Archive for the ‘weight loss’ Category

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Burning off those tricks and treats

November 3rd, 2011
,,,,,,, - Excellence through Exercise - Hyper Vest - HyperWear - SandBell - burn calories - endurance exercise - exercise - fitness - pull ups - push ups - running - training - weight loss

Now that Halloween is over and the costumes are put away, you’re probably starting to stress about how you’re going to recover from that bottomless candy bowl taunting you on the counter. Well, no need to fret! Take a look at the caloric damage you’ve done, accept it, and then see what exercises you can do to burn that Reese’s off your bottom.

Fun size candy calories:

  • Snickers- 72 calories
  • Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup- 80 calories
  • Almond Joy- 91 calories
  • Reese’s Nutrageous- 95 calories
  • M&M’s- 90 calories
  • Peanut M&M’s- 93 calories
  • Butterfinger- 100 calories
  • Milky Way- 76 calories
  • Skittles- 80 calories
  • Kit Kat- 73 calories

Ready to make a B-line for the gym after adding up those “fun sized” calories? Before you lace up your kicks, keep reading to see how you can get the most out your workouts this week.

One easy way to kick start calorie burning without changing your workout routine is to simply throw on a Hyper Vest PRO weight vest.

“…by adding resistance to your workout, you can boost your overall caloric output. Resistance in the form of a weighted vest helps to amplify your calorie burning results of any weight-bearing exercise such as running, jumping rope, or playing your favorite sport,” says Kimberly Butts, author of the Livestrong.com article “Weighted Vests to Burn More Calories.”

Another great way to get more bang for your caloric buck is with circuit training. According to Harvard Health Publications, on average a 155 pound person will burn 298 calories after 30 minutes of circuit training, and a 185 pound person will burn 355 calories. For some GREAT circuit training ideas, view our Hyper Training Lab videos on YouTube, or click here to see the most recent one!

Don’t see your favorite candy on this list above? Read the full article on calories in popular Halloween candy on fitsugar.com.

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Monday Morning Scoop: What it takes to be an Olympic athlete

October 10th, 2011
,,,,,,,,,,,,, - HyperWear - Monday Morning Scoop - athlete training - balance - dynamic warm up - endurance - endurance exercise - exercise - fitness - functional fitness - personal trainer - running - stability - strength training - training - weight loss - workout

For most, finding the motivation to log in time at the gym is a daily struggle. The priority of making time to exercise seems to creep further toward the bottom of the list with jobs, kids and all of life’s daily stresses.

But, imagine being a professional athlete or Olympian.

Working out and staying fit is your job, and that time from 9-5 spent gazing at a computer now becomes eight hours of work, sweat and complete dedication. That hour on the treadmill doesn’t seem so bad now, does it?

“People don’t know the process which athletes undertake in their individual sports to reach the Olympic level. You get there by sticking it out. There are a lot of people that try and give up,” says Jim Ochowicz, men’s professional road racing team Olympic athlete, in the article, “How to Train Like An Olympian” on Forbes.com.

The online article goes on to say that on average, athletes spend four to eight years preparing and training before making an Olympic team. Also, training schedules aren’t planned weekly or monthly, but yearly to ensure they reach specific performance goals.

While less than one percent of us will ever be able to call ourselves Olympic athletes, you can still employ some of their training techniques so you can look and feel like one. The online article, “Go for Gold! Learn to train like an Olympian” reveals some great fitness tips from various professional coaches.

Below are several key training tips from the article:

“Weights are great, but don’t underestimate the power of body-weight exercises. They provide you with a body awareness that you just can’t get with plates or dumbbells, and that translates into more explosive power in the ring and more agility in the real world,” says Larry Nelson, USA Boxing’s 2003 developmental coach of the year.

“Along with flexibility and body control, balance is an essential component of weight lifting. The best way to bolster it is with an overhead squat,” recommends Mike Burgener, father and coach of Casey Burgener—top-ranked US power lifter in Beijing.

“Whether you’re trying to log a faster 10K or just keep up with your bean-thin teen, the key to running more efficiently is to reduce the amount of time your feet spend on the ground. One of the best ways to do this is with hill sprints…” says Brad Hudson, champion marathoner and current coach of Olympic gold medal marathon hopeful Dathan Ritzenhein.

Bottom line, being an Olympic athlete and training like one takes time and dedication. Putting in an hour a day will make you feel better, look better and live a long and healthy life. So, next time you decide to put off the gym because you “just don’t have enough time,” think about those people logging in eight hours a day, every day, of mentally and physically strenuous training, and march yourself straight into that gym!

