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Friday Fitness: Sela Fitness Total Core Ab Workout Machine

June 24, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Sela Fitness Total Core Ab Workout Machine

OVERVIEW: This machine is sturdy but easy to lift. There are several exercises that are possible with this unit. Workout program videos available on the website and YouTube. The resistance level is adjustable. Easy to store. Good value.

WHY I NEED A HOME EXERCISE MACHINE
When I am in Grad School, I have ready access to my amazing college gym and keep up a good exercise schedule. When I am home on break, not so much. I have my share of home equipment and contraptions that I don’t use much because they are somewhat flimsy and limited in what I can do with them, so I lost interest in them over time. I also have a treadmill and stationary bike, but nothing for upper body except some hand weights.

ASSEMBLY
It comes mostly assembled except for screwing in the coil that controls the tension, adding a pin, and placing on the arm grip pieces. All the pieces are included. It does come with instructions, but I found the video on their website to be more helpful. I was confused at first with how to get the coil to fit into the slot. Move the handle forward to release the tension and it will be long enough to fit in easily. After that piece is in place, the rest is simple.

The second item that comes with this machine is a rotating disc that can be used with or without the machine. If you place it on the seat base of the machine, you can add a twisting dimension to your core workout.

USING THE MACHINE
A series of exercises video demonstrations and entire suggested 20 minute and quick workouts are available on the website that also give verbal instructions and tips about the machine exercise options. You can also find them on YouTube if you search “Sela Fitness.” Some example exercises are the assisted abdominal crunch (sit on the base of the machine, lean back into the two arm handles, do partial sit-ups with back support) and triceps workouts. The videos incorporate some non-machine based cardio with the machine exercises to get the most out of a home workout.

I like this Sela machine because it is sturdy, but it is easy to lift and move. It is useful for arm and leg exercises. When I did the leg exercises, I was sitting in a chair, which is very convenient. A few times the base tipped a bit which was not a big deal, I prefer that the machine is easy to lift and move than be heavier. For most exercises, one sits on the base of the machine for arm and ab exercises and lays in front of the machine for leg workouts.

STORAGE
The Sela machine can slide underneath a desk, bed, or couch for easy storage when not in use.

EFFECTIVENESS
This Sela machine is worthwhile for someone looking to add to their home workout equipment or someone who has some level of fitness but has not developed core strength. If you are a bodybuilder, you probably won’t get much use from this machine. But if you are getting more serious about fitness but are not ready to join a gym, this is a good starting machine. If you have just finished physical therapy and need to start a home exercise program, this will be a suitable machine. A semi-sedentary lifestyle person could benefit from this machine as it is easy to lift and move and does give some resistance while exercising but it is not too difficult. But it is a solid machine for stay at home Moms; college students home from school who want to keep up their workout, or for days you just can’t get to the gym, or you are short on time and want to find a way to work out at home while watching TV. It is suitable for several days a week use and is easy to use. I like using the machine for doing partial sit-ups because it provides some stability for my back, so I keep good form, and it also provides some resistance, so I get a better core workout. Keeping good form is something I find difficult to do with many of these home exercise machines, so I am happy to find a machine that helps to retain form on a basic core exercise.

CONCLUSION: I would recommend this machine, it is a great price for what you get and is easy to assemble and store. I wish I had watched the assembly video on their website before trying to figure out the written instructions; the video is much easier to follow. No complaints, happy to have a machine that is easy to use and a home workout that is easy to do daily.

Find this great machine at Amazon.com.

I received this item for testing and unbiased review purposes. If you have any questions about my experience with it, leave it in the comments section below, and Iâ€™ll do my best to answer it!

Odyseaco Large Baja Beach Bag Waterproof Canvas Tote

May 29, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Odyseaco Large Baja Beach Bag Waterproof Canvas Tote

I’m not one to travel light. Ever. So for these lovely almost-summer weekends that are a combination of running errands and leisurely brunching, I’m on a constant search for a quality tote bag that carries all my stuff but is comfortable and looks good. I’m quite happy with my new Odyseaco Large Baja Beach Bag Waterproof Canvas Tote.

While this good looking tote is made of ripstop canvas but feels more like a soft and durable cotton weave. The colors are summery but saturated enough that dirt won’t show obviously, and a smudge I did get on it wiped off easily with just water.

The tote is quite generously sized (16.5″x14″x7″), but because of the design, it doesn’t overwhelm smaller women visually. I had a tote in college that was fantastic regarding how much it would carry, but it didn’t have much form to it (despite being a sturdy canvas), so looked too big. This tote has a flat bottom to it so it keeps structure and looks light. I really enjoy the straps: they have a ten-inch drop and is made of a thick, textured rope. It is both comfortable on the shoulder and quite cute!

