A Great Idea - Versa Stick
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
As usual, while out blog-surfing, I came across this article about a new (to me at least) home-gym alternative called Versa Stick.
I happen to think this is a neat idea.
Why? Because since I have finally been to a real gym for once, I can see how Bodylastics replicates gym workouts. In some cases, Bodylastics has to do it in a totally different manner to achieve the same targetted areas of the body, simply because it's missing a metal/high strength bar. Like for pull downs, chest-press etc.
Versa Stick apparently closes this gap (from what I could glean from the website). It also boasts of over 100 different workouts that could be done with it, just like Bodylastics.
To me, of course, the best of all would be a combination of both Bodylastics AND Versa Stick. From what I could see from the Versa Stick site, the bands provided comes nowhere close to Bodylastics'.
Now after seeing this (and the price of US$79.95, eeks!), I thought I might as well rig up my own "stick" and see if I can hook it up to Bodylastics. In the past I have ordered a few dud home gyms. A couple come with some sort of a metal bar with rubberized grips. I could conceivably turn one of them into a "versa stick" knock-off by hooking Bodylastic ankle-straps to the bar and using it like a Versa Stick.
Or in a worst-case scenario - turn my Steel Bow into the "metal bar" :) There's enough places on the Steel Bow to tie the ankle-straps to, to ensure non-slippage.
I'll write more after I've given this idea a whirl for awhile.
Labels: Bodylastics, Steel Bow, Versa Stick, workout
New Routine For Feb
Monday, February 4, 2008
I had been thinking, and planning my workouts lately.
While it is a good idea to split the workouts into small bits, ie work a couple of parts each time, I was thinking it would be a better idea to dedicate Sat and Sun to full body workouts - ie Upper Body on Saturday, Lower Body on Sunday.
Then, I rest 1 week. Weekdays, I just do the circuit-training thing on the video. I figure since the circuit training is more for burning fat than building muscles, I can easily hook a "lighter" band in and follow along, and thus won't overtrain my muscles.
I went on this new workout plan last weekend. Saturday was upper body, Sunday was lower body. Now my whole body aches slightly. No, not the "Oh Gawd I can't move, I can't sneeze, I can laugh" type of ache.. but the nice dull ache that lets you know you've actually hit the targetted muscles and worked them to failure to spark off muscle growth.
In fact, I actually used both the Steel Bow and the Bodylastics in my workouts on the weekend. As I said before, Steel Bow feels more "targetted", so for those parts which I can't seem to "get" with Bodylastics, I used the Steel Bow to work those parts to failure.
While it is a good idea to split the workouts into small bits, ie work a couple of parts each time, I was thinking it would be a better idea to dedicate Sat and Sun to full body workouts - ie Upper Body on Saturday, Lower Body on Sunday.
Then, I rest 1 week. Weekdays, I just do the circuit-training thing on the video. I figure since the circuit training is more for burning fat than building muscles, I can easily hook a "lighter" band in and follow along, and thus won't overtrain my muscles.
I went on this new workout plan last weekend. Saturday was upper body, Sunday was lower body. Now my whole body aches slightly. No, not the "Oh Gawd I can't move, I can't sneeze, I can laugh" type of ache.. but the nice dull ache that lets you know you've actually hit the targetted muscles and worked them to failure to spark off muscle growth.
In fact, I actually used both the Steel Bow and the Bodylastics in my workouts on the weekend. As I said before, Steel Bow feels more "targetted", so for those parts which I can't seem to "get" with Bodylastics, I used the Steel Bow to work those parts to failure.
Labels: Bodylastics, Steel Bow, workout
I Failed Very Quickly
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Last night my back stopped aching. Lats, shoulders etc all were fine. So I thought I'd get back on Bodylastics and get more workouts in.
Lately I've been surfing bodybuilding sites. No, I don't want to look like Arnold Shwarzenegger. I just need to find the right info for building muscles. In the past, I understood that muscles need to rest after working out, and the period of rest is 48 hours.
