Book Reviews and More: TeamBodyProject

Showing posts with label TeamBodyProject. Show all posts

Tuesday, 7 May 2024

Fitness My Gear May 2024

Fitness My Gear April 2024

This post is an update of one written back in 2012. Over the years some gear has been added and some has been removed. Having spend the better part of 6 months on crutches late in 2023, and early 2024. I am basically starting my fitness journey again. Over the years I have has successes and setbacks. Starting about 6 years ago I started having problems with sprained knees or water on the knees. At the time I was doing Karate with the kids. And trying to compensate for the knees I caused some ankle issues, and plantar fasciitis. It was not until after prolonged time on crutches that I have really committed to getting back in shape. And now in my mid-50's I need to pay a lot more attention to my body, and to what doctors recommend.

Because I work out predominantly at home I often get asked about the gear I use. In the past I have written some specific articles on specific pieces this will be a piece on what I have and use currently.

PowerBlock's

I wrote a separate review of my PowerBlock set a while ago. My set replaces 28 pairs of dumbbells and 2565lbs of free weights. The set of dumbbells replaced by this kit is:

2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, 17.5, 20, 25, 27.5, 30, 35, 37.5, 40, 45, 47.5, 50, 55, 57.5, 60, 65, 67.5, 70, 75, 77.5, 80, 85, 87.5 and 90lbs.

This set is expandable by another 30lbs per side but at the current cost I doubt I will ever do it.

PowerBlock Barbell

PowerBlock no longer sells this and it only works with the older Pro and Elite sets of Powerblock But I love it.

PowerBlock KettleBlock

PowerBlock makes two different models of the KettleBlock. A 20LB model and the 40, the 40 is also upgradeable to 55. It is a great tool. The weights included are:

8, 12, 16, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40

It was a great investment. I wish the handle could take cores like the regular PowerBlock's. If you have newer Urethane sets you can buy a Kettle Handle for your normal weights, will be rectangle not square but they will get the job done. I really want the upgrade to take these to 55lbs.

York Barbell 306 Inline-to-Decline Bench

I got this bench this year for Christmas as an upgrade for an older Model York. It has no uprights for bench or squat use, but the variety of positions make up for that. It has 5 different back positions and 3 different seat positions. Best bang for the buck at $145 and for another $99 a preacher curl attachment.

Thera-Band Bands

Various lengths and resistance also a door anchor. I have short ones tied with loops for leg lifts and longer ones for pulls.

Nike Medicine Balls

I tried a lot of different size and styles of medicine balls before I decided on the Nike Balls. I love the weight, slight variations in size and that they are designed for both indoor and outdoor use. I have added mine slowly over time and currently have:

4, 6, 8, 10 pound balls.

They have held up very well and I love them. I want to add more.

Fitter First Balance Board

This is my newest piece of equipment. I got it because I have small feet and have injured my ankles in the past. I am using this to help strengthen them and develop better balance. Currently I am just using it for body weight but plan on eventually adding weighted exercises.

Manduka Black Mat Pro

Back when I was teaching Yoga I was using this mat for over 10 hours a week and used it at work, at hot yoga and at home. It had never developed a funky smell. It is thing and supportive. It is great for stretching, plyometrics, and other floor exercises.

Gaiam Exercise Block

My flexibility sucks. But I like using these they help me get towards poses that I just cannot do yet. With the three different sides there are progression they let me keep trying and improving.

PowerStands

These were one of the best investments I ever made. They have changed the design since I got mine. I tried numerous before buying these

TRX Force Kit Tactical

Sometimes you encounter something so great you just cannot stop talking about it. To be honest, that is how I feel about the TRX Suspension Training System. It is one of the best investments I have ever made for health and fitness gear. The versatility and flexibility of this piece of equipment combined with the portability and 'workout anywhere' option make it truly amazing.

Adjustable Weighted Vest 40lbs

The vest is easy to put on and easy to remove. Adding and removing weights is very simple as well. It is easy to clean and the construction is excellent. I expect this product to last for years to come. Very satisfied with the purchase.