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Hyper Training Lab: Partner Circuit Examples w. Diane Vives

October 4th, 2011
,,,,,,,,,,,, - Diane Vives - Hyper Training Lab - HyperWear - SandBell - Tuesday Training Lab - athlete training - endurance - exercise - female athlete - functional fitness - grip strength - personal trainer - stability - strength training - training - weight loss - workout

Partner Circuit Examples

Welcome back to this week’s Hyper Training Lab with Diane Vives! There are many great applications that make the SandBells and SteelBells great tools for partner work.  This could be a station within a bigger circuit, or a great way to set up an entire circuit for partners. The SandBell movement actions of tosses and strikes add a fun and effective element to the workout.

  1. Split lunge with flips (Pillar Two – Level Change): Great isometric hold to increase leg strength while creating a fun stability challenge with the SandBell tosses
  2. Partner Plank Flips – Mirror/Follow Leader options (Pillar Three – Upper Body Push/Pull): Trains the upper body while keeping you motivated with the great interaction of a partner.  Great stability strength and single arm strength while performing the flip action.
  3. Partner side strikes (Pillar Four – Rotary Stability/Rotation): Focus on turning the shoulders as a unit with the action of the mid-torso.  Great for core strength and the rotational strength needed in changes of direction in sports agility movements
  4. Partner shuffles  (Pillar 1 – Locomotion/Biomotor Skills): Here we focus on lateral locomotion and challenge hand-eye coordination with the chest pass.  Great for increasing the energy demands of the overall circuit and still maintaining the fun factor with partner work.

Look out for more great challenge circuit ideas in next week’s Hyper Training Lab that are perfect for conditioning and pushing toward your personal best!

Click to view this week\’s Hyper Training Lab video!

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Larger waist size leads to smaller brain size

August 16th, 2011
,,,,,, - Hot Topic Tuesday - Hyper Vest - Hyper Vest PRO - obesity - weight loss

In being a sports and fitness company, it should be pretty obvious that leading a healthy lifestyle is pretty important to our company, and something we want our followers to believe in as well. Today, the majority of Americans are familiar with the fact that obesity can lead to diabetes, heart disease and a string of other serious health issues. But, what most might not be aware of is that gaining weight can actually cause your brain to shrink and decrease brainpower later in life.

According to an online article, “Wide waist, narrow mind: How middle age spread can shrink your brain,” those who were obese in their 50s tended to perform poorly on mental tests conducted in a U.S. research study. The study consisted of more than 1,300 men and women in their 50s and 60s, and over the span of ten years brain scans and mental tests were conducted on participants.

Results of the study concluded that even among the healthiest individuals, the brain shrinks with age, but those with diabetes shrank at a faster rate than those without the disease.

Moral of the story, be fit, stay active and lead a healthy lifestyle. If you don’t, not only will your wallet have to pay for the new jeans to mask your expanding waistline, your brain will also be suffering the consequences.

There are endless ways to stay in shape, visit our Facebook page, website or YouTube channel for tons of ideas, or just throw on your Hyper Vest PRO and carry on with your day. Trust us, your body and brain will thank you later!

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How kids can beat the battle of the bulge

July 28th, 2011
,,,,,,,, - Hyper Vest PRO - HyperWear - Kids - Physical Education - SandBell - SteelBell - childhood obesity - obesity - weight loss

As we know, the waistband of the average American adult is expanding at a sickening rate, so much so that about one-third of all adults are now classified as obese. Something possibly less well known is the fact that over the past 30 years the number of obese children has nearly tripled, according to data and statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

But, don’t let all those heavy statistics weigh you down just yet.

An online article from WeAreAustin.com, “To fight obesity, even babies should exercise,” the British government reveals that children under five should exercise everyday in order to form habits conducive to a healthy adult lifestyle. This doesn’t mean that we’re promoting baby boot camps, but forming healthy habits at a young age can only bring about good things!

The article goes on to say that walking children under five should be active for at least three hours a day, and infants not able to walk should be encouraged to play on their stomachs or swim with their parents. The British government hopes that by motivating children to be active, their chances of becoming obese in adulthood will be reduced.

How can Hyper Wear aid this obesity epidemic you may ask? Well in case you didn’t know, the Hyper Vest PRO is available in small, extra small and extra, extra small, just so children can use them too! The Vest, as well as the SandBells and SteelBells, are completely safe, totally fun and 100 percent kid-approved! Instilling healthy habits in your children is one of the best things you can do for them. Encourage play time, exercise and getting off the couch, your kids will not only be healthy, but also fit and happy with you!

