Health → Style Chicks → Page 10

Weekend Workout: Live Infinitely Exercise Ball

October 23, 2016 · Leave a Comment

WHY USE AN EXERCISE BALL
Exercise Balls are a very useful in Pilates, Yoga, Crossfit, stretching and low impact exercises. They are also popular as an exercise ball chair. Easy to store and use in your home, they round out a home exercise routine. Almost any stationary exercise, such as lifting hands weights or resistance band exercises, can be enhanced by incorporating the exercise ball to make the exercise more challenging by including working your core and improving your stability. Exercise balls give you an excellent range of motion for many exercises. The key, however, is finding the right exercise ball that is sturdy enough to provide support and be durable enough to withstand use.

Weekend Workout: Live Infinitely Exercise Ball

ABOUT THE LIVE INFINITELY EXERCISE BALL
This exercise ball comes with a hand pump, an extra air plug, and a valve remover tool. There is also access to exercise guides and online training workout instructions, downloadable posters, and videos via their website.

– The air pump is easy to use, it takes about 5 minutes to fill the ball.
– The air plug takes a bit of effort to remove if needed, but I prefer knowing it is in there tight and safe.

TIP: Fill the ball most of the way, then allow it 24 hours to stretch before topping it off to being fully filled. See their website for videos on how to properly inflate an exercise ball.

Weekend Workout: Live Infinitely Exercise Ball

WHAT’S UNIQUE ABOUT THE LIVE INFINITELY EXERCISE BALL?

The first thing I noticed about the ball before even inflating it, is that it is an exceptionally sturdy and thick BPA-free material. I have had other exercises balls for at-home use and have been disappointed at how they deflate, and I am worried that they can’t truly support my weight enough to make full use of them. Much of that feeling I think, came from the fact that they lost air and became soft and just didn’t feel very stable using the ball.

NON-SLIP RIDGES: These give some stability to the ball to keep it from sliding out from underneath you when you are putting full weight on it. I like these for exercises that my chest or back is on the ball, and I am stabilizing with my feet or legs.

SIZING OPTIONS: One of the things I like about this exercise ball is it comes in four different sizes ranging from 55cm to 85 cm. Live Infinitely has a sizing chart to find the right ball by your height. Your body must be properly aligned to benefit from an exercise ball. You know you are on the right size exercise ball when your knees are at a 90-degree angle when sitting, and your thighs are parallel to the floor. This allows full extension of your core muscles to derive the most benefit from your workout.

DURABLE & STURDY: The Live Infinitely Exercise Ball can support 2200 pounds. That is the weight of an American Bison. It has been tested for leaking under pressure or bursting in use and is considered anti-burst. It is durable enough to be used every day as an exercise ball chair at the office to improve your posture.

AIR RETENTION: An exercise ball that doesn’t have enough air in it can be unstable and even harmful. A ball should feel hard and full. When you sit on it, you should sink about two inches into the ball, not more than that. I tried sitting on the Live Infinitely ball and bouncing on it; the ball had “give” in the bounce, enough for fluid movement, but not so much give that I felt unstable like I was on one of those Hippity-Hop style, spring ball hopper toys.

Even a small cut in the ball will not cause rapid deflating. That makes me feel safe balancing on the ball, knowing I won’t rupture the ball if I put all my weight on it.

Weekend Workout: Live Infinitely Exercise Ball

THE LIVE INFINITELY EXERCISE BALL FOR AN EXERCISE BALL CHAIR
Many of us (READ: me) slouch when working on the computer, resulting in a weak core and ruins good posture. It also makes the body tired and stiff. An exercise ball chair allows for natural movement while sitting and keeps your core engaged. I have an artist friend, and she swears by her exercise ball chair to allow her to sit comfortably while painting for hours per session in her studio. She said she was sore for the first few days, but then her core started to get toned, and she finds it much more comfortable to sit on the exercise ball chair than a regular office chair or a wood stool while reaching to paint. Her posture is impeccable, so I put the exercise ball as office chair concept to the test.

