Inhaling vapors of Olbas Oil, using the Foojin

Inhaling vapors from a few drops of Olbas Oil in the Foojin, individual essential oil diffuser quickly stimulates and enhances the breathing passages. 

Getting faster, or so it seems.

I am getting faster on the bike, or so it seems. I have ridden a few courses I am used to on the new bike and am faster. This could be because of the bike, or fitness increased. I am not sure. However, I am going to start a new training program, to hopefully get me in better shape and increase my overall fitness. I have been doing some weekly weight sessions and I have tried getting them done during the week too, but it has been difficult. 

I would love to drop 20 pounds in weight. That for sure would get me faster out on the bike. 

I am excited. Last week, I rode a trail with some guys that I have had a hard time keeping up in the past, but I was able to follow close behind. 

It will be great when the weather decides to switch to being cooler. 

The foot issue is still bugging me, but I am getting the exercises done to hopefully correct that. 

The SpoxFit Yoga Ball

I have thrown into the mix of stretching and exercise using the SpoxFit Yoga ball with resistance bands. The bands have a resistance of 220 pounds and are comfortable using the handles attached. 

The SpoxFit yoga ball comes complete with plug and foot pump to inflate. I have used a yoga ball for awhile now, but nothing like this with a stability ring, in which the resistance bands attach to. 

The kit of the ball, resistance bands and air pump also comes with a poster showing exercises to do using the setup. 

The ball alone provided a great workout. Using it for wall squats, sit ups and hamstring curls. Add the resistance bands and work more on your upper body. 

This is a great set up for anyone wanting to try different exercises. 

#fitness

Find it online here and order yours 

https://www.spoxfit.com/products/spoxfit-exercise-ball-with-resistance-bands-stability-base-pump-for-core-strength-and-endurance-65cm

Arctic Cool for the holidays!

Looking for the perfect gift for yourself or for someone on your shopping list?  Keep them cool during their workouts indoors and out. They will love the feeling of staying cooling during their hot workouts by wearing the Arctic Cool, cooling shirt, with HydroFreeze X. The shirt is very comfortable and stretches very well. The more a person sweats, they more they are cooled off. Mist the shirts fabric with water to start your workout with the cooling sensation or just let the fabric do the work and wait until you start to sweat. The fabric wicks sweat and moisture from your skin, leaving you cool and dry.  I have used and love using Arctic Cool’s products especially living here in Arizona. The cooling effect is more noticeable when you are moving through the air, but with a fan blowing on you at the gym will have the same cooling effect. The fabric material is made of 94 percent polyester and six percent spandex while treated to be anti-microbial.  Wash and care of the fabric can be washed in the machine with cold water and like colors. Arctic Cool says it can be put in the dryer but with all my technical clothing I prefer to just hang and let air dry.

Arctic Cool’s fabric with Hydrofreeze X Technology wicks the moisture away from your body and in turn uses it to activate the fabrics cooling properties. The shirt will reduce your temperature by up to 30 degrees. 

Get Arctic Cool wear for the golfer, runner or any athlete in your friends or family circle. Sure there is the popular crew workout shirt, but they also have polo shirts and tank tops made with the same material and various colors to choose from. Keep them cool during their workouts. I know it may be cold outside, right now where you are,or even snowing, but the summer heat is guaranteed to be back. 

Arctic Cool is the fastest growing apparel company that

incorporates cooling technology into it’s apparel. Arctic Cool is an American company, and is owned and

operated from the United States.

Activ5

Proud to be representing and using Activ5 allowing me to exercise anywhere.  Along with my cardio, cycling, running and swimming, using the Activ5 makes for quick yet effective workout.  I have even showed it to my 10 year-old son, using the Activ5 device.  Paired through bluetooth to my smartphone, select a workout ranging from upper body, lower body, toning, yoga and pilates, as well as abs, butt and leg workouts. For busy travelers there are even workouts on the app geared towards using in small spaces such as a car or airplane and finally hotel workouts.  All these isometric exercises have easy to follow directions and images, showing a model using the device and where to place it for the exercise. The first time you do a specific exercise you will set your “max power” and the app will then contour the exercise according to that setting. 

Before performing any of the exercise you can reset your max power output.  

At the end of each exercise is give you a report on how you performed that exercise.  Your max power in pounds and how much weight can be compared to that you just lifted. The muscle control you had in a percentage. 

The little, very portable, device is powered with one AAA battery. 