ONETWOFIT 48" Silent Mini Trampoline

A few years back I read a couple of books about Rebound Fitness, or using a mini trampoline for fitness. The science in the books is very convincing. But the books also specifically talked about what type of trampolines to use and not use. You can pick up mini trampolines for a cheap as $50 and as expensive as $1000. This one is not bargain priced nor is it overly expensive. It has been used for about 6 years, by myself, my wife and all three kids. I still have not got to 3 sessions of 5 minutes a day, but am back using it most days.

Team Body Project

I have been using the workout videos from TBP for 6 years now, off and on. I was having some good success and then injuries set me back. What I love is a lot of their workouts have a knee friendly modification. I have done a number of programs from them and even recently started back just doing some seated workouts to start moving again. For all my reviews of TBP plans click here. I love the app on my phone and tablet, or using it through a web browser for the TV, or using it on the computer.

Infrared and Near Infrared Light Therapy

This has been a huge gamechanger for me this year. I was doing therapy at a podiatrist last year and was pay $50 for 18 minutes of treatment, 9 minutes infrared and 9 minutes ultrasound. I started doing so research as the infrared really seemed to be helping. With some birthday money I purchased this:

Red Light Lamp Belt, Hottoerak Red Light & Near Infrared Light Lamp Belt

It made a huge difference. I was doing about an hour a day, 10 minutes on each knee, ankle, and foot. Within a week my feet and knees were feeling better than they have in years. So I stepped up the game and purchased:

Red Light Lamp, 180LEDs Near Infrared Light Lamp with Stand

Now most days I try and spend 20 minutes doing whole body and if I am having any issues with knees, feet, shoulder I give them some extra attention with the other model.

Update May 14: The Rebounder has moved to the master bedroom so my wife can use it as well. And the TRX was mounted in the garage weight room to give more pull options.

Wednesday, 22 January 2020

Four Favourite Workouts - Team Body Project - Alex and Daniel Bartlett

Four Favourite Workouts
Team Body Project
Alex and Daniel Bartlett

I have now completed 9 workout plans with TBP and as of the posting of this review worked 6 months straight using TBP videos. I love following the plans, but there are a few workouts I use for active rest days, or when time is very crunched, and I just want and need to hit play. Three of those workouts are stand alone, and the fourth is part of a plan I have not done yet. This review will focus on four individual workouts: Flow, Power Flow, Warrior Stretch, and Resistance Roar.

This past summer I wrote a piece called Starting Over in Southwestern Ontario! A Fitness Update! What I started with was the workout videos from team Body Project, and specifically Real Start Just Move. You can watch that video on YouTube, or even workout with it. I had been a member of Team Body Project for three years now, but only just started the videos. I am in my 50th year, and I really needed to get back at it. And the TBP plans have been a great way to do that. And these specific workouts are my default fall back when on off days from plans or between plans. Even when I have had flare ups with my knee I have I been able to do something and move every day.

Flow

I love this workout. My goal is to get to the point where I start my day each morning at 430am with this and Warrior Stretch, and then have my main workout in the evening. This is a great 16-minute routine that stretches and moves the whole body. It incorporates both static stretching and dynamic stretching and some active movement. For this workout all you need is the app with the workout downloaded, and any device with internet access. The focus is a low impact mobilization stretch workout. And it is set to classical music.

Power Flow

This workout was released as a celebration of 300K followers on YouTube. There is the option of light dumbbells for a resistance section. It has classical music like Flow, but the music is live with a sting quartet playing as Daniel leads us through the exercises. This workout includes sections focusing on: Boxing, Cardio, Circuit, Low impact, Resistance, Standing, Stretching. This workout is 17 minutes long.

Warrior Stretch

The Warrior plan is a two-week Resistance Boxing plan, but it is designed to be done over and over again. I found this workout by filtering on mobilization. Once I tried It I loved it, and I have done it over 40 times. Either on active rest days or as an add on before or after other workouts. It was a great one to fall back on while travelling recently and in a very small room. You do not need any equipment and it is an excellent 19 minutes. As Daniel says if we do not use it we lose it and in this workout we move the whole body in several different ways.

