November 19, 2011 | Filed Under Advice, Benefits of Exercise, Benefits of a Regular Workout, Motivation, Workout Gear, gear, workouts | No Comments
Aside from quitting smoking, there are few ordinary challenges that rival the difficulty of successfully losing weight. When you decide to make a go of getting in shape, the obstacles ahead can seem insurmountable, especially at first, and every day thousands of people all over the world struggle to gain even the smallest inch of ground in this ongoing battle.
But every single day, all over the world, millions of people succeed. And most of those people don’t have access to anything you don’t have. With determination, patience, and a few simple, inexpensive tools, you can make astonishing changes to your body, no matter who you are and no matter your starting point. And simple gear isn’t hard to find. You don’t need a fancy gym. If you have a sidewalk, living room, or even a tiny patch of floor, you can exercise. And you don’t need expensive weights. As long as you can maintain a safe grip, almost any suitably heavy object, like a milk container filed with sand, can help you develop and improve your muscle tone. The only thing you need to make you home into a weight room is a little ingenuity and safe pads to maintain your grip and protect your hands.
Take a walk outside. If you stay alert, keep safety in mind, and choose your route wisely, any street can be a walking or jogging path. Investigate your local area for well-maintained parks, and if you have an exercise trail with simple workout equipment like pull up bars, don’t let it go to waste. Take your Gripads with you and make the most of the crisp fall weather. Back at home, consider push-ups, crunches and simple dumbbell workouts that don’t require anything but your Gripads and a pair of five pound weights.
November 16, 2011 | Filed Under Motivation, Progress, Workout Gear, effective workout changes, gear, workout routines | No Comments
No matter how great your routine may be, and how many rewards and benefits it’s provided over the years, there may come a day when you realize it’s time to shake things up a bit and make a few changes. You may want to move from an indoor to an outdoor routine or vice versa. You may want to start targeting neglected areas of the body. Or you may just be getting a little bit bored and losing sight of the motivation that got you started in the first place.
Your gear may also need a refreshing turnover now and then. Sometimes your favorite workout clothes and gear can break, tear or wear out. When that happens, you have no choice but to make replacements. But there are other times when you simply realize that the same old item just isn’t working as hard for you as it once did. Shoes, for example, need to be replaced frequently by serious runners even when they seem to be in excellent shape. If you’ve been running moderate to long distances in the same pair of shoes for more than a year, it may be time for a replacement pair. Your resistance training gear may need the same kind of shake up now and then. Take a close, objective look at your old gloves. They may have served you loyally for a long time, but gloves collect sweat, mildew and bacteria over time. And even when you wash them frequently, they still wear out and wear thin and eventually fail to provide the durable protection you need to get the most out of your workout.
If you’re ready for a change, try Gripads. These super tough, super-soft neoprene pads are fun to use, long lasting, and perfect for high intensity workouts. They slip on easily and, unlike gloves, they wick away moisture and don’t breed bacteria or mildew.
October 22, 2011 | Filed Under Workout Gear, hand protection | No Comments
The right gear can have a huge impact on the success of your workout. If you choose your shoes, clothes and equipment carefully, you’ll be comfortable and protected from poor technique and possible injury. On the other hand, the wrong gear can lead to a frustrating workout, slow results and flagging motivation. In the worst case, we can end up blaming ourselves for our poor results when a simple change in gear would have made all the difference.
This is especially true when it comes to hand protection. If you spend significant time using resistance machines or training with free weights, you understand the toll that bars, ropes and equipment handles can take on the palms of your hands. The heavier the resistance and the more intense the workout, the greater the chance of blisters and abrasions that can interfere with your training regimen. Chalk can reduce slippage, and gloves can protect your hands from injury, but both of these solutions have limits. Chalk is messy and offers minimal protection from abrasions. And gloves can prevent your hands from breathing naturally and can restrict your range of motion. Sweat and moisture can also build up inside, fostering bacteria and unpleasant smells.
But now there’s an alternative that can provide everything you need from a workout glove with none of the restriction, sweat, grime and mildew. The Gripad is a lightweight neoprene pad that’s both soft and incredibly durable. Gripads slip on easily and stay on, protecting your hands during even the most intense workouts. But they only cover your palms, so the rest of your hand stays unconfined and unrestricted. The neoprene layer wicks moisture away, leaving your palms dry and comfortable, and the padded surface helps you maintain your grip on equipment so you can stay focused on your technique. Try a pair of Gripads during your next workout. You’ll feel the difference.
