Lifeline USA Extra TNT System 5'' Plugged Cable

I love this idea of portable weights but I think this cable after a mere 1 month of use, is now not as effective as it was before. It just doesn''t feel like 20 actual pounds at all.

I would recommend going one higher so that you can develop resistance and get strong quicker.

I real don''t think this color band equates to 40lbs of resistance. I have several other resistance cables one rated at 30lbs that feels more difficult.

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ASICS Men''s Core Short Sleeve Running Shirt

I ordered two of these shirts a white one and a iron colored one. They are great shirts for working out. Very lightweight, breathable so they wont get heavy and wet with sweat. They also look really great, they have a great fit an a nice and classy ASICS logo on the sleeve. I highly recommend them. Just one warning though about the white colored shirt: It is very light colored and because of the material, so you can even see some flesh tone through it all over, and your nipples will show through very clearly. So don''t buy a white colored one unless you want your nipples showing through.

This shirt is tops. Moisture disappears into this material like it was never there. I find the fit to be perfect as well. I liked this shirt so much I ordered another one to wear as normal clothing (the original is for the gym). I plan to purchase more and I will recommend this shirt for anyone.

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Excellent running shirt. I got the color white and use it as a running undershirt because when I sweat you can kinda see through it. It does dry quickly though.

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Good quality simple shirt but at least 3 inches longer than my New Balance shirt of the same material and size. Medium fits much more like a large than I would like.

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I purchased this product last jusy (when they still offered it in red) and have to say it made a huge difference. the fabric is very light and wicks away sweat very quickly, unlike the t-shirts i had worn for 9 years that got heavy and sticky after 2 miles.

very comfortable, and a great fit.

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Amy Bento''s Advanced Step Challege 4 DVD

I love this DVD. The combos are a ton of fun, and the premixes even better. I love that Amy doesn''t break down her moves; it means this DVD is not going to become boring. You can be an advanced stepper fitness-wise, but if you''re not an advanced stepper when it comes to picking up choreo, you may be better off with Cathe or somebody who breaks down moves forever to make SURE that you''ve got it; this video won''t be for you (which doesn''t make it bad, just not for you). An exercise video is not supposed to be just like a class, because it''s not live, and you want it to stay interesting over time; if that''s what you want, get this video. There''s even a great premix with all the combos not broken down at all, which is just pure fun.

I had Amy Bento''s advanced step challenge 3 and enjoyed it, but it got lost in my house so I decided to try another one of her workouts. Step challenge 3 was difficult to learn, but I was able to get through most of the work out on the first try with only a few of the moves taking a few viewings to get down. Step Challenge 4 is a whole different story. Can you say frustrating? She has virtually no call outs, no warm ups into the moves. She starts out as if you''ve already done the combos 100 times and goes through at warp speed. The previews are of some help, but once you hit the regular program she goes through the moves way to fast. I could see this taking a number of viewings to get all the moves down I always liked the way the DVD was laid out with the option to put together your own workouts, but what she needs is to add some sections that are in between the preview and her full bore speed where she actually calls things out and maybe breaks them down a little before putting the whole combo together like you would do in every step class I''ve ever taken. I''m an advanced stepper, but this DVD was disappointing

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Amy has done it again. She''s come up with some fun new step moves with rocking music. Her latest is a 55 minute workout, consisting of 4 routines; each routine is followed by an interval. Also included is a tough power up section if you''re feeling extra energetic.

The choreography is complicated. I think it''s even more complex than Amy''s prior workouts. I learned the routines by watching the DVD first. I then tried the preview section and one routine at a time. I didn''t worry about my heart rate, I focused on learning the steps. I sure felt good when I finally mastered a move!

What I really liked about this DVD:

**the moves were perfectly choreographed to the music.

**the extensive preview section. Amy is known for her complicated choreography. In the preview section, she breaks down the new moves and also shows them on both the left and right sides. You get a chance to practice the moves several times.

**the unique moves make step aerobics seem like a totally new workout. I''ve been stepping for years and it''s hard to find a workout with fun, new choreography. How many repeaters or over the step moves can one take?

**it''s tough. My heart is definitely pumping after doing this.

**it''s very easy to modify the high impact moves. I do so all the time and I''m still at the high end of my aerobic range.

**several premixes are available. My favorite premix incorporates the power-up moves after each routine.

Some things to note about this workout:

**the background is very pink, to put it mildly. I don''t know if it was the lighting, or the wall colors, but there''s a lot of pink. I happen to love the color pink, but this was a bit much for me.

**the backdrop seems very cluttered. There are two locker sets, each filled with towels and balls, two stability balls and two weight benches. It''s distracting.

**the set seemed crowded since there are five background exercisers, in addition to Amy. You can''t even see the exerciser in the very back, since she''s positioned right behind Amy. It would have looked better with maybe 3 background exercisers.

In spite of the set issues, I still enjoyed this workout. After doing the workout a few times, I didn''t even notice the set or the background exercisers.