Resistance Roar

At the time of completing this review I have only done this workout twice. But I plan to do it monthly as a test. And I always feel incredible after completing it. This workout is 10 rounds, 10 exercises 10 reps. In and hour and 11 minutes. Yes, you read that correctly 1000 reps full body resistance. The first time I did this I did 10lbs, the second 15, next time I will be doing 17.5. This workout is my new baseline. Daniel does a few exercises on the floor. With my knee injury I find getting down and up from the floor hard. And I used a bench. My son did this with me last time using 7.5lbs and he did it on the floor. It is a great workout.

Those are my favourite workouts so far during my half year working out with Team Body Project. If you use TBP and have a favorite share it in the comments or shoot me a message.

Now it must be noticed that all 4 of these workouts are available through the paid membership. You can join for free and will have access to a lot of workouts and the first week from some of the plans. But to access everything you will need a paid membership. Currently you can even gift a 3 month, one year, or lifetime membership.

Team Body Project is a website, an app and a community. And the community is part of what makes this an excellent resource for your health and fitness. The private community on Facebook and the forums on the website are very supportive and encouraging. But what really helped me is that the workouts in the Real Start program are geared for anyone.

And as I always conclude a TBP review, do not just take my word for it check out Kylie Young’s story or the other testimonials on the site. I can say that TBP is one of the best resources for health and fitness that I have ever come across.

This is another great program, especially for those of us who love an old school weight workout, but with a number of new twists. Thank you again, Alex and Daniel.

Wednesday, 11 December 2019

Real Start Foundations - Team Body Project - Alex and Daniel Bartlett

Real Start Foundations
Team Body Project
Alex and Daniel Bartlett

I have now completed 9 workout plans with TBP and as of the posting of this review worked 6 months straight using TBP videos. And Real Start Foundations is an incredible plan. It has been designed for anyone, and I do mean anyone. This 1 week program has 5 workouts that vary in length from 22 to 32 minutes. There is a lot more instruction than any of the other plans or workouts I have done from TBP. Each of the workouts has someone doing a harder version, the instructor mixing it up, and Tarsh doing the entire workout in a chair. When I did these workouts, It was a very hard and stressful week at work. I was on call and there was not a lot of sleep. These workouts we much harder than I expected because of engagement, but also exactly what I needed. There are a couple of workouts in this plan I will use on active rest days, or days when my time gets crunched. They were all excellent.

As the ninth program from Team body project that I have completed this year, this is if modified easier than any of the others. It would have been a perfect place to start when I came off my sprained knee and started working out again last summer. And I have recommended it to a few friends, one who needs to get back into a habit, and another who has never really worked out at all.

The gear you will need:
Mat
Water
Towel
Dumbbells (optional)
Chair (optional)

The workouts are:

Week 1
Resistance Foundations
Cardio Foundations
Standing Pilates Foundations
Walking cardio Foundations
Circuit Foundations

I did this program because I knew it was going to be a crazy week. And because I wanted to review it and compare it to the other three Real Start programs, and other plans I have completed. (See links to reviews below.) I honestly was surprised by how hard I could make these workouts, and also how much I enjoyed them. This plan delivers on its commitment to 100% low impact. And if you do the seated version 0 impact. It is fun, engaging, and very informative. The teaching about the how and why’s by Daniel and Alex in this plan is excellent.

This past summer I wrote a piece called Starting Over in Southwestern Ontario! A Fitness Update! What I started with was the workout videos from team Body Project, and specifically Real Start Just Move. You can watch that video on YouTube, or even workout with it. I had been a member of Team Body Project for three years now, but only just started the videos. I am in my 50th year, and I really needed to get back at it. And the TBP plans have been a great way to do that. If you are starting or like me starting over again, this plan is an excellent place to begin.

