Posted by Elizabeth Renter on November 16, 2009
There is a misconception that still exists about at home workouts. The idea is that they are all created for women and none are challenging enough for men seeking a real, hard core workout. Nevermind the fact that women can workout just as hard as men, men want to feel seriously challenged in an at home workout. For that reason, we are here to discuss some of the at home workouts for men we sell here at Extreme Body Workout.
One of our original at home workouts for men is the first Power 90. This workout is a great start up for men who eventually would like to work through P90X and even P90X Plus. Power 90 promises 90 days to a new body. It does this with the help of celebrity trainer Tony Horton and 7 targeted workouts. Sectional progression is used to sculpt and define each muscle group in this basic but very challenging program.
For Power 90 graduates or for men who are already pretty fit, we carry the bestselling in at home workouts for men: P90X. P90X is the ultimate in at home workouts for men. If you ever thought that at home workouts weren’t challenging, this program will prove you wrong. Using the science of muscle confusion, Horton moves men through a series of cardio and strength training workouts designed to get your body into the best shape ever.
Finally, for the man who has limited time, there’s Tony Horton’s 10 Minute Trainer. When shopping for at home workouts for men, this one is the most appealing for men who want to stay in good shape but whose life requires a customizable workout. 10 Minute Trainer allows men to create a workout that they have time for, whether it is 20, 30, or 40 minutes long.
At home workouts for men do exist and we carry some of the best here. Don’t let the misconceptions about at home workouts blur your vision. These workouts can change the way you view an at home workout and change your body for good.
Posted by Elizabeth Renter on November 16, 2009
It seems the majority of people have a love/hate relationship with ab workouts. While mid-workout can be excruciating, we love the feeling of tightness that occurs afterwards. This soreness is a sign that what you are doing is working and it pushes you to work even harder. Ab workouts are designed to give you maximum results in the muscles from just beneath your ribcage to just below your navel, the area of your body commonly looked to as a symbol of health.
The news has been telling us for the past several years that a large tummy is a sign of poor health. This article from WebMd last year goes so far as to say that belly fat can double your risk of death. Ab workouts are just one of many ways we seek to combat the dreaded belly fat and its resulting poor health.
Ab workouts don’t need to be the only approach to losing belly fat and maintaining optimal health, however. You shouldn’t neglect the importance of a good diet. Eating the right foods will allow those rock hard abs to show through. Otherwise, the fruit of your ab workouts will just remain buried under a layer of fat.
Ab workouts should always include more than basic crunches. When considering how to get your midsection in shape, make certain you are also considering core workouts. While your core includes your abdominal muscles, it also includes your back and chest. These muscles work together to keep you upright, give you good posture, and when combined with a healthy diet, decrease body fat.
Ab workouts might be the thing that you dread the most. There are many people who live for their ab workouts, however. Although I am not one of them, you may be. For you it should be easy. However, if you abhor your ab workouts, consider some alternatives. Programs like Hip Hop Abs work the abs without crunches and without even going to the floor.
Crucial to your overall fitness, ab workouts should not be neglected…even when you can’t stand them!
Posted by Elizabeth Renter on November 13, 2009
You don’t have to look far to find cool gadgets and tools to add to your fitness gear collection. Just like any other expense, however, it is easy to get carried away. So often, we have the mistaken assumption that the more fitness gear we have, the fitter we will be. Ask anyone who hangs their clothes on their treadmill and they will tell you this isn’t necessarily true. When it comes to fitness gear, think simple.
Businesses invest millions of dollars into marketing. This marketing takes the form of glossy ads, pop-ups, strategic product placement, and engaging commercials. Behind all of this advertising are people who know exactly how to make their products the most appealing. They are in the business of selling and see you as being in the business of buying. In order to make good purchasing decisions, whether dealing with fitness gear or not, the key is to see past the marketing glitz.
