Instalment Plan #2
Tag: Gym
Lifting Straps By Rip Toned Review #riptoned
These LIFTING STRAPS By Rip Toned come in a pair of cotton padded weightlifting straps for both men and women. I was recently sent them to try for free. I actually have only used lifting gloves or grip pads throughout my long history of fitness and training. I never had the opportunity to use straps before. I was a bit nervous but they were easy to use and very sturdy. I definitely was not disappointed and was very impressed. Why have I never used straps before?!?!?
A little bit about why these were a good product for me: I had a motorcycle accident last May which left me with 7 stitches in my hand and reduced grip strength. I am strong but I have been unable to hold the weight that I know I am capable of lifting to lift it. I quickly put the straps to use and I have to tell you these straps have helped me lift heavier than I was able to before.
I also like that they give you a Product Guarantee. They are actually the ONLY Weightlifting Straps Backed by a Lifetime No-Hassle Free Replacement Guarantee.
Why use lifting straps? According to their website "Quality no slip weight lifting wrist straps allow the confidence, safety and leverage critical to achieving your body’s peak performance and health we all so desperately seek."
This straps are great for a variety of reasons:
- Lifting Straps overcome a weak grip allowing you to lift more weight while building your ideal body
- RipToned lifting straps provide an element of safety to your exercise when losing your grip could cause injury
- Great quality material for long lasting use
- Rip Toned workout wrist straps will not stretch giving you complete peace of mind
- Provides solid grip without slipping for maximum lifting power
- Top notch stitching and product workmanship
- Durable cotton material with thicker than most neoprene padding
- Comfortable one size fits most design
- Washable for easy care
Get yours here you won't be disappointed if you lift heavy and/or have difficulty gripping when you lift.
Thanks Rip Toned these straps will forever be in my training bag!
(Image via pixabay https://goo.gl/FeuyYr)
Did you know that you don’t necessarily have to pick up a weight to get a good workout in? Using your bodyweight can be just as tough and rewarding. Here are some of the best bodyweight exercises for your body parts:
Chest/Triceps
Very little needs to be said on this matter; everyone knows that the push-up is a great bodyweight exercise for your chest. The great thing about push-ups is that there’s room for alterations. You can drop your knees down if you’re unable to do a normal push-up. You can do clapping push-ups if you find normal ones too easy. You could even try one handed ones if you’re arong enough.
Also, you can alter the angle of your body to target different parts of the chest. Put your feet on a bench and do incline push-ups to target more of your upper chest.
Or, if you bring your hands in close and do a push-up, you’ll be targeting your triceps more. This is actually one of the best tricep exercises you can do.
Shoulders
For shoulders, you can do a variation of a push-up. It’s called the pike push up and starts off in the classic downward facing dog yoga pose. You then let your forehead drop close to the floor then push back upwards. It can be tricky to get the movement right, but when you do you really feel it in your delts.
Alternatively, you can do a handstand presses if you’re experienced and strong enough. Do your handstand up against a wall for safety and stability.
(Image by skeeze https://goo.gl/Pt5IEy)
Back
One of the best exercises you can do for your back is the pull-up. It’s a simple movement that involves grabbing a bar overhead and pulling yourself up off the ground.
Of course, pull-ups are a hard exercise to do, and not everyone can do them. If you can’t do a pull-up, or don’t have any way to do on in the home, do an inverted row instead. This is a much easier exercise to do, and you can alter the difficulty based on where you place your legs. If you’re in the gym, you just need access to a squat rack or smith machine to do this.
Biceps
Bodyweight exercises for the biceps are similar to the back. The best one is called a chin up. It’s like a pull up only you grab the bar with an underhand grip. Plus, you should focus on using your biceps to curl your chin up over the bar.
Likewise, you can do inverted chin curls, which are similar to the inverted row. But, you grab with the underhand grip and use your arms to curl your body up. This is an absolute killer, and your biceps will soon feel pumped.
Legs
The best bodyweight exercise for legs is squats. Doing loads of squat variations is a great idea to build leg strength without needing weights. You can do jump squats for an extra challenge, or one legged squat if you feel up to the challenge.
Another favourite bodyweight exercise is the lunge. There are many lunge variations that are fantastic for strengthening legs and building muscle.
One of the most common questions that people often ask me is “how can I take my training to the next level?” and it’s a very valid concern. After all, it’s only natural that you want your hard work to produce the best results.
