30 Push-ups
1:30 - 2:00 Squat and Double Wave with Battle Ropes
2:00 - 2:30 High Knees
2:30 - 3:00 Rainbows with Battle Ropes
3:00 - 3:30 Sit-ups
3:30 - 4:00 Battle Rope Alternating Arms with Side Shuffle
4:00 - 4:30 Butt-Kicks
4:30 - 5:00 Battle Rope Russian Twists
5:00 - 5:30 Wall Sit
5:30 - 6:00 Sidewinders with Battle Ropes
6:00 - 6:30 Skaters
6:30 - 7:00 Outward Circles with Battle Ropes
7:00 - 7:30 Plank
7:30 - 8:00 Stage Coach with Alternating Reverse Lunge
8:00 - 8:30 Mountain Climbers
8:30 - 9:00 Battle Rope Sidewinders with Forwards/Backwards Walk
9:00 - 9:30 Toe Touches
9:30 - 10:00 Battle Rope Rainbow with Lunge
Now take a DEEEEP breath. You're done. Go hydrate!
I received this product at a discount in exchange for an honest trial and review. You perform this workout routine at your own risk. I am not a licensed fitness professional.