However, it seems that info might have been incorrect. The websites I saw a couple of days back advocate 5 to 7 days of rest, and it's not just coming from 1 website. So I guess there must be some truth in it.
They said, although you exercise each body part "once a week" for maximal effect, it doesn't mean you workout once a week. You can still workout 3 or 4 times a week but each time you do one or 2 body parts. That way, you will complete a "full body" workout once a week, and each part rests 5 to 7 days.
Also, they advocate the HIT philosophy - High Intensity Training. In simple terms, work your muscles to failure, that's how you force them to grow. Don't need to spend hours too, as long as you achieve muscle fatigue on your workouts, you have achieved "HIT". So with this newfound information, I worked on the triceps and biceps, and a little on the legs.
I plan to do full leg workouts on Friday (now that I'm not drinking regularly anymore on Fridays). So, I pull out the Bodylastics kit, hooked the black and blue bands on (for a total of 42 pounds weight, or roughly 18.5kg) and did bicep curls.
I had planned to do 3 sets of 8.
I never completed my 3rd set.
Man, I have never reached failure that quick before. I love it! On my 4th or 5th rep in my 3rd set, I just couldn't pull anymore.
You can't really compare Isometric workouts (on the Steel Bow) to Bodylastics, since Isometrics are "push and hold" workouts. There's no "failure" to be reached. You just pull or push on the device, hold it, then release slowly and repeat for the required number of reps or sets. Well technically you can reach "failure" on the Steel Bow, if you continue to push (or pull) until you tremble. However the Steel Bow guides advises to use only 70% of your maximum strength, and hold only for 10 seconds. You can actually complete a full body workout on the Steel Bow in under 20 mins, trust me. I once completed a full body workout just watching Maggi And Me on TV with about 5 to 10 mins to spare, and it's a half-hour show!
And, as previous entries have testified, Steel Bow (and Isometrics) work. I couldn't do a single push-up before, now I can do over 20, and this was even before I got my Bodylastics kit. I had gone from 82kgs to 75kgs using just the Steel Bow and its workout chart. As of December 2007, I had completely stopped all the "mindless cardio" workouts too.
What I'm going to do now, is to run another experiment. For the next month, ie Feb 2008, I'm only going to use Bodylastics and its workout plans. No cardio. Let's see how much weight I lose, or whether I gain muscle mass. Hence tonight I will have to do some benchmarking, like doing pushups till I fail. In March or so I'll check and see if I had progressed.
Lately I've been surfing bodybuilding sites. No, I don't want to look like Arnold Shwarzenegger. I just need to find the right info for building muscles. In the past, I understood that muscles need to rest after working out, and the period of rest is 48 hours.
However, it seems that info might have been incorrect. The websites I saw a couple of days back advocate 5 to 7 days of rest, and it's not just coming from 1 website. So I guess there must be some truth in it.
They said, although you exercise each body part "once a week" for maximal effect, it doesn't mean you workout once a week. You can still workout 3 or 4 times a week but each time you do one or 2 body parts. That way, you will complete a "full body" workout once a week, and each part rests 5 to 7 days.
Also, they advocate the HIT philosophy - High Intensity Training. In simple terms, work your muscles to failure, that's how you force them to grow. Don't need to spend hours too, as long as you achieve muscle fatigue on your workouts, you have achieved "HIT". So with this newfound information, I worked on the triceps and biceps, and a little on the legs.
I plan to do full leg workouts on Friday (now that I'm not drinking regularly anymore on Fridays). So, I pull out the Bodylastics kit, hooked the black and blue bands on (for a total of 42 pounds weight, or roughly 18.5kg) and did bicep curls.
I had planned to do 3 sets of 8.
I never completed my 3rd set.
Man, I have never reached failure that quick before. I love it! On my 4th or 5th rep in my 3rd set, I just couldn't pull anymore.