Team Body Project is a website, an app and a community. And one of the best parts is the community. The supportive and encouraging community is part of what makes this an excellent resource for your health and fitness. The private community on Facebook and the forums on the website are very supportive and encouraging. But what really helped me is that the workouts in the Real Start programs are geared for anyone. And this one even more so. Each video has three participants. Daniel and Alex lead the videos and Tarsh and Mona. Mona usually works out at a harder pace, and Tarsh at a modified level, and seated. But even when you go beyond those programs, they always offer a less intense version. And pressing pause is encouraged if you need it.

As I always conclude a TBP review, do not just take my word for it check out Kylie Young’s story or the other testimonials on the site. I can say that TBP is one of the best resources for health and fitness that I have ever come across.

This is another great program, especially for those starting exercise for the first time or those starting over. Thank you again, Alex and Daniel.

Wednesday, 27 November 2019

Pure Resistance - Team Body Project - Alex and Daniel Bartlett

Pure Resistance
Team Body Project
Alex and Daniel Bartlett

I have now completed 8 workout plans with TBP and as of the posting of this review worked 5 and a half months straight using TBP videos. And Pure Resistance is both one of the hardest of the programs I have done and also one of my favourites. I loved most of the workouts and enjoyed hitting the weights. This program inspired me to push harder both with the weight being lifted and the intensity in the movements.

This program is 3 weeks with 5 workouts a week. The workouts range from 21 to 56 minutes in length. This is one of the older programs filmed in the UK before they moved to Australia. The workouts included resistance, circuit, and low impact. Most of the workouts are full body, but each week has 1 focused on just Upper or just Lower body. In the videos they go to the matt for several exercises but because of my knee injury I use a bench.

As the eight program from Team body project that I have completed this year, this is most in my comfort zone. I have been doing weights off and on for more than 35 years now. I love a great weight workout.

The gear you will need:
Mat
Water
Towel
Dumbbells (ideally a few different weights)

The workouts are:

Week 1
Pure Resistance
PT 4 Lower Body
Resistance Burn
Ultra Resistance
Rapid Resistance

Week 2
Pure Resistance 2 Upper
Pure Resistance 2 Lower
Resistance Pyramids
Ultra Resistance 2
Rapid Resistance 2

Weeks 3
Pure Resistance 3 Upper
Pure Resistance 3 Lower
Super Compounder Special
High Rep Resistance
500 Reps (Or as I call it half a ROAR!)

I very much enjoyed this program, and expect I will circle back and do it again in a few months. It really brought back my love of resistance workouts. It took me an extra week to complete this program. My knee flared up and I did a mix of other workouts, Flow, Real Start Just Move, and Warrior Stretch while resting the knee.

This past summer I wrote a piece called Starting Over in Southwestern Ontario! A Fitness Update! What I started with was the workout videos from team Body Project, and specifically Real Start Just Move. You can watch that video on YouTube, or even workout with it. I had been a member of Team Body Project for three years now, but only just started the videos. I am in my 50th year, and I really needed to get back at it. And the TBP plans have been a great way to do that.

Team Body Project is a website, an app and a community. And the community is part of what makes this an excellent resource for your health and fitness. The private community on Facebook and the forums on the website are very supportive and encouraging. But what really helped me is that the workouts in the Real Start program are geared for anyone. Each video has three participants. Daniel and Alex lead the videos and Natasha and Lisa. Natasha usually works out at a harder pace, and Lisa at a modified level. But even when you go beyond those programs, they always offer a less intense version. And pressing pause is encouraged if you need it.

And as I always conclude a TBP review, do not just take my word for it check out Kylie Young’s story or the other testimonials on the site. I can say that TBP is one of the best resources for health and fitness that I have ever come across.

This is another great program, especially for those of us who love an old school weight workout, but with a number of new twists. Thank you again, Alex and Daniel.

Wednesday, 20 November 2019

Amazon Basics Adjustable Weighted Vest 40 lbs - Product Review

Adjustable Weight Vest

40 Pounds
AmazonBasics
ASIN B07MXZFB7B

I have wanted a weighted vest for a few years now. But for one with more weight they were always out of my price range. I had a different one on my wish list that was 50lbs. And I would check every now and again to see if it was available for a better price. One of those times this showed up underneath that one as a recommended alternative. It is 1/5 less weight but was almost 50% cheaper. I bought it at this point for a couple of reasons.