If you''re looking for a fun and challenging step workout that works both your body and your mind, you will like this one.

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3 FIT CORD Covered Resistance Bands with PADDED HANDLES

I got these to replace old rubber cords which had begun to flake. These are so much nicer! The fabric cover really makes a difference to the comfort of them moving over your skin during some exercises. The handles are set at an angle and I noticed quickly that if you assign a left and right side, it makes them much easier to handle.

Only complaint is that the resistance is a little bit light, I guess I should have bought the heaviest version instead of the med/heavy.

These are pretty much everything you expect them to be. I purchased them for P90X like so many of the customers, but I had an issue that I didn''t see in the other reviews: the limited movement. I, like many of you, bought these in response to my fear of a heavy-resistance cord snapping, and neatly bisecting me into two out-of-shape pieces. So, the sheath around the band provides a great deal of reassurance that I''ll remain one intact person by the end of my workout. The sheaths, however, don''t have enough "slack". I constantly found myself not being able to complete say, a curl, because the sheathing would prevent me from stretching the band further. The sheathing is inflexible, so if you''ve pinched it with your foot, you have to constantly readjust in order to be able to have a full range of motion. So it''s a trade off: work out properly and risk facing that fateful day of the snap heard round the world, or work out safely but half-assed.

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These cords give you choices of resistance with cover sleeves. Should last a long time.

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Michelle Dozois Peak 10 More Cardio Strength

WOW! That is the word that comes to mind regarding this workout! I wasn''t sure what to expect but was not disappointed in the quality of the workout that I received from Michelle! I had never done a workout of hers but I must say this one did not leave anything on the table. It was TOUGH! When I put in time doing a workout, whether it be an hour or more, I want to feel like I have made good use of my time. There is nothing worse than committing to an hour long class or DVD only to end feeling like you have to go do more. By the time the hour with Michelle is up, I am ready for it to be over! I love the variation from the normal workout that I get with this 59 minute sweat soaking, heart-pounding, high-intensity muscle/cardiovascular challenge!! I am a fitness instructor and have done about every kind of workout at home that there is out there from P90X to Jackie Warner to old school Billy Blanks Tae Bo (may be showing my age here now ;) ) so it is hard to find one that challenges me at a level that this one does while being "new" and unique! This one delivers! The way heavier weights (meaning 10lbs for me) are incorporated into strength moves (some that I''ve not seen done before) that are fast paced and the way the progression of the Peak 10 regimen works, gives me a workout that is so challenging overall. Mentally, I really have to toughen up to get through this workout and stick to the heavier weights rather than drop down, because that''s what I want to do. I don''t know that I have worked up a sweat like this in a very long time!! Wasn''t sure when I ordered it if I would like it or not, but am SO glad that I gave it a chance! Would definitely agree with the "intermediate to advanced" label for this one. I cannot say enough great things about this workout. I will probably think about others of hers in the future. This will go into my regular rotation. Try it....not for the weak of heart, mind or body.

I ordered all 3 new Peak 10 dvd''s and have tried 2 so far. Wow! It''s very intense. If this was my first time working out I would quit, but since I''ve been doing her old dvds for several months, I felt comfortable pushing myself to finish the workouts. I would consider this ideal if you''re intermediate to advanced. It''s great because you can start out with light weights and increase as you get stronger. I like the build up intensity intervals of cardio and strength training. It''s amazing and I would highly recommend this to get toned and tight all over. It''s tough, but I found myself actually looking forward to the next workout to see if I can push myself even further. Love it!

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I have done, P90X, P90X2, The Asylum, etc.. This is really an advanced DVD that gets your heartrate up and works your muscles. I am a huge fan of cardio that incorporates using weights a lot.

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This is a great advanced workout to do at home. It is versitile, so you can do the entire workout, or shorten on days when you have less time. You need some hand weights. It is very worth while!

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I enjoyed this workout and found it to be a great workout. I do think I like the prior Peak 10 Cardio Strength workout slightly better but this is good to mix it up. It does really work the abs with several of the moves. I was feeling it in the obliques the next day. I got a great workout and will find I will use this DVD often.

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TRX Suspension Training Pro Pack Basic

This review was geared for another product, but the comparisons I''ve discovered will help you make an educated decision.

Notice I gave this product Four Stars. I stand by it, even though the following review may seem to be geared toward another product.

So, I''ve owned the TRX force kit for about five years, XFit Rings for about three years, and the Jungle Gym XT for about a month now, and I have to say the Jungle Gym XT is the Best Over-all product, in almost all categories. Here''s the preferential order I would put the three products: First place: Jungle Gym XT, Second Place: XFit Rings, and Third Place: TRX. And I''m rating them REGARDLESS OF PRICE!!!!

I''m not trying to pick on any specific product. I''m giving my best over-all objective opinion based on my expertise (I am a personal trainer at an exclusive high level gym). To be fair to all manufacturers, I still use ALL three of the products. My intention with this review is to educate consumers so you can make an objective decision.