You can't really compare Isometric workouts (on the Steel Bow) to Bodylastics, since Isometrics are "push and hold" workouts. There's no "failure" to be reached. You just pull or push on the device, hold it, then release slowly and repeat for the required number of reps or sets. Well technically you can reach "failure" on the Steel Bow, if you continue to push (or pull) until you tremble. However the Steel Bow guides advises to use only 70% of your maximum strength, and hold only for 10 seconds. You can actually complete a full body workout on the Steel Bow in under 20 mins, trust me. I once completed a full body workout just watching Maggi And Me on TV with about 5 to 10 mins to spare, and it's a half-hour show!
And, as previous entries have testified, Steel Bow (and Isometrics) work. I couldn't do a single push-up before, now I can do over 20, and this was even before I got my Bodylastics kit. I had gone from 82kgs to 75kgs using just the Steel Bow and its workout chart. As of December 2007, I had completely stopped all the "mindless cardio" workouts too.
What I'm going to do now, is to run another experiment. For the next month, ie Feb 2008, I'm only going to use Bodylastics and its workout plans. No cardio. Let's see how much weight I lose, or whether I gain muscle mass. Hence tonight I will have to do some benchmarking, like doing pushups till I fail. In March or so I'll check and see if I had progressed.
Labels: Bodylastics, Steel Bow, workout
Steel Bow Works! Eating Right Works Too!
Saturday, December 8, 2007
When you were back in the army, remember the feared phrase? Yeah that one, the "Gennermen, you all try to be funny right? KNOCK IT DOWN!!"
(OK if you're a female visitor then yeah it wouldn't apply to you unless you actually signed up for the SAF, but WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!)
I remember that during that time, I learnt a "cheat" to the push-ups. People told me that if I kept my arms close to my body and pushed, it's easier. So yeah, it was.
Back around end of Sept, or beginning of Oct, I couldn't even do ONE of those "cheat" push-ups. I ain't shitting you, not even one! I was THAT out of shape! It was right before I decided to stop being fat and sloppy and get in shape, and thus, the birth of this blog.
Since then, my workouts have primarily been centered around the Steel Bow (the Bullworker clone product which I bought). I haven't actually been following the wall chart faithfully though, but I *have* been working out.
Today, for no reason whatsoever, I thought I might try to see if I could do any push-ups. So, I adopted the "cheat" push-up position, and found that I could easily do 10. Not only that, I could have done more, but I stopped.
So I shifted to the wide-arm push-up position, where it supposedly ("supposedly" because I have not researched this and thus cannot confirm its validity) uses your chest muscles instead of your arm muscles. I easily did 25, and could have gone for a few more but I stopped. However, let's be honest. By the 25th one, my body was starting to "curve" and keeping it straight as per proper push up position was starting to get difficult. I was starting to get tired.
After this, I thought to myself - "damn, the workouts worked!" and not only that, "The Steel Bow works too!".
So there you have it, my own personal proof that the Steel Bow is not a "gimmick" but it actually does help you build muscles. My dad was wrong!! :) Yeah when I was a kid I wanted a Bullworker, but he never got me one because "it's a gimmick".
However, working out and building muscles cannot happen by itself. You need to eat properly to make it happen. In an earlier post, I talked about how people joked that "diet" is to "die with a T". The general perception is that when you're on a diet, you "eat less". This cannot be farther from the truth.
The truth is, when you're on a diet, you're "eating properly" and not necessarily "less". You're now watching what you put into the body, making sure you get the right amount of nutrients your body needs, and no longer just stuffing burgers and cakes down. For OBESE people (ie serverely overweight), diets generally mean "eat less", because they need to get into a calorie-deficit situation for the body to lose fats.
For those typical "slightly overweight" or "with a bit of spare tyre" kind of people, you don't necessarily "eat less". You generally "eat right" to achieve weight loss, in conjunction to your workouts.
Also remember that your body knows itself better than you think. Nature has created an eco-system inside all of us. If you need water, your body makes you feel thirsty. If you need food, your body makes you feel hungry. It is important to keep the following statement in mind. If you continue to ignore these signs and refuse to drink/eat, your body will eventually go into "survival mode". In survival mode, ANY food you put into your body has a higher priority to be stored as FAT.
