Product review: Honmax Interval Timer and Stopwatch

This is a small timer with ability to have two interval timers. The two interval timers allow you to set workout time and rest time.

Its size is 1 3/4" x 2 1/4" x 1/2"(width).  It comes with a clip in case you want to clip it to something.  Be aware that the package include three tiny screws and a small screw driver.  They are needed to attach the clip to the body of the timer.

The timer runs on 320mAh rechargeable lithium Battery which is included and installed. It comes with a charging cable.  This is a proprietary cable so if you lose it you can't recharge the unit any more.  I would have preferred the charging cable to be a standard mini USB, of course, so I can use any cable I want.  But the charging cable is the only minor complaint, the rest of the time works well.  Included video shows it in action.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Namay Cooling Towel

These towels are made out think microfiber -one side is a net-like material you see on exercise clothing, it is supported by black netting to prevent stretching. This materials is cool when damp and it does not hold a lot of water so it does not drip.  I wring it out before cleaning. It dries quickly against the body, so I re-wet it about every 20 minutes or so.  I also like throwing it in the freezer for a few minutes to get it really cold.

Each cooling towel size is 19" x 11" (a little smaller than the Amazon description) and they come in a pack four with different vibrant colors. 

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Synergee Gliding Discs Core Sliders. Dual Sided Use on Carpet or Hardwood Floors.

I was introduced to glider disks by Bender Ball Pilates Evolution exercise disks. The gliding disks add variety to exercise and make some exercises more challenging. Glider disks come in two shapes elongated or round. In majority of exercises (when only the toes or the heels rest on the disk, not the entire foot) you can use round disks. When you need to rest your entire foot on the slider the elongated disks work better.

The disks are used with the felt side down if you are using them on the wood floor. I have high polish floors and if they caused any damage I would see it right away. They do not. The felt side does not scratch the floor. On the carpet they can be used with the plastic side down (the felt side down does not slide on the carpet).

An alternatives to glide disks are "Furniture Movers for Heavy Furniture", however they are slightly smaller in size. Another option is to use paper plates instead of glide disks. They are more likely to cause damage to floors with high polish, however for carpets that offer a cheap alternative. I think the the paper plates do not work quite as well as real glide disks, but it is a cheap way to see if you like this type of exercises without spending any money.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Resistance Band Exercises for Home Workout by JUFIT

JuFit is best fit provides light resistance so it is best fitted for someone who is either a beginner or someone rehabbing an injury.  I fall into the second category, and I thought it provided me a reasonable amount of resistance that does not hurt me.

I am using it both with my legs on the floor (laying or sitting) or standing on the loops.  The loops that go around the feet are covered with thick foam so they feel more comfortable when I sit ot lay on the floor.  I use them with bare feet (with socks on my feet).

I have other exercise bands what I can use for similar exercises, but what I like about these resistance bands is that they have loops for the feet.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Himal Folding Collapsible Ultralight Travel Hiking Trekking Pole

This is cleverly designed folding pole. It consists of 4 parts that snap together and a fifth part that telescopes. The folding mechanism works easy - easy to unfold and easy to fold as you see in the video.

The telescoping is somewhat limited and works best for tall people. I am 5'3" and at its shortest length is it a little higher than I like for a long hike especially uphill. The best height for pole is when you hand from elbow to the handle is parallel to the ground and for me on the shortest setting my hand is going slightly up.

However the design and strength of the pole is good. Being able to fold the hiking pole into a backward is so convenient! It also useful for travel, as these poles can fit into luggage.

The foam handle is comfortable and will not slip even when the hands are sweaty. The pole weighs 10.5 oz. The maximum height is 54", the shortest height is 44".

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: J-style 3D Tri-Axis Multifunction Belt Clip Pedometer with Technology Large LCD Screen

What do I want from pedometer? I want it to be accurate and I want it to be easy to wear. J-Style pedometer accomplishes exactly that. I have been using it daily for over a month and it has worked well without problems. Note that I only care about counting steps, some measurements are shown as metric measures such as kilometers rather miles.

The pedometer has a nice lever style clip, which is easy to open and close. The pedometer is worn closed, to see the statistics it collected you need to open it. In addition to the step count, it keeps track of walking distance, burned calories, activity time, average speed, and time of the day.

Display shows from 0 to 99,999 steps, from 0 to 99,999km, from 0 to 99,999 calories, from 0 to 59 hours 59 minutes.

Dimensions of the unit are 2.5" x 1.5" (closed), 2.5" x 2.5" (opened).

