Purchasing Fitness Products
- Thread starter Steve
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LandonsBaby
New member
the free weights i've bought have been very useful (we'll not go into how heavy they aren't...)
having a treadmill was nice and i did actually use it all the time when i lived with my parents
having a treadmill was nice and i did actually use it all the time when i lived with my parents
Criminey how much time have you got...
Pretty much every diet book that's been written over the past 20 years -
there's probably been one useful bit of information from each book
The fitness machine -that made a lovely clothes rack
I have a nordic trak stationary bike that I hate because it's boring beyond belief
Diet pills I've gone thru = expected the magic and didn't read the fine print about watching calories and exercising
Weight loss sites. ww online, ediets online... both could have worked but i wasn't ready for them at the time
Sauna suit -yeah that was effective
I have spent 10s of 1000s of dollars over the years...
my sneakers were probably my most effective purchase - oh yeah and actually moving my fat ass to use them
Pretty much every diet book that's been written over the past 20 years -
there's probably been one useful bit of information from each book
The fitness machine -that made a lovely clothes rack
I have a nordic trak stationary bike that I hate because it's boring beyond belief
Diet pills I've gone thru = expected the magic and didn't read the fine print about watching calories and exercising
Weight loss sites. ww online, ediets online... both could have worked but i wasn't ready for them at the time
Sauna suit -yeah that was effective
I have spent 10s of 1000s of dollars over the years...
my sneakers were probably my most effective purchase - oh yeah and actually moving my fat ass to use them
None, I'm procrastinating.
Do you keep your books?
Surprisingly I've bought zero diet books in my life. I have nutrition texts but always figured if you know the fundamentals, why waste money on buying someone else's twist of said fundamentals.
But that's sort of an ignorant logic since some people's twist may be productive for some readers.
One exception is Lyle's works. I've bought all of them but 2 and have thoroughly enjoyed each. I've learned a shit ton from each one, too.
Ditto that homie.
I've kept some -the rest of them i gave away during my last move... I've said it before I will often read them of l ate for entertainment value -I've figured out already what i need to do.. sometimes it's just doing it
not all diet books are horrible... I've mentioned one of them a bunch around here -the French Women Don't Get Fat book - while part of the book has you drinking a vile leek soup -the premise of the book is eat what you like, in moderation - walk frequently - eat slowly and mindfully -- common sense -but the leek soup is what a lot of people focus on and forget the rest...
there's a few others that exclude food groups, or based on your blood type or body type has you eating certain foods - I'm still waiting for the one based on your eye color or hair color ...
not all diet books are horrible... I've mentioned one of them a bunch around here -the French Women Don't Get Fat book - while part of the book has you drinking a vile leek soup -the premise of the book is eat what you like, in moderation - walk frequently - eat slowly and mindfully -- common sense -but the leek soup is what a lot of people focus on and forget the rest...
there's a few others that exclude food groups, or based on your blood type or body type has you eating certain foods - I'm still waiting for the one based on your eye color or hair color ...
One thing that I've realized about myself - all the diet pills/books/contraptions in the world aren't going to do jack shit until until I was ready to make the changes i needed to my lifestyle... and no amount of Dr Phil books, or other books or pills or DVDs did that until the light switch went on in my head -and I was the one that turned it on...
Nightporter
New member
Hi,
I've bought 2 Atkins books--One was his revised edition on how the Atkins diet works, and one was an Atkins cookbook. (The cookbook isn't something for beginners though... Only people who are way into the diet or in maintenece)
I've bought a membership at the Y (Which I cancelled because I was falling off Atkins anyway and couldn't afford it any longer)
I bought running shoes (Which ended up hurting my feet more than anything... I think I've only worn them 10 times!)
When I was in 8th grade I saved up my dog-walking money and bought a bike... I used it a lot until we moved.
A little over a year ago my family got an Elliptical (A cheap one, but it works just the same) But it's very boring!
I bought a 'body burner' mini trampoline... It was weird. I did all kinds of things but it didn't feel like a workout at all.
I think that's it!
-N-
I've bought 2 Atkins books--One was his revised edition on how the Atkins diet works, and one was an Atkins cookbook. (The cookbook isn't something for beginners though... Only people who are way into the diet or in maintenece)
I've bought a membership at the Y (Which I cancelled because I was falling off Atkins anyway and couldn't afford it any longer)
I bought running shoes (Which ended up hurting my feet more than anything... I think I've only worn them 10 times!)
When I was in 8th grade I saved up my dog-walking money and bought a bike... I used it a lot until we moved.
A little over a year ago my family got an Elliptical (A cheap one, but it works just the same) But it's very boring!
