Fit Fig

I’m going on another hiatus from FitFig.com, one that will perhaps be permanent. I have not been passionate about fitness blogging lately and I’ve been terribly busy with other things in life (including martial arts, so it’s not that I’m not passionate about fitness in general).  I don’t know if I’ll be back or not, so farewell for now to any loyal readers out there.

We have a winner for the Tibetan Yoga of Movement TWO DVD Giveaway. The random number generator gave me #6:

So the winner is Elisa Gonzalez with the comment below.

So, Elisa, just send me your address to fig{at}fitfig.com and I’ll get this out to you soon (probably Tuesday or so).

We have a winner for the KickButt! Fast Cheetah DVD Giveaway. The random number generator gave me #3:

So the winner is Dynamics with the comment below.

So, Dynamics, just send me your address to fig{at}fitfig.com and I’ll get this out to you soon (probably Monday or Tuesday).

I have one more giveaway before I go on a break from Fit Fig (life is just too busy to post regularly).  The great thing about this one is I’m giving away two DVDs at once! I got these Tibetan Yoga of Movement DVDs free from the Shang Shung Institute.  The full name is Tibetan Yoga of Movement: Perfect Rhythm of Life and one DVD is Level One and the other is Level Two.  It just seems like they should stay together so that’s how I’m giving them away.

From the website:

Here’s a fun giveaway for you.  This workout is part of a series that includes the Push Pull workout I just reviewed.  This one also features both Kimberly Spreen and Heidi Tanner and it’s another “fusion” workout that includes cardio and weights as well as some Pilates and yoga.  Here’s the back cover description:

Master Instructors Kimberly Spreen and Heidi Tanner lead this highly creative, mostly-cardio workout. Burn fat and tone the core, hips and thighs with “Powerhouse Pilates” floorwork. Boot-camp drills plus Astanga (power) Yoga improve functional fitness.

This pilates-cardio-yoga-weights FUSION workout uses Non-Dominant (weak side first) training to equally develop both sides of the body. Mentally engaging Fast Cheetah makes time fly while giving beautiful results.

Equipment:

14″ step
Heavy & light dumbbells
Optional ankle weights

There’s also a breakdown of the time on the back that says:

pilates:      11 min
cardio        25 min
yoga:            8 min
weights:      4 min

TOTAL:    48 min

This giveaway is for residents of the USA or Canada only.  To win this DVD, I’m going back to simplicity. Just comment below.  You only get one chance this time, so just tell me why you want to win.  Do you like the instructors?  Do you like the idea of the Fusion workout? Do you just like workout videos or do you just like to win anything, period?  Whatever you want to tell us.  I’ll come back and plug in the numbers in the random number generator and choose the winner in just 5 days–I’ll be back on New Year’s Eve to declare the winner.  So come back then or in the new year, to check if you’re the winner.  Good luck!

Today after so long of not doing home workouts, I pulled out this KickButt! Push Pull DVD, which I got free from Fitnessfavorites.com.

I’ll start by showing you what’s on the menu, which is a little different than most DVDs:
Menu Items:
Play Full Workout
Select Tune– I wasn’t sure what this was until I clicked on it–can choose different sections of the workout here
Equipment List–I like that they have a screen to tell you what equipment you’ll need (it’s also listed on back of DVD).
First Time Tips
Credits
Equipment needed: 14-inch tall step–(theirs looks like a stool. I used my high step), balance stick, dumbbells (heavy & light), yoga block, stretch towel

At first I was not entirely impressed with the set–very busy set with some weird mostly nude male statues (I thought the loin cloth part was just silly–if you’re going to do nude statues just go for it all the way).  I think part of the problem, though, was that I was distracted at first that the instructor is in front of a mirror so you’re getting her and her backside and you see the castmates in the mirror.  It’s actually kind of neat when you get used to it, but sometimes I’d get confused looking at her in the mirror.  The camera also sometimes just rotates to show the cast without the mirror.  My other complaint was that the music was just kind of ‘meh’ but at least it was not distracting. I hardly noticed it once I got going.