You can get fit without any gear. It’s true; all fitness gear is optional. Having said that, there are some fitness tools that can increase the effectiveness of your workouts without breaking the bank. By knowing which products are the best choices, you can be confident you are spending your money on the right fitness gear not just the newest or most popular fitness gear.
When considering which fitness gear products are appropriate for your needs, think long and hard about your expectations. Only you can get you fit. No tool, gadget, or machine will do it for you. Be wary of products that require little to no effort. Remember that you are seeking fitness gear that will make your fitness goals more attainable but not effortless.
Be certain to evaluate in what capacity you will use the fitness gear you are considering as well. It doesn’t make much sense to purchase a treadmill or elliptical if you can’t stand cardio. Cardio won’t be anymore palatable with a $2,000 machine. However, if you are picking up yoga, a mat is a realistic and inexpensive tool.
Be cautious. Analyze your goals. Ensure the fitness gear you purchase will be used and appreciated.
Posted by Elizabeth Renter on November 12, 2009
Oftentimes people are more concerned with their upper body than they are with their lower body. While we believe your strength training needs to be balanced between muscle groups, we understand the allure of working hard on your upper body workout. A hardcore upper body workout can transform those muscles most visible to the rest of the world. A high quality upper body workout is crucial in building the physique you want.
A strong back, toned shoulders, ripped arms, and a nice chest are some of the benefits you can get from a truly good upper body workout. These types of results often come in multiple workouts. For the truly hardcore fitness buffs, a day dedicated to arms or one for chest is not unusual at all. However, you have to workout at your own fitness level and strive for those highly intense workout programs.
If you are strapped for time, the 10 Minute Trainer Upper Body workout is a great solution. This is one ten minute workout that will have your arms, chest, and back burning. This particular workout is a great one to combine with other ten minute workouts that come with the program. Check out the calendar that comes with the system to see some good ideas for complimentary workouts.
If you’ve got the time to spare and really want to go hard with your upper body workout, check out one of several featured with the P90X program. You will find upper body workouts here that will truly work your body and work it hard. These are some seriously intense workouts, perhaps the most intense for at home workouts currently available.
It’s important to remember when developing your upper body to go easy. Real progress comes from challenging yourself in a smart way. Don’t push too hard or you will risk injury. An injury can postpone any sort of fitness progress for an extended period.
Workout hard but workout smart. Choose an upper body workout appropriate for your fitness level.
Posted by Elizabeth Renter on November 11, 2009
When trying to get fit, proper nutrition is just as important as a hardcore fitness program. Eating right is crucial in getting the best results. Supplementing with capsule and liquid supplements can help fill in the gaps, so to speak, when it comes to your nutrition. Just like a superior multivitamin can ensure you are getting the vitamins and minerals missing in your diet, so too can vanilla whey protein shakes assist you in getting additional protein throughout the day.
Good vanilla whey protein shakes can serve several purposes in the diet of an athlete. And if you are doing workouts like those in P90X you are already an athlete or well on your way!
Vanilla whey protein shakes are a protein supplement first and foremost. Many high intensity fitness programs require you to increase your protein intake far beyond what you might normally be accustomed to. Supplements like vanilla whey protein shakes make this far easier to take. Because there are times when a chicken breast just doesn’t sound appetizing!
In addition to a basic protein supplement, vanilla whey protein shakes are also a good choice for convenient meal replacement. In a rush? A protein shake for breakfast can jump start your metabolism for the day and it’s super convenient. If you are considering a snack from the vending machine, it might serve you well to bring your protein shake mix to the office. Vanilla whey protein shakes make great snacks as well.
There are several options when considering vanilla whey protein shakes and other ways to up your protein throughout the day. Not only are there additional flavors, there are also protein bars. By keeping a good variety of protein sources in your diet, you will find it isn’t as easy to get ridiculously bored with your new eating habits.
Check out the Vanilla Whey Protein supplement we carry here. You will find that it is filled with premium ingredients and tastes great. We also offer chocolate shakes and a variety of protein bars.