The timer runs on one CR2032 battery (included). Estimate life of the battery is 1 year.

Before using it you need to calibrate it to your stride. This is accomplished by hitting a small recessed system reset button (I used a sewing needle to press it). Then you need to specify time and your stride length. The interface requires you to specify this information in centimeters. The stride is measured toe to toe or heel to heel. To get more accurate measurement is better to walk a good number of steps and then divide the total distance by the number of steps taken.

If you are not concerned about the accuracy then you can use average stride length:
Average stride length for ladies: 70 cm (Note! This info has to be in metric measurements)
Average stride length for men: 78 cm

I received this pedometer from the manufacture to provide honest feedback and review (good or bad) for this newly launched product. I hope my description and video helps you to know what to expect.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Gurin Precision Digital Bathroom Scale with Ultra Wide Platform and Auto-on Technology, 440-Pounds

Update: After 1 month of use I am down grading the scale to 2 stars. The problem with the scale is that if you move it you get different readings. If it stays in one spot the readings don't vary too much, but if you move it there are variations in results. Even if you don't move the scale when you weight yourself, you might need to move it while cleaning.
 Original review follows:

Gurin precision digital bathroom scale is made out of tempered glass. The glass is lined with a silver lining and gives it a modern look.

I am attaching a collage of 4 photos, photo #1 shows the top of the scale. The glass platform is 14" by 12" and is raised 1" from the floor.

The display is 2" inches in size and lights up when you step on the scale. My old scale did not light up, so I had to move it into the light to see the reading. The scale allowed me to hop on the corner right in the dark corner of the bathroom where I store it since the display is clearly visible even in the dark. The display is shown in photo #2. The display stays on a couple of seconds after you step off the scale and then automatically turns off.

The third photo shows the scale upside down. You can see the scale has feet with traction pads so it does not slide on my tile. The feet also contain the sensor which turns on the display. You also see the "unit" buttons which allows you to change the units you want your weight to be displayed on the scale: kg, lb, or st.

The forth photo shows the battery compartment, the scale runs on four AAA batteries (included).

The glass top makes it look pretty but has some down sides. The glass is slippery if it gets wet. The surface also gets pretty cold in the winter. To address both issues I usually keep my socks on when I weigh myself.

The glass platform is fairly large - big enough to accommodate 4 paws of a cat - and we got our cat to stand on it for a few seconds, however the scale did not show any readout so the kitty must be under the minimum weight the scale registers.

This is an attractive scale with an easy to read numbers.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★☆☆☆

Product review: Gurin Massage Roller

Gurin Massage Rollers come in two different sizes. This one is 18.75" long and a longer one that is 24 inches. I own both and noticed that the official size on both rollers is incorrect by about an inch. One inch does not make a big difference, so it is not a big deal. For your reference I am including a collage of two photos: one shows this roller next to a measuring tape and you can see that it is 18 and 3/4 inches long, and the second photo shows a close up of the rollers and how far they can move relative to each other.
 I use the longer Gurin massage stick for doing stretching exercises and working my back. This shorter roller stick works better (i.e. more comfortable to hold) on my head and on the back of the legs. Using the roller to reduce headache pain was a great discovery for me. When I have a headache putting pressure on the point of paint has always been helpful to me, and using the roller puts pressure on a bigger area than I can achieve with my fingers. A shorter stick feels more comfortable working the head.

Gurin massage roller is a stiff sick. Each individual roller is 1 inch long and is made out plastic. They move relative to each other, in the photo I pushed it out as far is it would go to the side. The massage is provided by the pressure of rolling the stick against your body (not by individual rollers extending relative to each other).

When I first took this roller out of the plastic bag it (mostly the handles) had a smell that some new plastic items have. After airing it out for about a week the scent was barely noticeable, and it two weeks the smell was totally gone.

I received Gurin Massage Rollers from the manufacture to share my experiences (be it positive or negative) with it with potential future buyers. I have no financial interest or business relationship with the manufacturer, and this review represents my independent opinion of the product.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Gurin Massage Roller Stick

Gurin Massage Rollers come in two different sizes. One is 18.75" long and the second one is 24 inches. I own both and noticed that the official size on both rollers is incorrect by about an inch. One inch does not make a big difference, so it is not a big deal. For your reference I am including a collage of two photos: one shows this roller next to a measuring tape and you can see that it is 18 and 3/4 inches long, and the second photo shows a close up of the rollers and how far they can move relative to each other.