There’s a lively but not difficult warm-up with Heidi Tanner.  I had to Google her name when I was done because she seemed familiar–I think I’ve just seen her in Firm videos before.  I needed no Googling for Kimberly Spreen (the other instructor) as she’s one of my all-time favorites.   Read the rest of this entry »

I am actually writing this at my dojo while the kids are in their karate class, because I don’t have Internet access at home (because of the freak snowstorm over the weekend). I just did the random number generator for the giveaway and it gave me #4, which is Ginger. Congrats, Ginger. Please send me your address to fig{at}fitfig.com so I can ship this out to you. It may not be immediately given my spotty Internet access.

I got this DVD free from Tune Up Fitness Worldwide after lamenting my recent ankle injury.  I actually searched my blog to find mentions of my previous ankle injuries (and was downright embarrassed at how many times I mentioned them — and here I go mentioning them again).

Anyway, here are my ankle injuries since I started blogging:

• Sprained right ankle falling off aerobic step – August ’07 — ended up in physical therapy after this one
• Sprained right ankle sliding all the way down the stairs – February ’07
• Sprained left ankle falling down part of the stairs – April ’08
• Sprained left ankle falling down on rough patch of sidewalk – October ’11

Well, at least I waited three years since the last one.  So my main purpose in trying this DVD was to work on these ankles of mine. However, I went through all the sections to try them out and they’re all good.

Here’s a brief description from the Yoga Tune Up website: Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve added a new section to the Fig’s Fitness Tools page.  This one has some workout rotations for classic FIRM workouts.  I got these from a friend over at FitnessFavorites.com.  Soon I’ll be reviewing a couple videos sent to me from FitnessFavorites.com.  They have some Kimberly Spreen workouts and I just love her. I will probably have to wait until after my belt test later this week before doing that review.

Yesterday I got the newest Cathe workouts–her Low Impact Series.  I also got her Cycle Max workout, even though I don’t have any kind of bike.  I ripped that sucker open before I remembered that I only got it because it was a cheap addition to my preorder and that I intended to give it away here.  So I’ll be giving it away opened, but still unused.

Here’s what it says about Cycle Max on Cathe’s website:

Are you ready for the ride of your life? Well let me take you there with a rocking custom made soundtrack and a calorie blasting indoor cycle workout.. Consider yourself the rock star of your living room as you burn countless calories, shape and define your legs and glutes and become one sweaty mess.

This is the ultimate Zero impact fat burning indoor cycle workout and once completed, you’ll wring out your shirt to prove it! This workout also features a custom made rock’in soundtrack and our “vocals only” option allows you to play your own music if desired.

Cycle Max is filmed at a level not normally seen in cycle videos and features multiple camera angles and closeups that will help to keep you visually stimulated and motivated during your ride.

The total workout time of Cycle Max is 56 minutes. (warm up 5:02, ride 45:11, stretch 5:51)

And here’s a video snippet for you: Read the rest of this entry »

If you know me, you know I’m prone to injury (or you could just say I’m a klutz).  I tend to have trouble with my joints, in particular.  A couple years ago I had to have a couple months (at least) of physical therapy for my wonky knees.  I don’t know any better way to describe them — they are just naturally wonky and off-center, which can cause problems.  So when Tune Up Fitness Worldwide sent me a free KneeHab DVD, I knew it would be good for me.  The instructor/creator is Jill Miller, a yoga and fitness therapy expert.  She does seem to know what she’s talking about.

The quickest way to show you what you get with this DVD is to copy some of the info from the back:

Whether you’re a triathlete in training or just starting rehab, YTU Quickfix Rx: KneeHab will help unravel bad habits and addresses the physical culprits that lead to knee injury and pain. Learn dozens of exercises open up new ranges of motion and recondition your knees from the inside-out! Read the rest of this entry »

Are you ready for a winner for our latest giveaway?  The random number generator gave me #3:

So the winner is Erin with this comment:

So, Erin, just send me your address to fig{at}fitfig.com and I’ll get this out to you soon (yeah, I am pretty sure you won before so you’ve sent me your address before but I don’t keep them so I’ll need it again).

(Yep, that's me after a long day. I'm holding the wedges there so you don't see so much of my terrible roots--hair color tomorrow!)