TESTING THE LIVE INFINITELY EXERCISE BALL AS A BALL CHAIR
I tested the Life Infinitely exercise ball as my computer desk chair, and while it took about a week to get used to it, I feel so much better sitting at my desk! When I first started, it was not easy; my core was not as toned as I thought so that I couldn’t sit on the ball for very long. But after a few days I built up stamina, and now I feel a definite improvement in my posture and my shoulders and arms don’t feel stiff and rounded, and I don’t crane my neck forward as much to look at the screen. Instead, I glide my body forward on the ball. I can feel my core getting better and stronger each day!

It is imperative to have a strong, sturdy ball if you are using it as ball chair. I had tried using a ball as a chair at my desk before but I failed. I think they were too squishy and not as sturdy as the Live Infinitely Ball, which feels much firmer and gives more support. After sitting on it for the last week or so, it hasn’t lost any air or become softer; it is the same as the day I got it. This Live Infinitely ball is also the correct height for me, which is important, my other balls were too short to use as a proper exercise ball chair. If your desk is not adjustable, opt for the larger sized exercise balls (75cm or 85 cm). If you are afraid you cannot stay stable on the ball, consider placing it on a Yoga Exercise Ball base.

If you have tried other exercise balls as an office desk chair and failed, it might not be you that failed, but the ball may have been too soft or not the correct height for you. It takes a few days to get used to it, but it is quickly more comfortable than an office chair. And it rapidly tones the thighs without making your legs too sore or tired, which is another great perk. The only downside I have a tendency to cross my legs when I sit, which is a (bad) habit I have to break now that I use the exercise ball as a chair.

Weekend Workout: Live Infinitely Exercise Ball

CONCLUSION: Hands down, the Live Infinitely Exercise Ball is the sturdiest exercise ball I have ever owned or used at the gym. It feels as hard and full as when I first filled it with no leaking. I feel much safer using the ball because of the non-skid surface. The height is tall enough for me, and the taller sizes (75cm and 85cm) make for excellent exercise ball chairs, which makes sitting at my desk so much more comfortable and give my core a good workout.

Weekend Workout: Live Infinitely Exercise Ball

Find it at LiveInfinitely.com

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv_bMX6T6NQ[/embedyt]

I received this product in exchange for my unbiased review and received compensation for my time and effort. However, my experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.

Nature’s Rite Sleep Apnea Relief

October 16, 2016 · Leave a Comment

“Get your beauty sleep.”

This adage is true, but at times, easier said than done.

It’s easy to shortchange ourselves on the necessary beauty sleep due to family obligations, late-night parties, travel, or Netflix series binges. Sleep recharges body and mind, and skin loses luster without enough sleep making one look as bad as they feel. Inadequate sleep tanks the metabolism, causing sluggishness and potential weight gain. For some people, even if they went to bed early and slept through the night, they still wake up exhausted.

WHEN BEING ALWAYS TIRED IS A BIGGER PROBLEM
Many people experience Sleep Apnea, where repeated instances of breathing problems briefly disrupt sleep throughout the night, resulting in being excessively tired the next day. The instances can be so short that someone suffering from Sleep Apnea could potentially not even be aware that they are repeatedly awakened over the course of the night. According to the NIH, Sleep Apnea is a leading cause of “excessive daytime sleepiness.” (“What Is Sleep Apnea“)

THE PROBLEM WITH TRADITIONAL SLEEP APNEA TREATMENTS
If your doctor believes you have Sleep Apnea, there are various medical options such as mouthpieces, surgery, and breathing devices such CPAPs. It is hard to get immediately diagnosed, and in the meantime, your sleep patterns may disrupt your life. Upon diagnosis, many people find breathing device compliance to annoying to sleep. Having witnessed Sleep Apnea with my Grandmother, it’s hard to keep the mask on during sleep, especially if you turn over in your sleep. But Sleep Apnea is serious, and it is risky to do nothing to address it. If you or your mate’s sleep is disrupted by Sleep Apnea, Some may wish to consider a natural remedy to help combat Sleep Apnea.

NATURE’S RITE SLEEP APNEA RELIEF PRODUCT: A NATURAL REMEDY OPTION

Nature’s Rite Sleep Apnea Relief is a holistic approach with a combination of herbs designed to ease the breathing disruptions of Sleep Apnea. It does not cure Sleep Apnea but rather facilitates steady breathing during sleep. Some ingredients such as Chamomile and Thyme may be familiar as sleep aids, while others are less known.

