The season for stuffing ourselves with turkey and mince pies will soon be at an end for another year. As you look down at your waistline you may decide enough is enough and start the anual hunt for that magical piece of at home exercise equipment that will help you lose that excess weight.

Many will be seduced by the latest exercise gadget that happens to be out at the moment that promises fast results with little work but sadly they rarely work.

Better would be to take a look at my Top 3 pieces of exercise equipment that I believe will work for you if you’re prepared to put in a little bit of work and use them regularly.

The Step360

The Step360 takes traditional step to the next level. Circular in shape like a pair of donuts stacked one on top of the other the Step 360 is a pair of inflatable tubes with a platform on top. This simple device is more challenging than a normal step because it’s unstable and wobbles when you step up and down. This instability not only makes your workout more challenging but also a lot more fun.

Unlike other pieces of exercise equipment on the market today it’s not a gimmick it really works. I’ve had one for over for weeks now and love it. You get a great cardio workout and if you attach the supplied exercise band a fairly reasonable strength training workout as well.

Take a look at my Step360 Videos page for more information.

The TRX Suspension System

Although more for the seasoned and fairly fit exercisers the TRX Suspension System is a great addition to anyone wanting to get more from there body-weight exercises.

The TRX is basically a pair of elasticated straps that can be attached to a doorway. Using the straps you can extend and make more challenging a variety (Over 300) body-weight exercises. The TRX is lightweight, easy to use and will introduce not only challenge but also fun to your existing workout.

The BodyWeightCultureUSA Protege

Similair to the TRX it’s a suspension body weight trainer that comes complete with straps, door attachment and carabineers. The Protege has one big advantage over the TRX and that’s price it comes in a only $39.99!

The KettleWorx

The Kettleworx system uses a KettleBell and a series of great workout DVD’s to give you a fantastic workout. Because you combine both fat burning cardio and strength training in a single short workout you can get great results in a much shorter time than cardio only training.

This system isn’t for those that don’t want to work hard as it’s very challenging and will get you hot and sweaty. It’s major advantage is its simplicity and the speed you can get results if you use it regularly.

The three pieces of exercise equipment above aren’t the sexiest pieces of equipment on the market (although The Step360 is close) but they’re simple, well made and will without a doubt help you in your fat loss goals.

Sadly I think people will be seduced by the new and shiny gadgets that claim to do all the work for you and the equipment that really works will be ignored.

Still I’ve done my duty the choice is as always yours

Posted by: At Home Workout Reviews

Best Exercise Equipment For 2011

Many people with a weight problem don’t realize they’re obese according to a new study of over 2000 people. It was found that 10% of obese people were actually satisfied with their body size and shape even though they were obese. In fact they even thought they were healthy despite the fact that it’s well known that being overweight will have a negative impact on your health.

It was found that about eight percent of the people on the study when asked to score their body size actually underestimated their real size they seemed to have a type of body dyslexia.

Other interesting facts that were discovered included:

• These that didn’t consider themselves obese hardly ever went to see a physician.
• The obese people who underestimated their size didn’t exercise whilst those who admitted they were overweight did
• Because their were so many obese and overweight people around them it was postulated that they felt normal and therefore thought their was no need to do anything about it.

Health professionals know that exercising regularly helps with weight problems and promotes a better quality of life. This is therefore a disturbing finding. Lets hope it doesn’t get any worse.

Other exercise related posts:

KettleWorx Reviews – Easy to use and nothing to break

Posted by: At Home Workout Reviews

Do The Obese Know It?

These days, I think the major obstacle to exercising regularly is lack of time. So if I ever see good workout ideas that can be done in a short space of time, I jump on them. One of these is the new KettleworX exercise system, which offers varied workouts done using a kettlebell.

Looking like a metal ball with a handle, the kettlebell can be held in one or both hands for swinging, squatting and lifting exercises. A 5lb kettlebell comes with the package – perfect for women. You men go and get your own! (10lb and 20lb kettlebells are also available).

In our modern world there is no lack of ideas and facilities for getting enough exercise. Joining a gym or health club is a great idea, but by the time you’ve got there, got changed, done your cardio on the treadmill, full body workout on all the fixed machines, cooled down, stretched, showered and changed, you’re looking at around two hours.  Now, I don’t know about you, but I haven’t got that much time to spare!