The device works off of applying pressure, sometimes on both sides of the device, others just pressing down, applying pressure to the one side, depending upon the exercise being performed.  During each exercise you apply more pressure making the marker rise on the app, and apply less pressure to make it lower.  The only setting adjustment I needed to make to my smartphone was the timeout length.  I was running in to my smartphone falling asleep during my workout.  I have now taken care of this and the Activ5 device is great. 

These isometric exercises contract particular muscles or groups of muscles. The muscle doesn't noticeably change length and the affected joint doesn't move. 

Besides the Activ5 app, there are other apps (games) out in the iTunes or Google Play stores. Involve the kids in these exercises paired with the games and they will have no idea they are helping tone their muscles. 

U-GYM PRO with discount code for ordering

Along with foam rolling and ice treatments I often combine using a TENS unit (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) to increase healing or help recover from either a day to day workout or injury. 

U-GYM PRO is a portable deep tissue massage device that I use to effectively treat my sore muscles. The U-GYM PRO digital massage mimics massage technique. Connected through Bluetooth, you can control the device through an APP. 

Four modes of operation. 

The device comes with two different lengths of cord as well as using the device with two pads or all four pads.  The APP’s modes are 1. Multipurpose 2. Padding 3. Relaxing and finally 4. Exercising. Yes during exercise you can use this device to help contract the muscle you are working out.  On the unit itself, you can determine the intensity as well as on the APP. 

I would love for you too to use the U-GYM also and increase your recovery time and increase the intensity of your workouts. U-GYM is offering a 5% discount when you use the

discount code 

HACKERFiV$

 when ordering at http://fitgene.co.

Working on a few issues

Over the past few months I have focused on strengthening my glutes, as I have ran into some issues with them cramping on longer rides. The issue I had been having is with the running and cycling motions, my muscles get accustomed to just that forward and backward motion. To help with the strengthening I started doing a few workouts a week with some resistance bands.  Using my legs in more of lateral motion to help treat those muscles. 

Side leg lifts and doing squats then walking sideways I am trying to trigger and get at those muscles. 

TRAGO -- A smart water bottle for keeping you hydrated

Head over to the Trago shop and use my deal code "TimHacker" for 20% off discount. Jump on this offer as it will expire at the end of the month. 

Use the link below to find out more or order yours NOW! 
TRAGO


So here is what it's all about!

So what is a TRAGO water bottle.  A 20 ounce water bottle with a BLE smart lid. Connect the water bottle to the app, available for both Android and Apple devices. Enter some information about your body, like body weight, male or female and the level of activity you participate in to all help keep you hydrated. 
Like with my food tracking apps, I have a difficult time often inputting my water I have consumed everyday.  This app keeps me on my daily goal. It reminds me of how much I have to drink and reminds me a few times during the day to keep drinking. The app splits the day into three segments, morning/afternoon/evening. On the bottom of the app it gives daily tips on how hydration keeps your body working. 

So enough talk about the app, let me show you some of the screens the app shows and well as what the bottle looks like. The lid also works on some other bottles on the market. The lid is powered off a simple coin battery, it comes with. It can easily be changed when needed. 

The different screens on the app show a running total of how much water you need to be consuming and what you are actually drinking. On the bottom of the screen it has a daily total and what you have been drinking.  You can set the app up in units of measurement in ounces or milliliters. You also have the option of manually updating your total of how much water you have consumed. The “fluid thoughts”, help you stay hydrated and give you tips and information on doing so. These can be turned off in the app’s settings if you want. The app tracks then your daily hydration and keeps a log to be later looked at for the whole week and month. 

"Stay hydrated my friends!" 

Live Infinitely Exercise Ball

I am a fan of at home workout devices and using an exercise ball is one of them.  Not that I am a huge person, but I like knowing that the Live Infinitely exercise ball can support up to 2200 pounds. Invite over your best elephants of friends without worrying about this ball exploding. With that said the ball is very well manufactured out of a high grade PVC material. When ordering, due to my height I ordered the 75cm size. This ball can also be used as a sitting ball helping improve your posture as well as engage core muscles while sitting and balancing. Live Infinitely offers a workout guide on their web site after purchasing, but I already have a workout routine in place. Once inflated, with the included pump and air plug inserted, the ball holds the air very well, not having to re inflate before every use. The texture of the ball is great and the PVC material is okay to use with heels of tennis shoes dug into it when doing hamstring exercises. Socks also grip the material well too. The ball comes with great instructions on how to inflate and care for it as well as safety precautions. The ball is perfect for throwing down in front of the TV and doing exercises or stretches while watching.  When ordering keep in mind your height, as you will want to order one specific for your height. 

I have even thought of bringing it to my office and use a a ball chair to improve my posture as well as work on engaging my core muscles more while sitting. 

#liveinfinitely