There’s no quick answer to this one, but you can get more from your workouts by taking heed of these tips below. Try them out now, and you should soon see far greater results in the gym and the mirror.
Mix Up Your Training Regime
If you’re finding that your routines aren’t getting the desired results, it could be down to two things. Firstly, you might not be working hard enough. Alternatively, it might be a case of your body become acclimatized to the current strategies.
Shocking the body into overdrive by mixing up your routines is one of the best upgrades you can make. Try hitting a high-intensity interval training program to drive your results to the next level. Meanwhile, attempting new sporting activities should keep exercise fun.
Making this change will make your workouts more exciting while the increased results will make them more fulfilling. You couldn’t ask for much more.
Improve Your Nutrition
Your training is crucial to gaining the best results. But every gym-goer should be aware that diet forms the foundation for everything you achieve.
While employing a positive diet will serve you well, you should also consider muscle building supplements. Adding these to your daily ritual won’t just give your body a natural boost. It will also help provide extra motivation to work out as regularly as your schedule allows.
Your body is a machine, and it won’t perform unless you give it the right fuel. Take care of this vital aspect, and you should be just fine.
Invest In Better Equipment
Compared to other forms of leisurely activity, working out is pretty cheap. A monthly gym membership costs less than one night out down clubbing while clothing is pretty reasonably priced too. However, there’s no reason that you can’t treat yourself by embracing the latest technology and gadgets.
Running belts and other products can help push your workouts to the next level. Meanwhile, investing in these items should serve as a slight guilt trip that will encourage you to stay on track too.
Furthermore, there are plenty of mobile phone Apps to aid your workouts. Even if it’s only a music streaming service, you should embrace these facilities with open arms.
Team Up With A Buddy
One of the biggest struggles that many gym-goers face is motivation. Let’s face it, fitting exercise around a hectic schedule or work can be difficult. If you’ve found yourself taking one too many off days, it might be time to team up with a friend.
Working out with a friend brings many benefits and should help keep you on track. Better still, the social aspects will probably make working out more fun. Once you start to see this as a social event, as well as building a better body, you should find yourself skipping days on a far less frequent basis.
Ultimately, if you dedicate more hours to exercise, you’ll see better results. It’s as simple as that.
Peaches and Green - A Trusted Specialty Health Store
Have you ever gone to a health food store, drug store or supplement shop in hopes of finding supplements, foods and information that will help you reach your goals? Have you ever gotten there and felt overwhelmed with mass amounts of products, foods and bottles? We all have had that experience. I know I have in the past and my current clients get this feeling all the time. Its hard when you are new to the healthy lifestyle to know what you should or should not be taking. I have had little to no help from the staff at these places.
As a personal trainer I know I want my clients to take good clean, tested and high quality products. I often give them a list of options and they still end up emailing, face booking or texting me from the store because the person behind the counter is telling them something different that I did. And most often times the information is wrong. I want to send my clients to a well established business but also where the staff is knowable, helpful and not just trying to sell you the most expensive product so that they can make a better commission.
According to their site "At Peaches & Green, we want our customers to feel confident that every product they purchase has been thoroughly reviewed for its integrity and efficacy. As one of the leading boutique health food stores in Toronto, we carry a wide variety of nutritional supplements, botanical remedies, and homeopathics. We also have a carefully selected assortment of therapeutic skin & body care, as well as delicious whole foods chosen especially for those with food sensitivities and dietary restrictions.
We support suppliers and manufacturers in our industry who are leaders in product innovation and research. Like us, they share a commitment to protecting our environment, and promoting the health of the individuals in the communities we work and live in. Visit our Products page for a complete list of the brands available. Peaches & Green is a proud Health First Network Member store - learn more about Canada's leading independent health & wellness retailers here."
I discovered Peaches and Green a few weeks ago when I was contacted to go in and experience the shop for myself. I said yes and made my way east where they are located on 1561 Bayview Avenue in Toronto. Peaches & Green is a specialty health food store in Toronto dedicated to supporting individuals on their path to wellness through natural health products and education. Located in the heart of Leaside, we have been the top destination for natural health and wellness products for over 25 years. I was greeted immediately by a smiling woman named Elizabeth and then George the owner. They were smiling and friendly from the start. Its always nice to have a warm welcome. They told me about the history of the store, the types of products that they carry and they really seemed to have a passion and desire to help give people good knowledge and help them get towards their goals. George was so intelligent about the products and the science behind them. I also discovered he knows a lot of Toronto health professionals that I know and respect. This is comforting and just really shows what 25 years of experience can provide.
