Coming soon!…

Powerblock Dumbbells Review

Powerblock was the pioneer of the modern all-in-one adjustable dumbbells that took the market by storm with their introduction of the 5-45 pound selectorized weighted dumbbells in 1991.

In the years since they have expanded their offerings to include urethane, sport and kettlebell variations of the original dumbbells. The classic set of 5-45 pound dumbbells can be upgraded to 5-90 pound and 5-130 pounds with add-on kits that are sold separately or in a package deal.

What I Liked About the Powerblock Dumbbells

The two things that Powerblock got right out of the gate are the quick change weight selection and the sturdiness of the design.

Powerblock came up with the quick change weight system in 1991 and it’s been copied in different forms ever since. The original design still stands up to this day and is dead-simple to operate. You simply pull a metal pin and slide into the appropriate slot to select the amount of weight you want to use for each exercise.

You also can’t overlook the fact that these dumbbells are built to take some punishment and last, there’s just not much that can go wrong with them.

What I didn’t like about the Powerblock Dumbbells

My experience with Powerblock dumbbells wasn’t all smiles and sunshine. In fact, there are two things about the Powerblocks that ultimately led me to but the Ironmaster quick-locks and they were: the enclosed handle design, and the clunky design.

The problem with the enclosed handle design is it eliminates the ability to use the dumbbells for lifts like the over-head tricep extensions, pull-overs or any other exercise where you have to grip the end of the dumbbell.

The other thing that bothered me is the old-school clunky design. Look, I’m not the kind of guy that always buys things for style over substance but the combination of the square design and enclosed handle was enough to put me off the Powerblocks as my dumbbell solution for our training studio.

Conclusion

The Powerblock dumbbells were a revolution when they hit the market but they’ve recently been supplanted by current designs from Ironmaster and Bowflex. With that said, if you can see your way past the ugly design Powerblocks are good dumbbells for the money.

get the Powerblock Dumbbells on sale w/ free shipping

Ironmaster Quick-lock Dumbbells

The Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells Review Notes: Ironmaster’s Quick Locks come in pairs with standard weight of 5-75 pounds each and are adjustable in 2 1/2 pound increments, with each set weighing 150 pounds total.

Should you ever need more weight (95% of people never will unless they get into power lifting) there are optional 120 and 160 pound add-on weight kits.

They’re primarily marketed to the bodybuilding crowd online, so if you haven’t heard of them you’re not alone.

I almost didn’t even consider trying them based on that fact alone, but that would have been a huge mistake because I ended up buying a set of Quick Locks and their Super Bench for my home gym where my wife and I train.

What I Liked About the Ironmaster Quick-lock Dumbbells

The quick-lock dumbbells are the most rugged set of adjustable dumbbells on the market and are made from all cast steel components — not cheap and flimsy plastic here like the Bowflex and Powerblocks — this is what adjustable dumbbells are supposed to look like.

The fact that they can take a beating like the pro style dumbbells I used for years at the Health Club is another plus, and on top of that they just feel right in your hand.

When you load the weight plates on the dumbbell handles to make 20 pound dumbbells, they’re the same size as a regular 20 pound dumbbell you’re probably used to using. If you make a twenty pound dumbbell with the Bowflex’s you end up with a 16″ behemoth handle that’s quite unwieldily and hits your legs doing curls, and they don’t go close enough together doing chest exercises like bench presses and flys.

The clincher for the Ironmaster’s that pushes them to the top of the adjustable home dumbbell heap is the fact that the quick locks dumbbells hold their value on the used market like no other. If you can ever find a used set (I’ve yet to see them on my local Craigslist in Minneapolis) you can expect to pay about 75% or retail which is unheard of for home gym equipment.

For comparison sake, the Powerblock Dumbbells and Bowflex Dumbbells price drops by 50% as soon as you take them out of the box, so if you ever plan on selling them down the line you’re at a huge disadvantage.

What I Didn’t Like About the Ironmaster Quick-lock Dumbbells

About the only gripe I have with the Ironmaster dumbbells, at least when I first got them, was changing the weights quickly isn’t as simple as the Bowflex or the Powerblock.

That issue was quickly put to bed after a week of working out with them and getting used to how the quick-lock system works. Now, I wouldn’t even consider getting another set of adjustable dumbbells because the competing brands have too many weak points in the ergonomic and durability departments.

