Archive for September, 2008
9-Year-Old Triathlete Makes History
If you are looking for motivation to kick-start your daily exercise routine here it is:
At just 9 years old Winter Vinecki swam 1.5k (a little less than a mile), biked 40k (roughly 25 miles) and ran 10k (about 6.2 miles) in less than 4 hours. And she didn't do it because she loves to exercise; rather the Michigan native competed in the inaugural Athletes for a Cure Triathlon at the Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida last week for one reason---her dad.
Winter's father is fighting for his life. Michael Vinecki was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of prostate cancer earlier this year. When doctors couldn't say how long Michael had to live, Winter sprung into action. In the six weeks between her dad's diagnosis and a 12-hour Father's Day surgery at the Mayo Clinic, Winter dedicated herself to training for the triathlon in an effort to raise money for cancer research and honor her beloved father.
She's 9-years-old, people.
Winter went into the triathlon with a goal of raising $10,000 specifically for prostate cancer research and to make people aware of the importance of early detection. In addition, the spry preteen says she wanted to pay tribute to her dad by fighting to stay on the course as hard as he has to stay alive. In the end Winter exceeded her original goal by helping raise more than $100,000. She was able to do so by getting (for the first time ever) the entire field of competitors at the Athletes for a Cure Triathlon to compete as a single team: Team Winter. According to race organizers, every participant registered as a fundraiser symbolically "gave" their fundraising total to Team Winter.
As for how well Winter performed on the course, after being given a ten-minute head start in front of the nearly 1,000 competing athletes she was able to cross the finish line in a time of 03:59:04 hours, beating 62 of her fellow competitors. Winter's mother, Dawn Vinecki, who is also a triathlete, was at her side for the entire race providing encouragement. In addition, several other world-famous triathletes also stuck by Winter during the grueling event. Simon Lessing, former World Champion triathlete was at her side for the swim and running segments, and former World and Ironman Champion Karen Smyers ran with Winter in the final leg of the competition.
Unfortunately, Winter's dad (who is also a triathlete... I guess it must run in the family) was able to travel to Orlando to watch his family compete. He is currently back at the Mayo Clinic recovering from more surgery and undergoing more treatment. Still, Winter says she thought of her dad the entire time she was out on the course and was determined to finish (despite being physically exhausted) to show her dad how much she is inspired by his fight to stay alive.
After reading that what's an hour on the treadmill, right?
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Fitness Week in Review for September 21-28, 2008
Did you gain the "Freshman Fifteen" during your first year at college? Was it easier shedding the pounds then than it is now? This week a famous pro basketball player revealed that he has never struggled more to lose weight than right now... and he's playing in the big leagues. His fitness story was just one of the many topics that were covered in this week's blog. If you missed any of them this is your chance to get caught up.
September 22nd---Avoiding Classic College Weight Gain. A well-known West Coast university is pulling out all the stops to help students stay fit and trim during their stay on campus. See which school is getting high marks for its efforts to help future leaders stay healthy.
September 23rd---Jump for Joy... and Stronger Bones. Who knew simple jumping could help build stronger bones? Find out why researchers are encouraging children (especially girls) to jump, skip and hop more.
September 24th---Pro Basketball Player Speaks Out About His Fitness Challenges. Find out which NBA player is coming clean, telling the world about his struggles to maintain his weight and physicality. His course of action may surprise you.
September 25th---How Effective are those Fancy Exercise Machines? Those ads hawking the latest and greatest (or so the companies claim) fitness equipment can be annoying at times. But how many of us have paused long enough to look and wonder just how well the machines worked in real life? Several fitness experts recently put the red hot Skorcher to the test. Find out what they had to say in this blog.
September 26th---How Effective are those Fancy Exercise Machines? Part 2. The RealRyder is one of the hottest new fitness machines on the market. But is it really worth $2,400? Find out in this blog.
September 27th---Popular New Exercise Equipment. Slanted Risers are all the rage at gyms across America. There may not be a simpler design out there, yet it has caught the attention of fitness buffs from coast-to-coast. Find out what fitness experts are saying about this new piece of equipment and another new trend-Yoga Fusion classes.
Popular New Exercise Equipment
Have you ever seen a new product and asked yourself: "Now, why didn't I think of that?"
I mutter that question each and every time I run on the treadmills at my local gym and peer into the step aerobic classroom. The gym recently acquired a few dozen of those new Slanted Risers. The angled plastic riser fits under a traditional step, like those used in step aerobics classes, to allow you to step up or lie back on a slant.
The ad on TV claims: "Not only will the Slanted Riser add a new dimension to your cardio workout by transforming your flat Step into an angled platform, but paired with standard risers, the Slanted Riser will also turn your Step into an incline/decline bench ... From aerobic training to strength conditioning, SPRI's patented Slanted Riser will bring unlimited versatility to your workout."
The ingenious product will set you back $59.95. (Now you see why I kick myself about not coming up with the idea first.)