I bought a 'body burner' mini trampoline... It was weird. I did all kinds of things but it didn't feel like a workout at all.
I think that's it!
-N-
For someone who has such an interest and demonstrated skill set of helping obese individuals.. I'd think you might find some of the diet books interesting to some degree to see why some of us end up where we do and how misinformation is so easy to come by...
By the time a person gets to you, my bet is they probably have no less than 5 diet books on their bookshelf, they probably didn't read the entire book, and made a half hearted attempt to follow a very restrictive plan... and got no where... .
The common sense approach isn't found in too many books, because it's just not sexy - no gimmick... and it's tough for some people to believe that they can lose weight without a gimmick... :raises hand:
it's funny -I had the tv on this morning when I was getting ready to go to work and couldn't find the remote so suffered thru 2 infomercials - both for fitness products that would make me tanned, toned, taut, and all kinds of slim - in just 10 minutes a day - with this really fun machine... X2..
Yeah Ok.. i actually tried to find the website for one of the machines because it was so stupid looking and a personc ould really hurt themself on it - but sally from duluth lost 22 inches and 85lbs in just 4 weeks or something like that -it works
I stumbleind int a great essay
Bottom line with those ab machines...
Korrie
Moderator
I'm gonna by Bob Harpers book tommorrow!!! I'm soo excited about it!!! Not b/c I think its gonna move mountains for me or anything...but b/c I love Bob! lol I swear I'm gonna reform the man someday, lol
I have a walking DVD Leslie Samone..she's the best! I love that dvd and when I find enough motivation to do it, I feel GREAT!! I have made deals w/ myself that all I will "make" myself do is a 1 mile, but then next thing I know I have 3 miles done and sweat all over me, but I feel ontop of the world!
I have a walking DVD Leslie Samone..she's the best! I love that dvd and when I find enough motivation to do it, I feel GREAT!! I have made deals w/ myself that all I will "make" myself do is a 1 mile, but then next thing I know I have 3 miles done and sweat all over me, but I feel ontop of the world!
I don't need to buy a book to find the misinformation. The same shit you see being passed around places like this as *sound information* is the same shit that's crowding those pages.
I wouldn't waste the time or the money, especially considering my exposure to it on the net.
If you understand the facts, you can handle the misconceptions on a case by case basis.
Cheap Walmart Elliptical - Yeah the stride is small, the thing sort of wobbles and squeaks while in use, but it does what I need it to get done and that's make me sweat
Dumbbells - 15lb (actually the store only had 1) I love it, I can use it for so many exercises
Some sort of resistance band - It's neat and it works, but I might need to experiment with it a little more because I find my arms are too strong for it and I don't want to overstretch the stupid thing
Boxing gloves - A fun alternative to the elliptical sometimes to get myself moving, although I don't use them as much
Athletic gloves - Great for weight lifting because my dumbbell handle is metal. I wear them the entire time I work out
Athletic clothes - Way better than working out in a pair of jeans I would say
Heart monitor watch - I just have to press a button to figure out my heart rate and I bought it so I could keep on top of things with my target heart rate. I actually don't use it THAT much, but it's something neat to have. I was able to find out that now my resting heart rate is in the 60s, and before I started all of this it was in the 80s
Powerbars - Who knows if they even do anything, but I have one after each workout
Massive amounts of caffeine - Which are either pills or caffeine shots. I don't take them to melt any fat off, I take them for a kick, and they work. I know, probably bad though
Dumbbells - 15lb (actually the store only had 1) I love it, I can use it for so many exercises
Some sort of resistance band - It's neat and it works, but I might need to experiment with it a little more because I find my arms are too strong for it and I don't want to overstretch the stupid thing
Boxing gloves - A fun alternative to the elliptical sometimes to get myself moving, although I don't use them as much
Athletic gloves - Great for weight lifting because my dumbbell handle is metal. I wear them the entire time I work out
Athletic clothes - Way better than working out in a pair of jeans I would say
Heart monitor watch - I just have to press a button to figure out my heart rate and I bought it so I could keep on top of things with my target heart rate. I actually don't use it THAT much, but it's something neat to have. I was able to find out that now my resting heart rate is in the 60s, and before I started all of this it was in the 80s
Powerbars - Who knows if they even do anything, but I have one after each workout
Massive amounts of caffeine - Which are either pills or caffeine shots. I don't take them to melt any fat off, I take them for a kick, and they work. I know, probably bad though
LandonsBaby
New member
I also bought The New Rules of Weightlifting for Women. I read it then sold it.
I didn't know we should include clothing. I have learned I prefer to workout in the little skirt things with shorts undernearth. But I won't wear them in public yet. I only wear them if I'm working out at home.