Why?
Because you have just trained your body that "food is scarce". When it signals you that it is hungry, you still do not put food in. So, the next time food comes in, the body will store it as fats "in case no more food comes".
Ladies, now you know why when you go off your "eat less" diets, you put the weight back on almost immediately eh? Yeah it's because during your "eat less" diets, your body is already storing fats. When you eat normally again, you body has more food to store as fats. Fat + Fat = More Fat.
So logically, does it mean that to counter this, you should put more food in?
Nope, but you should put food in MORE OFTEN. More often doesn't mean "more food". You put food in more often, but each time you eat small portions. Examples - a sandwich, or an apple, etc. If you continue to do this about 5 to 6 times a day for a few days, you will train your body to think that "food is now abundant, no need to store as fat anymore".
Hence, you have those "eat many meals" type of weight loss programs out there. Yes, it's true and yes it works. You still must eat CORRECTLY each time you eat those small portions too. Do not shove snacks or cakes into your mouth.
Another thing to take note is that when you do eat, do not eat until you are "full". You should only eat until you are "not hungry". When you are "full", you have just put in too much calories, and since the body doesn't need that much, it'll store the rest as fats.
So this concludes todays quick tips :)
(OK if you're a female visitor then yeah it wouldn't apply to you unless you actually signed up for the SAF, but WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!)
I remember that during that time, I learnt a "cheat" to the push-ups. People told me that if I kept my arms close to my body and pushed, it's easier. So yeah, it was.
Back around end of Sept, or beginning of Oct, I couldn't even do ONE of those "cheat" push-ups. I ain't shitting you, not even one! I was THAT out of shape! It was right before I decided to stop being fat and sloppy and get in shape, and thus, the birth of this blog.
Since then, my workouts have primarily been centered around the Steel Bow (the Bullworker clone product which I bought). I haven't actually been following the wall chart faithfully though, but I *have* been working out.
Today, for no reason whatsoever, I thought I might try to see if I could do any push-ups. So, I adopted the "cheat" push-up position, and found that I could easily do 10. Not only that, I could have done more, but I stopped.
So I shifted to the wide-arm push-up position, where it supposedly ("supposedly" because I have not researched this and thus cannot confirm its validity) uses your chest muscles instead of your arm muscles. I easily did 25, and could have gone for a few more but I stopped. However, let's be honest. By the 25th one, my body was starting to "curve" and keeping it straight as per proper push up position was starting to get difficult. I was starting to get tired.
After this, I thought to myself - "damn, the workouts worked!" and not only that, "The Steel Bow works too!".
So there you have it, my own personal proof that the Steel Bow is not a "gimmick" but it actually does help you build muscles. My dad was wrong!! :) Yeah when I was a kid I wanted a Bullworker, but he never got me one because "it's a gimmick".
However, working out and building muscles cannot happen by itself. You need to eat properly to make it happen. In an earlier post, I talked about how people joked that "diet" is to "die with a T". The general perception is that when you're on a diet, you "eat less". This cannot be farther from the truth.
The truth is, when you're on a diet, you're "eating properly" and not necessarily "less". You're now watching what you put into the body, making sure you get the right amount of nutrients your body needs, and no longer just stuffing burgers and cakes down. For OBESE people (ie serverely overweight), diets generally mean "eat less", because they need to get into a calorie-deficit situation for the body to lose fats.
For those typical "slightly overweight" or "with a bit of spare tyre" kind of people, you don't necessarily "eat less". You generally "eat right" to achieve weight loss, in conjunction to your workouts.
Also remember that your body knows itself better than you think. Nature has created an eco-system inside all of us. If you need water, your body makes you feel thirsty. If you need food, your body makes you feel hungry. It is important to keep the following statement in mind. If you continue to ignore these signs and refuse to drink/eat, your body will eventually go into "survival mode". In survival mode, ANY food you put into your body has a higher priority to be stored as FAT.
