Fitness | Beauty and Fashion Tech

New In My Open Sky Shop: Bosu Balance Trainer

I love my Bosu Balance Trainer. In my opinion, there is no better way to work the abs than to do a variety of situps and Pilates based ab moves using the Bosu Ball. It is also easy to do a whole body workout or a cardio routine using the Bosu. You can read my previous article on why you should buy a Bosu Ball here: Bosu Ball Review.

If I could have only one piece of home exercise equipment, the Bosu would be it. Now I am offering it in my OpenSky shop. Stop in and take a look to learn more!

Popularity: 1% [?]

Fitness Friday: Running The Chicago Marathon for Charity

I am running the 2009 Chicago Marathon in October to raise money for PAWS of Chicago. PAWS is a large no-kill animal shelter that also has a spay/neuter clinic and feral cat spay and release program. I have agreed to raise a minimum of $600 for PAWS and certainly would like to raise even more! More about PAWS is available at my donation page.

If you are a reader, blogger or business, you can also learn about how you can help on the Charity Page here on this site. Bloggers and businesses can gain exposure and free ad space by donating!

I you want a more humorous (and more pleading) look at my fundraising efforts, visit my dog Ty’s blog, Puppy on a Roomba for more.

In any event, please consider donating. Thanks!

Popularity: 2% [?]

Fitness/Fashion Friday: New Metallic FitFlops

I have yet to personally try Fit Flops, so I can’t vouch for how well they actually work, but I do like the idea of them. These Flip Flop sandals are designed to work your leg muscles while you walk in them, hence the “Fit” in FitFlop.

Here is the company’s info on them:

Biomechanically designed with a midsole that extends the amount of time slow twitch muscles – which convert fat to energy – are engaged during each step, wearing FitFlops literally help you tone and trim with every step you take. In addition to obvious beauty benefits, FitFlop has also been heralded as a medical miracle by hundreds of wearers claiming relief from problems ranging from plantar fasciitis and heel spurs to chronic back pain and sciatica (just to name a few).

I may have to actually try a pair at some point just to see if they help my foot pains from running.

Now there are new metallic shades available such as the FitFlop “Electra” Sandal. FitFlops run between $50 and $60 and are available at Macy’s.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Fitness Friday Book Review: The Nonrunner’s Marathon guide for Women

Awhile back I got this crazy idea of running the Chicago Marathon. I ran a marathon around 18 years ago and said I would never do it again, so I don’t know what got into me other than perhaps a desire to make my butt smaller (and achy in the process).

I signed up for a training class, but I also decided to take a look at a few training guides. In the process, I stumbled upon a wonderful book that is not so much a standard training guide as it is a funny and motivational read. The Nonrunner’s Marathon Guide for Women: Get Off Your Butt and On with Your Training, by Dawn Dais, is for those who really are nonrunners, or perhaps reluctant runners, who are training for their first marathon. In this guide, the author shares her experiences running a marathon with a sarcastic wit that is a joy to read.

The book provides plenty of basic training advice, but it isn’t your standard guide, and it really probably shouldn’t stand alone as your only training guide. Read it instead for the more real world, this is how your body is going to ache but keep going anyway, type of advice. Also read it for some laughs and to know that there is someone else out there who really knows how you feel after you have dragged your butt out of bed at 6am on a Saturday for an 18 mile run. I just recently came across the website for the book, which also provides some information about the book and author.

For an excellent companion guide, that really is a full training program and guide, check out The Non-Runner’s Marathon Trainer, which is based on a very successful university course for first time marathoners. That one is a more standard guide that won’t leave you laughing, but it will give you plenty of useful information.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Three Reasons Why You Should Get a Bosu Balance Trainer

After several months of using a Bosu Balance Trainer at the gym and in Pilates and Body Sculpting classes, I am planning to get one for use at home.

BOSU stands for “Both Sides Utilized,” because it can be used with the ball side either up or down. It works primarily as a balance-core stability training device, but can be used as part of a strengthening and cardio program as well. The one I linked to comes with a free pump and instructional booklet and video.

Here are the reasons why I love the Bosu:

It is versatile: The Bosu can be used for strength, stretching, balance, and cardio activities. Both sides can also be used for different exercises and different results.
It is durable: Bosu balls are thick and hold their air! My regular exercise ball, on the other hand, loses air constantly.
It is comfortable: I find the Bosu more comfortable for abdominal work than an exercise ball. It also is a bit easier on the back, yet it helps isolate core muscles in the same, or even better, manner as a standard exercise ball.

The downside to a Bosu over a standard fitness ball is that, at around $120, it is a bit expensive. However, I love using one so much that I find it well worth the price. Because it is durable, it will also last for years.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Fitness Friday: Why You Should Ignore Those Acia Berry Diet Ads

I recently saw one of those acai berry/total cleanse diet ads pop up on my site from an ad service. Needless to say, I immediately took steps to have it blocked. Why? Because the acai berry diets that have been widely advertised have been reported as fraudulent and misleading.

Here is how they work: The ads note something along the lines of “I lost 40 lbs of belly fat in one month by following one simple rule” and usually include some logos for news sources, Oprah, and Rachel Ray, indicating that they have endorsed the information. If you click the ad, you will be taken to a site that looks like a blog telling you that, how by buying a few products, you too can quickly loose enormous amounts of weight. There are a fairly good number of these “blogs” floating around out there, all with the same format and all selling products.

Despite the ad’s inferences or claims, they are not endorsed by Rachel Ray and Oprah: Instead, these ads are capitalizing on various unrelated mentions of acai berries or juice on their programs. But be sure to be clear on this: Oprah and Rachel Ray do not endorse the diet products and methods in the weight loss ads. Read here for Oprah’s announcement on the matter, and here for Rachel Ray’s announcement.