 I use the longer Gurin massage stick for doing stretching exercises and working my back. This shorter roller stick works better (i.e. more comfortable to hold) on my head and on the back of the legs. Using the roller to reduce headache pain was a great discovery for me. When I have a headache putting pressure on the point of paint has always been helpful to me, and using the roller puts pressure on a bigger area than I can achieve with my fingers. A shorter stick feels more comfortable working the head.

Gurin massage roller is a stiff sick. Each individual roller is 1 inch long and is made out plastic. They move relative to each other, in the photo I pushed it out as far is it would go to the side. The massage is provided by the pressure of rolling the stick against your body (not by individual rollers extending relative to each other).

When I first took this roller out of the plastic bag it (mostly the handles) had a smell that some new plastic items have. After airing it out for about a week the scent was barely noticeable, and it two weeks the smell was totally gone.

I received Gurin Massage Rollers from the manufacture to share my experiences (be it positive or negative) with it with potential future buyers. I have no financial interest or business relationship with the manufacturer, and this review represents my independent opinion of the product.

You can find the shorter roller on Amazon by following this link.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Santamedical Pro Series Wrist Digital Blood pressure Monitor with Case - Large Display Santamedical Pro Series Wrist Digital Blood pressure Monitor with Case

Santamedical BW-210 blood pressure monitor is wrist blood pressure monitor. I have an arm blood pressure monitor at home, and I found that this wrist monitor gave me similar reading while was easier to put and quicker to give me a reading.

I am attaching a collage of 4 photos that I will be referencing in this review. The first photo shows the entire content of the package. The monitor itself, the white plastic case for storage of the monitor, instruction manual. The monitor runs on two AAA batteries (included). The battery compartment is shown in photo 3. It has a plastic tongue that goes under the batteries and makes it easy to remove the batteries. The plastic container is very handy, the cuff rolled up and easily fit into the case.

The 4h photo shows me taking the measurement. The position of the monitor on your hand as well as position of the hand relative to your heart are very important to get accurate measurements. Once you find the hand position that is comfortable use the same position every day to get measurements that can be accurately compared to each other. The key to home monitoring is to notice a change. If you measure the blood pressure in different position one after another you will notice that the reading are not the same, that's why it is important to use the same position every day. The monitor should be at the same level as your heart. The manual shows extending the hand with the monitor in front of you. Another position that works is to place your hand on your chest with monitor at your heart level. I find that putting my hand on my chest is easier, and it gave me the same reading as when extending my hand in front of me.

The monitor has two buttons. The one with a circle is that on/off button. As soon as you turn on the monitor it starts measuring. It takes approximately one minute to get a reading. The second button is a memory button which will store the results. The unit has automatic power-off function if you forget to turn it off manually.

The screen displays you blood pressure and pulse. It also has a low battery indicator.

The entire wrist band (measured on the inside) is 11.25", you need to allow a minimum of 2" for Velcro closure to secure. That means it can accommodate wrists up to 9.25" in circumference.

I cross-referenced the performance of this wrist monitor with the arm blood pressure cuff I own and they showed fairly close reading. The wrist monitor however was a lot easier to put on, and thus more likely to be used regularly. Measuring Range: Pressure: 30mmHg~280mmHg; Pulse: 40 to 199 times/min; Measuring Accuracy: Pressure: ±3mmHg; Pulse: ±4% of reading.

I received Santamedical Wrist Blood pressure Monitor from the manufacture to share my experiences (be it positive or negative) with it with potential future buyers. I have no financial interest or business relationship with the manufacturer, and this review represents my independent opinion of the product.

Overall I found it to be fairly accurate, compact, and simple-to-use. For someone who needs to monitor their blood pressure every day this unit makes it easy and quick.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.




Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Gurin Digital Bathroom Scale

Gurin precision digital bathroom scale is made out of tempered glass. More than half of it is made transparent glass, so it fits nicely into any decor.  

I am attaching a collage of 4 photos, photo #1 shows the scale in my bathroom and you see that the tile of my bathroom is visible through the scale and so the scale fits right in. I looks a lot nicer than the white scale this Gurin scale replaced.

The glass platform is 12" by 12" and is raised 1" from the floor.

The display is 1.5" inches in size and lights up when you step on the scale. My old scale did not light up, so I had to move it into the light every time I used it to see the reading. Gurin scale allowed me to hop on the scale in the corner where it is stored, since the display is clearly visible even in the dark. The display is shown in photo #2. The display stays on a couple of seconds after you step off the scale and then automatically turns off.