Why?
Because you have just trained your body that "food is scarce". When it signals you that it is hungry, you still do not put food in. So, the next time food comes in, the body will store it as fats "in case no more food comes".
Ladies, now you know why when you go off your "eat less" diets, you put the weight back on almost immediately eh? Yeah it's because during your "eat less" diets, your body is already storing fats. When you eat normally again, you body has more food to store as fats. Fat + Fat = More Fat.
So logically, does it mean that to counter this, you should put more food in?
Nope, but you should put food in MORE OFTEN. More often doesn't mean "more food". You put food in more often, but each time you eat small portions. Examples - a sandwich, or an apple, etc. If you continue to do this about 5 to 6 times a day for a few days, you will train your body to think that "food is now abundant, no need to store as fat anymore".
Hence, you have those "eat many meals" type of weight loss programs out there. Yes, it's true and yes it works. You still must eat CORRECTLY each time you eat those small portions too. Do not shove snacks or cakes into your mouth.
Another thing to take note is that when you do eat, do not eat until you are "full". You should only eat until you are "not hungry". When you are "full", you have just put in too much calories, and since the body doesn't need that much, it'll store the rest as fats.
So this concludes todays quick tips :)
Labels: diet, Steel Bow, workout
Starting Over.... Almost
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Well, I had to psyche myself to start working out again on Monday. 2 weeks is a long time to lay off working out, and, with the added distraction of Hellgate London, I started to get lazy.
But no, I gritted my teeth and forced myself back into the workout. I'm glad I did, because after I did the workout, it felt good again. I was worried that I'd start to get body aches due to muscles aching after a prolonged lull, but thankfully, nothing of the sort happened. All I felt was just "tiredness", if you can call it that, in the arms and chest and legs.
Again, I didn't manage to complete the full workout. I also noticed my strength went down too, because I'd start to get tired only after 2 sets. Also, like all Bullworker clones, the Steel Bow comes with a "Power Meter" and now I am not compressing it as far as I had before I got sick 2 weeks back.
I had thought I'd be depressed this week, but at least SOME things in my personal life kinda worked out.... kinda. So, I didn't fall even further behind my schedule, although I'm nowhere near to keeping it. Getting to 69 in like 4 days is nigh impossible now, because I'm still 77kg now. However, it's shades better than the 82kg I had started out with, so yeah, in a way I'm making progress.
I just have to remember, I can't stop. I need to continue, and to maintain it once I've reached my goal (if ever!).
But no, I gritted my teeth and forced myself back into the workout. I'm glad I did, because after I did the workout, it felt good again. I was worried that I'd start to get body aches due to muscles aching after a prolonged lull, but thankfully, nothing of the sort happened. All I felt was just "tiredness", if you can call it that, in the arms and chest and legs.
Again, I didn't manage to complete the full workout. I also noticed my strength went down too, because I'd start to get tired only after 2 sets. Also, like all Bullworker clones, the Steel Bow comes with a "Power Meter" and now I am not compressing it as far as I had before I got sick 2 weeks back.
I had thought I'd be depressed this week, but at least SOME things in my personal life kinda worked out.... kinda. So, I didn't fall even further behind my schedule, although I'm nowhere near to keeping it. Getting to 69 in like 4 days is nigh impossible now, because I'm still 77kg now. However, it's shades better than the 82kg I had started out with, so yeah, in a way I'm making progress.
I just have to remember, I can't stop. I need to continue, and to maintain it once I've reached my goal (if ever!).
Labels: Bullworker, Steel Bow, workout
BodyLastics Home Gym
Sunday, October 28, 2007
In my current craze for fitness (which I hope will last for the rest of my lifetime, however little of it is left), I have been looking at other systems. My primary criteria is of course, that is must be COMPACT, small, easily put away, out of sight, et cetera.
Putting aside Google (gasp! horror!) I used Yahoo search instead, because Yahoo has human-edited search results, which should be slightly more accurate I think. I went and searched for other home gyms.
