Showing posts with label cardio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cardio. Show all posts

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Bowflex Fit Trainer 10M Strapless Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Black) Review

Bowflex Fit Trainer 10M Strapless Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Black)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
As far as its role as a watch, this bowflew product gets the job done, unlike other strapless-heart-rate-monitor watches, this one actually looks like a normal digital watch, I don't know about you, but I want a strapless one because I want to wear it in PUBLIC without a strap around my chest, and since I am in public, I don't want everyone who passes by to say, what kind of watch is THAT? Thus leading to an unwanted 2 minute conversation.
Now then, the watch aspect features everything you need, a backround light, day of the week, month/day, time, alarm, stopwatch(called a chronograph), a countdown timer(which beeps every second for the last 5 seconds and then 3 times at zero and then for another 10 seconds) and of course your heart rate.
There are numerous features that resolve around the heart rate function, which you can display by holding down the bottom center silver button for 5 seconds(the sensor is where a battery is on a normal watch, up against the wrist). You can set a heart rate zone, which is down automatically for you based off your gender and age, though you can manually set your own. This is EXTREMELY useful, if say, you want to get into that "fat burning zone" which for me is about 130bpm, you can set the bottom and top bars for what ever beats you want, if you are in the "zone" your HR will appear along with one beep(though you must manually take your HR by holding down the button for 5 secs), if your higher or lower than the "zone" it will beep twice and then show your HR with either a H or a L accordingly.
A nice little feature is that along with your HR it will show your relative HR, which is to say, the percentage that you are pushing yourself, so when an exercise says "go 80%" for such and such time, you can now actually SEE what HR is that percentage, based on your age ex. My "maximum" (safe, anyway) HR is 200bpm, so if my HR while say, walking is 100bpm, the display will show "100bpm 50%" to indicate my relative HR. Very useful.
This brings me to the last feature of this watch, the calorie counter. Based on your current HR(The manual says to take it just prior to using this) (sidenote: manual is very simple, yet detailed and very helpful) this timer will show, other than a timer, the amount of calories you have burned based on your HR, haven't used it much, but it could prove very handy in the future.
Now for the bad stuff, there is one more useless feature I forgot to mention, the dual time function, basically, you can set any time you want, besides the "actual" time, maybe for time zones or something, but you can change mins and secs too, I don't know, seems pointless to me, whatever. My only other gripe is that I am not 100% confident in the accuracy of the monitor. It could just be that because of its short monitoring interval(5 secs) it is overly-sensitive, for example, while sitting here, my HR is 64bpm, but if I stand up its 84, even though I didn't really do anything, same thing if your just sitting somewhere and breathing(unlikely right? :D ) your HR picks up a bit on the inhale and drops on the exhale, these "inaccuracies" disappear however, during exercise, since the heart is beating faster, thus greatly lessening the affects of say, standing up and breathing.(and don't wear it too tight, this can make your bpm higher than it really is, inversly for too loose)
For those of you who decided to skip my overly detailed review(hey, I was the first one, after all) and just want a blunt answer, yes, this thing is great, yes I highly reccomend it and yes, you should get one(hopefully in a different color, so I don't run into people with the same watch as me ;) )

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This Bowflex strapless heart rate monitor offers heart rate without having to use a chest belt by touching the sensor buttons on the watch. Accurate heart rate anytime.

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Thursday, March 29, 2012

Valeo Jump Rope Speed Review

Valeo Jump Rope Speed
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I saw a few complaints about adjusting the length of this rope. However, I had no issues pulling the caps off the end of the handles and did so by hand. Then I measured the length I needed - to measure a jump rope correctly, stand on the middle of the rope with both feet. The ends should come up to your armpits. There were two extra crimp bands included, so I just cut off the extra length, used a pair of small pliers to crimp the new band in place, and put the cap back on. I recommend you use a rubber band wrapped around where you think you need the crimp band first, try jumping with it for a few rotations, then put the crimp band on where the rubber band was. Too easy.


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Adjustable 10 ft. long durable solid rubber rope.Molded handles with foam grips and sealed ball bearings for even rotation.

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Health (Sports) Rider Review

Health (Sports) Rider
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The Healthrider uses your own weight, with a smooth forward and back motion similar to rowing, but with more flexibility about hand and foot placement. Unlike rowing, there is resistance throughout the stroke. I purchased my original Healthrider in 1995 too. I've used it extensively over the years and can vouch that it's well built - tough as nails - and very effective. Like the ROM (Range of Motion) machine it simultaneously works most of your body, and can provide a stretch at the same time you work. The handle bars allow a biceps curl, a shoulder shrug, and a chest pull. You can also work the legs exclusively by moving the handle and the arms exclusively by using alternate foot pedals, but it's best just using all your body at once.
The main strengths are: 1) rapid warm up. You get cardio, stretch, resistance training in just a few minutes. 2) Full body involvment - arms, chest, and leg involvment all at the same time. You'll activate most major muscle groups. 3) Good benefit in short time duration. 5 minutes gets a workout you'll feel and will give you some real benefit.
The main drawbacks are: 1) not good for real cardio workout. The resistance training aspect means it's tough to do for more than 10 minutes. Your heart will benefit from a longer cardio workout. 2) Resistance is light weight with many reps - good for cutting - but not good for building muscle mass or power. 3) tough to get an intensive workout.
The Healthrider has emerged, over my years of experience with it, as a great niche player. It's a fantastic warmup before weights - perhaps the best machine out there for this purpose. It's also a great machine to get close to a total body workout when you only have a few minutes for a workout. 5 minutes before the morning shower will definitely be worth your time. It's not a replacement for real cardio or real weight training however. Those who try to use it as such may be disappointed.

