March 2010

Gymboss Interval Timer and Stop Watch

by Eartha

Recently I was contacted by the company Gymboss.com to try out their Gymboss interval timer. I have always liked interval training although I don't do it as my primary method of working out, I do use intervals when I want a good full-body workout in a short amount of time. When I was contacted about reviewing the Gymboss, I was happy to do so because it was something I would buy myself if I had ever come across it.

If you have ever done intervals or other timed exercise like tabata, then you know how it is to have to time yourself. You either have to have someone time you or you keep track yourself with the number of reps that you do. This is where Gymboss comes in. You can set an alarm for your timed intervals and it will beep, vibrate, or both when the time has been reached.

For example, I did an interval workout consisting of squats, push-ups, jumping jacks, lunges, and mountain climbers. I wanted to spend 30 seconds on each exercise to complete a set. I set my Gymboss for 30 second intervals. When the alarm went off every 30 seconds, I switched to a new exercise. It definitely made it easier to keep track of when to change exercises.

Other Gymboss Interval Timer Features

  • One or two different time intervals from 2 seconds to 100 minutes
  • Auto keeps repeating through intervals
  • Manual acts as a countdown timer
  • Alarm by beep, vibration, or both
  • Alarm duration of 1, 5, or 10 seconds
  • Belt clip
  • Water and shock resistant
  • 1 year warranty

Types of training it is good for:

  • Boxing/Martial Arts
  • Interval Training
  • Weightlifting
  • Running/Sprinting
  • Cardio
  • Crossfit
  • Tabata
  • Kettlebells

If you are into timed workouts then the Gymboss is a good timer to consider. It is really easy to use, small, easy to take anywhere, it can be clipped onto clothing or other item, and only requires one AAA battery.

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How to Get a Free Gym Membership

by Eartha

Thinkstock Single Image Set

Gym memberships can be quite expensive, especially if you are on a budget. When you are searching for options about joining one you quickly find out that there are fees to pay just to join. You may have to put money down and then pay monthly or yearly. If you end up not using your membership as often as you expected, then you end up wasting your money.

Below are some ideas that you may consider in order to land yourself a free gym membership.

1. Work part-time at a gym - A lot of gyms offer free memberships to their employees. If you don't mind working part-time, you can earn some extra money as well as workout for free.

2. Job benefit - Some companies offer gym memberships as a benefit. Ask around and maybe you can land a job that will pay for your gym fees.

3. Trial offers - If you live in an area that has an abundance of gyms you could find out about any free trials. Many may offer trials from one week to an entire month. Join various gyms at various times and you could manage to get several months of free memberships.

4. Volunteer - This may work with the privately owned gyms more so than the larger franchised gyms. You could ask about volunteering in exchange for a free membership.

The best free gym (in my opinion) is the one you have right at home. You don't need fancy equipment or a lot of space. If you have a television and a dvd player or a laptop that plays dvd's then you have all the gym you need. There are some excellent in-home fitness programs available on dvd that you can use to workout at home.

Most of these programs require nothing more than dumbbells and a yoga mat. If you invest in several programs, you create a fitness library that you can alternate any time you want. It is like having a personal trainer on-call. You can workout anytime you want without worry of gym fees, driving to and from a gym, germs from the sweaty equipment, overcrowding, sweaty gym members, and waiting to use machines.

P90X® is a prime example of what a home-fitness program can do. That program has become quite a success and many people have lost weight and got into great shape by working out at home in their spare time. Consider a low-budget home gym for yourself. It is one of the best gym memberships you already have free access to.

Join me in the gym! Sign up for your FREE account at the Team Beachbody Club and get access to the tools, support, and motivation you need to reach your fitness goals.

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10 Ways to Get Motivated to Exercise

by Eartha

Free weight work out

One of the hardest parts of working out is getting started. I remember working 8 or more hours a day and commuting for one hour in rush-hour traffic. The last thing I felt like doing after a long day was exercising. Yet, when I didn't exercise, I was always sluggish and I gained a lot of weight in the process. You are probably finding yourself in a similar situation. How do we get motivated enough to exercise?