During the summer I did a review of Do or Die Fitness products, which you can read here.  In that review, I mentioned that my only complaint was that I wished the wrist wedges had a non-slip surface on the bottom for doing something like downward dog.  They tended to slide forward when I was doing a position like that.  Otherwise I found them very helpful to relieve the wrist pain I usually experience doing yoga after a lot of karate classes.  Well, recently Do or Die Fitness sent me another set of wrist wedges, and these have the a non-slip side!  It did make a big difference with doing yoga moves (again, particularly downward dog and other moves where my hands are out in front of my body and a lot of pressure is on them).  You can see these wedges in my goofy photo above.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention one problem.  I made the mistake of leaving these in the living room with my 2-year old while I made dinner the other night.  I came in later and found that he’d peeled the rough surface right off.  I’m not sure why he did that, but I actually just put it back on and it worked again.  So I don’t if the non-slip addition can take much rough handling.  I should probably just keep it out of the reach of toddlers.

I have another great giveaway for you guys.  I got this Train2Cheer DVD free from Train 2 Be Fit.  Actually it’s not just a DVD; it also includes a cardio CD soundtrack with most of the music, so there’s a nice bonus. It looks like a fun one but I have so little free time I don’t think I’ll have time to give it a proper review so I’m doing a giveaway instead. If you win it, please come back to the comments and tell us what you think!

Here’s some info from the back cover:

Train2Cheer Strength and Conditioning workout was developed specifically for cheerleaders and dancers. The main objective of the workout is to increase cardio and muscular endurance resulting in stronger cheerleading and dance performances. The workout is comprised of low impact and high impact cardio exercises as well as a focus on strength training. In this 45-minute workout, each track is choreographed to high-energy music with different sequences of exercises. The workout starts with a warm-up and progresses into higher impact cardio tracks for the first 15 minutes. After the heart rate is almost at its peak, a mixed interval track will level the heart rate, then we will take you down to the floor for upper body strength training. The second half of the workout will push you to your limit with a high impact cardio and jump cardio track before finishing with abs and stretching. The combination of these exercises will target the different muscles and body movements that pertain to stunting, tumbling, muscle control and dance routine. Read the rest of this entry »

I decided to go ahead and just call this a recommendation, rather than a review. For one thing I find it easier to “review” workout videos rather than other things like these cards. For another I don’t have anything negative to say, so it’s definitely a recommendation. And for another thing a review would imply a longer post than this will probably come to (the Fig is tired, y’all).

I first heard about these little cards from one of my favorite fitness bloggers, MizFit.  She created two of the packs (100-Calorie Workouts and At Work) and is also the fitness model for the 100-Calorie Workouts.  I liked the idea of little workout cards you can carry around to use anywhere, so I ordered a couple packs.  I got MizFit’s 100-Calorie Workouts cards and I got the one For Outdoors.

I gotta say, these are no sissy workouts just because they come in flashcard form.  The cardio bits remind me of some of the hard days we have at karate class when they decide to really put us through our paces.  In fact I have to admit I tend to skip the cardio since I get so much of that and work on the other parts.  Each of these card packs come with workouts for 6 days. So your week is already planned out for you, if you like.

Each little workout tells you the exercises, how many reps of each, what equipment you need, and how many sets to do.  There are also pictures of the moves to show you how they should be done.  It really is all laid out for you so if you’re missing workouts because your brain is friend and you don’t know what to do, this could be helpful for you.

If you’re interested, you can see the different cards at MyFitnessTrainer.com.  The packs for sale include:

• MTF for At Home
• MTF for Outdoors
• MTF for Guys at the Gym
• MTF for Kids
• MTF for At Work
• MTF 100-Calorie Workouts

It’s time to declare a winner for last week’s giveaway.  The random number generator gave me #16:

So the winner is Teresa F. with this comment:

Congratulations, Teresa F.! Send me your address at fig{at}fitfig.com and I’ll send the DVD out soon.

Last night I had another belt exam and got my high yellow belt. (I’m holding it in the goofy picture to the left–why am I squinting? I don’t know–also check out that five-head I’m sporting.  Sheesh.)  I don’t know if I can adequately describe the experience of belt exams. It’s in some ways much like a regular class, if a bit longer, but it feels different.  You know you’re getting a new belt at the end, which is a fun motivator, but there’s also great energy and intensity radiating from the crowd of classmates around you.  Since I’ve been doing martial arts since May, I know more and more people there and feel closer to more of them. It’s a great feeling to have such good companions and competitors surrounding you.  Shihan (our dojo leader) calls it co-opetition (I’m not sure how he spells that if he ever writes it down). We’re cooperating and competing at the same time, pushing each other to do better but also encouraging each other.  It’s a new experience for someone who has typically done home workouts.  Well, it’s not 100% new, I did do the Cathe Road Trip back in ’08 and I’ve had online fitness friends who encourage each other, but it’s nice to have that co-opetition in person and every week (every day if I went to the dojo that often).

