Apr

22

The Pirate Workout!

Filed Under Exercise, Product Recommendation, Work Out | Leave a Comment

Ok, so the pirate workout is a bit of a joke, but for those of you inquiring about my health, turns out everything is ok and I will not need to wear an eyepatch. Seems like I managed to scratch the surface of my cornea and that scratch got infected. So there was a whole lot of pain but nothing that can’t be fixed and no permanent damage. I’m staying indoors today because the medication makes my pupil dilate and that means that bright lights hurt a lot, but I should be ok by tomorrow. In fact, after my follow up appointment tomorrow, I’ll have a few things to share with you about my latest medical experience.

In the meantime though, being cooped up at home reminded me that I have some new home gym equipment which I haven’t mentioned on 60 in 3.

Soft Weights

Being a bit accident prone (my injured eye was caused by a clothing accident. Don’t ask!), I’ve been looking for weights which are softer and less injury causing. I’ve also been looking for something I can throw around much like a ball but with greater weight. In short, I was looking for a Medicine Ball (also called a kettle ball or kettlebell although those are slightly different).

What Is A Medicine Ball?

A medicine ball is a ball, usually made from rubber, with a handle on the side. The ball contains a weight on the inside which makes it far heavier than your normal rubber ball. In terms of usage, the ball can be used just like a dumbbell.

What’s So Good About A Ball?

  • Softer - That’s great for people who injure themselves frequently like me. I can drop this on my foot and it’s far less likely to break a toe than an equivalent weight dumbbell.
  • Built in handle - The handle on the ball makes gripping easier. You can put it around your wrist and not focus as much on the gripping of the weight.
  • Maneuverable. Because of the strap plus the shape of the ball, it’s easier to do some exercises without banging yourself with the weights as you would with a dumbbell.

What’s Not So Good About A Ball?

  • Weight is not adjustable - You need a different ball for each weight, unlike some adjustable dumbbell sets where you can add or remove weights to suit your need.

Can These Replace Dumbbells?

No. Both dumbbells and balls have their place in a home gym. However, I do think these are great to have for some exercises. They’re relatively cheap which means you can get a couple of sets for a low cost. I’d recommend getting some of the lower weights in these rather than dumbbells and then working out with both.

Is There A Recommended Brand?

I got mine from Ball Dynamics, the same people I got my exercise ball from. I’ve found them to be reliable and very competitive on prices. You can find their website here. As usual I would like to note that I am not affiliated with Ball Dynamics in any way. I don’t get paid to recommend them or any other product on 60 in 3.

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I like trying out new things, and these new balls were a lot of fun. The exercises are similar to dumbbells but different enough to keep things interesting, plus the cost was very low. Give them a shot, maybe you’ll find something that you like.

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Apr

16

The Best Fitness Investment You Can Make

Filed Under Exercise, Money, Product Recommendation | 2 Comments

If you’re a long time reader of 60 in 3, you’ll notice that I usually try to save money while improving health. I believe that health and wealth can easily go hand in hand. There’s no need to spend a lot of money on expensive gear, gym memberships or supplements. Most healthy choices end up being quite affordable. In fact, being healthy might save you money when you do things like walk instead of drive, eat at home instead of out at a restaurant or ride your bike to work. However, today, I’m going to change that a bit and tell you about the one place where you shouldn’t skimp, your feet.

Oh The Humanity!

Think about the the kind of life that feet lead when they belong to a person who’s interested in fitness.  They walk between 2 to 3 miles a day!  They go to the gym where they get pounded on for hours and hours.  They go running and have to withstand 100 to 200lbs of impact EVERY SECOND.  They go hiking and need to climb hills over rocky uneven terrain.  Sometimes they even go dancing and spend an evening shuffling around and getting stepped on.  In short, it’s a rough life, and while the rest of your body may appreciate it, your feet can easily get worn out.

Good Shoes Are A Must

Beyond giving your feet an occasional bit of rest, your most important means of protecting these valuable assets is shoes.  Which is why I’m going to tell you that shoes are the one area you shouldn’t try to save money on and instead go for the best quality possible.  That said, there’s no reason to go out there and buy a $300 pair of LED lit, computerized, pumped, Air Jordans, Racing striped, springs in the heels, Blu Tooth equipped sneakers from Nike.  Those aren’t quality, they’re just silly.  What I’m talking about is reasonably priced shoes that are also comfortable and quality.

At Work

Yes, good shoes begin at work, not at the gym.  Think about it, you spend an hour a day at the gym, but you spend 8 hours a day at work.  So the shoes you wear at work are a lot more important than your gym shoes.  Contrary to popular belief, you can actually get comfortable work shoes that don’t actually look like those old rubber shoes that nurses used to wear.  Just look for something with rubberized soles as opposed to hard leather.  For women, this is going to be a bit more difficult and I’m not going to pretend like I understand women’s fashions enough to give specific advice.  However, you really need something that combines looks and comfort if you intend to wear it for multiple hours.  The more padding on the bottom, the better, and the more natural of a position your foot is in, the better.