Well, like most things we do in our lives, if it is something fun and something that we look forward to we will have no problem doing it. Therefore, we need to find ways to make exercise fun and ways to keep our motivation levels up. Below are 10 ideas that you may find helpful and inspire you to try fitness.

1. Get fitness minded - Even if you are out of shape, it doesn't mean you can't be into health and fitness. Begin acting as if you are fitness fanatic. The more you get enthused about fitness, the more you will want to do it.

2. Subscribe to top fitness magazines - You need to surround your home with fitness material. When you have health related magazines around that you can read in your spare time, not only will you learn a thing or two, you may even become inspired by the people featured in the magazines.

3. Join communities online - There are so many different fitness communities online from bodybuilders to runners, there is a forum that will match your interests. Participate and communicate with other fitness-minded people.

4. Find a cause - There are many good causes that you can participate in throughout the year. Many are fitness related such as walking or running for 3k's or 5k's. Train and participate. You'll be motivated to help out.

5. Start a group - Do you know others who are struggling with motivation? Start a walking, running, biking or other fitness related club. Schedule meet-ups and workout together to help motivate each other.

6. Buy workout clothes - Clothes can change our moods and when you put on workout clothes, it can get you in the mood to workout even if it's for a short walk.

7. Set small goals - Set simple goals such as working out 3 times per week. When you meet that goal, reward yourself with something cool like going to a movie or a new pair of shoes.

8. Blog it - Many people find tons of motivation from starting a blog about their fitness. It helps keep you accountable and you meet other people who are in the same situation.

9. Create playlists - Nothing gets me pumped up to exercise like good music. I make various playlists and upload to my mp3 player. Music can be a great motivator.

10. Hire a trainer - If you can budget it, personal trainers are excellent in terms of motivation. They keep you accountable and teach you different methods of exercise.

Motivation can come from everywhere, however, some of the best motivation comes from communicating with others who have fitness goals they are working towards as well.

I recommend opening a FREE account in the Team Beachbody Club. You will have have access to the support, motivation, and tools you need to reach your fitness goals. Sign up for free by clicking here.

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Lose a Pound of Fat and Get Motivated

by Eartha

Man Weighing Himself on Bathroom Scales

Losing one pound of fat isn't that impressive to some people but knowing how to do so can make a world of difference for someone else. Losing just one pound means that you can lose two, three, and continue until you reach your goal.

There are a lot of ways to go about losing pounds but nothing will take the place of healthy eating and physical activity. Yet, eating healthy and exercising can be often neglected due to busy lifestyles. It can be hard for most people to fit in fitness.

Below are some tips that may help you get on the right track of losing a pound and staying motivated to meet your weight loss goal.

1. Keep food simple - Fitting in healthy eating means keeping food simple in terms of the food you choose to eat. Simple doesn't mean ordering through a drive-thru. It means eating food that isn't full of ingredients you can't pronounce or have no clue to what they are. The more natural your food the better. Think of lean meats, seafood, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, and good fats.

2. Make the most of your workouts - If your biggest excuse is not having time to workout then you will need to make the most of each workout that you do. Burning fat should be the goal and a great way to do this is by building muscle. Good fat burning exercises are strength training, calisthenics, and interval training.

3. Don't weigh yourself daily - Our weight can fluctuate from day to day so if you weigh yourself everyday you may freak out wondering why you are a pound heavier than the day before. Keep in mind that there is water weight to consider as well as gaining muscle that puts on weight. This happens over time so it is probably better to do weekly weigh-ins.

4. Make small goals - Let's say you have 20 pounds or more to lose. Setting a huge goal can make it seem unachievable. Set a realistic goal of losing one pound per week. When you see that you can lose a pound a week, it gets you motivated. It's nicer to reach small goals and feel good along the way. The small goals add up to your much larger one.

If you can lose one pound, you can lose the rest that are keeping you overweight. It is all about baby steps, seeing progress, and staying motivated.

Have you reached your weight loss goal or working towards it? What are some of your tips?

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