We have that co-opetition and standard of excellence in every class, but it’s just intensified at a good belt exam, and last night was the best for me personally.  I felt electrified.  Did I mess up a few times?  OH YES, indeed I did.  I also felt a bit embarrassed when I couldn’t manage to hang my dang target pads back up on the wall and then knocked a big target off as I  was at it. Duh.  Did I excel as well?  YES.  I was suffering a lot of pain in the bottom of my right foot last night (it’s related to my horrific bunion but I won’t go on about it here) and I know it made it hard to do certain moves that put any pressure on that spot but I soldiered on and did the best I could.  So I wasn’t spectacular but I put in the effort and enthusiasm.  I can’t wait to move up to the next belt in a few months (green is next, FYI) and meanwhile I’ll keep loving the co-opetition in every class.

I love this post at Finding Family Fitness.  She talks about meeting a special goal and committing to do it by a deadline and also about doing it as an example for her kids.  She’s setting not only an example of fitness but an example of responsibly working toward her goal.  Great stuff.  Of course since I am obsessed with learning karate lately, it made me think of using my commitment to karate as an example to my kids.  They already know I love it and try to go 3 times a week (would like to go more and might eventually be able to) and I’ve got my two oldest boys going 2-3 times a week now, too.  This Thursday night I have another belt exam (high yellow) and they will be doing their first belt exam on Saturday morning.  I hope they enjoy karate for itself but I also hope they learn something about the joys of fitness, as well as something about self-discipline and commitment.  Here I thought my going to karate was all about me, but maybe it’s about setting an example, too.

OK, so I bought this Fit in 5: Ultimate Body Blitz DVD for myself a while back and then I’ve never used it. At all. It’s still in it’s lovely cellophane packaging and everything.  So I thought maybe I’ll just do a giveaway with it. If the person who wins it tells me it’s totally awesome, then maybe I’ll just buy it again some time and give it a go.  I’m sure it’s a decent workout (not sure if it’s totally awesome, though, since I haven’t tried it) but I’ve just been too busy and haven’t done many workout DVDs at all lately.  It’s been all about the karate for me for a few months now.

I ordered this workout partly because of a couple of the great instructors and partly because I like the idea of a week of 20-minute workouts (and I’ve enjoyed little workout systems like this before). It’s probably not for the hardcore advanced exercisers out there (unless they’re ill or insanely pressed for time) but for a beginner or intermediate it could be a good choice for busy weeks, I think.  It got some great reviews on Collage Video.

Here’s the description from the back: Read the rest of this entry »

I got these cards a couple months ago but I hadn’t played with them yet. I got them free from Addriya Yoga, LLC.  When I first got them my middle son Ewan (who just turned 6) was fascinated and took them out and played with them, but then they got stashed away somewhere for a bit and we carried on with our crazy busy summer (seriously, isn’t summer supposed to be time to relax?)  Then today I pulled them out and my boys reluctantly paused Phineas & Ferb long enough to try them out with me.  After that reluctant start, though, they really enjoyed it.  I read from the cards and demonstrated moves (sometimes difficult while holding and reading the card) and they followed along.  Even Cormac (almost 2) was imitating them.

The cards are 5 x 7 and feature cartoons of people doing the poses, with extensive but simple-to-understand instructions on the reverse side.  I simplified instructions even more for my 6-year old, but anyone who has kids or works with kids will know if they need to clarify the instructions.  The box says ages 3 and up, but my almost 2-year old was enjoying trying what we were doing, too, though he couldn’t really understand the instructions.  The people on the cartoons look like children as well, so this is very kid-friendly stuff.  There are some seated poses, some standing, and some lying down.  It is definitely mostly stuff you could do in small spaces, like in a classroom.  I could picture an elementary or preschool teacher using these for a little exercise/stretching break in class.  The poses are all called by English names and as I said, the instructions are clear. The cards also include info such benefits, modifications, and safety tips for the poses.  There are 52 cards.  You can see pictures, read more about them, and buy your own here.  They also have ABC Yoga Cards for Kids and an ABC Yoga Classroom Border.  Great stuff for teachers.

I’ve included some pictures of my boys doing various poses below. Read the rest of this entry »