Archive for: September 2007

rating: 1/5 by: Epinions Author KAR120C - I was deeply concerned when I came across an infomercial for a “Red” and exercise product which coupled lower back flexion and rotation. This device places its users at risk of injuring their lower backs by coupling the two ranges of lower back...

Elliptical machines are the next wave in low-impact cardiovascular exercise machines and continue to grow in popularity. By simulating motions experienced through walking, stepping, cycling, and skiing, elliptical exercise equipment provides a smooth low-impact motion while building strength in the arms and legs.

Similar to the exercise position for treadmills, elliptical trainers are used by standing in an upright position while holding the handrails of the machine. With an elliptical trainer, however, your feet remain in the foot pedals throughout the exercise regimen and circulate in a smooth and seamless motion, resulting in little to no impact on the knees, back, and hips.

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Schwinn ellipticals are the natural progression of the company’s biking tradition. Everyone is familiar with the Schwinn bicycle name, so you won’t be disappointed with their ellipticals which are made with the same rugged care.

Schwinn makes two machines in the low to mid price range for elliptical trainers. They are the Schwinn 418 elliptical trainer, and the Schwinn 438. Both these ellipticals are highly rated by consumer testing organizations and draw praise from customer reviews. Schwinn ellipticals are considered the best elliptical machines in this price range. The Schwinn 418 elliptical trainer is made by Nautilus and is the lower priced of these two models.

Most commercial elliptical machines have a rear flywheel. Schwinn ellipticals come with the flywheel on the front of the unit and still manage to keep the ride smooth and comfortable. Schwinn recommends a maximum user weight of 275 pounds for the 418 and 300 pounds for the sturdier Schwinn 438 elliptical.

The pedals are over sized at 16 by 7 inches with a lengthened 18 inch stride which means that almost all users will feel comfortable and secure with their stance.

The quiet magnetic resistance Eddy Current Brake provides smooth speed transitions an especially attractive feature for interval training.

The more than ten workout programs include: rolling, valley, fat burn, ramp, plateau, intervals, mountain, heart rate, and manual mode. An LCD display shows time, speed, distance, revolutions per minute, resistance level, calories and calories per hour, load, and heart rate and course profile. The 418 has 8 resistance levels and the 438 has 16 resistance levels.

Schwinn elliptical trainers are compatible for all ages and fitness levels and allow you to select the difficulty level through the incline and intensity settings. Additionally, elliptical exercise allows you to determine the complexity of your workout based on your needs, all while listening to music, watching television, or reading a magazine while exercising in the comfort and safety of your own home.

Tags: Elliptical machines, Schwinn ellipticals

When shopping for a new baseball glove, one has many brands, styles and fits to choose from. Companies make many gloves from various materials that can cost as little as $10 or as much as $250 for a custom made glove. The following is a brief review of companies that offer some of the best gloves on the market.

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Rawlings Baseball Gloves. Perhaps the best-known and respected baseball glove is manufactured by Rawlings. Rawlings baseball gloves have been a favorite of amateurs and professionals for over eight years. They are most admired for their comfort and safety features as well as the range of prices. You can purchase the most expensive line of gloves for $300 or so, but Rawlings baseball gloves also come in cheaper versions, sometimes for $10 or less.

Nike Baseball Gloves. Nike is probably best known for its athletic shoes and other lines of athletic clothing. The company, however, has recently begun to manufacture its own line of baseball gloves. The Nike baseball glove has been gaining tremendous popularity in recent years. The most popular baseball gloves by Nike are the “Pro Gold” and “SDR” lines. The Pro Gold gloves are top of the line and usually retail for $100 or more, while the SDR baseball gloves start at around $60. Perhaps the best feature of Nike baseball gloves is the “dry finger” liner inside each glove which helps to keep fingers cool and reduce perspiration during play.

Mizuno Baseball Gloves. Mizuno baseball gloves are another popular brand in America. They are even more popular for Asian baseball players. This company offers at least 11 different styles of gloves, with a wide price range. The “Pro Limited” series can cost up to $250, but Mizuno baseball gloves are also available in cheaper models for around $20.

Nokona Baseball Gloves. Most baseball glove experts will agree that Nokona offers the best and highest quality gloves available to consumers. These are American-made gloves from Texas and the company has been manufacturing them since the early 20th century. The least expensive line of Nokona baseball gloves usually starts at around $125 and higher-end gloves can cost much more.

In addition to leather baseball gloves, Nokona also offers gloves made from buffalo and kangaroo hides.

