Fitness

- This is a guest post by Erica Chapman -

And now…for a fitness Bag-O-Tricks! 

Sure, if you really wanted to get toned, you’d develop a regular jogging routine accompanied by some time with the weight machines, and maybe toss in a little yoga for good measure. But what if you're dying for a quick fix? Are any of those gadgets out there that claim to make your abs and glutes glisten like Jessica Biel's really worth the cash...or the hassle?

Well…I can’t exactly answer that, having tried none of these toys myself. But what I have done is hours of internet research! I’ve looked at pictures, read reviews, and closed my eyes to visualize BOING-ing and Fitness-Disc-ing. OK, maybe not that last one.

Here’s one woman’s take on a crop of newfangled thingamajiggies claiming to speed your body towards goddess-dom. Experiment at your own risk!

THE VIBRATION CRAZE

I suppose it can’t really be called a craze when...

Fila's Yoga Brand Ambassador, Kristin McGee, led an hour long free yoga class last Wednesday night at Paragon Sports in New York City. Apparently it was quite an event with over 60 yoga enthusiasts participating in the class. Attendees received Fila goodies in addition to a great workout. MizzFIT guestblogger, Jo Anne Keck, was impressed by Fila's yoga collection and reports:

Paragon cleared out their street level back room for a large class to promote Fila's new yoga line. The promotional night included a free yoga class with instructor Kristin McGee, lots of socialization amongst young women and men, a few free gifts, a raffle and the opportunity to see Fila's new yoga line, which has some really great pieces! The event started with a room full of free yoga mats where you could pick your spot. Upon arrival, they gave you a bottle of MetroMint water and a band along with a free yoga mat. The class Kristin led was a class that people at any level of yoga could...

THE KETTLEBELL PROBLEM:

When a kettlebell smacks against your arm it really (expletive) hurts and makes you want to hurl it across the (expletive) room.

THE SOLUTION:

The first and only ergonomically shaped kettlebell called The Bob Harper Contour Kettlebell from GoFit. The Contour Kettlebell has a sculpted shape that curves inward on both sides to rest comfortably on your wrist and forearm during repetitions. It's designed to reduce strain, allow for smoother motion and enhance performance.

YOU SHOULD PROBABLY KNOW:

Bob Harper is a big name in fitness as the co-host of NBC’s The Biggest Loser and trainer to Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Stiller. He's a longtime user of kettlebells.

WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST YOU:

Between $24.99-$99.99 depending on what size (7 to 45 pounds) or assortment you get. Find them at Target, Sport Chalet, Best Buy and GoFit.net this October 2010.

MY EXPERT OPINION:

Kettlebell training can do wonders for your...

I don't know about you, but when the season and weather outside changes I get a little bored with my workout routine. If you feel the same, try something new and give your body a boost!  Cuerpaso might be that little bit of change with big results that you're looking for. Expect some World Cup flashbacks because the Cuerpaso workout revolves around a soccer ball. Did I mention Cuerpaso means AMAZING BODY in Spanish? 

Here's what you need to know about Cuerpaso to get started:

THE CONCEPT

Cuerpaso is inspired by Brazilian soccer and Latin-Carribean dance. It's designed to make you strong, lean and chiseled (like a soccer player). But perfection doesn't come without soreness! I joined an outdoor Cuerpaso class this summer in Central Park and let's just say, I'm a believer and a fan. I was sore for days from moves I had never done or seen before. First my body was like - What are you doing to me? A few days later my butt checked itself out...

The Toning Shoe Let Down

If you own a pair of Skechers Shape-Ups, MBT's or Reebok EasyTones, I'm sorry to break the news to you BUT they're a sham. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) conducted a study on their effectiveness and found that toning shoes don't really do what they claim to do. Toning Shoes have led wearers to believe they will help them exercise more intensely, burn more calories or improve muscle strength and tone in the glutes, calves, and hamstrings. But according to the ACE study, this isn't true at all.

All three toning shoes tested [in the ACE research study] showed no statistically significant increases in either exercise response or muscle activation during the treadmill trials, when compared to the normal athletic shoes tested. There was simply no evidence to indicate that the toning shoes offer any enhanced fitness benefits over traditional sneakers. (source)

There's No Such Thing As A Magic Shoe

I know, I wanted to...

How exciting! The New York Times is showing the world the stylish and very photogenic side of women's tennis. Check out these jaw-dropping videos, appropriately named The Beauty of the Power Game. They were shot for a New York Times feature called Women Who Hit Very Hard And How They've Changed Tennis. Serena Williams and fellow tennis stars have never looked better and the tennis couture is smashing!

The New York Times has really outdone themselves with this tennis feature.

The athletes are styled in nontraditional tennis wear, such as a sparkling black dress sported by Serena Williams and a cashmere Chanel bodysuit worn by Vera Zvonareva. In some shots, colored chalk and glitter fly around the women as they strike the ball. (source)

The makeup, styling and slow-motion photography are all so exquisite that you almost forget about the article. Read it! It's quite interesting and talks about how nowadays, female...