Posted by Elizabeth Renter on November 10, 2009
In the pursuit of health and a fit body we seek out high quality but affordable workout equipment. Knowing which pieces of equipment are mandatory and which are optional is important. However, knowing which models are built to last and deliver big results is sometime even more crucial. For home workouts involving pull ups, a tension mounted chin up bar is one piece of equipment that many people consider.
A tension mounted chin up bar typically works by using springs or a screw mechanism of some sort. It is designed to fit inside the door frame of an interior door of your home. These pull up bars are available from many retailers under several brand names. One only needs to do a little further research, however, to see that consumers aren’t often giving these bars the highest reviews.
One of the issues with a tension mounted chin up bar is the stress it puts on the door frame. Some consumer reviews indicate that adjusting your bar too tightly will damage and crack wood door frames. In addition, some have reported the tension chin up bar is not reliably safe. These people have either fallen or determined a tension mounted chin up bar simply isn’t stable enough.
So what are the other options?
Well, the appeal of a tension mounted pull up bar is twofold. First, they seem to be convenient, easy to mount and remove. The P90X pullup bar has convenience down pat. Once you install the mounting hardware that comes with the P90X chin up bar, you can easily hang and remove it when needed.
Another thing that draws people to a tension mounted pull up bar is its affordability. When you consider the additional uses you will get out of the higher quality P90X Chin Up Bar, the small added expense is definitely worth the tradeoff.
When shopping for any fitness equipment, it is important to do thorough research. There are several options when it comes to home chin up bars. We simply offer the best.
Posted by Elizabeth Renter on November 9, 2009
A yoga mat is a fitness accessory of choice for many people. Even if you don’t do yoga everyday, the right yoga mat is a great investment, one that requires small payment for ultimate results. The differences from mat to mat are typically pretty minor. However, aside from choosing by which color would go best with your yoga pants, pay attention to the thickness and the texture, two very important features. Thick yoga mats have several benefits that thin ones just can’t measure up to.
Thick yoga mats provide much better cushion for your joints. Whether you have hard wood floors or take a yoga class at a gym, the basic yoga mats just don’t have the padding that thick yoga mats do. If you have ever tried a yoga workout on a hard floor with a basic mat, you know what I mean. There are several poses in most forms of yoga that require you to be on your knees. A thin mat can cause discomfort, making these poses much more difficult to maintain.
Thick yoga mats can also be used for other workouts. The P90X Plyometrics workout is a great example of this. High jumping and volatile movements can cause stress to the joints when not cushioned properly. Thick yoga mats like the Manduka Mat provide that extra cushioning for yoga and beyond.
The Manduka Mat we sell here at Extreme Body Workout is one of the highest quality of thick yoga mats currently on the market. This mat is ¼ inch thick, far thicker than standard mats. In addition, it has a non-sticky surface but is completely slip resistant, beneficial when sweating through a tough workout!
Having the right equipment can make a major difference in the quality of your workouts. A thick yoga mat is just one smart purchase to add to your home gym inventory.
Posted by Elizabeth Renter on November 9, 2009
Pushups are an old standby in the fitness world. They have been used for ages and continue to be a staple of any good workout plan. The reason they are used so widely: they are very effective! Pushups are a workout move that require you to contract your muscles from head to toe. In addition, they are an excellent chest exercise. A pushups chest exercise plan is one that seeks to tone and chisel your chest with the timeless pushup move.
There are so many variations on a typical push up, you can build an entire pushup workout. Pushups chest exercises are those that utilize multiple pushup moves to get the most benefits. By changing the way you position your hands you can add countless variations to your pushups chest exercise.
Using a tool like pushup stands or bars can also greatly impact your pushups chest exercise. Using these tools can not only give you additional pushups chest exercise options, it can protect your wrists from injury and soreness. These products are available here at ExtremeBody Workout where we have a few different options.
