Unique Fitness Blog

Let the Buyer Beware

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:08:42 GMT

I'm always on the lookout for new products or exercise equipment to promote on UniqueFitnessTips.com. Unfortunately, when doing so it's very important to keep my Bulldar up. Case in point: When reading up on an anti-aging product called Ultra H-3, there's a testimonial in the 2008 UniKey Health catalog courtesy of a J.M. from Kentucky. J.M. said: Never before have I been so excited about a supplement. After about a month of taking the Ultra H-3, without making any other changes in my lifestyle, I noticed my body was responding so much better. My allergies, eyes, nostrils, breathing, energy level and thinking ability improved... There's more. An L.G. Banning from California heaped similar praise on Ultra H-3 and added: ...I love this product so much that I threw away all the other products that I was taking and do not even look at any other ads talking about similar products. Not so fast, L.G. Because in a promotional email I received from Health Sciences Institute (the May 2008 HSI e-alert), nearly the exact same testimonials -- with the very same initials and home states -- can be found in a separate promotion for secretagogues (whatever they are). J.M. and L.G., tsk tsk... you testimonial whores, you! Seriously, though, this is something that caught me by surprise. I try to keep an open mind. I don't want to bash any of the alternative health newsletters, websites, mailing lists, and so on. In fact, most of them offer great tips and suggestions when it comes to exercise and nutrition. I personally enjoy reading the updates from HSI, Early to Rise, and other health-conscious organizations. The caveat is, we have to remember that it's also a business. And most businesses will go the extra mile to promote their products. I emailed someone behind the scenes to ask what's up with the testimonial recycling. No response. When I told my friend Eddie about this he got a good chuckle out of it. Then I shrugged and said something that at first was a joke: "Forget all the overhyped miracle cures. Just eat an apple and do some pushups." In retrospect, it isn't a joke. It's the truth. You know where the produce aisle is at the supermarket. Use it. You know how to do a pushup. Do it. That's all there is to it. And I just saved you $32.95. You're very welcome.

Life Extension: Way Ahead of the Times

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:43:59 GMT

Life Extension - published in 1982 - holds its own compared to today's cutting-edge fitness programs.

One Size Too Small

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:39:58 GMT

One Size Too Small: A goof at the sporting goods store leads to an exciting (and brutally honest) workout

Kettlebells: Catching on in the U.S.

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 14:17:32 GMT

Lately, it seems that the kettlebell has gone through a surge of popularity in the United States. It seems odd, because it's been around forever. My guess is that in the U.S. we're too fascinated with quick, trendy, easy-way-out fads to be able to appreciate the kettlebell. The only way I can describe a kettlebell is simple and brutal. It's not sexy, but hey, it works! And people are finally starting to notice it. A Comcast SportsNet feature showed Philadelphia Eagles' tight end L.J. Smith working out with kettlebells. After an injury-plagued 2007-08 season he decided to add kettlebells to his workout and is now in the best shape of his career. The news feature showed Smith doing a different version of the kettlebell swing - it was more like a walking swing where he did lateral movements in addition to the traditional swing. Intrigued, I had to try for myself. Balls! My legs burned for two days. By now you may have noticed the Kettlenetics workout. It's sort of like Tae-Bo with bells. Okay, so it's the typical trendy workout that appeals to most Americans. But hey, someone noticed and incorporated the kettlebell into it. Also, at another extreme, the guys behind Turbulence Training have recently promoted kettlebells and encouraged using them in conjuction with the interval training format that's emphasizied in their program. The kettlebell is definitely picking up steam. Which begs the question: Is this just another fad? You can find the very same question in the FAQ section of Pavel Tsatsouline's book, Enter the Kettlebell. Pavel's response? "The girya first appeared in a Russian dictionary in 1704. Yes, it is a fad. I expect it to go away in the next 300 years."

Procrastination

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:37:19 GMT

Procrastination: There's no excuse for it. We can prove it, and we'll free up some time for your workout.

Dragon Door unleashes the Purposeful Primitive

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:08:35 GMT

The folks at Dragon Door (the sadomasochists who provide us with our gut-busting kettlebells) are at it again. They've released a great book titled The Purposeful Primitive - for dramatic physical change. This is a 496-page masterpiece by Marty Gallagher which pretty much sums up everything there is to know about getting yourself into optimal physical condition - the way your body was meant to do so. Check it out and enjoy!