Bottom Line on the Ironmaster Dumbbells

The Ironmaster Dumbbells have been rapidly gaining a loyal following with home gym users for their rugged construction, accurate weight (unlike Bowflex) and ease of use.

With better ergonomics, durability and functionality than the Powerblock and Bowflex Dumbbells, the Ironmaster make for a trusty workout companion.

If you’re looking for a set of adjustable dumbbells that feel as nice as the ones at the health club, the Ironmaster Adjustable Dumbbells should be on top of your shopping list — that’s why I own a pair of Quick Locks and use them in my gym…

get the Ironmaster Quick-lock Dumbbells on sale w/ free shipping

Taming The Home Gym Beast and Reclaiming My Basement

(Home Gym 3.0)
What we’ve done with our new home gym is we’ve simplified and downsized the equipment a lot. And by a lot, I don’t mean we just got rid of a couple big pieces of equipment to free-up a little extra floor space.

I mean, we did a complete hatchet job on the sucker, and let me tell you it felt fantastic!

We sold the functional trainer, ditched the smith machine, said goodbye to the elliptical, traded in the massive dumbbell set and just have a folding treadmill remaining.

And the only reason we still have a treadmill is because Grechen likes using it during our 8 months of dog-doo weather here in Minneapolis, MN. If you’ve ever tried running through the ice and snow in -10 degree temperatures you totally get it.

Here’s The Equipment We’re Using Now In Home Gym 3.0

The equipment we’re using now is listed in the order you should get them if you’re just starting out. If you already have some of the gear listed below, round out your gym with the next item on the list…

Ironmaster Super Bench & Quicklock Dumbbells

The (2) best pieces of exercise equipment that I own, and everyone else should too.

If you’re starting your home gym, or you’re looking for essential equipment that will stand the test of time -and most likely outlive you- get the Ironmaster Super Bench and Quicklock Dumbbells.

The Super Bench is the ideal height (20″ top of pad to floor), is super stable with a massive weight limit of 1,000 lbs, easily adjusts to 11 positions of incline and decline, has attachments for doing dips and pull-ups and is priced better than cheap benches from the big box stores.

The Quick-Lock dumbbells take up less than 2 square feet of floor space, are easily transportable, adjust from 5-75 lbs each in 2.5 lb increments, can be used with the Super Bench and the weights can be interchanged with Ironmaster’s kettle bell handle and barbell handles for the ultimate home gym experience.

And yes, this bench and dumbbell combo (plus the kettlebell if need be) that will give you better results than 90% home gyms costing up to (5) times as much.

Bodylastics Exercise Resistance Bands

Bodylastics Exercise bands like the Bodylastics are the perfect compliment to dumbbells and free weights to vary your training and doing some exercises that you can’t do with any other piece of equipment – as a bonus they’re great for travel and small spaces… see my Bodylastics Exercise Bands Review get Bodylastics on sale here

5 Years ago if you would have told me I’d become a huge fan of exercise bands and I’d own multiple sets of them I would have laughed in your face and told you to stick it where the sun don’t shine.

I mean seriously, aren’t exercise bands for old people ad weaklings who are scared of lifting weights? The answer is no, at least when you’re talking about Bodylastics.

Bodylastics is miles ahead in design and function than any other exercise bands on the market and you can do exercises with them that free weights and dumbbells can never replicate due to the fact that bands aren’t constrained by gravity.

If you aren’t using bands in your workouts -get some- but be warned, not all exercise bands are created equal.

TRX Suspension Trainer

TRX Home Gym My wife and I have been using our TRX for almost 3 years and counting (long before all the health clubs caught on). If you want a versatile gym for functional strength, that’s compact and easy on the wallet, give the TRX a try… TRX Suspension Trainer Gym Review Video get the TRX Gym on sale here

Total Trainer DLX Gym

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In the first part of the coverage of my home gym remodel and downsizing, I present the Ironmaster Quick-Lock Dumbbells Stand video for your viewing pleasure.

The video shows the entire process from the initial unboxing, to construction and a side-by-side size comparison to my Troy VTX Dumbbell Set that, thankfully, I will be kicking to the curb.

I have more videos on the Ironmaster equipment including the quick-lock dumbbells and the stand together, the Super Bench and comparisons to the Bowflex Select and Powerblock Dumbbells.