I came across BodyLastics, a pilates-like kind of home gym. It's a bunch of bungee-cords with handles, and you place them in various positions to work different parts of the body. I have a friend who ordered one of these a few years ago. He says they work really well, especially in a HDB environment we have here in Singapore.
So, I broke out my credit card, and wanted to place an order. However, I was stalled by a message - they are all out of stocks and won't get new stocks till November. Ah well, ok I guess I will have to wait a while longer.
In the meantime, I'm still actively using my Steel Bow. I'm just looking for more systems to complement the workout routine I'm putting myself through. If BodyLastics can do the job, all the better!
Putting aside Google (gasp! horror!) I used Yahoo search instead, because Yahoo has human-edited search results, which should be slightly more accurate I think. I went and searched for other home gyms.
I came across BodyLastics, a pilates-like kind of home gym. It's a bunch of bungee-cords with handles, and you place them in various positions to work different parts of the body. I have a friend who ordered one of these a few years ago. He says they work really well, especially in a HDB environment we have here in Singapore.
So, I broke out my credit card, and wanted to place an order. However, I was stalled by a message - they are all out of stocks and won't get new stocks till November. Ah well, ok I guess I will have to wait a while longer.
In the meantime, I'm still actively using my Steel Bow. I'm just looking for more systems to complement the workout routine I'm putting myself through. If BodyLastics can do the job, all the better!
Technorati:
Labels: Bodylastics, home gym, Steel Bow
Beauty Of The Steel Bow
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Sigh...
I'm behind schedule. I was supposed to be doing my workout on Sunday, but got called back to work (&@*&#@^). Then I decided to take Monday off to catch up... and then I got called out for a friend's birthday celebration.
Lotta incoming calories, almost zero outgoing...
Dang, this is gonna put me behind schedule :(
Well at least I got some Bullworker training in - the Steel Bow makes it really convenient to just get a couple of minutes of workout in, even if you're slumped in front of the computer and reading your email.
It's so small, it fits almost anywhere. Doesn't take up alot of room that you need to maneuver around the chair or table. Plus, eversince I switched to the Level 2 spring, I can feel more of the "burn". It actually feels good... :)
Man, I wonder why I had stopped back in 1998... I shouldn't have. The feeling that you get after a workout is actually pleasant. I guess I stopped because the actual workout itself was pretty mind-numbing back then in 1998.
Ah well, here's hoping I can catch up and get back on schedule!
I'm behind schedule. I was supposed to be doing my workout on Sunday, but got called back to work (&@*&#@^). Then I decided to take Monday off to catch up... and then I got called out for a friend's birthday celebration.
Lotta incoming calories, almost zero outgoing...
Dang, this is gonna put me behind schedule :(
Well at least I got some Bullworker training in - the Steel Bow makes it really convenient to just get a couple of minutes of workout in, even if you're slumped in front of the computer and reading your email.
It's so small, it fits almost anywhere. Doesn't take up alot of room that you need to maneuver around the chair or table. Plus, eversince I switched to the Level 2 spring, I can feel more of the "burn". It actually feels good... :)
Man, I wonder why I had stopped back in 1998... I shouldn't have. The feeling that you get after a workout is actually pleasant. I guess I stopped because the actual workout itself was pretty mind-numbing back then in 1998.
Ah well, here's hoping I can catch up and get back on schedule!
Tags:
Labels: Bullworker, gym, Steel Bow, workout
Steel Bow - Level 2
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Well I must say one thing... I did improve my strength using the Steel Bow. I can now fully compress the Steel Bow while doing the workouts. However, I'm disappointed that my physique changed very little, if at all, during this time :(
As suggested in the instructions, I changed the spring in the Steel Bow to the Level 2 one. I then tried to do just a couple of the workouts. Man! What a change! With the level 2 spring in the Steel Bow, I could only push it to about the "40" mark (out of 120). This is what I need, I think.
After going through a couple more exercises, I could feel the arms getting slightly numb again, like I did in the past. I'm feeling good about this.