The third photo shows the scale upside down. You can see the scale has feet with traction pads so it does not slide on my tile floor. The feet contain the sensor which turns on the display. The "unit" button allows one to change the units in which the weight is displayed on the scale: kg, lb, or st.

The forth photo shows the battery compartment, the scale runs on four AAA batteries (included).

The glass of the scale look very pretty, but does have some down sides: (1) It is slippery if it gets wet. (2) The surface gets pretty cold in the winter. To solve both problems I keep my socks on when I weigh myself.

I received this scale from the manufacture for unbiased evaluation and review be it positive or negative. I like how this scale looks, I like how the display lights up so I can weigh myself in a dark(ish) corner of the bathroom. I cross checked my weight with my old scale and it is accurate. Thumbs up overall!


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review

Product review: URBAN TOOL sport Holster Ergonomic Shoulder Holster for Sports

This is a very convenient holster for your music player and a few other small items while you exercise. I usually wear a small fanny pack with my mp3 player and keys when I exercise outdoors. This holster provides a better alternative.

I am attaching a collage of 4 photos  which I will be referencing to illustrate this review.

 

1. Photo #1 shows how this holster is worn.
2. Photo #2 shows the holster on 1" gridded mat for size reference. In the back the holster has a nylon pocket, where you can carry your MP3 player or a phone, and some other small items like keys or chap-stick. The size of the pouch is 6" by 4".
I ordered size S1 (female XS-L, male S). In my photo you see my Sansa Clip MP3 in the pouch. The pouch has velcro closure so your items are securely trapped within the pocket.
3. The left front strap has a retractable key ring (photo #4). This key ring is removable and is attached to a loop that can be used to hold something else. The right front strap has another built-in loop.
4. Photo #3 shows the closure mechanism for the straps. It is an adjustable Velcro strap which is 6 inches long. That means in total you can adjust the arm opening by 12 inches.

If you find that the fit is not too small, the straps can be further adjusted to be larger by sewing on an extension of your own strapping with a bit of Velcro material on the end of each strap. I found that when I wear a thicker fleece I was more comfortable adjusting the arm opening to be bigger than the largest setting. The key to working with strapping is to singe each edges so the edges don't unravel. The strapping material does not burn, it melts. The melting forms a protective coating on the edges so you don't need to worry about them coming apart. Also it allows you to connected the two straps with minimum bulk, you don't need to fold them under. Adjusting the size of holster in this way allows me to wear it for both indoor and outdoor exercises.

I received an evaluation copy of this holster to test and write an unbiased review.

Overall, I really like wearing this holster when exercising. It gives me a better balance than wearing a fanny pack or sticking my mp3 into my pockets, and I am less likely to get caught on a cord, since it is out of the way and goes a very short distance between the pocket on my back to my ears.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Book review: The Complete Book of Sea Kayaking

I found this book very helpful as I was learning kayaking. This book covers a large variety of topics with detailed cartoon-like illustrations as well as some photos. I am attaching a sample page from the book to show you what a typical explanation looks like. I found explanations to be a great reminders/re-freshers of the kayaking classes I took on the water. I read the book several times as my skills improved and every time I was able to find something new and useful.  

Here are the chapters of the book:
1. Equipment
2. Basic strokes and techniques
3. Advanced strokes and techniques
4. Surging
5. Rescues
6. Waves
7. Winds and weather
8. Tides and tidal streams
9. Navigation
10. Arctic origins of the sea kayaking

This book is not just a manual for learning how to improve your kayaking technique and tips on outfitting your boat. This book covers kayaking history and shares author's passion for the kayak. I enjoyed every page no matter how many times I read it! I recommend this book.

You can find this book on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Zeta Touch Stone - Stress Ball

In a typical day I spend more than 12 hours a day at the computer for work and play and often my right hand hurts at the end of the day from repetitive use of the mouse. I received an evaluation copy of Zeta ball to provide honest review of the product and you will find both pluses and minuses I encountered in my 3 week evaluation.

The small Zeta ball is 1.5 inches in diameter and it is made out of hard resin with a nice color that makes it look like stone. It comes with a nice plastic stand which is handy to keep it from rolling around when it is not in use.

First, I noticed that the stock photo currently used with this product is showing the larger version of the ball sold in a different listing. I am attaching a collage of three photos under customer photos which I will be referencing in this review.

Photo #1 shows the zeta ball next to a ruler for size reference. You can also see it resting on the plastic stand included in this offering.