After speaking with both George and Elizabeth and getting to experience the store first hand I high recommend that you shop for your health food products at Peaches and Green. I left with some new protein, himalayan sea salts and lots of yummy samples. If you go to do you health food shopping at Peaches and Green you won't feel lost and you will leave confident that you have got the products that you need to help you get to where you want to go!
Thank you Peaches and Green for serving our community so well. I wish you all the success in the world for the next 24 years!
If you have any inquiries or want to check out the store yourself:
info@peachesandgreen.com
Tel : 416 488 6321
Fax : 416 488 7061
Store Hours:
M - F : 9:30 am - 6:00 pm
Sat : 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sun: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Brass Vixens - Pole Fitness - Toronto
This week I was invited by Brass Vixens Pole Fitness to try out a class. At first I was hesitant because dancing of any kind is not my forte. One of my friends that I was speaking with on the phone said that I would probably be better than I was thinking I would be. So I decided what did I have to lose? I accepted the invitation and see what Brass Vixens was all bout.
From the moment I accepted signing up on their site was easy! Once I had a profile name I could browse through all of their locations and classes. The problem was that I have a very busy schedule. But guess what they had classes at all different times of day across all of their locations. I found a 12pm class that was perfect for me to attend at their location on Yonge Street. The class was beginner pole. I even received a friendly reminder of my class that I booked. Which is great since I do so many things in a day. I really like their booking feature and this was just icing on the cake!
I arrived at the address and was a little confused because the building read Seductions (and adult entertainment store). I walked in and asked where Brass Vixens was and the women was super nice and told me they were located on the 3rd floor. It would have been nice to know when I received my booking confirmation that this is where it was located. But it was easy to find non the less.
I was created with a friendly smile at the front desk by "Lady Kori" she was very friendly and totally made me comfortable. She took the time to show me the changing room, washroom and explain where to put my bags. I sat and waited patiently for the class to start and it started promptly at 12pm. It was a full class and some people had to share a pole.
Let me just say this: I LOVED EVERY ONE OF THE SONGS ON HER PLAYLIST! Music makes a workout for me so thank you Kori for an awesome play list. Since it was beginner pole we had what I thought was an extended warm up but she made it fun and sexy without it being over the top. All the moves were fun and her choreography flowed so well the whole class. The only thing I did not enjoy that much but I think everyone else did was the free style at the end of the class. She turned on a song and told us to free style. Since this was my first class I only knew what she did in the class so I was a bit so so about the freestyle. I just practiced what I learned while what seemed like everyone else did more advanced moves and really knew how to move. I just felt a bit out of place but it was still fun! I did not get a chance to take photos due to the privacy of the other attendees and there was another class directly after mine so I couldn't take any after either.
After my session I even got an email asking for my class review and to provide feedback. Great for business! I also got a Welcome to Brass Visens email saying that they hoped I enjoyed my class yesterday! After I filled out the feedback I earled "5 points." I assume this is a rewards program that they have. What a great incentive.
Overall I absolutely loved my experience at http://brassvixens.com and I would totally recommend it to anyone looking for a good experience. Don't be scared or intimidated and just go in and have fun with it. Kori is a great instructor and I would definitely attend another class of hers! Thank you Brass Vixens for such a wonderful first pole experience. If you are in the Toronto area check them out!
The League
Welcome to the future. If you are in the Toronto area you can found any professional that you want in the city and book with them using this app. The app boasts that you can find the best professionals and services you need to live a healthier, happier life – every day. Massage therapists, personal trainers, nutritionists, chiropractors and more! Book a free consultation with one of our trusted providers. LEAGUE offers the widest selection of health services in a single app. Our PROs are hand-picked, verified and ready to help you live a happier, healthier life - every day.
I have tested out The League over the past week. I have booked, changed, cancelled and attended sessions. My first being a Massage Therapy session. Not only was it easy to book with the woman I chose but she also sent me some nice emails back and forth making the app more personable. The only thing that I have found is that some of the professionals on the app have a schedule that is not in sync with the leagues calendar. So for my massage she had to switch my time (not a big deal). In case you are wondering who the massage therapist was her name is Tu Anh Luong and she did a great job (trust me I have had my fair share of athletic massages) and she was awesome. She is located at 1 St. Clair Avenue East. I highly recommend her and I am very glad that I found her. I even booked a follow up session with her next week. Just search for her in the app.