To see what parents and teachers have to say about kids using Hyper Wear products click the link, and be sure to watch the videos at the bottom of the page. You can also view the Facebook album from our presentation at Great Oaks Elementary Wellness Day to get a first-hand look at just how excited playing (err, working out) with the SandBells can be!

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Staving off the doctor, one legume at a time

June 28th, 2011
,,,,, - Hot Topic Tuesday - HyperWear - exercise - fitness - weight loss - workout

An apple a day keeps the doctor away… we know, we know. But what about the orthopedic, podiatrist, rehab therapist, chiropractor, and all the other doctors out there that prescribe the fitness enthusiasts equivalent to the death sentence. “Well, by the looks of this (enter injury here) you’re going to have to take at least six to eight weeks off.”

We try to train smart, recover well and say no to seconds all in the hopes of maintaining a fit and healthy body that’s ready for whatever sweat-pouring workout we plan to endure tomorrow. But sometimes, that’s just not enough.

An apple a day may have given the stiff arm to the doctor when you were 4-years-old, but now your body needs a myriad of nutrients to ensure that all systems are a go. Fruits, vegetables, whole-grains and healthy oils—interpretations of these foods, and some additions of a few others, may be just what you need to ditch the doctor and keep hitting the gym.

In an online article, Best Health rated the top seven fitness foods, some of which may be common sense and others just might surprise you. First up, chocolate milk. Too good to be true? Think again. This childhood favorite is a great post-workout recovery drink because of its ability to help repair muscles. Be sure to choose a low fat variety to ditch the unnecessary fat, and relish in knowing you’re repairing your muscles and taking in more than 10 essential nutrients.

To pack in some protein, fiber and vitamin E, grab a handful of almonds, or toss some on your salad. According to the article, almonds have shown to lower bad cholesterol and help in weight management. Drop some excess weight, and if your joints could write you a thank-you card, they’d send 10.

Beans and legumes are also waist-whittling foods that help to slow digestion and keep you feeling full. A cup of beans has almost as much protein as two cups of milk, and when paired with whole-grains they contain all the essential amino acids. Avocados deliver both insoluble and soluble fiber, which keep your digestive system running smoothly. Avocado oil has also been found to reduce the risk of heart disease, as well as bone fractures.

So say, “bye, bye” to the doctor and “hello” to the gym, because fueling up on these, and other fitness super foods, will help to keep that strong body of yours ready and willing for your workout of choice! To read up on the rest of the foods that round out the top seven, just click on the following link: Best Health’s Top 7 Fitness Foods.

**Looking for some healthy recipe ideas? Why don’t you try Hyper Wear Facebook fan, Megan Callahan’s pancake interpretation: 5 egg whites, 1/4c old fashioned oats, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp truvia. Blend in the blender till smooth, then cook in non-stick pan with a little pam/non-stick spray until done on both sides. I put my 1 tbsp raw almond butter on top and voila! Hungry for another? A favorite snack of Dee Fit’s is vanilla chobani, 1/4c Kashi GoLean Crunch and 4 sliced strawberries!

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SandBell sandbags vs. Childhood Obesity

May 24th, 2011
,,,,,,,,, - Health Needs a Hero - Hot Topic Tuesday - HyperWear - Jen Olson - P.E. - PE3 - Physical Education - SandBell - childhood obesity - fitness - sandbag - schools - weight loss - wellness

The Hyper Wear Staff was privileged to attend the premiere of Health Needs a Hero on Sunday, May 22nd at the Long Center here in Austin.

Health Needs a Hero is a powerful and inspirational documentary detailing the epidemic of our childhood health issues, told through the hearts of children and key stakeholders.  And it is fantastic.  Take a look as Jen Olson, the film’s director, tells a little more about the project.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVGoeUFL68E[/youtube]

In conjunction with the documentary, Ms. Olson started the PE3 foundation which incorporates mind, body, and spirit.   We would love to work with Jen in this worthy cause since SandBells are such an easy and natural fit for P.E. students.

From the PE3 website:

According to the Texas Health Institute (THI), one in three (35%) of Texas children – more than double the national average – are considered to be overweight or obese. Texas ranks 6th highest in the nation for obesity in 10 – 17 year olds.

Overweight children at 12 have a 75% likelihood of being overweight adults, in danger of serious medical issues. For the first time in 120 years, the life expectancy of Americans decreased in 2008.