Photo #2 and #3 show the ball in my hand. I have small hands, typically wearing size small women gloves. I used poses similar to to stock photo, and you see the ball is smaller in my hand than the ball in the model's hand. This is not a negative - for a small hand a small size ball fits better!

The ball can be used warm or cold. The ball absorbs heat/cold temperature very quickly. The plus of this that you can bring the disc to the desired temperature quickly. The down side of this is that it does not stay at the desired temperature for a long time. I found I like using the ball best at a room temperature. I use by rolling between my palms. In a typical day I spend more than 12 hours a day at the computer for work and play, and rolling the ball between my hands provides a nice massage for my hands. I do it a couple of times a day and my hands feel less tired at the end of the day. The massage combined with the movement of my hands is a nice break from holding the mouse and typing. To prevent repetitive stress injuries the doctors recommend not to do the same movement for a long time and the ball is nice reminder and aid that forces you to change what your hands are doing.

My second favorite use for it is to roll it by sole of my foot. Again, it provides a nice massage and it my foot feels nice.

Overall, at minimum it reminds me to change what I am doing with my hands. After three weeks of use I had fewer days when my hand hurt at the end of the day. For that alone I recommend it!

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Cure for blisters - Bodyglide Anti-chafe Balm

For years I suffered with blisters on my pinky toes when I walk for more than 30 minutes. I tried various remedies which did not work until I found Glide. Even orthopedic shoes did not fully cure the issue. But Glide did. I put a little bit between my toes, smooth it out with a finger, and I can walk all day without any ill effects.

Glide does not feel greasy or slippery, it just works. My skin feels softer too. My blister covered pinkie toes now look smooth and pretty like baby toes! One large bottle lasts a long time (more than a year of daily use).
I use the smaller 0.45 oz bottle when I travel. I don't leave the house without applying bodyglide to my toes, it is now part of the routine like applying deodorant.

If you have a problem with blisters on your feet, I highly recommend it!

You can find travel size Bodyglide Anti-chafe Balm on Amazon by following this link


Tiy can find "Bodyglide" full size on Amazon by following this link


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Mobility aid Long Reach Comfort Wipe

After a serious back surgery twisting became practically impossible.  Luckily there are various tools that aid personal hygiene for people who have this mobility limitation. When I was in rehabilitation facility they recommended Self-Wipe Bathroom Toilet Aid which I purchased.
That tool worked but it was not ideal.  Then I decided to get a second aid so I would have one in each bathroom and purchased this product.

Long Reach Comfort Wipe works much better! It grips the paper better the other one, the rubbery head (rather than smooth plastic) gives you a better wipe, it uses less toilet paper, you never get your hands dirty because of how the ejection button works.

This is a simpler, cheaper option, that is engineered better!

Almost a year later this tool still works well. I even take it with me when I travel.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Book review: Prescriptive Stretching by Kristian Berg

I recently had a serious back surgery and after 4 months of physical therapy was looking for a book that would help me to continue with a stretching protocol on my own. Unfortunately this book was not as helpful to me as I hoped.

What I liked:
1) The book has nice diagrams
2) Does not require special equipment

What I did not like:
1) I found some diagrams and explanations hard to follow, even when I read them many times
2) I would have liked to see more options for each exercise
3) There were not a lot exercises specificity for the back

To help you make the decision about the book here are a bit more details about the content of the book:
* The first 24 pages go over the basics of why you need to stretch, muscular system, joints, general principles of stretching.
* Pages 25 to 39 cover neck stretches
* Pages 40 to 67 cover upper body stretches
* Pages 49 to 77 cover lower body stretches
* Pages 78 to 82 cover obliques
* Pages 83 to 107 more lower body stretches
* Pages 108 to 117 more upper body stretches
* Pages 119-132 diagnosis of pain and symptoms that require professional help

Bottom line: By reading other reviews it feels that this books fits a professional in the field of physical therapy best. But as a beginner with a back problem I did not find this book to be a good fit. I do my best to follow it for the general stretches, but had to get another book for the lower back.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Portable Travelchair Slacker Chair

 Perfect after a simple fix!

After several surgeries on my back I have trouble walking for a long time without sitting down to release the stress on my back by sitting down for a few minutes. I purchased this chair so I would be able to walk without having to worry that I would have no place to sit down.

This chair is almost perfect. It has only one major flaw. Both the flaw and the solution to the problem are detailed in the second half of the review.

