"You Got a Door, You Got a Gym!"

"Wanna get bigger, harder, stronger...?" This is the question asked of us by Jake Steinfeld creator of the Body By Jake line of fitness products in his new infomercial for the Tower 200.

I am usually the first 1 to point out the flaws and ridiculousness of infomercial fitness products (it may be the horrible acting in the adds or the guarantees each product promises to deliver), but I think this 1 may have finally sold me!

Here is the skinny on the Tower 200:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uINmw0smNQ8

(Ok, maybe the voice over in the ad is a bit annoying and seeing Greg Plitt perform the 200 exercises is a bit distracting to you ladies, but that aside, I think they do a good job of selling the product)

The reason I am sold on this product is this; I worked as a trainer at a private personal training studio in Vienna, VA for two years and the owner there had a Smart Gym as her only cable pulley system. When I first saw this ancient piece of equipment I thought, "well, this needs to go." but after training my clients on it and using it myself, I found it to be a very effective replacement for those expensive cable pulley machines. The Tower 200 from Body By Jake is basically the 2010 design of the old school Smart Gym with added resistance of up to 200 lbs.

For only $14.95 you can own the Tower 200, an exercise DVD (more on that in a second), and an exercise wall chart. I can definitely see the value of this and I think if you are the type of person that refuses to join a gym and wants to get into some strength training from home, you should look into purchasing this product.

Now I must let you all know that I am not endorsing this product for any monetary gain. Also, I have never touched or seen the live version of this product and I cannot speak to the quality of the craftsmanship, but they do offer you a lifetime warranty which says something about it's durability. What I'm saying is this, based on a first impression and having used a similar product and gotten (and given) results from it, I am comfortable standing behind it and letting my readers know my professional opinion.

I do have 1 problem with the ad and that is the guaranteed results that you will get "bigger, harder, and stronger in just 11 minutes a day with Randy Couture's 11 Minute No Excuses Workout." Hopefully by now you realize that you will not see results in just 11 minutes a day (although 11 minutes are better than 0 minutes) and that diet combined with exercise and consistency is the key to a better looking, healthier body. The add just needed a famous face to help push sales along, and why not piggy-back 1 of the most popular things going right now, MMA fighting?

I'd love to know what people think about it after using it, so please feel free to get back to me if you or someone you know gets a chance to use the Tower 200. I may eventually purchase 1 for myself, but for those of you that know me know that I am a "gym rat" and prefer the health club atmosphere.

Five Reasons Why the Fall is a Great Time to Better Yourself

In the northeast (where most of you are) the leaves are changing, it's dark when you go to work in the morning and carrying around a hoody in the evening is always a smart idea. Yes, it's autumn and that means football, Halloween, new prime time TV shows, and unfortunately, more time spent on our butts...eating junk! Here are five reasons why this is the time you should be attacking your health and fitness plan with unbridled enthusiasm instead of giving in to the season's many pitfalls.

1. Football on TV - What do we do while watching football? Most of us tend to stuff our face unconsciously with salty snacks and drown them out with calorie filled alcoholic or sugary beverages. This is not the time to skip the gym! In the summer when we are outdoors and burning calories, it is OK to spoil yourself a bit with some of your favorite guilty pleasures, but in the fall, Saturdays and Sundays are usually spent plopped in front of your TV with your hand in a Doritos bag. Make it a point to get to the gym early on Saturday and/or Sunday mornings before the games begin. This way you have burned your calories for the day and slipping in a few extra during the game is not a crime. If you don't make that time to burn your calories, they just continue to add up on you and wreak havoc on your waistline.

2. Cooler temperatures - This goes without saying, the crispness in the cool autumn air is the greatest feeling in the world to an outdoor exerciser. Humidity is all but gone and the sun doesn't beat on you without restraint. Keep your sweating to a minimum and enjoy your exercise much more in the months of September, October and the start of November.

3. Halloween candy - Admit it, you do not have to be a child to fall prey to those evil baskets of Halloween candy sitting ALL OVER THE PLACE! Those sugar-filled demons are dying to add hundreds of extra calories to your daily diet without you ever even thinking about it. Want to enjoy some of those sweet treats? Spend 15-20 more minutes burning calories at the end of your workout.

4. Kids are back in school - For you stay at home Moms (and Dads), use part of the school day to take care of yourself. The kids are away, make the most of it! Get to the gym, go for a long walk, take a lunchtime Pilates or Yoga class, go for a hike or a bike ride, pop in your favorite fitness DVD and "Sweat to the Oldies" or get in your "P90X" workout for the day. Use this time to take care of yourself so that when the kids get home you have the energy to spend time with them doing the things they like to do.

5. Enjoy the fall harvest - Two of my favorite fruits are plentiful this time of year; apples and pumpkins! Apples are at their juiciest and tastiest in the fall and provide you with an easy way to add fiber, calcium, potassium, vitamin C, and folic acid to your diet. Toss slices on a salad, dip them in some yogurt, or just grab one on your way out the door. Pumpkins help add flavor to some favorite fall recipes and are packed with all kinds of nutrients including: fiber, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, and potassium. They also are a great source of carotenoids which fight against heart disease and cancer.

Use these tips and make this autumn the best you ever had! Remember, the holidays and winter are right around the corner and that season serves up it's own dish of obstacles to overcome. Learn how to make healthy choices now and avoid "falling" behind.

Back Into the Swing of Things

It's been quite a while since I was able to sit down and post some useful information on here and I wish I was able to do so more regularly, but life sometimes whips a wicked curveball at you and you have to adjust your priorities. In any event, I am back to try to fire up this blog again (well, at least once a week).

The coming months are a tough time of year for a lot of people in terms of their health. Fall and winter sometimes sneak up on us and pull us into a state of hibernation when it comes to working out and eating properly. I am here to help you through these tough months so we can avoid the pitfall of having to make a dreaded New Year's Resolution to get into or back into better shape. We should STAY in great shape and be well year round so we can worry about having fun not about sticking to this mythical creature, "the resolution."

Stay tuned!