Baseball Gloves Info provides detailed information about custom and discount baseball gloves, as well as baseball batting gloves, baseball glove reviews, and advice on how to break in baseball gloves. Baseball Gloves Info is the sister site of Baseball Bats Web.

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author whiteyboy88 - Mark Borezo showed me this and I fell in love with it. The Bowflex Xtreme XTLU is absolutely the best thing since slice bread...

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author so_cal_gal - I just bought a used NordicTrack C1800 and am so happy with my decision to get this one. It offers more features than I could ever use. I feel like I have a health club caliber machine in my home. I like the fact that when I'm done exercising, I can...

Asics Men’s Gel-Kayano XII

Buy New: $134.99

The flagship of Asics’ running line, and one of the most popular running shoes available today. Synthetic and mesh upper with Biomorphic Fit for a perfect feel. IGS Impact Guidance System design for optimal gait and natural foot movement. DuoMax medial post and Space Trusstic system for critical support and stability. Gel cushioning system in fore and rear foot. Weight: 12.6 oz.

Tags: Asics’ running

Exercise rowing machines are a great way to get aerobic exercise. The more muscles you use when you exercise, the less time it takes to give your body a full workout.

Rowing moves your body through a wider range of motion than most activities, stretching your muscles and rotating your joints. Exercise rowing machines works out muscles in your arms, legs, stomach and torso building muscular strength and endurance.

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Your heart and lungs can also benefit from rowing exercise. The benefit of rowing exercise is similar to other forms of aerobic workouts. The continuous upper body motion is also great for raising your heart rate to your target zone.

Rowing burns calories faster than biking, is easier to do and rowing can even firm up your butt. Rowing is a smooth motion, rhythmic and impact free activity that puts little strain on the muscles and joints if done correctly.

However, people with back problems should proceed with caution because rowing can put a strain on your back. Always check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.

Rowing is a very versatile sport that can be done indoors or out. It is a complete exercise that is satisfying, enjoyable to do and provides a balance of fitness benefits.

You can get a great workout with rowing whether you are indoors, on an exercise rowing machine or outdoors enjoying the fresh air. You can row solo or join a local rowing club for the social benefits.

The steady rhythm of rowing will challenge your body, but it can also help calm your mind. Picture yourself rowing outdoors on a quiet lake; your body, your mind, the boat and the water all blended into one blissful space in time.

This article is supplied by http://www.treadmill-info.com where you will find valuable information, ratings, reviews, articles and buying tips before you make the investment in quality fitness equipment.

Tags: Exercise rowing machines, aerobic exercise

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author lrigrellor - No machine alone will create that perfect six pack but the Ab Slider does give your abs, shoulders, arms, back and chest a good workout if used properly and regularly. It is a simple machine that is easy to use with a metal bar and a couple of sets of...

Shop Amazon for a heart rate monitor

CamelBak BPA-Free Better Water Bottle with Bite Valve
Amazon Price:


Customer Review: This water bottle is exactly what I was looking for. It was a little difficult to get used to the bite and sip, but I got the hang of it after about two trys It’s a great water bottle and I haven’t noticed any build up in the mouthpiece and no weird tastes in the bottle. It’s excellent.

Omron HJ-112 Digital Premium Pedometer
Amazon Price: $24.99


Customer Review: After trying the pedometer for a few days to see how many steps I take in a normal day, I was very motivated to improve! I have been trying to get the recommended 10,000 steps a day and it’s nice to have a product that is so accurate!

Omron HJ-720ITC Pocket Pedometer with Advanced Omron Health Management Software
Amazon Price: $29.99


Customer Review: The Omron HJ-720ITC pedometer has been an asset in helping to monitor physical activity as an aid to controlling my diabetes. Walking every day has helped me lower my need for insulin. The software that came with the meter is easy to use and provides useful information in a graphical format that allows me to set goals and motivates me to keep improving.

Omron HR-100C Heart Rate Monitor
Amazon Price: $34.58


Customer Review: Does excellent job of reporting heart rate. Includes watch and alarm for maximum and minimum rates. Simplicity plus makes it good for me

Everlast Multi Function Chinning Bar
Amazon Price: $34.78


Customer Review: Took way too long to assemble, screws aren’t the right size.

Once I finally got it together, it didn’t work on my door frame.

Apparently made for door that are very deep, the top part couldn’t actually grip onto anything and I fell on my butt.

Really, really substandard product.

Tags: heart rate monitor

Are you looking for a 5k training program? When you start looking you see many program offering beginner programs and advanced programs. What is interesting is that most beginner programs are too many miles for the average beginner. The key to effective 5k cardio plans is for every person to have their own heart rate profile. With optimal heart rate training every workout will be optimized for the greatest impact for your results. Heart rate training is for advanced and beginners; the difference is the heart rate profile not using a heart rate monitor.