I have also booked an appointment with a Yoga instructor (which I am having tomorrow). Her profile was amazing and she even asked me for issues or areas I want to work on so that she can create a program for it. Im really looking forward to stretching out my gluteus and opening up my hips. Her name is MJ Renshaw. You can also find her on the app.
This month and next month I have a chiro, naturopath and a Vitamin B shot booked as well.
The only practice that I had a hard time booking with was pilates. I booked a private session from Misfitstudio. I have heard great things about them and their location looks absolutely beautiful. But shortly after I booked I received a message from the studio manager saying that it was a mistake in the schedule and they had to cancel it. She apologized for the inconvenience but did not ask me if I wanted to reschedule (no big deal) but any other time conflicts I have come across the practitioners were happy to reschedule me. I should take the initiative to ask her if there is another time available but it would have been nice if she would have asked me.
What I also love about the app is that it shows you the practitioners exact location as well as how far away they are from your current location! How cool is that. Also being signed up to the app you get emails with exclusive offers, awesome health tips and articles and an awesome community! And on top of that right now they are offering a special Free health coach for 30 days! 30!!!! DAYS!!! WHATTTT so go sign up and #buildyourleague of professionals!
Silk Meatless Monday Night - Take the Challenge! #MeatlessMondayNight #SidelineMeat
Hey Everyone! Its Alicia Bell here from Train It Right! This post was sponsored by Silk but the opinions are solely my own and do not represent those of Silk. It has been a long wait but it is finally football season! Get ready for NFL Monday night football with your family and friends by hosting a Meatless Monday Night. Myself and Silk are inviting you to take the challenge along side of me. You can use this to kick start a family tradition, and you also can win a giveaway from www.silk.com when join the challenge.
Why join the #MeatlessMondayNight Challenge?
My personal reason for trying the Silk #MeatlessMondayNight Challenge is this football season is because plant based foods keep you active during sports, fitness events and day to day living. There are many benefits of plant based foods but some of the most interesting benefits have been known to include:
1. Lowering your blood pressure
2. Helping with blood sugar levels
3. Lowering your risk of developing cancer
4. Lowering cholesterol
5. Linked to weight loss
And I think those are all good reasons to increase the amount of plant based foods in my diet and so should you. For my very first Silk Meatless Monday Night #MeatlessMondayNight I plan on making a smoothie. You can make your own Silk #MeatlessMondayNight recipe or make mine. Make sure to post your photo and recipe and hashtag #MeatlessMondayNight
Train It Right's Silk Meatless Monday Night Smoothie
Ingredients:
2 Cups Silk Almond Milk (unsweetened) Or Silk Product of Choice
1 Cup Kale
1/2 Frozen or Unfrozen Banana
1 tsp Matcha Powder
1 Scoop Vanilla Protein of Choice (I use Sun Warrior)
1 Cup Ice
Instructions:
Pour Silk Almond milk in first and add in all other ingredients with protein being last. Blend all ingredients into a blender until smooth. And serve with or without a straw!
Happy #MeatlessMondyNight Challenge
Use our store locator to find Silk products in your area.
Visit www.silk.com/sidelinemeat (Live September 14th, 2015) for more recipes and and a chance to win a giveaway. www.silk.com
This conversation is sponsored by Silk. The opinions and text are all mine.
Hey Runners! Introducing The HipZIPP
The HipZIPP was inspired by many failed run belts on the market. They don't fit all the essentials (Phone, ID, Gels, etc.). They aren't very well balanced, they bounce, and they're a nuisance to get anything out of them once you've put something inside them. So we went ahead and created something that worked, that innovated and revolutionized the market of run belts. We took everything bad about the countless run belts, eliminated it, and created something amazing and good. Though this did not happen over night. Countless prototypes, countless runs, jogs, walks, and even treadmill tests at the gym went into perfecting the HipZIPP. We wanted to create something that was fashionable enough to wear at the gym, but comfortable enough to wear on your morning runs. With 2 large zippered pockets and a tucked away mini pocket, this belt will fit your phone, gel packs, and your ID or credit card.
Check out the Kick Starter Here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hipzipp/hipzipp-belt-enjoy-a-hands-free-lifestyle
Khloe Kardashian Has The Best Fitness Wardrobe Ever! - @khloekardashian - Train It Right
Dear Khloe,
I thought I had an awesome fitness wardrobe. However my tiny condo only allows me to set up so much. With that said I will admit I am brutally jealous of this closet space but I love it just as much!
Love Train It Right