At The Gym

If you’re an avid gym goer, and especially if you’re a runner, you need a new pair of shoes every six months.  No, this is not my way of helping the American economy recover by encouraging more spending.  Your shoes wear out.  The padding on the bottom becomes more compressed and less springy the more you use it.  At the six month mark, your shoes no longer provide you with a cushion to exercise on.  That’s why you need to replace them with something that will protect your feet from the constant impact of working out and running.  Keep in mind, good shoes don’t need to cost a lot.  My running shoes cost around $100 and I occasionally find a good deal as low as $60.  So keep an eye out for deals.

If possible, you should also go to a store where they can help you get the right fit by looking at how you run and walk.  Different people use different strides and shoes that are comfortable for one person can be painful for someone else.

Personal Recommendation

I’m not going to recommend a specific shoe model because I know it’s not going to be a good recommendation for all people.  However, in general, I’ve usually bought New Balance shoes.  I’ve found them to be very comfortable, durable and reasonably priced.  If you’re in the Bay Area, I recommend a store called Sports Basement.  They have a great selection and I’ve always found their sales people to be knowledgeable and helpful.

NOTE - as usual, I am not connected in any way with Sports Basement or New Balance nor am I making these recommendations at their request.

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Your feet bear a lot of strain when you’re active.  Make sure you protect them with a good pair of shoes.

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Mar

5

3 Reasons Why You Should Get A Brita Filter (and how to get a free one)

Filed Under Eating Healthy, Healthy Habits, Product Recommendation | 7 Comments

If you’ve read 60 in 3 for any length of time longer than a month, you’ve probably seen me ranting about sodas and other unhealthy drinks. In a nutshell, I think these are one of our worst habits. They’re usually filled with calories that we don’t pay attention to, they cost money and they generate a tremendous amount of waste. In short, you’re paying money to harm yourself and the environment. Well, rather than complain some more, I decided to try something different and suggest an alternative.

The cheapest and healthiest drink out there is still water. Unfortunately, water to many people still means paying good money for bottled water which then fill up the garbage can. So you might have solved the health issue, but you’re still wasting money and generating waste. Tap water, although I personally like it, seems to have developed a bad reputation as impure. Nevermind the fact that most bottled water is just tap water, but ok, if that’s what people want to believe, I have a solution. Introducing, the Brita Filter!

What The Heck Is It?

Brita makes two types of water filters. The first is a device that attaches to your tap and filters water as it comes out. The second is a decanter that you fill with water, which is then filtered. They also make a refrigerator tap filter that operates very much like their faucet tap one. In other words, Brita takes your tap water and cleans it up.

So Why Should I Use It?

Number 1 - Water is healthy. That soda you just drank? 140 empty calories that won’t even make you feel full. That Starbucks Latte? As much fat as two McDonald’s Cheeseburgers. That fruit smoothie? 500 to 600 calories of mostly sugar. Water is better than any of these alternatives.

Number 2 - You’ll save money. Want an extra million dollars when you retire? Take a look at the Latte factor. And this is only assuming you pay $5 a day for your drinks. I know people (including myself a few years ago) who paid a lot more than that for their daily drinks. Add in the extra health care costs from all those calories and it seems like your drinks are costing you quite a bit, aren’t they?

Number 3 - Reduce Waste. Even if you’re not a die hard environmentalist, you can’t argue the fact that cans and bottles generate a huge amount of waste. Every time I go hiking, I try to pick up the trash I see on the trail. You know what I find most often? Water bottles. You know what I found when I went canoing? Cans and bottles. Millions of tons of waste generated every day because we like to spend money on poisoning ourselves.

So What Am I Going To Do About It?

Well, not only am I posting this article, but I’m also going to give away three Brita faucet filters for your tap to the first three people who post comments on this thread. I wish I could afford to give away more but hey, it’s a start. If you want one of these, just post a comment on this thread. They’re brand new and in the box. I’ll even pay the shipping cost :)

If you do comment, please make sure to include your email so I can contact you and get your address. You do not need to include your email in the body of the comment, there’s an email field just for that in the comment form.

And for those of you who might read this a bit too late, why not go to the Brita site and check out their products? Filters are in the $20 to $40 range. Think about how much you spent last month on drinks and then compare that cost. Now throw in the fact that you’re trying to be healthy. How much is that clean tap water worth to you now? Toss in a few cleaner trails and it’s a no brainer.

DISCLAIMER

I am not affiliated with Brita. I do not make any money on their products or on anything you purchase from their website. Nor does Brita pay me to endorse or recommend them. I’m doing this because I believe it’s the right thing to do.

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