The side pockets are big enough to hold an iPhone securely, though it is easy enough to reach into the inner pocket for your phone. The zippered inner pocket is large enough to hold ID, keys, phone, and anything else you want to keep a little more secure than in the open tote. Since the pocket is made of the same water resistant material, your valuable items will be safe from any water bottle incidents (of which I have had plenty.)

This tote is quite versatile, between being a weekend bag, a gym bag, a beach bag, or all of the above. I’m planning on using it as a reusable grocery bag: I have some excellent ones, but since those bags don’t fit over my shoulder it is cumbersome to carry. This tote will make for a stylish and comfortable grocery bag!

Find this lovely beach bag at Amazon.com.

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

True Life Fitness Blaire Leggings

May 21, 2016 · Leave a Comment

It’s finally getting warm! I’ve been making strides towards getting in better shape this year, and my regular yoga pants are officially too hot to wear while working out. So I’m pretty happy to have found these True Life Fitness Blaire Leggings.

Taking a mid-workout break

My gym keeps the temp set at 74 degrees. When I’m pushing myself on cardio, that is absolutely boiling, so clothing that keeps me cool is very welcome. If I’m doing pilates at home, I want to be comfortable and have freedom of movement while still keeping track of my form. The Blaire Leggings are versatile enough that I can use them for all my Spring workouts.

The Blaire Leggings are a combination of silky lycra and spandex and feel cool on the skin. I expected the fit to be closer to a compression legging, but it is more akin to support, not compression. This is ideal for both the time of year and for workouts that require a full range of motion. The waistband doesn’t pinch at all and hits at a comfortable and flattering spot on the waist. It also has a small pocket in front with a zipper, just big enough for a key and a gym card. It’s not big enough to hold your iPhone, but frankly I’m a bit on the fence if carrying your phone while working out is such a great idea. When I’m carrying it, I don’t have to worry that someone is trying to reach me with an emergency, but working out is my time to tune out digital distractions. Of course, my epic music playlist is the digital exception. But if you truly want to carry your phone, tucking it in the waistband is a viable option: it is snug enough to hold it in place.

Now, let’s talk a bit about the style of these leggings. My traditional gym outfit is black bootcut leggings and any of one my spectrum of fitted tees. If I’m feeling wild, I’ll wear a black Capri legging. So a multi-colored splash on white is a bit of a departure for me. But these leggings are so well fitting and so flattering that a light colored background doesn’t visually add weight, and the colors appear more Monet than paint splash. They are simply well made, fun leggings!

Find True Life Fitness Blaire Leggings at http://www.truelifefitnessapparel.com/

Gear Ultimate Infuser Water Bottle

April 21, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Iâ€™ve been on a bit of a hydration kick lately. This is due to the fact that I have been feeling a bit dehydrated lately (the fact that it is allergy season doesnâ€™t help), and a renewed fascination with spa waters. So for on the go and at the gym, I really like the Gear Ultimate Infuser Water Bottle.

It is made of BPA-free Tritan material, so no worries about chemicals leaking into your otherwise healthy water. The cap seals tightly so I donâ€™t have to worry about it leaking into my gym bag (I have had some disasters of the sort.)

The infuser is made of two parts: the generous sized infuser tube and a cap. The infuser cap allows you to pour the liquid out without the fruit getting loose. The holes in the infuser are relatively small but that is a good thing as it keeps seeds etc from getting into the water.

I decided to test it out with some strawberries we have in the house. I sliced each large berry into 4-6 pieces. I was surprised that it didnâ€™t take too many slices to fill the infuser â€“ maybe 1-2 berries worth. I then filled the bottle with tap water and put in the infuser.

This next part is important: be sure to shake the bottle a few times in order to get the full flavor to infuse into your water. Since you are using cold water, this isnâ€™t steeping the fruit like a tea in hot water. So the infusion needs a little movement to mix.

Since I planned on using it during the day, I left it in the refrigerator overnight. When I tasted the water this morning I was amazed: it was incredibly sweet. You would never guess that this was not artificially sweetened, just fruit sweetened. I drank it and then refilled it. Obviously the second batch wasnâ€™t as flavored, but it was still a good, crisp taste. In the future I will probably bring along some extra fruit during the day to make extra infusions and keep my hydration momentum going.

The package comes with a little booklet that gives some ideas for infusion recipes, which I found interesting. The spa water staple, cucumber, can be made more interesting by adding strawberries or mint. Iâ€™m looking forward to trying some different fruit mixes.

The pieces all wash out clean and donâ€™t retain taste, which is impressive since I infused it overnight.

Iâ€™m really excited to find a travel fruit infuser bottle that keeps the fruit and seeds out of the water and makes such tasty water!

Gear Ultimate Infuser Water Bottle