Nature’s Rite Sleep Apnea Relief

ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS:

Sleep Apnea Relief is an all natural ingredient remedy containing:

Chamomile (leaf and flower): A warm cup of chamomile tea before bed has long been used for relaxing sleep. But there is more going on with chamomile than meets the eye: a 2011 study indicated the chemical compounds in Chamomille have both Central Nervous System and sensory effects because they bind with GABA receptor and help modulate monoamine neurotransmission. (“Herbal medicine for depression, anxiety, and insomnia: a review of psychopharmacology and clinical evidence.” European neuropsychopharmacology.) In layperson terms, Chamomile does more than just help one relax and wind down; it has powerful effects on the brain’s ability to cause restful sleep.

Lobelia in small doses, as included in this compound, is a respiratory stimulant. It enhances the brain’s ability to continuously send the required level of nerve signals to the diaphragm to maintain the breath rate needed not to disrupt sleep.

A word of caution: Lobelia is NOT a self-medicating herb to purchase at a nature food store and attempt to self-administer. Too much Lobelia causes erratic respiratory patterns and stomach sickness. Only take Lobelia in a considered form such as found within the Sleep Apnea Relief. In the proper dosage, Lobelia can be safe and highly beneficial, but it is also very powerful.

Meadowsweet is used in the remedy to reduce any risk of nausea due to Lobelia use. When Lobelia is taken small quantities the risk is very low, but Meadowsweet makes it far less likely to experience side effects from Lobelia.

Thyme is frequently used in Europe to enhance sleep, and is commonly diffused as an oil to promote restful sleep. It is useful in a Sleep Apnea remedy because it simultaneously works as a nerve stimulant for the brain and diaphragm without causing general overstimulation that can keep one awake.

Cramp Bark has been a traditional remedy for various issues involving pain and discomfort as well as for inducing sleepiness.

Nature’s Rite Sleep Apnea Relief

DIRECTIONS FOR USE:
Take one capsule 30 minutes before bedtime each night. The capsules are not hard or chalky, and I find them easy to swallow.

They can be taken while still using the breathing devices if you choose, but the goal is to wean off the device if possible.

My sleep apnea is intermittent and not that bad, so my doctor thought that this combination of ingredients would be a good answer for me when I’m having a problem. I feel more refreshed in the morning and don’t wake up to that feeling like I just had to gasp for air.

CONCLUSION: Nature’s Rite Sleep Apnea Relief is an innovative answer to a serious problem that impacts the sleep of thousands of people as well as disrupts the sleep of their mates. It is often difficult to comply with traditional Sleep Apnea treatments; Sleep Apnea Relief provides a viable option with no reported side effects.

Talk to your doctor before taking any new medication, even herbal remedies. This is important because herbal remedies can be safer without risky side effects, but they are also powerful. Nature’s Rite Sleep Apnea Relief’s combination of herbs helps the brain send proper signals to the body to regulate and maintain breathing during sleep, which is an amazing way to address a very debilitating and severe problem. To better understand this approach to Sleep Apnea management, the book Sleep Apnea by Steven R. Frank offers a great deal of useful information on the condition, causes, and herbal remedies.

Also, if it is suspected that you have Sleep Apnea, talk to your doctor about Sleep Apnea Relief as a potential option while awaiting Sleep Apnea Diagnostic testing. It can lead to much more comfortable sleep and peace of mind.

Find Nature’s Rite Sleep Apnea Relief at MyNaturesRite.com

[embedyt] https://youtu.be/45v-8Rk_e6k[/embedyt]

Why You Will Love Using Exercise Resistance Loop Bands

October 15, 2016 · Leave a Comment

This article explains why you will love Exercise Resistance Loop Bands.

Want to look ten pounds thinner, lift your chest two inches higher, get a flatter-looking stomach, look taller, all while making your clothes fit better? Yeah, me too.

But like many of us, I spend way too much time slouching over my cell phone, my tablet and at my computer desk, which wrecks good posture. Poor posture makes you look tired and grumpy. Even worse, it can make one look less confident, weaker and just plain older than your years.

Fortunately, maintaining good posture takes only a few simple at-home exercises with equipment like the Starwood Sports Exercise Resistance Loop Bands set.

WHAT ARE Exercise RESISTANCE Loop BANDS?