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The most effective cardio workout for running faster races and burning fat is interval training. Interval training is short durations of high intensity followed by short durations of low intensity and then repeated. Most programs only offer interval training for advanced programs though effective programming is good for all levels. The key is a persons heart rate profile. The most advanced you are the higher heart rate you want to train at for your interval.

Each person has a different level of fitness associated by their heart rate. As you run the energy required needs a certain consistent heart rate produce the energy. The more fit you are the lower your heart rate is for a given speed. This is why heart rate training is so effective. By finding a persons targeted heart rate profile you can make sure each workout is training in the right zone to optimally improve your performance. Often, peoples lack of results comes from not training hard enough, or very common with cardio runners is overtraining by running with too high of a heart rate on every workout.

What is important for your metabolism and race speed is the rate at which you burn calories not how many calories you burn. This is why walkers and people who run mile after mile seem to never achieve their results. The more calories you burn the more calories you need to eat to restore energy back to your muscles cells. It is challenging your muscles to burn more energy by going harder relative to your fitness level forces your metabolism to improve and than makes you fun faster and burn more fat. People after completing an interval workout burn more fat 24 hours after their workout than any other form of cardio or strength exercise.

Though the interval workout is important it isn’t the only workout that makes an effective 5k running program. Two other key workouts is a threshold workout and a long day. The threshold workout is a medium intensity workout that almost no person does. The reason why is people can always go harder and there is this myth that you have to push yourself in every work to your max. The other reason is people go on their slow steady pace never picking up the pace for a shorter run. An optimal threshold workout is between 15-30 min. If you can last longer than 30 min. you should run faster. When you run at your threshold level you are at the max at what your aerobic metabolism can burn for energy. When you go harder your anaerobic metabolism is kicked in to produce the needed extra energy. A threshold workout trains your body to burn energy the most effectively utilizing oxygen. It is the best workout for creating a good race pace.

The long day is the last workout you need every week in your 5k training program. Having running session that go for slower speeds and longer durations trains your body to burn fat and increases effectiveness of burning energy while running. You only need to do one long day a week and spending hours doing cardio during every workout may be a key reason why you are no longer seeing results.

To truly see your results you want a program that creates a personal heart rate profile. The charts on most treadmills are not accurate and the doctors who came up with the charts admit they made them up as a best guess for insurance companies and were never supposed to use as training heart rates. The other major key as you continue to run is a 5k program that uses specific and multiple threshold and interval workouts. The workout that worked for the first month wont work for the second as your body needs a new stimulus. With proper heart rate profiles you will be running your first or fastest 5k in no time.

Find personal trainer fitness and nutrition information you are seaching for at LiveLeanToday.com. LiveLeanToday.com has a full library of diet, exercise, and supplement information.

Tags: heart rate monitor

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author chakwaina - I have the pleasure of using this product in my physical therapy. It is wonderful and even gr8 for someone who has back problems such as myself,I would also say easy on the knees as well. It is very smooth and easy to do. The handles have different...

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author PattyTherre - Oh, my aching back! I must be doing something wrong when I exercise because my back aches all the time. Add to that the terrible position I am in while typing so much and I am in pain a lot. My husband bought me the Magnetic Therapy Back Wrap With...

About three years ago, when my baseball glove repair service (volunteer!) was kicking in, I came across a classic example of how you can repair a baseball glove that most people would consider trashed and have it end up looking ten years younger.

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I was watching one of the coaches throwing BP and he was using probably one of the worst gloves I’ve ever seen someone use. He could only catch the ball right in the palm, basically, because just about all of the finger lacing was broken or gone and the glove was really just flopping around. It was a little stupid looking, but he had been using it like this for a while so no one really thought about it.

After he was done throwing, he threw the glove down on one of the bat bags and went to get something to drink. I couldnt resist so I picked the glove up. I just had to give it a look. It was an another old Rawlings from the early 80s…a lefty.

I gave it a quick inspection and realized that this glove had a ton of potential. Below are some important inspection tips that I use to help determine if a glove is really still good. Heres what I saw.

• Although the glove was extremely dry, one of the driest I had yet seen, there were no parts of the leather that were extremely cracked, very hard or looked rotted out.
• Although most of the lacing was broken or missing, the “eyelets” (the metal rings where the leather laces go through) were in good shape and did not have rips in the leather where they were attached. The other leather holes were in equally good shape.
• And last, it was, of course, just a little dirty and dusty…years of that, really.

And thats it! Thats all that was wrong with the glove. I knew this was going to look cool when it was done.