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The HealthRider? still stands as one of the best ways to get a low-impact, calorie-burning workout in minutes a day. Thanks to a wide, rotating handlebar and dual pedals, the HealthRider gives you an effective, versatile workout no matter your fitness needs. With a patented linkage system and a Smart SeatTM, the HealthRider delivers a smooth, comfortable motion every time. Other features include an LCD monitor and a built-in weight bracket, giving you added resistance for more results.

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Thursday, March 15, 2012

OsteoBall Deluxe Review

OsteoBall Deluxe
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I received this as a Christmas gift and did not have a positive experience. First of all, it was very hard to inflate, the instructions are obscure and, because it was a gift and had passed the 30 day trial period, I could not return it. On top of that, I could not deflate it per the instructions. I will try to sell it on ebay since I have no other recourse.

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A new type of ball has been invented. It's called the OsteoBall. It is developed by a world-renowned doctor. Remarkably, you can now build upper/lower body strength rapidly and increase bone density -- simultaneously.OsteoBall works all 10 major muscle groups in just 10 minutes. And, your OsteoBall workout can be done in any position -- standing, seated, or even lying in bed.In addition, OsteoBall adjusts itself continuously to your strength level throughout the entire exercise. This helps protect your joints, greatly reducing risks of joint strains and muscle pulls.Unlike bulky weights, elastic bands, or gym machines, OsteoBall is lightweight and ultra easy to use. Simply position your OsteoBall for the exercise, begin your pull or squeeze on the ball -- and in just seconds you're done!

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Monday, November 7, 2011

Bosu Balance Trainer Home Version Review

Bosu Balance Trainer Home Version
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I purchased the Bosu Balance Trainer Home Version from amazon.com on October 14, 2008. It arrived about a week later and I was eager to get started. I carefully followed the inflation instructions and used my owner's manual as a guide to determine the proper height of the dome. I read the entire manual, watched the DVD and then used the Bosu for 1 half hour workout. I stored it in a corner of my work out area (away from direct sunlight as instructed) in my air conditioned apartment.
This morning, two days after my last workout (my first and only workout) I retrieved my Bosu only to find that it had come unstuck from the base. The bottom is no longer flat and there is no way I can get the edges back into the space along the rim of the base. It looks like the glue that was used very sparingly to adhere the dome to the base didn't hold for very long after I inflated it. As indicated by some other users the pump is very cheaply constructed and is less effective at deflating the Bosu than inflating it.
The idea behind Bosu is fantastic and I have used one repeatedly in the Gym so this problem makes me think that the manufacturers made an inferior product for home use because they believed it wouldn't be used as much. However, after paying almost $100 or a product I should be able to get more than ONE use out of it.
Like I said, "Buyer Beware". If I had read a review like this one I might have paid extra for the commercial version. I hope this review saves someone else from the needless expense and frustration that I have experienced with this product.

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Appropriate for everyone from elite athletes to kids to weekend warriors trying to stay in shape, the Bosu balance trainer helps you strengthen and coordinate several major muscle groups, including the muscles you don't see. The Bosu targets your core muscles--the muscles around your abdominal and back area--while you perform a host of different workouts, from squats and bicep curls to lateral shoulder raises and hip extensions. As a result, you not only gain strength, trim, and tone, but also improve your balance and coordination along the way. In addition, Bosu training helps strengthen the mind, with thoughtful movement that requires the participant to not only be physically involved, but also "here and present" with the mind fully engaged. By combining physical and mental focus, Bosu training will boost your performance across a wide continuum of activities, including sports, recreation, and daily tasks.
The Bosu home trainer comes with a workout series on a single DVD to help get you fit, along with a foot pump and exercise manual. The DVD workout series starts with the Calorie Combustion Workout, which combines step routines with sport-specific moves to get your heart rate up and your muscles challenged. The Long & Lean Workout follows a different formula, with master trainer Chalene Johnson leading you through Pilates-inspired movements that emphasize total body toning, so you feel stronger, taller, and younger. Finally, the Absolutely Abs Workout concludes the Bosu package. In this final workout, master motivator Greg Cook unlocks the Bosu dynamics to maximize your range of motion and take your ab workouts to the next level.


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