If you want to find out more about the stand and dumbbells in this video you can visit Ironmaster here…

Try this ab workout with my recommended exercise ball for a workout that will blow torch your ab muscles and make you beg for mercy.

Make sure you get a full contraction with each rep on your workout to get maximum effect and deep muscle stimulation.

Most importantly remember that if you want a six pack, you need get your diet in check first or all your hard work in the gym will be in vein.

Ab Workout Guidelines

• Perform the ab workout Monday, Wednesday and Friday
• Move quickly from one exercise to the next with minimal rest
• Perform each rep in a slow and controlled manner squeezing and fully contract the abs each rep – it’s quality not quantity that counts
• Exhale fully at peak contraction and inhale on the way down

Ab Work Set (#1)
Exercise Ball Crunches (1 x 20)
Reverse Crunches (1 x 20)
Exercise Ball Side Crunches (1 x 20)

Ab Work Set (#2)
Exercise Ball Side Crunches (1 x 20)
Reverse Crunches (1 x 20)
Exercise Ball Crunches (1 x 20)

Ab Work Set (#3)
Exercise Ball Crunches (1 x 20)
Reverse Crunches (1 x 20)
Exercise Ball Side Crunches (1 x 20)

Complete each exercise in the ab workout above in order, taking no rest between exercises until after you finish a complete set. Rest 45-60 seconds between each set.

This ab workout routine effectively works all three portions of the abs. Crunches for the upper abs, reverse cruches for the lower abs & side crunches for the obliques.

If you don’t have an exercise ball, get one! There’s no better way to get a killer ab workout than with a ball.

Go here to see the best exercise ball I’ve found that blows every other ab machine out of the water, and as a bonus you can use it for dumbbell training and core strengthening too.

NOTE: I’ve put together a free PDF report about how to get that shrink wrap look for your abs…you know the look I’m talking about…when it looks like your skin is vacuum sealed to your muscles and you can see every ripple.

This is accomplished using a specific rep strategy. This is a 9 page report, but you want to pay special attention to page 8.

You can get the report below free, no opt-in or email required…

Shrink Wrap Abs Report.pdf
(right click and “save link as” to your desktop)

There are tons of Smith Machines on the market that range in price form $350 up to $3000 dollars for club stlye conterbalanced smith machines.

So what’s the best smith machine for 2011 for serious iron pumping at home?

In order to answer that question, first I need to establish what makes a good smith machine.

If a smith machine doesn’t meet these criteria, it’s not worth buying:

• heavy guage tubing w/ a long warranty
• built-in selectorized weight stack
• gunrack front lift-off points for free weight training
• multiple bar catches (13 + is best)
• linear bearing smith cage (no bushings, they bind)
• high and low pulley cables w/ no change feature
• 7 degree cage track for natural motion
• built-in weight tree on frame
• maximum system weight limit of 600 pounds minimum
• must be able to buy online for best price

The only Smith Machine that meets the criteria above is the Body Solid 7 Series Smith machine pictured below…

Best Smith Machine – Body Solid Series 7

The Body Solid Series 7 is a serious smith machine for serious training. This thing is built like a tank and has every option you could possibly want on a smtih.

It’s built like a club quality smith machine with a solid frame, multiple liftoff and rack points, a built-in gunrack in front, selectorized 200 pound weight stack, a linear bearing smith carriage and a bulletproof lifetime warranty.

Don’t make the mistake of buying an inforior smith machine that runs on bushings because you can get one cheap at costco or online. The Body Solid blows those machines out of the water…

read my full Body Solid Series 7 Review

get the Body Solid Series 7 Smith on sale w/ free shipping

You’ve been looking to get an exercise bike and feel pretty confident about which features you want, what manufacturer makes the best bikes and you’ve narrowed down your options in your price range.

There’s only one problem, you don’t know if you should get a recumbent exercise bike, or an upright exercise bike. So you take your bike shopping online to do some research looking for the best exercise bike reviews.

Let me help you understand the differences between recumbent bikes and upright bikes so you can make an informed decision.

Recumbent vs Upright, Which is Better?

For sake of comparison, let’s take a look at two of the stationary bikes I review here on the website and put them head to head so the differences will be crystal clear.

The comparison bikes are the Schwinn 140 Upright bike and the Schwinn 240 Recumbent Bike.