I didn't know we should include clothing. I have learned I prefer to workout in the little skirt things with shorts undernearth. But I won't wear them in public yet. I only wear them if I'm working out at home.
Useful; exercise gear for home use. My Hoist H-100 home gym and a stationary recumbent bike are must have pieces of gear and have been key to achieving my goals, no freaking' way could I have lost 71 lbs in 6 months without either. I've also used free weights but with less frequency and less success, mostly due to not having enough though I once had a pretty good dumbbell routine but tired of it after a few months. Rather than invest in more space taking free weights I bought the Hoist and it does everything I need and more. On my worst day I can get in a 1/2 hour on the bike, I can't imagine being without it.
Somewhat useful; supplements. I've used different aminos and still use creatine and glutamine. The creatine, even if it’s an overpriced placebo gives me a mental edge when I need it, because of that I keep using it. The glutamine is cheap and is supposed to be good for the immune system so I keep taking it. I'm sure I could live without both but for me half the battle was\is mental and it continues to be so any "edge" I get is great, real or wishful thinking it matters not. The extra reps and sets I manage or being able to finish a workout when I'm feeling puny makes it worth it. However just like I taught myself to eat I could see weaning myself away from supplements.
Not useful and never used; diet and fitness books. Besides a few features in Mens Health I've never read printed material about diets or fitness. It didn't take more than a few issues of MH before I realized I was just reading it on the throne and figured I'd save some money since I rarely read something I didn't already know. Besides it's mostly ads.
The only other useful thing I can think of is protein powder. I used to eat notoriously unhealthy breakfasts. The protein powder I eat for breakfast now, and have been since the day I started changing my life is quick, healthy and satisfying. Starting the say with my protein and frozen berry shakes makes staying on track for the rest of the day very easy. I don't think there is any voodoo in it just that 2 shakes, which is 3 scoops of powder, about 24 oz water and a cup of frozen blueberries keeps me full until lunch. More often than not I skip mid morning snack. If I'm short on calories at the end of the day protein powder is also the last thing I eat, again its quick and easy.
Somewhat useful; supplements. I've used different aminos and still use creatine and glutamine. The creatine, even if it’s an overpriced placebo gives me a mental edge when I need it, because of that I keep using it. The glutamine is cheap and is supposed to be good for the immune system so I keep taking it. I'm sure I could live without both but for me half the battle was\is mental and it continues to be so any "edge" I get is great, real or wishful thinking it matters not. The extra reps and sets I manage or being able to finish a workout when I'm feeling puny makes it worth it. However just like I taught myself to eat I could see weaning myself away from supplements.
Not useful and never used; diet and fitness books. Besides a few features in Mens Health I've never read printed material about diets or fitness. It didn't take more than a few issues of MH before I realized I was just reading it on the throne and figured I'd save some money since I rarely read something I didn't already know. Besides it's mostly ads.
The only other useful thing I can think of is protein powder. I used to eat notoriously unhealthy breakfasts. The protein powder I eat for breakfast now, and have been since the day I started changing my life is quick, healthy and satisfying. Starting the say with my protein and frozen berry shakes makes staying on track for the rest of the day very easy. I don't think there is any voodoo in it just that 2 shakes, which is 3 scoops of powder, about 24 oz water and a cup of frozen blueberries keeps me full until lunch. More often than not I skip mid morning snack. If I'm short on calories at the end of the day protein powder is also the last thing I eat, again its quick and easy.
BigMOFO
New member
Might not be exactly what you had in mind, but one of the most helpful things that I've ever purchased was one of those office water coolers for my house. I contribute much of my weight loss to that. I get the water delivered to my house once a month. Cheap, clean, cold water, and its in your face all the time so it reminds you to drink.
Besides that, premixed protein drinks from Costco. 30 grams of protein and 160 calories. I keep a box of it in the back of my car, so I have them handy everywhere I go.
Besides that, premixed protein drinks from Costco. 30 grams of protein and 160 calories. I keep a box of it in the back of my car, so I have them handy everywhere I go.
I can't remember the names of some of the crap I've bought so bare with me.
- Punching bag with wraps and gloves -- Very fun and I love it but can be tough on your hands.
- Dumbbell - 25 pounder -- Pretty good, can do a lot of things with it as long as you have a bench.
- Level 3 rubber tube thing -- Needed it for my shoulder in training for pitching again. Great buy.
- Push up bar things -- Felt like it worked out parts of my back that a regular push up couldn't. Don't use them too often though, tend to bother my hands.
- Chin up bar -- Good motivator for me in the beginning in that I wanted my fat a$$ to do one pull up. I set it up at home and am currently living 30 hours away so I don't use it often. I did enjoy it when I was home and it was a good motivator. Cheap too.