And for maximum calorie burn and shaping your body, you have to combine cardio (pulse-raising exercise) with strength exercises.  In the gym, these are separate; you do your cardio on the treadmill or the cross trainer or the rower and then move on to individual machines for each body part – thighs, chest shoulders, arms and so on.  Even just doing 2 sets of 15 reps on each machine takes forever, and the worst thing is that it’s not the best way to exercise.  Machines lock you into position and isolate the muscle to be used, which means the rest of the body doesn’t have to work at all, so you waste time and don’t get as good results as you would if you worked your muscles freestanding.

The thing about machines is that, even if you are an absolute novice and you don’t know what you’re doing, you can’t get it wrong. You sit on the seat and follow the pictures on the front of the machine – so you’re safe and you will get some exercise.  People feel happy with that; most people I know don’t like exercising with free weights because they’ve no idea what they’re doing. In fact, some of them are downright dangerous to themselves and to others!

The idea behind KettleworX is to change all that. With the KettleworX package you get 10 – yes 10 – DVDs with lots of short workouts on them.  Some of the DVDs are for cardio and general toning combined, and some are specifically aimed at toning your chest, back and so on.  You are shown how to use your kettlebell safely and effectively for maximum inch loss and calorie burn — it’s like having a Personal Trainer standing over you while you exercise.

Compared with most exercise systems, KettleworX is amazing value. For $89.95 you get the 10 DVDs, a healthy eating guide (of course) and a five pound kettlebell — all you need to get started straight away in your own home.  The course promises results in six weeks; if you do these workouts I think you will definitely get great results.

The infomercial burbles happily about how good you will look naked (rather odd selling point, but hey, there you go.)  I’ll settle for looking good fully clothed!  But I agree with the KettleworX team that the changes to your body will amaze you, no matter how out of condition you are, and age doesn’t matter, although it’s always wise to get a check-up from your health professional before embarking on any course of exercise.

Working with a kettlebell, with no gym machine to support you, every muscle in your entire body has to start doing its job properly!  The more muscles you use, the more calories you burn.  The more muscles you use, the more you tone in a quicker time.  So try Kettleworx for great results – fast!

Get Total Body Fitness In Just 20 Minutes, 3 Times A Week!

All the best,

Carol J Bartram
(Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor)

Posted by: At Home Workout Reviews

Time To Put The KettleworX On – The Kettleworx Reviews

I’m getting a lot of mail asking me if the Kettleworx workout works. I’m assuming they mean will it help me lose weight (fat). Although I’m in danger of repeating myself (it’s my blog so I can if I want) the answer would have to be yes, the Kettleworx system does work.

But – you knew there had to be a but you so could also get results running on the spot while carrying a tin of baked beans in each hand!

The advantage of systems like Kettleworx or The Firm Wave is that they gives your workouts structure. They show you exactly what you need to do at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. You are also shown how to do the exercises safely and in good form which is important if you want to avoid injury.

As a fitness professional I really don’t care what exercise you do (although you can get faster results by picking the right workout) I just want you to do something. Pick a product that you like and use it regularly and I promise you will get results.

Just don’t give up and remember weight loss, getting fit and feeling good requires a lot of small changes over a long period of time. Don’t aim for 4lbs a week instead be happy with 1/2 – 1lb at that rate you’ll be able to live a little and lose a little the best of both worlds.

Get Total Body Fitness In Just 20 Minutes, 3 Times A Week!

Good luck and remember if you don’t enjoy your workouts you won’t do them!

All the best,

Robert E Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

Posted by: At Home Workout Reviews

Does Kettleworx Work Seems To Be The Question Of The Day

Another Infomercial has caught my attention The Ketleworx. As I love reviewing this type of equipment I’ve ordered one and when I receive it I’ll be posting a complete review.

On the face of it it looks like a fantastic idea. Kettlebells have been around for a number of years and do give great results if you stick with them.

My only reservation on this type of exercise is that for the average out of condition person it can be not only challenging but down right dangerous. If the exercises are not done in good form it’s easy to injure yourself.

I would say it all depends on the quality of the instruction in the supplied DVDs. As long as they are progressive and start at a fairly basic level it should be perfectly safe.

I’m excited about Kettleworx because I think it has the potential to be a great fat burner and will enable you to get great results in a short space of time.

If you were to combine this workout with the Firm Wave or T-Bow your results could be even faster!

Get Total Body Fitness In Just 20 Minutes, 3 Times A Week!

Watch this space as soon as it arrives I’ll give you my opinion.

All the best,

Carol J Bartram
(Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor

Posted by: At Home Workout Reviews

Kettleworx – Does it Or Doesn’t It Work?