First we’ll look at the Schwinn 140 Upright Bike…

Schwinn 140 Exercise Bike

Upright Exercise Bike Key Points:

You’ll notice that an upright exercise bike is more like a traditional road bike is design and function. The seat is located directly over the pedals and is height adjustable to accommodate different height riders.

The handlebars are also like a road bike and can be used to get a heart rate reading (if your bike comes with that option) and also to position the body while pedaling.

A bid advantage of upright exercise bikes is the fact that you can lift your body off the seat to pedal with much greater force and exertion (just like a road bike) to simulate climbing hills, sprinting or just for giving your butt a well deserved rest.

On the downside, upright exercise bikes can be uncomfortable to ride for prolonged periods unless you’re used to riding your road bike, that’s especially true on the cheaper bikes (under $400) that have marginal seats at best.

Finally, upright exercise bikes are small than recumbence and take up less floor space. And since they don’t require as much material to manufacture, they tend to be a bit cheaper than a comparable recumbent bike.

And next we’ll have a look at the  Schwinn 240 Recumbent Bike…

Schwinn 240 Exercise Bike

Recumbent Exercise Bike Key Points:

Recumbent bikes are a newer development on the market (relatively speaking of course) that, for most people, makes riding an exercise bike more comfortable, and more enjoyable than an upright bike.

On the plus side, the very nature of a recumbent exercise bike positions the body in a more natural seated and supported position while still maintaining the appropriate leg pedaling angle for efficiency.

You can see from the picture above, recumbent bikes differ from upright in two key areas, the first being the seating position, and the second being the position of the flywheel drive mechanism that increases the overall bike size.

As I covered earlier, the seating position on a recumbent does not allow you to stand up and use your body weight to simulate hill climbing or sprinting, instead you’re locked into a static position for the duration of your ride.

Recumbent or Upright?

For the majority of exercise bike shoppers, I recommend getting a recumbent exercise bike for the simple fact that they’re much more comfortable to ride, and the more comfortable the ride, the more likely you are to use the bike.

The only exception to my recommendation would be if you’re a more hard-core biker that will really be cranking up the intensity trying to simulate hill climbing or sprinting. If that sounds like you, get an upright or a spinning bike

go to exercise bike reviews

find the best exercise bike for your budget

Proform 970 Crosstrainer

The Proform 970 crosstrainer is a unique exercise bike in any price range.

When you’re done going for a ride with one of the 8 workout programs, you can push the seat back and get in a quick strength training workout.

The thing I like best about the Proform Crosstrainer is that it packs a lot of punch, for a minimal price.

You get 8 workouts plus the iFit compatibility, the comfortable adjustable recumbent seat design, a built in weight bench and an easy to use console that will make your workouts easy and efficient.

Is the Proform 970 Crosstrainer a bit gimmicky? Yes. It’s not as good as buying a weight bench and exercise bike separately, but for the money I think Proform has done an excellent job with their design…

Weslo Cadence c44 Treadmill

The Weslo c44 Treadmill is another of the lower end treadmills from Weslo that’s comparable to the Weslo c22 Treadmill, Weslo c32 Treadmill and the Weslo 835 Treadmill.

The Weslo c44 treadmill is in the middle of the Weslo lineup and includes some basic features for the entry level market.

The motor is has a stated horsepower rating of 2.25/1.3 impulse drive. The 1.3 hp motor rating is the more accurate, as the tiny motor will have a hard time keeping up with anyone using it that uses the manual incline feature and weighs more than about 125 pounds.

Do not even consider buying this treadmill is you are larger and plan on jogging or running or it’ll be in for repairs before you can say wasted money…

Key features of the Weslo c44 Treadmill:

• 2.25 hp / 1.3 hp impulse drive motor rating
• 0-10 MPH Digital Speed
• 16″ x 47″ Treadbelt
• Adjustable Incline
• Comfort Cell™ Cushioning
• Large LCD Display
• EKG™ Heart Rate Monitor

The Weslo c44 is a bare-bones treadmill that should not be put on your list for multiple reasons. I won’t spend the time here to berate you and talk down to you if you’re considering buying one…

Instead I’ll try and help you avoid wasting your money on a treadmill under $300 that isn’t really a good fit for anyone…

Get the Weslo c44 Treadmill on sale here