My review will be referencing several photo collages. Each photo is numbered 1 through 7.

The chair turned out to be more comfortable and more stable than I imagined from the photos. I sit on it as I would sit on a bicycle seat (see photo #6). Imagine that the top part of the photo is the pointy end of the bicycle seat, so my butt is on the wide part and it feels pretty comfortable. Not armchair comfortable but not unpleasant.

The slacker chair is pretty light. Photo #4 shows it on the postal scale, and you can see that it comes in at 1 pound 14.1 oz. Photos #5 shows the construction of the seat. Photos #7 show the feet. The feet generate pretty good friction and don't slide.

The chair is 24" long when folded. and when I wrap my measuring tape around its width the  circumference is 7". When it is open, the seat is 17" from the ground. I am short and I find that height very comfortable. My husband thinks it is a little too short but not bad (he said it was like sitting on a toilet).

So now, the big flaw. What makes this chair valuable to me is the ability to carry it around. I need it to be very comfortable to carry around. However the strap is so short to comfortably carry it over my shoulder even for small person like myself. And what I really wanted is carry it like a sling across my back. I want it rests on my back and be totally out of the way. 

Photo 1 through 4 show my solutions to this problem.

The strap before alternations is 21.5 inches long. The distance before anchors for the strap is 19". So you get only a couple of inches of slack. This lack of slack is the problem. To fix this problem, I cut the strap (see photo #1) and extended it with a regular black strap you can buy any craft store.

The key to working with these straps is to singe the edges of them so they don't unravel. The strapping material does not burn, it melts. This forms a protective coating on the edges so you don't need to worry about them coming apart. Also it allows you to connected the two straps with minimum bulk, you don't need to fold them under. You see a close-up of the treated edge in photo #2.

After singing all 4 ends I connected the two straps with my sewing machine. I made the strap long enough to be comfortable for both myself and my husband, which required doubling its original size. I can make the strap shorter by feeding the access strapping material into the buckle. I also attached an extra Velcro strip in case I wanted to tuck away the dangling strap while I am sitting in a chair and not bother with the buckle.

With this simple fix the slacker chair is absolutely perfect! I can now take long walks like I did before my back problems.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: TRX Pro Pack + Door Anchor

Not for everyone

 I recently had a serious back surgery, and after several years of being in pain I am in bad shape physically. I have been on a look out for various ways to enhance my exercise routine. I have a friend love his TRX system and let me borrow it to try it out to see if I should buy one for myself.

Turns out I am not quite ready for it. I have limited strength and flexibility, and found the exercises too challenging. Some exercises require you to put feet into stirrups and flip into plank and push-up positions, which I could not do.

I liked:
1. The videos are clear
2. It does provide a way to train many different muscle groups

I did not like:
1. You have to be in reasonable physical shape to start this work out
2. Not inexpensive
3. Need to have room to exercise around your doorway
(or purchase and install an anchor in the ceiling capable of supporting your weight)

My friend, who is in great shape, likes his TRX system. I was glad I had a chance to try it before spending the money to find out that I could not use it.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Waxman Reusable Sliders Furniture Moving and Gliding exercises

Double Duty Sliders

I am very pleased with Waxman sliders. I initially bought them for moving furniture during house re-modeling. Then a few years later I found that I can use them for "gliding" exercises instead of buying more expensive gliders designed specifically for exercising. I love when things have multiple uses!  I purchased them in a local Home Depot store, they came as a set of four sliders with 4 woollen sleeves.

FURNITURE MOVING

I purchased the Waxman sliders with the woolen sleeves (see attached photo). I used them with the sleeves on wood surfaces and without woolen sleeves on tile. They did very well on both surfaces. My floors were not damaged and the items were moved without too much trouble. I was particularly worried about moving the stove on the new tile floor in the kitchen, but the floor was totally undamaged. I am attaching a photo of my gliders, and you can see that the heavy stove left permanent impressions on the black side of the slider, the white part is slightly scuffed up, but the floor is completely scratch free.

EXERCISE

I enjoy gliding as part of my exercise routine (for example using exercise DVD Bender Ball: The Gliding and Bender Method). The exercise gurus typically recommend Valslide sliders for doing gliding exercises. Those sliders cost over $40 dollars. But I found that WAXMAN gliders work just as well. You can also use oval version of them. The round ones work best when you need to glide on your heels or toes typically from a sitting position, the oval ones work well when you need to slide your entire foot.

These gliders work very well no matter what I use them for! Highly recommend!

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★