Next is this problem: These “blogs” will proclaim that you can try the method free. Simply order a free trial and cancel if it doesn’t work. But these are subscription based trials. You provide a credit card number, and if you do not cancel properly, you will be charged. For some, canceling has proven to be difficult. There have been reports of the cancellation phone numbers not working or cancellation requests not being honored. To learn more about this read the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) Warning, or see this CNN article.

Finally, there is no concrete evidence that these programs work: Think about it. If they did, the stuff would be on every drugstore shelf and Oprah and Rachel Ray really would be talking about them and endorsing them. The fact of the matter is that there is no magic fruit or pill for weight loss. Acai juice has some anti-oxidant properties and I think it tastes good as well, but it isn’t going to make you lose your belly fat in a matter of weeks, and a crushed up version in a pill isn’t quite the same as drinking a good juice. You could eat the bike in the picture that I used too, and you would get some great antioxidants and such—but you wouldn’t magically burn off 10 pounds.

I have taken steps to try to avoid having these ads appear on Beauty and fashion Tech and Girl Gloss. However, because I am under contract with third party ad servers, some might slip by. If you see any such ads on my sites, please know that I do not endorse them in any manner whatsoever. There are also other similar ads for products such as teeth whitening and wrinkle removing out there that, like the acai ads, lead to “blogs” with free trials of products. I also do not endorse those ads, but lack information on their business practices. I suggest treating them with skepticism.

(Added June 11, 2009) How to report an ad: I have made, and continue to make attempts to block these ads. I have asked that one be removed from Glam’s server (which they did). I also have blocked ones that show up through Google. The rub is that there are many different links, so they sneak past the blocks that way. I ask any reader that sees one of the ads on my site not to click it. Instead, right click it to get a pull up menu and select “copy link location.” Then please email that link to me at beautyandfashiontech@gmail.com. I can then go to google and block the ad. Please also note that some acai ads are legitimate. For example, there is nothing particularly wrong with a company seeking to sell acai juice. It is the fake blog diet and colon clease ads that are of most concern.

On a side note, why a picture of a veggie bike and not some acai berries? Well, I went to purchase a licensed photo of some berries and found them terribly overpriced. I guess a lot of people are making money from acai!

Popularity: 3% [?]

Fitness Friday: Wii Fit Part III, Tips and Tricks

Parts One and Two of my Wii Fit by Nintendo review focused on reviewing the game. Part III looks at unlock times and tips.

Waiting to unlock things can be frustrating, especially if you don’t know long you will have to wait, so here are the unlockable events and times:

Unlocks Based on the Piggy Bank:

Aerobics: Rhythm Boxing: 1 hour 40 minutes
Aerobics: Super Hula Hoop: 30 minutes
Balance: Balance Bubble: 1 hour
Balance: Penguin Slide: 1 hour 30 minutes
Balance: Snowboard Slalom: 2 hours
Balance: Tightrope Tension: 15 minutes
Balance: Lotus Focus/Zazen: 3 hours
Strength: Arm & Leg Lift: 2 hours 40 minutes
Strength: Parallel Stretch: 1 hour 50 minutes
Strength: Rowing Squat, Single Leg Twist: 10 minutes
Strength: Sideways Leg Lift: 1 hour 10 minutes
Strength: Single Arm Stand: 3 hours 50 minutes
Strength: Tricep Extension: 2 hours 30 minutes
Yoga: Bridge: 3 hours 40 minutes
Yoga: Chair: 2 hours 15 minutes
Yoga: Cobra: 3 hours 30 minutes
Yoga: Crocodile Twist: 4 hours
Yoga: Downward Facing Dog: 3 hours 10 minutes
Yoga: King of the Dance: 3 hours 20 minutes
Yoga: Palm Tree: 1 hour 20 minutes
Yoga: Shoulderstand: 4 hours 10 minutes
Yoga: Standing Knee: 45 minutes
Yoga: Sun Salutation: 10 minutes
Yoga: Triangle: 2 hours 50 minutes

Advanced Versions of Games:

Balance Bubble: Complete Balance Bubble on the Beginner setting.
Table Tilt: Complete the first eight beginner stages.
Free Jogging: Complete the Island Lap several times.
Free Step: Complete Step Plus Aerobics several times.
Snowboarding Slalom: Play two hours of total game time.
Step Plus Aerobics: Complete Step Aerobics several times.
Tightrope Advanced: Complete Normal Tightrope.
Tightrope Super Advanced: Complete Advanced Tightrope.

Challenges:

Jackknife challenge: Get a “Four Star” rank in the 10 Second Workout and 20 Second Workout.
Parallel Stretch challenge: Get a “Four Star” rank in the 30 Second Workout and 60 Second Workout.
Pressup challenge: Get a “Four Star” rank in the 6 Reps and 10 Reps.

Stamps:

OK: After 2 Body Tests.
Star: After 5 Body Tests.
Heart: After 6 Body Tests.
Flower: After 10 Body Tests.
Smiley Face: After 14 Body Tests.
Mii: After 30 Body Tests.

Fit Piggy Bank Color:

Bronze: 10 hours
Silver: 20 hours
Gold: 40 hours

Fun Stuff and Cheats:

Click on the balance board that is running on the treadmill on the statistics page. That will take you to the ultimate balance challenge.
Follow the dogs in the running games to get alternate and more interesting routes.
Look for Mario characters in the running games
Need quick piggy bank time to unlock something? Play and fail the first round of the table tilt. You will still get a quick credit for each play and fail.
My husband tells me that you can cheat ski jump by holding onto a chair in front of you when you stand up. I haven’t tried it.
You can cheat the single leg balance test by putting your free food on the floor behind you

Comparison Shop for the Wii Fit