At the time of writing this review I have been working out again with Team Body Project videos and at the time of writing this review have worked out over 125 days in a row. Many of those videos are body weight exercises. This will allow me to amp those up. When it arrived, I put it on and wore it around the house for a few hours with the full 40lbs in it. It is easy to remove up to half the weight while wearing the vest. This model has roughly 1.93lb inserts and there 10 on the front and 10 on the back. I am 5 foot 9 and 240 lbs and a little rotund at the moment and it fits me with still some space.

The second reason I got the vest is my son has scoliosis and will soon be in a body cast for up to four months at a time. I have told him if he is struggling with the cast I will put on the best and wear it to be in support of him and his struggles.

The vest is easy to put on and easy to remove. Adding and removing weights is very simple as well. It is easy to clean and the construction is excellent. I expect this product to last for years to come. Very satisfied with the purchase.

Wednesday, 30 October 2019

Essentials Plan - Team Body Project - Alex and Daniel Bartlett

Essentials Plan
Team Body Project
Alex and Daniel Bartlett

I have now completed 7 workout plans with TBP and as of the posting of this review worked out over 130 days straight using TBP videos. And the Essentials Plan is by far the hardest of the workouts I have done to date. This program is very different than any of the others I have done from TBP. With this program you have 5 workouts each of 2 weeks, each between 40-50 minutes with warm up and cool down.

As the seventh program from Team body project that I have completed this year, this one pushed me out of my comfort zone. Each workout contains three segments, cardio, resistance and core. And these vary from about 10 minutes to 20 minutes across the workouts. This past summer I wrote a piece called Starting Over in Southwestern Ontario! A Fitness Update! What I started with was the workout videos from team Body Project, and specifically Real Start Just Move. You can watch that video on YouTube, or even workout with it. I had been a member of Team Body Project for three years now, but only just started the videos. I am in my 50th year, and I really needed to get back at it. And the TBP plans have been a great way to do that.

Team Body Project is a website, an app and a community. And the community is part of what makes this an excellent resource for your health and fitness. The private community on Facebook and the forums on the website are very supportive and encouraging. But what really helped me is that the workouts in the Real Start program are geared for anyone. Each video has three participants. Daniel and Alex lead the videos and Natasha and Lisa. Natasha usually works out at a harder pace, and Lisa at a modified level. But even when you go beyond those programs, they always offer a less intense version. And pressing pause is encouraged if you need it.

The gear you will need:
Mat
Water
Towel
Dumbbells (ideally a lighter and heavier weight)

The workouts are:
Week 1
Essentials Segments
Essentials Segments 2
Essentials Segments 3
Essentials Segments 4
Essentials AvD

Week 2
Essentials Segments 5
Essentials Segments 6
Essentials Segments 7
Essentials Segments 8
Essentials AvD 2

You can access all five workouts in this plan via the TBP website, or through the TBP app. The pace of this workout is intense. Each day you do a quick warm up, followed by a cardio section. After the cardio is a resistance section, and then a core section, followed by a stretch. The days alternate between Alex or Daniel beginning and they alternate through the sections. It was also my introduction to an AvD - Alex vs Daniel workout. I had heard about them but never done one, and they are intense and fun, and occasionally funny. As they push each other and challenge us.

The program has 10 workouts over 2 planned weeks. It took me over three weeks to complete it. A bout of illness, and very busy family schedule interrupted the schedule. But I managed to continue to press play every day, even if I did not have time for a 40-50 minute workout.

This is a great program and excellent for pushing me outside my comfort zone. I upped my weights which I had not really done since beginning. And because of the core sections, spend a lot of time on the mat, which because of my knee injury was also leery of. But I paid attention to my body and made it through the whole program.

And as I always conclude a TBP review, do not just take my word for it check out Kylie Young’s story or the other testimonials on the site. I can say that TBP is one of the best resources for health and fitness that I have ever come across.

Another great program, especially wto work out and hit all the muscle groups, and cardio, resistance and core in each workout. Thank you yet again, Alex and Daniel.