A great example of a pushups chest exercise is the P90X Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps DVD. This workout will show you some of the greatest variations on a pushup you can find. Your chest will thank you later, after it gets through being sore. This workout is a high caliber chest workout that can seriously deliver results.
A pushups chest exercise is one that challenges you to lift your body weight in a slow, steady, and controlled measure. They require contracted muscles all the way from your neck to your toes. They are an excellent chest and arm workout but also benefit the core due to your stability. The best pushups chest exercise is one that encourages good form and a variety of moves to maximize your benefits.
Posted by Elizabeth Renter on November 9, 2009
Typically, when someone wants to get fit and they are truly dedicated to achieving their fitness goals, they will come up with a plan, a fitness training plan. A fitness training plan doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective. Just having a plan in place can assist you in reaching your goals. Studies have shown that “to do” lists and written plans are more likely to get done than those we just keep in our minds. So, develop a fitness training plan if you are serious about your fitness goals.
As stated, you fitness training plans don’t have to be complicated. Remember, you typically want a mix of strength training and cardio workouts throughout the week. Even if you are setting your sights high, you will also want to schedule at least one rest day during the week. Having a regular rest day will help prevent injury and burn out.
If your goals are more about building strength and gaining muscle, you may do 4-5 days of strength training with 2-3 days of cardio. Somedays, perhaps the weekend, fitting both a weight training and a cardio workout in the same day can be beneficial.
Many people prefer to work certain muscle groups together in regards to their strength training. With practice and a little experimentation, you might find that you like to work back and legs on the same day and chest and arms on the others. However, you choose to set it up, write it down! Fitness training plans are only ideas until you put them into action!
Many modern and well developed home workout systems have the fitness training plans built in. They provide the workouts and the calendar and allow you to focus on the body work. P90X is a great example of this. Because Tony Horton and the people at Beachbody took the time to develop an ideal fitness training plan, all you have to worry about is doing the work.
If interested in making P90X your new fitness training plan, be sure to check out our new P90X Special Package. This set gives you everything you need to be successful with P90X and offers them at a $30 discount from purchasing the pieces separately.
Using a fitness training plan can push you closer to your fitness goals. Tangible plans make goals much easier to achieve than vague statements and good intentions.
Posted by Elizabeth Renter on November 6, 2009
When you’re working out, the music you hear can make a big difference in the quality of your workout and how much you enjoy it. A superior workout playlist will push you to work harder as you rock out to your favorite songs. On the other hand, if the playlist at our gym or on your home workout DVD isn’t good, it can make the workout unbearable!
A good workout playlist is not the same for everyone. While you can look at websites like this list at Women’s Health for ideas, you likely won’t like every song someone else chooses. This is why it’s important to customize your workout playlist.
Your workout playlist should roughly match the tempo of your workout. If you try running to a fast song, you will run faster. Maybe this is your goal but if it isn’t you can find yourself feeling wore out way before your workout is done. Choose songs that match what you will be doing, not just songs that you like.
If you’re anything like me, you will want to change your playlist frequently. The same old lineup can get old after a while. By adding a few new songs a week you will find these little surprises help keep you going from the beginning of your workout until the end.
Don’t limit yourself to one genre. Branch out. Many people find themselves listening to music they wouldn’t otherwise hear when working out. Rock fans might like some rap in their workout playlist while rap fans may find that some heavy rock can get them focused on their goal. Variety is key here.
Inspiration in your workout playlist can come from several places. Of course, use what you know: your favorite songs may be a requirement. But check out music and fitness sites online for inspiration as well. Pick and choose from their workout playlists to make your own. Fitness Magazine features several playlists you can use for ideas.
Lastly, keep the importance of music in mind when shopping for a home workout system. Good home workout programs, particularly those that are cardio heavy, should have good music and choreography. There’s nothing worse than music that is not synchronized to the workout.
