Strength Through Numbers

Push-StrengthThere are plenty of fitness monitors that track calories and activity during a cardio workout – but most times those looking to increase strength and conditioning (S&C) are left without such digital aides. Push Strength is a start up that is looking to change this.

While heart rate monitors are typically worn on the chest, the Push system utilized a strap that goes around the arm – and in can track reps & sets, force, power, balance, speed and even be used to answer the phone remotely. This could prove there is strength in numbers.

Push Strength Official Website

Learn From a Pro

Want to play like a Tennis pro? Just like playing at Carnegie Hall it comes to down to practice, practice, practice. But even with practice you need to know how to do it right and some new apps from Vstrator might help. These are designed to collaborative social coaching tools that allows users to capture, create and share videos of “coachable moments” and further allows coaches to train athletes remotely. Currently Vstrator has apps for tennis, strength training, golf and football. Game on.

Vstrator Official Website

Made in America: Ironcompany.com

When it comes to weight lifting, strength equipment, barbells, flooring and more there is no reason to cut corners. That is why Ironcompany.com looks to American made products, not only because it good for the nation’s manufacturing sector but also assures users that they are purchasing quality as well.

The online supplier offers a USA Made exercise equipment page so users can browse products and compare what is good for the nation and good for their fitness regime. Products available through Ironcompany.com include Body Solid, Iron Grip, GP Industries, Hampton USA, Ivanko and T-Grip Barbell; as well as numerous flooring companies and even cardio. Continue reading Made in America: Ironcompany.com

Body Wrench P3R Helps You Strengthen, Recover

Strength training and recovery are important to endurance athletes. A new tool, Body Wrench P3R, offers both. It’s a bar that you attach swiveling balls to via stainless steel pins and axles so you can use the balls to roll parts of your body for resistance or massage. Continue reading Body Wrench P3R Helps You Strengthen, Recover

Made in America: Vew-Do Balance Boards

Vew-Do Balance Boards - The Zone Balance Pro

One of the best ways to avoid injury, sports related or not, is to have strong core muscles; and my wife reminds of this when I am doing an activity that might injury my back. “Hold your stomach muscles,” is the statement that she often repeats to me and she is right. Over the past year, strengthening those core muscles has become part of my workout routine and it has really helped. I have had less cycling related back injuries and I find that my back feels less ‘tweaked’ after a good day in the saddle.

There are many was to strengthen your core, from basic home exercises to specific Core Conditioning classes offered by some gyms. Along with these exercises or classes another device can be used will help you strengthen you core, improve your balance and is fun –  a balance board. Vew-Do of Vermont has been designing and manufacturing balance boards for exercise, rehabilitation and just plan fun since 1990. Videos after the jump

CES 2011: The Gymbox Goes for Free the TV Challenge

Last August Samsung kicked off its “Free the TV Challenge” to spur development of new connected TV content, and developers from across the country were invited to submit their best ideas for 2D and 3D TV applications across a range of categories. Finalists were selected from this range of submissions and the winners of the challenge will be announced this week at the Consumer Electronics Show.

We found there to be some very interesting finalists, but we’re pulling for Gymbox, which provides weekly, full-length workouts on demand. These include Step Aerobics, Kickboxing, Yoga, Pilates, Core Strength, Treadmill, Cycle, Strength Training, and Stretch. New classes are added weekly so you never have to repeat the same workout twice.

Free the TV Challenge: Gymbox

Twist, Spin Your Way Through a Workout

Twist it out on the Frank Sepe Fitness Disc.

What does a turntable, a bar, and a padded cushion do for your fitness? If it’s the Frank Sepe Fitness Disc, it provides cardio and strength training, and maybe even some toning to your core. The system’s foundation rests on its turntable. Not unlike the lazy susan you might have in your kitchen cabinet. This one is much stronger, with the capacity to hold up to 300 pounds. Stand on the turntable and twist back and forth for the foundation of your workout. To aid in resistance training, the Fitness Disc also comes with a bar that is weighted at 4 pounds, and can be separated into two- two pound batons. The bars count as part of the Fitness Disc workout, but also aid in balance while twisting.

It’s not just a twist, it’s said there’s over 100 exercises you can do with the Disc, and there’s four DVDs included in the box, along with a padded disc that you can use for floor work such as crunches. The Fitness Disc, like many home workout equipment, is gimmicky. This one just may have some strength in that it’s a low impact cardio and strength workout. A quick demo with Frank Sepe showed what you can do with the bar, and got our heart rates up. We look forward to spending a little more time with the Fitness Disc at home to try its effectiveness.

Frank Sepe Fitness Disc the Premier Workout System information page

Frank Sepe Fitness Disc the Premier Workout System product page on Home Shopping Network