When the coach came back I asked him if he wanted me to see if I could make his glove a little more useful. (didn’t want to make any great promises yet). He kind of laughed, but said, “Go head, if you want.” I did, and I took the glove home.

That night I cleaned it up, got all of the dirt off. The next day I replaced all of the lacing…full glove. I then conditioned it. The glove was so dry it was sucking up conditioner like crazy. Even to this day, it holds the record for me. I let it dry for two more days. I couldn’t believe how it now looked and felt.

When I gave the glove back to him four days later, I just tossed it at him as he walked toward me. He caught it and I could tell as he looked at the glove that he didnt really recognize it. When he realized that it was the old High School glove that he used years ago, he just blurted out some stuff that I wont repeat here, but you can guess. In any case, he was shocked at how good the glove looked.

It now had all new lacing. The color was totally different because the leather was so dry before that it was much lighter than what it originally was. The glove was now a dark tan. The leather was soft and flexible. It really looked and felt great. The guy was very happy with the glove and I could tell he couldn’t believe that it could look and feel like that again. Two years later I saw the glove laying in a bat bag again. I picked it up and again inspected it. It still looked great, even two years later. Thats good stuff!

This is just one glove out of many that I repaired with similar results. This one probably had the most dramatic results, though. With a little baseball glove repair skills under your belt you can make a lot of gloves new again and make a lot of kids and parents happy. Just remember, as a quick inspection of a glove that needs repair, look for the following:

• Check the leather. Make sure its just dirty and dry and has no major damage.
  
  
• Check the eyelets and other leather holes. There shouldn’t be large tears around eyelets or big rips in other leather holes.
  
  
• Get an idea of what lacing job lies ahead of you.

With a little practice, you can repair and restore many gloves. You’ll be a sought after person after a while if word gets out that you can repair gloves. Its cool, though, when a little kid is smiling and thanks you for restoring his favorite glove…and you can tell that he truly means it.

So before you throw an older glove out, or see someone giving up on their glove, take a look at it…give it a little inspection and see if you can work some magic too.

Good luck and have fun!

Chico Reese has been closely involved in youth baseball, softball and High School Baseball over the last twelve years. He also is known as “The Doctor” for his quick baseball glove repairs and restorations for many kids and adults throughout the summer. For an informative source on how to repair, replace and restore your baseball glove, check out: Baseball Glove Repair

Tags: baseball glove

(ARA) - The challenges of being a Gen X mom are more demanding than ever. Whether it’s alternating between soccer practices and ballet recitals or library nights and professional careers, keeping all the balls in the air can take a toll on a mom’s state of mind, as well as the state of her appearance. In response to these everyday challenges, moms are finding ways to feel better and look younger with new exercise trends, fashion, nutrition and even medical procedures.

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“Consumer trends show that women in their 40s are becoming more and more focused on looking and feeling good. With a higher disposable income than ever, American women are seeking new ways to maintain a youthful lifestyle and appearance,” says Finola Hughes, host of The Style Network’s “How Do I Look?”

But Hughes says you don’t have to win the lottery to have a more youthful appearance. She says there are simple practices anyone can do everyday — for a lot less money. Here’s her top ten list of easy and inexpensive ways to keep moms looking and feeling young:

10. Play with your children — it will make you feel like a kid again!

9. Download new music and podcasts — there’s no better way to stay fit, while also keeping the kids active, than dancing with your children to your favorite new mix!

8. Your mother might have been stuck in bifocals but you don’t have to be! Try Bausch & Lomb’s PureVision Multifocal contact lenses to lose the bifocals and the years they add on.

7. Mentor a young child. Inspiring someone else will help you feel inspired, too.

6. Exercise! Disciplines like yoga and Pilates relieve stress and improve physical health with a minimal impact on bones and joints.

5. Surround yourself with youthful people — whether in age or in lifestyle, having young friends will keep you young, too!

4. Take care of your skin — develop a simple regimen and use it every day.

3. Enjoy yourself — take time out of each day to do something fun.

2. Keep up with fashion and have fun with it!

1. Drink plenty of water — restore that natural glow from the inside out.

Practicing a few of these tips can help anyone walk out the door feeling more youthful and confident. Pass the tips on to a friend or try them yourself to turn back the clock today. For more information on multifocal lenses visit www.bausch.com or your eye doctor.

Tags: Yoga Mat

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author cyberpyxi - I have used pedometers for the past three years. When my last expensive one broke, I decided to do a lot of digging before buying a new one. I checked out all the best rated pedometers, this one came highly recommended from Consumer Reports. It was...