The Texas Department of State Health Services estimates that if nothing is done, the number of overweight or obese adult Texans will continue to increase, growing from 10 million (63%) today to 20 million (75%) by 2040. In Texas, as in the US, obesity occurs at a much higher rate for African-Americans and Latinos than for Anglos; and within these populations, persons of low socio-economic status appear to be particularly affected.

We look forward to more interactions with Ms. Olson and PE3 and are proud to be on the front lines with such mighty warriors in the battle against childhood obesity.

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Weekend Warrior – Bill Meyer with SteelBells and SandBells

April 30th, 2011
,,,,,,,,, - Bill Meyer - Cooling Vest - Hyper Vest COOL - Hyper Vest PRO - Monday Morning Muscle - SandBell - SteelBell - Weekend Warrior - fitness - kettlebell - kettlebell replacement - personal trainer - sandbag - training - weight loss - weight vest

You’ve all seen Bill Meyer, our Monday Morning Muscle guru, come up with hundreds of unique ways to use his Hyper Vest PRO, Hyper Vest COOL, SandBells, and SteelBells.  So, when I asked him to send me pics of anything out of the ordinary he uses them for, this is what I got:

Bill and his bride-to-be, Lauren Sparrow, are not only planning  a wedding, but they are also opening a new fitness facility in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, called Meyer Fitness.  Their tag line is “Serious Fitness, Seriously Fun” and knowing those two it will be beyond fun!  They are both fitness FREAKS and are so passionate to get people active…it’s contagious!  In fact, I owe much of my fitness transformation to the encouragement and support of these two amazing folks!

So, the picture above came with the explanation that this weekend, they would be laying flooring at Meyer Fitness.  Looks to me like the SandBells and SteelBells would be holding flooring in place as they secured it…  If I know Bill and Sparrow, they did a few slams or lunges everytime they picked them up to move to a different area of the floor!

Thanks, Bill, for being a Weekend Warrior!

Now it’s your turn to show us how YOU are a Weekend Warrior!  Send pics and descriptions of how you use your Hyper Wear gear in different ways on the weekends to suzi (at) hyperwear (dot) com and you could be our next Weekend Warrior!

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Hot Topic Tuesday : Obesity = Deadly Global Pandemic

March 29th, 2011
,,,,,, - Hyper Vest PRO - International - childhood obesity - obesity - weight loss

If you know anything about Hyper Wear, you know that we take health and exercise very seriously.  Obesity is a growing problem in our nation and even the world.  Hyper Wear is dedicated to being part of the solution.  We love to hear testimonies of the impact Hyper Wear gear has on people’s health and fitness goals as well as the benefits to weight loss.

To give a personal example, I did an informal trial during my weekly workout session.  I tracked the number of calories burned during my normal, hour-long, interval session without wearing my Hyper Vest PRO and then tracked the same type of session while wearing my 5 lb Hyper Vest PRO.  On average, I burned an additional 100 calories per session.  The workout was only a little harder, and with an extra 100 calories burned to show for it, it was worth the extra effort!

We’re not the only ones who are concerned.  FoxNews.com featured an article that I found interesting and little alarming which outlines the global problem that obesity has become.

By the way, the juicy bacon cheeseburger picture on this post is the ad that was on the page with the article about obesity…how’s that for irony?

What news have you read lately about obesity that makes you more passionate about exercise?

What is your favorite exercise using a Hyper Wear product to enhance your fitness routine?

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Obesity in America – Hyper Vest PRO Weighted Vest Can Help

September 15th, 2010
,,,,,,,, - Hyper Vest PRO - childhood obesity - fitness - obesity - weight loss - weight vest

I came across this article today that drives home the point that most Americans are in denial about the seriousness of the obesity epidemic in our country.  In the article, titled “Many Americans Don’t Even Know They’re Fat,” we read that in a poll taken of 2,418 adults (aged 18 and over), many respondents have a skewed perception of where they fall on the healthy BMI scale.

It seems some saw this day coming in the 1980s.  Dr. Mitchell Roslin, chief of obesity surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, noted that “when [Dr. Everett Koop, surgeon general in the 1980s] wrote ‘Shape Up America,’ he said the biggest health problem facing America was not AIDS, not cancer, it’s obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. Since then … we’ve seen nothing but a rise in obesity despite all of these efforts that have gone on now since the 1980s.”

We are proud to be an agent of change and want to encourage you to continue going against the culture by living a healthy lifestyle.  If you are one who couples exercise with proper nutrition, you are in the minority, but we’re in this battle with you!

Let us know – how do you use your Hyper Wear products to fight the fight against obesity?

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