I was talking to my buddy yesterday about working out. He's a proponent of free-weights, and doesn't believe in anything except good old fashioned weights, and maybe the elastic bands thing for working out. He pointed me to a website, Bodylastics. I might see about getting that too to complement my Steel Bow workout...
As suggested in the instructions, I changed the spring in the Steel Bow to the Level 2 one. I then tried to do just a couple of the workouts. Man! What a change! With the level 2 spring in the Steel Bow, I could only push it to about the "40" mark (out of 120). This is what I need, I think.
After going through a couple more exercises, I could feel the arms getting slightly numb again, like I did in the past. I'm feeling good about this.
I was talking to my buddy yesterday about working out. He's a proponent of free-weights, and doesn't believe in anything except good old fashioned weights, and maybe the elastic bands thing for working out. He pointed me to a website, Bodylastics. I might see about getting that too to complement my Steel Bow workout...
Technorati:
Labels: Bodylastics, exercise, Steel Bow, workout
A Gym At Home - The Steel Bow (Bullworker clone)
Thursday, October 11, 2007
In first post, I was saying I needed a home solution for workout. To recap - I'm a lazy person. I won't say "Singaporean", because humans are inherently lazy. You can be in any country, and chances are, they'll be as lazy as everyone else...
But, I digress..
Back in 1998, I did mostly cardio... you know, those mindless 30 min running, jumping, Power-Rider-ing stuff, and very little strength/muscle building. This time around I thought I'd really start to put on some muscles for a more "permanent" solution to losing weight and keeping them off. Besides, with a set of muscles I might be motivated to exercise regularly like twice a week to maintain them :)
In any case, I scoured the net for a few home workout solutions, or "home gym" as they like to call it. I then remembered that as a kid, I saw adverts in the newspapers for a "Bullworker" machine. At the time, I wanted to get it but my dad would always refuse, saying they're just "gimmicks".
Well, now I can get one on my own. So I started hunting around Singapore for it. Unfortunately, it seems like no one knows where to get one anymore. I then turned to the Internet, and lo and behold! I found a ton of websites with Bullworker-clones.
I almost bought the BullyXtreme, but the website was too "spammy" and it didn't really give me a good "feeling". Then I stumbled across BowProducts. It was here that I was sold on the Steel Bow (pic below).
But, I digress..
Back in 1998, I did mostly cardio... you know, those mindless 30 min running, jumping, Power-Rider-ing stuff, and very little strength/muscle building. This time around I thought I'd really start to put on some muscles for a more "permanent" solution to losing weight and keeping them off. Besides, with a set of muscles I might be motivated to exercise regularly like twice a week to maintain them :)
In any case, I scoured the net for a few home workout solutions, or "home gym" as they like to call it. I then remembered that as a kid, I saw adverts in the newspapers for a "Bullworker" machine. At the time, I wanted to get it but my dad would always refuse, saying they're just "gimmicks".
Well, now I can get one on my own. So I started hunting around Singapore for it. Unfortunately, it seems like no one knows where to get one anymore. I then turned to the Internet, and lo and behold! I found a ton of websites with Bullworker-clones.
I almost bought the BullyXtreme, but the website was too "spammy" and it didn't really give me a good "feeling". Then I stumbled across BowProducts. It was here that I was sold on the Steel Bow (pic below).
Steel Bow
Anyway, I ordered one, and amazingly it took only 4 working days to get from the USA to Singapore! Excitedly I tore the package open, and unfolded the wall-chart:
Yeah I stuck it on my wall... what else do you do with a wall-chart eh?The package comes with the Steel Bow, 2 additional springs (for intermediate and advanced users, meaning stronger springs) and a workout DVD.
Anyway, it's been a week, and I've been following the exercises on the wall-chart. What I *CAN* say is that my strength HAS increased. No visible increase in measurements yet though.
I hope my investment in this will be worth it...
Tags:
Labels: Bullworker, burn fat, exercise, gym, home gym, lose weight, Steel Bow, weight loss, workout