Posted by Elizabeth Renter on November 5, 2009
If you know anything about fitness you should know that the best and most maintainable weight loss comes through a combination of diet and exercise. However, too often people think they can just get healthy by drastically cutting calories. This process, sometimes called crash dieting, isn’t only difficult, it’s counterproductive. That’s right, you must eat to lose weight!
Learning how to eat when getting involved in a fitness program can take a lot of work, particularly if your eating habits aren’t all that good to begin with. You may have to unlearn years of faulty thoughts regarding food and diet. Finding simple solutions to assist you on your journey can often make it seem easier and boost your dedication. This is where products like low calorie meal replacement bars come in.
Low calorie meal replacement bars and convenient alternatives like them can be a diet saver when you are pressed for time or simply don’t feel like eating a full meal. These convenient snacks can be used as more than a meal replacement. As a matter of fact they can make a good mid day snack or post workout fuel when you just need something to keep in your gym bag.
Low calorie meal replacement bars are, by far, most useful to people who aren’t normally breakfast eaters. These bars offer you a way to jumpstart your metabolism without feeling bogged down by too much food.
There are many contenders out there when it comes to low calorie meal replacement bars. When choosing one to use in your life, be sure to check out the nutrition label. You want a bar that is going to taste good but also one that will deliver optimal nutrition.
For variety, consider adding protein shakes and meal replacement shakes to your nutrition plan as well. These are two additional convenient health foods that can keep your diet on track when you don’t have the time or desire to cook.
Posted by Elizabeth Renter on November 4, 2009
Resistance bands are a great way to get fit without clutter and at a minimal expense. Many people still underestimate their effectiveness, however. Perhaps it is their unassuming look or their lightweight feel. They are kind of cute, coming in different colors. Maybe that’s why resistance bands have gotten a bad rap. To anyone who doubts their effectiveness: I challenge you to try them.
Resistance bands are slowly coming out of the background of at home fitness. In the past, home workouts were considered easy, the traditional suzy homemaker’s way to stay active. Now, however, suzy homemaker is a tough chick and home workouts are not just for her anymore. Resistance bands have grown with the popularity of home workout programs and are now being taken seriously by many.
When you see people like Tony Horton using resistance bands, you have to know there’s something to them. These small, portable, tubes pack a serious punch and carry real muscle building potential.
Programs like P90X are far from easy and utilize resistance bands in nearly every workout. Same goes for the tough ChaLEAN Extreme program and 10 Minute Trainer. These aren’t your average home aerobics that were popular 20 years ago; these are hardcore fitness training systems.
Resistance bands can be used in place of many pieces of home gym equipment. While a chin up bar is recommended, resistance bands can even be used for chin up exercises. They can obviously be used in place of hand weights and can even be used in some cardio routines.
Resistance bands go with you. One of the great things about these bands is they travel well. They can get thrown in a suitcase or even a briefcase. They will fit in your carry on or your desk drawer. No more worry about home gym clutter, these little guys can stow away just about anywhere.
So, before you go judging resistance bands, give them a shot. If you have had your doubts about them, prepare to be surprised at just how good of a workout they can provide.
Posted by Elizabeth Renter on November 3, 2009
When purchasing home gym equipment you want to make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck. Subpar construction and poor quality materials can have you spending far more than necessary on equipment that simply won’t last. Finding the best of the best is the key to having a high value and highly functioning home gym. The best pull up bar is an excellent place to start.
I am an advocate of sparsely equipped home gyms. You simply don’t need to have a lot of equipment to make your home gym worthwhile. Sure it might be fun to have a huge weight system for a while, but it’s not necessary. It is most often an unjustified use of your hard earned money, and not to mention space.
Instead you should be looking for the few best pieces of equipment to ensure you are prepared to get the highest quality workout with minimum tools. The best pull up bar is one piece of equipment that everyone should have. Just like a push up, a pull up is a fitness basic, a staple in exercise that has been around for a long time simply because of its effectiveness.