Fitness Magazines

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:58:24 GMT

Quality fitness magazines at up to 85 discount

Kettlebells

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:43:42 GMT

An article on the benefits of Russian kettlebells for overall health and fitness

Get Organized

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:57:25 GMT

Get organized and free up more time for your workout

Stress Management

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:32:01 GMT

A unique look at stress management, how it affects us, and what we can do about it

Pull Ups

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:18:58 GMT

Pull ups: An oldie but goodie for effective muscle gain and fat loss

Xlear

Fri, 09 May 2008 19:09:22 GMT

Why Xlear Nasal Wash is one of the best-kept health secrets you can find.

Health Secrets

Mon, 05 May 2008 20:45:26 GMT

Some of the biggest health secrets are so simple, it's mind-boggling.

Mix it Up!

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:03:21 GMT

Let this entry be a funny but important reminder. As most of you already know, my primary workout routine revolves around kettlebells and The Perfect Pushup. Transformetrics and Pilates get thrown into the mix here and there, and I do my best to adhere to an interval training format as recommended by the Turbulence Training program. My workout is no slouch, especially the kettlebells. They'll jack your heart rate into the stratosphere in seconds. Kettlebells are my favorite because they combine strength training and aerobic conditioning into one power-packed exercise. It's extreme, baby! Then I volunteered for a Fun Friday Program at the school where I work. A gym teacher and I ran some elementary students through some basic -- and I mean very basic -- warm-up exercises followed by pushups, sit-ups, and squats. We didn't use any weights or other equipment. We just wanted to show how it's possible to get a great workout using your own body weight. Pretty simple, right? So imagine my surprise when I woke up the next morning going Oh Lorrrrrd, my muscles! I really overdid it yesterday. Kind of funny, yes, but the message is a good one: Your body can easily grow accustomed to the most insane workout. You get used to it. Next thing you know, you've hit a plateau. So whatever workout turns you on, don't forget to mix it up and do something different every couple of weeks. This is consistent with the Turbulence Training philosophy -- the "turbulence" being the confusion your muscles experience, and grow from, when you mix it up.

Aerobics

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 03:54:49 GMT

A unique approach to aerobics that results in vastly improved cardiovascular conditioning

Perfect Pushup

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:41:38 GMT

UniqueFitnessTips.com reviews the Perfect Pushup

7 Insane Workouts

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:41:09 GMT

MSN Health & Fitness recently posted seven great workouts on their website. This stuff is insane. One glance was all I needed before falling in love with it. The first workout is a mind-blowing 3-mile run. It's mind-blowing because of the exercises you have to perform to exhaustion before you set out on the actual run itself. Not surprisingly, the creator of this 3-mile hell session is none other than our old buddy Craig Ballantyne, the man behind the Turbulence Training we wholeheartedly endorse on this website. A few more workouts like this and I'm changing the name of this website to InsaneFitnessTips.com. Enjoy!

Idiot Ball and the Healing Power of Transformetrics

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:49:03 GMT

Being the baseball fanatics we are, my kids and I like to play something we call "Idiot Ball." Basically, we'll go out in the yard and have a catch in the middle of the winter. We don't care if it's 20 degrees out there with a windchill factor that would put Lambeau Field to shame. That definitely makes us idiots -- but we eagerly look forward to our Idiot Ball throwing sessions. One problem, though: While my kids have rubber arms, I'm 41 years old. Throwing in subzero weather sometimes leads to shoulder soreness. (There's a reason we call this "Idiot Ball," you know.) A couple weeks ago I strained my right shoulder after throwing out in the cold. Normally its no big deal, but the nagging soreness ticked me off because it hindered my beloved kettlebell workout. (Snatches and military presses are not an option with a sore shoulder.) And so, I rediscovered an old friend: Transformetrics. It was transformetrics that healed my chronically stiff left shoulder a couple of years ago. More specifically, it was a move called The Tiger Reach that unlocked it and allowed it to heal. I figured that if it worked for my left shoulder, it should work for my right. Soon I got back into the Transformetrics routine and... wouldn't you know it, it worked again. It's a great shot in the arm (without the cortisone). I've always spoke highly of Transformetrics as a very convenient exercise program. But with these recent experiences in mind, it also must be noted that its a great healing program. And it's a great antidote for Idiot Ball.