- Exercise bike -- Piece of crap but is good for the cold northeast winters when you've got nothing else.
That's pretty much it. As you can see I went cheap with everything. Generally I like to use my own weight as resistance when I exercise. So I like to do push ups and sit ups and lunges and things of that nature. I don't really like using weights because it's not recommended for pitching. But all in all I've enjoyed my purchases.
- Punching bag with wraps and gloves -- Very fun and I love it but can be tough on your hands.
- Dumbbell - 25 pounder -- Pretty good, can do a lot of things with it as long as you have a bench.
- Level 3 rubber tube thing -- Needed it for my shoulder in training for pitching again. Great buy.
- Push up bar things -- Felt like it worked out parts of my back that a regular push up couldn't. Don't use them too often though, tend to bother my hands.
- Chin up bar -- Good motivator for me in the beginning in that I wanted my fat a$$ to do one pull up. I set it up at home and am currently living 30 hours away so I don't use it often. I did enjoy it when I was home and it was a good motivator. Cheap too.
- Exercise bike -- Piece of crap but is good for the cold northeast winters when you've got nothing else.
That's pretty much it. As you can see I went cheap with everything. Generally I like to use my own weight as resistance when I exercise. So I like to do push ups and sit ups and lunges and things of that nature. I don't really like using weights because it's not recommended for pitching. But all in all I've enjoyed my purchases.
LandonsBaby
New member
oh, i have another one. my husband purchased a nice weight bench set but I personally do not find it useful because it will not adjust for my short stature. I can only do like, one thing with it and I can't do that very well.
ali2
New member
I think the difference Steve, is that you haven't struggled with your weight in the sense that the majority of the people on this forum have. If I recall, you have said that you were always skinny, right? People who are overweight (keeping in mind this is from my own personal experience and nothing more) are looking for a 'cure' and for some, that one sought is the least painful and most 'magical' as possible.
I think tha tthe purchase of pills, books and gimmicks, etc. is part of that search. I bet you will get many posts from people who have tried a large number of solutions to fix their weight.
I did, I saw that Mal did, other as well. It is more common than not, just look at the diet industry.
Cycling101
New member
Supplements: Hydroxycut hardcore, helped with energy but saw no physical evidence outside of regular diet and fitness.
Presently taking Hot-Rox, only a week so not alot of data to share, I was at a stand still at 173 lbs and this am was 170, either it was through added effort and diet adjustments, or just maybe it is helping. I will keep you posted.
Commercial weight set, with a variety of attachments. Still in the fat losing stage so right now collecting dust.
Bike "my personal gift from god" I can contribute all my weight loss to diet and spinning. I am planning on investing in a commercial type spinner, doing research, too many bikes to choose from and from $350-$4000 a bike I want to get the best bike for my investment.
Morning and evening EAS or GNC Whey Protein drink, I gag when mixed with water so I switched to milk, what a freakin' difference yummy!
Not really into diet books or programs, try to do most of my own research online to come up with my own opinions versus someone teling me what is best.
Other than that a good men's vitamin and just added omega 3.
I sweat like a tropical rain storm in Vietnam biking, I won't use anything but those duo dry type shirts from champion, etc. And more importantly good workout shoes, I personally have a preference for NB, Saucony, or Brooks. Recommended brands by my foot doctor, and I have noticed a difference since I switched from nike and reebok.
Sorry for taking up so much space...Have a healthy day!
Presently taking Hot-Rox, only a week so not alot of data to share, I was at a stand still at 173 lbs and this am was 170, either it was through added effort and diet adjustments, or just maybe it is helping. I will keep you posted.
Commercial weight set, with a variety of attachments. Still in the fat losing stage so right now collecting dust.
Bike "my personal gift from god" I can contribute all my weight loss to diet and spinning. I am planning on investing in a commercial type spinner, doing research, too many bikes to choose from and from $350-$4000 a bike I want to get the best bike for my investment.
Morning and evening EAS or GNC Whey Protein drink, I gag when mixed with water so I switched to milk, what a freakin' difference yummy!
Not really into diet books or programs, try to do most of my own research online to come up with my own opinions versus someone teling me what is best.
Other than that a good men's vitamin and just added omega 3.
I sweat like a tropical rain storm in Vietnam biking, I won't use anything but those duo dry type shirts from champion, etc. And more importantly good workout shoes, I personally have a preference for NB, Saucony, or Brooks. Recommended brands by my foot doctor, and I have noticed a difference since I switched from nike and reebok.
Sorry for taking up so much space...Have a healthy day!