An ideal way to improve your posture is by doing simple arm exercises with resistance bands.

You may have seen these long, colorful ribbons of thin, flexible rubber-like material in gyms, exercise, yoga and pilates studios, or maybe even used them yourself under the guidance of a personal trainer.

Resistance loop bands provide weight-like resistance in a portable, adaptable form.

Starwood Sports Exercise Resistance Loop Bands

The degrees of resistance for Resistance Loop Bands generally are:

(Light) 6-16 lbs (0.35 mm thick)
(Medium) 11-27 lbs (0.50 mm thick)
(Heavy) 15-33 lbs (0.70 mm thick)
(X-Heavy) 21-45 lbs (1.00 mm thick)

But some sets are more and less resistance.

WHY USE Exercise RESISTANCE loop BANDS

Resistance bands are stretchy and flexible which makes them easier to manipulate than handheld or machine weights.
Bands can be stretched or pulled from a variety of angles to increase the difficulty level of your standard workout.
Loop Bands can be useful in Crossfit, Pilates, Yoga, stretching and stability exercises.
Of benefit to all fitness levels, these bands help an out of shape person improve as well as help a fit person who is plateauing in their existing exercise program.
If you have difficulty keeping good form while using hand or ankle weights, a resistance band can help.

Who Can Benefit From Exercise Resistance Loop Bands

The great thing about resistance bands is they are useful for all fitness levels.
Ways to use resistance loop bands:

LEVEL UP RESISTANCE ON YOUR EXERCISE SETS

When exercises such as squats, situps, leg lifts, arm raises, or the hip flexor stretch become too easy, using resistance bands adds additional resistance far beyond what just an ankle or hand weight can offer.

That gives better results in fewer reps. Resistance bands come in difference strengths, or levels of resistance, giving more oomph to your exercises.

Resistance loop bands for pre-workout stretching sessions

Regardless of fitness level, everyone must stretch before exercise. Muscles warmed up by a good stretch are less prone to injury.

How to Stack Exercise Resistance Bands For Extra Resistance

Sports Exercise Resistance Loop Bands are “stackable,” so you can use more than one band at a time to increase the overall total resistance.

How to do it: Stack the least resistant band on the outside, and the strongest resistance band on the inside.

To increase the “weight” of the resistance, loop the bands tighter by wrapping them around your hands, reducing the available band length between your hands to stretch during exercise

How to Improve Your Posture with RESISTANCE LOOP BANDS

If you would like to improve your posture at home with easy to use equipment, a good set of resistance bands are the Starwood Sports Exercise Resistance Loop Bands set.

There are other barnds available, a good set comes with various degrees of resistance. This gives a full range of options for beginners, intermediate, advance and plateauing fitness routines.

Starwood Sports Exercise Resistance Loop Bands

Why I Prefer Loop Bands Over Unlooped Bands

A few things I particularly like about Exercise Resistance Loop Bands:

The bands have reinforced “handle” loops on each end. This makes it easy to grip the bands, secure a loop over a doorknob, or to slip over my foot or ankle for leg exercises. It also allows a more relaxed grip on the band so I can focus on the exercise itself. I got competitor brand resistance bands from my personal trainer and had to knot them at the end and grip the knot to use them; I like that I can do even open palm exercises with these bands.

Starwood Sports Exercise Resistance Loop Bands

Exercise Resistance Loop Bands

CONCLUSION

Good posture is attainable in a few weeks by using a quality set of resistance bands. Resistance bands are useful for exercising at home, the gym or during travel. The four Loop Bands offer a full spectrum of weight resistance to improve your posture in a simple home workout and enhance Crossfit, Yoga, Pilates or a regular home workout routine.

Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey

October 13, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Nature’s Rite promotes Muscle Honey as The Pro-Athlete’s Secret which, at first blush, might make sedentary me seem like an unlikely candidate to use and benefit from this product. But my daughter Courtney suggested I give it a try, and from the first use I became a fan.

Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey

The honey is a light gel with nine herbal ingredients including comfrey for tissue mending, Witch Hazel for increased muscle fiber lubricity, Arnica Montana to support healing, Juniper Berry to flush lactic acid, Sweet Marjoram for cramp relief, White Willow Bark for pain relief, Peppermint leaf for circulation and physical support, Devil’s Claw for joint support and Ginseng for energy enhancement. Additionally, there is carbomer for gelling, Optiphen as a preservative, and TEA for pH adjustment.

Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey

The directions for use is to rub liberally on the body over areas you will exercise and also post workout for enhanced recovery.

My interest in using the product stems from experiencing ongoing muscle pain and soreness associated with injuries sustained in two motor vehicle accidents occurring during the past two and a half years. The road towards achieving the maximum recovery possible has involved much treatment and physical therapy, where this former couch potato became a conscientious exerciser.

Over the course of these last 30+ months I’ve tried many over-the-counter and two prescription topical medications to try to ease both inherent (to the injuries) pain and post-physical therapy sore muscles. Additionally, joint pain from the auto accidents is a daily problem I’ve tried to alleviate with creams and gels. And, while I did experience minor relief with some of those preparations, the degree of help was not sufficient for me to tolerate over time the objectionable aspects such as burning, odor, greasiness and even staining of my clothes and sheets.

For me, Muscle Honey proved to be superior to the preparations formerly used in both results and ease of use. The gel is relatively thin which makes it easy to spread, not runny or difficult to control. It dries very quickly and is not sticky, nor does it leave any residue. When applying it has a very subtle herbal fragrance, the combination of which is most pleasant. When dry you would not notice the fragrance unless you were right up to the applied area and made a point to try to detect it.

Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey

There is no burn or sting such as one might experience in other topical products whose ingredient lists contain menthol or capsaicin. Though made for use with exercise, you don’t have to worry that it will sweat off.

I make a point to wash my hands after applying any topical, having been (literally) burned by accidentally rubbing my eye with fingers that had residue from creams, gels or ointments containing menthol or capsaicin. It seems to me a good practice even with this product, although the risk of any untoward effect would seem much less with Muscle Honey due to the lack of those ingredients or other common irritants in the formula.

As mentioned at the top, each of the herbal ingredients has a particular benefit for helping muscle tissue. Combined, the effect seems more than the sum of the parts. Since it doesn’t have any ingredients that work by irritating the muscles and overlying skin, you won’t notice an instant response, but after a few minutes, I sensed what might be termed a relaxation of the muscle. Joints also seem calmed by the formula.

I use Muscle Honey on my right-sided injuries from neck to toe, and it has helped them feel more like my less affected left side. It’s especially useful on areas where the injury is primarily muscular but has even provided some temporary relief of a pressing problem, muscular involvement and referred pain due to a shoulder tear. While, of course, no topical preparation or even ingested meds can replace the need for surgical repair, there is no question that, by addressing the muscular component of the problem, my daily function of the area is improved for a time.

I apply Muscle Honey to most of the affected areas once a day, but if there is a reemergence of pain or soreness in any area I apply to that spot again.

Even using the Muscle Honey on five to six areas one or more times a day for awhile now, the 6.8-ounce container still seems at least half full. I’m not sure how my usage would compare to that of an avid athlete, but the 6.8 ounces would probably last a reasonable length of time for many users. I intend to continue using the product I’ve checked and see if from about fourteen dollars up to twenty dollars for this 6.8-ounce container, similar to what I’ve paid for other drugstore products marketed for the same use.

Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey

Of course, it is always wise to check symptoms with your doctor to avoid masking a serious underlying issue, but, if yours is the muscular pain and soreness associated with exercise or other common causes, you might find this product a good alternative to many others whose negatives outweigh their positives. Before using any product, read over the ingredient list and make sure that there are no conflicts with any medications or conditions you have.

I truly am thrilled to have found this amazing gel! Find Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey at MyNaturesRite.com .

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzrFkJPzr-g[/embedyt]

WHAT ARE Exercise RESISTANCE Loop BANDS?

WHY USE Exercise RESISTANCE loop BANDS

Who Can Benefit From Exercise Resistance Loop Bands

LEVEL UP RESISTANCE ON YOUR EXERCISE SETS

Resistance loop bands for pre-workout stretching sessions

How to Stack Exercise Resistance Bands For Extra Resistance

How to Improve Your Posture with RESISTANCE LOOP BANDS

Why I Prefer Loop Bands Over Unlooped Bands

CONCLUSION

More Health and Fitness Related Content