The risers are by no means revolutionary. I think anyone who has worked out on those plastic steps before at some point considered the idea, but someone else simply got working on it first. The risers act as an upgrade to a traditional flat step and help tremendously when you are doing sets of forward lunges as it offers a more comfortable angle. It also allows you to complete other exercises you wouldn't be able to on a flat step, such as incline and decline chest presses.
Another new and extremely popular offering at my gym is the Fall Yoga Fusion class. It basically pairs yoga with other cardio exercises such as aerobics, dance, cycling, even boxing.
According to the flyer, the classes are designed for people who have a limited time to work out. The Yoga Fusion classes allow you to get in cardio, sculpting and relaxation all at once-in less than 90 minutes.
It sounds great; however, when researching the new trend I discovered that not everyone is embracing the idea. Some fitness experts say the new classes give yoga a bad name. One fitness expert claimed the classes "taint" yoga's image by giving people a false sense of what yoga is and how it is practiced. Basically, her argument is that the classes have made the practice of yoga to be more of a weight loss, fitness workout, when yoga is really designed for meditation, calming and quieting the mind and body.
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How Effective are those Fancy Exercise Machines? Part 2
How Effective are those Fancy Exercise Machines?
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How Effective are those Fancy Exercise Machines? Part 2
Continuing my series that looks into whether or not expensive exercise equipment advertised on TV is really worth going into debt over I'm turning my attention to the RealRyder.
It looks like an indoor bike, but this is no ordinary stationary cycle. The RealRyder allows you to steer and move from side to side in your own home.
Here's what the company claims in its commercial:
"After 20 years, the indoor cycling bike finally gets moving! ... It tilts, turns, and banks like an outdoor bike - works out the core, upper body, legs, cardio, and improves balance the way other indoor cycling bikes can't ... More moves. More complete workouts."
All that for the low, low, price of... $2,395! That's right, more than two grand for this revolutionary techno-bike.
So, is it worth putting a dent into your wallet?
Fitness experts, who experimented with the new bike are split about its worth. Some raved that the RealRyder is "true-to-life" and would especially appeal to avid mountain bike riders. Conversely, some experts were not sold on the fancy set of wheels saying that while the shape of the bike is sleek and modern its features wouldn't necessitate a more advanced workout. The reason, according to fitness experts is that is that on a bike that doesn't tilt the way the RealRyder does you are required to balance more and thereby expend more calories. Experts also point out that the benefits with the RealRyder are limited because when you do bank and turn on it you are forced to hold a leaning position, which turns your attention away from pedaling.
Fitness experts concluded that if you were bored of spinning on a traditional stationary bike then it wouldn't hurt to give the RealRyder a try. However, you won't be expending any more calories than you would on an ordinary bike unless the novelty of the product drives you to spend more time on it.
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How Effective are those Fancy Exercise Machines?
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Why You Want to Build Muscle as You Age
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How Affective are those Fancy Exercise Machines?
If you are trying to get into shape then those incessant commercials hawking fancy (see: expensive) exercise equipment are bound to catch your eye, draw you in and have you contemplating paying five easy installments of $99.99.
But wait! Before you get out your credit card consider the information in this blog, which provides details on one of the hottest exercise machines on the market. The Skorcher promises to deliver major results in half the time, but does it?
SKORCHER
The Skorcher is a fitness machine that is designed to specifically target the thighs and butt. The commercial claims that celebrities such as new mom Jennifer Lopez and "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe have used the machine to get into shape for acting jobs. Lopez reportedly used it to tone up after giving birth to her twins.
The machine looks like a cross between a Pilates barrel and a leg extension machine (you can see for yourself here) and ranges in price from $400 to $1,200 depending on the number of "extras" you add on to the basic model.
The company claims the basic model provides the best butt work out imaginable. The exact wording goes something like this:
"The Skorcher is the world's best butt exercise ... The butt machine that will make your maximus, medius, and minimus the sexiest ... Skorcher shapes better butts with our signature exercise, the hip thrust - the best exercise for attaining a nice, sexy butt."
The machine offers the opportunity to complete 33 different exercises including back extension, squats, lunges, hip thrusts, bench press, incline fly, preacher curls, sit ups and push ups.
So does the Skorcher deliver?
Fitness experts who put the Skorcher to the test say any exercise product, which claims to be the "world's best," should raise a red flag.
That said, according to the certified personal trainer, who tested the Skorcher, in general, the machine works (meaning it gives you the venue to complete solid exercises); however, many if not all of the exercises that you can do on the Skorcher can be done safely and effectively without the product.
Keep in mind, if you are the type of person who is motivated to push yourself more when you are working on a machine versus exercising on the floor or with everyday objects then investing in this type of product might be worth it.
Related Articles:
Crank Up Your Cardio to Burn More Calories
More Ways to Burn Major Calories
The Best Exercises to Burn Major Calories
Exercising on the Road: No Excuses
Why You Want to Build Muscle as You Age
Creating a Fitness Routine that Works for You
Taking Advantage of Fall's Cool Weather
Ways to Integrate Exercise into Your Life
Back-to-School = Back to Regular Workouts
Getting Fit Before the First Flake Falls