The best pull up bar is one that allows for maximum grip positions. The P90X chin up bar does this. It allows for 6 different grip positions and features comfortable hand grips to ensure you don’t slip. These alternative hand positions mean you have the ability to hit different muscles with the same effective pull up.
The best pull up bar is also easy to mount and safe for use. The P90X chin up bar is mounted with brackets in nearly any doorway. This differs from tension bars that are currently on the market, as it offers a much safer approach. Once the brackets are mounted, the P90X chin up bar can easily be taken down between workouts.
Lastly, the best pull up bar offers superior manufacturing and construction at a reasonable value. Made with heavy gauge steel designed to withstand up to 300 pounds of weight, the P90X bar is one that is sure to last throughout your active fit life.
Posted by Elizabeth Renter on November 2, 2009
People want to lose weight and they want to lose it fast. Everyday hundreds of people go online and look for “exercises to lose weight quickly”. Unfortunately, what many of them don’t know or they just refuse to accept is that slow and steady weight loss is far more maintainable and better for you! Instead of searching or exercises to lose weight quickly, they should be looking for exercises for optimal health or even exercises for permanent weight loss.
So often, when overweight and unhappy, we want a quick fix. This is why so many dangerous weight loss pills and drastic diets exist, because in moments of desperation and serious self hatred we turn to fast and easy results without considering the long term implications.
Exercises to lose weight quickly may provide you with results but when you’re focused on the clock and the scale you will miss out on true health. When paired with a healthy, reduced calorie diet, any exercise can lead to weight loss. Focusing on the quality of your workouts and your diet rather than how fast the numbers drop, however, is a far better avenue of ensuring weight loss success.
Typically when we want fast results, our minds aren’t in the right place for lasting weight loss anyways. A good fitness program will take users through a gradual but intense transformation, teaching them to use their body, their diet, and their mind to ensure weight loss or body transformation success. Rather than a crash diet or exercises to lose weight quickly, people interested in the long range benefits of fitness should look into complete fitness systems.
When you decide you are truly ready to get fit, lose fat, and gain good muscle tone, a good exercise is to write down all of the benefits that your new, healthier body will deliver. Sure a smaller waist is one of those but so is increased confidence, reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes, more comfortable clothes, reduced joint pain, and improved energy levels.
By focusing on the many benefits of a healthy body you will reap longer lasting weight loss results than any fad diet or lose weight quick scam can provide.
Posted by Elizabeth Renter on November 2, 2009
Most people have a love/hate relationship with abdominal workouts. They love them because they hurt so good but they hate them for the same reason. Your abs are often looked at as a sign of good health. A large waistline has been associated with increased risk of heart disease so it’s natural to see a flat chiseled stomach as the perfect example of good fitness.
We typically see abdominal workouts that take place on the floor. Crunches and even planks are great for your abs but they can get old and even be hard on your back. Finding a truly effective abdominal workout that doesn’t require you to go to the floor can be seriously rewarding.
Hip Hop Abs is just such a workout. This workout system combines dance and high energy music to make a fun and calorie burning workout. However, it is also very effective at toning and shaping your abs. Hip Hop Abs is an abdominal workout that can be done without any crunches.
Trainer Shaun T will teach you how to Tilt, Tuck, and Tighten to get a highly effective abdominal workout while standing. You may doubt the technique but don’t knock it until you try it! After your first Hip Hop Abs workout, you will see that it is possible to get a good abdominal workout without the crunches.
Many people spend hours every week crunching. For some, this is the only abdominal workout they get. When your whole body is mobile, however, as it is when you are standing, you are able to get an even better abdominal workout. Your obliques and the various muscles throughout your core can get a more complete workout when you are more mobile.
Hip Hop Abs is one of our most popular workout programs. Don’t think it’s just about the abs though. Hip Hop Abs can truly transform your entire body.
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