I''ll just limit my review to the cons because I don''t want to continue the redundancy of talking about what these products can do.

First: Hygiene! the TRX falls short especially if you are sharing the product with others. The Jungle Gym handles and foot cradles are made of TPE (thermoplastic elastomer, which is a sturdy plastic with a rubber-like feel), and the XFit rings are olympic styled rings (lowest level is a very sturdy, almost invincible, hard plastic). Which both are easy to clean. The TRX, on the other hand, has a foam-like material over the handles, and the foot cradles over the nylon webbing. Which you can''t clean unless you want to speed up the deterioration process. So, little microbes can fester on the handles and foot cradles. So if you share it with others, have an anti-bacterial gel nearby.

Next: Durability! I''ve had the TRX the longest, So it''s been worked over!!! the main components of the straps are still well in tact. But!!! the foam on the handles have worn down, and are splitting. I''ve called FitnessAnywhere to find a solution, and they mailed me (for free), TAPE!!! Yes, TAPE!!! does it work? Yes. for how long? I don''t know. Definitely not a long term solution though. There only other offer was another older model force kit for a discounted price (ten dollars less than the newest model). The Rings are solid and I know they will maintain its over-all integrity for many years to come. For the Jungle Gym, I''m familiar with many gym products and seeing the design and quality of the materials, there is premium quality, long lasting materials. You can tell it''s the best made even if you compare all the products side by side if they were all new.

NEXT: Comfort. TRX, even with the foam handles, are last place. why??? the adjustable METAL buckle is designed to sit at a right angle to the handles. which means LOTS of snagging when doing pushing exercises. When I had the TRX the first two years, I would constantly have scratch marks on my arms, shoulders, and neck because of the metal buckle snagging me during use. Actually, an under armour long sleeve shirt (or similar) will go a long way. With the rings, the metal buckle can be adjusted to be away from your range of movement. The Jungle Gym, The adjustable buckle contraptions are modeled like the TRX except that it is made of a very durable hard plastic, contoured and rounded so there are no uncomfortable edges, and they lay flush (not at a right angle) to the handles. So... NO SNAGGING!!!

NEXT: Variations! you can do ALOT with any of the suspension trainers. But the TRX has the most limitations solely on the fact that both straps come to one point. So there is VERY LIMITED abduction exercises. and if you do try abduction... be ready for snagging. Not an issue with the other products. You''ll be surprised how much MORE VARiATION there is simply by having each handle individually anchored, and able to control how wide each anchor point is. The Xfit rings don''t have designed foot cradles, but if you are at an intermediate fitness level, you can stand your feet on the rings, and do all the foot cradle exercises comfortably. The jungle gym''s foot cradles are by far the easiest to get in and out of, and the most comfortable.

LASTLY: Portability! Finally, the TRX wins in this category. One, it comes with a mesh drawstring bag. If you want one so badly, spend five dollars and get one for the other products. Also, the TRX packs the smallest. Actually, I have the first model Force kit, and it packs about a third of the size of all the current TRX models and is slightly lighter. I actually HATE that the newer TRX models are bulkier than they used to be. All the models have the bulkier (less expensive), nylon webbing. Don''t be fooled if someone will try to lie to you and say it''s better quality. it''s not. I actually have the older, BETTER product. They''re saving money!!! Even though they other products (XFit Rings, and Jungle Gym XT) don''t pack as small, they are still VERY PORTABLE.

Because I have all the products, I have the advantage of doing total body suspension exercises. I can mix either of the products to achieve that. For my personal use, I''d use the Jungle Gym XT for my feet, and the rings for my hands (which coincidently, is the best buy), or you can get two Jungle Gyms, or Two TRX''s. I''d recommend to getting two jungle gyms though.

This review is meant to educate consumers so you''re not dazzled by the marketing, and you can buy confidently because you have as much objective information.

All the best on your fitness journey!!!

Just received my TRX. The one thing that tripped me up is the description of "bonus in box" workouts. I thought I was getting two more DVD''s which helped me to justify the $60 increase in price over the original model. Alas, bonus in box means you cut two workouts off the cardboard box to read. They are not DVD''s.

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A good workout and innovative idea. However, This is definitely not the best form of suspension training available. It is somewhat restrictive when you compare it to the Lifeline Jungle Gym XT or Elite Freestyle Trainer, USA, Vegas Straps. With a split design, you have freedom that TRX cannot give you. You can do all the exercises plus a lot more. You can vary your width of the grips, which you cannot do with a TRX. This allows you to do dips, hanging knee raises, pull-ups, etc., that cannot be done on a TRX. All which provide you with a more challenging workout than the traditional forms and more freedom as well. These are a heck of a lot cheaper options, not to mention that you can make your own.

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The TRX training kit came in good condition although the DOOR ANCHOR that was listed as included with the set, did not come with the package. I bought this unit based on the fact that it said it included the DOOR ANCHOR of which was in BOLD under the contents of the purchase.

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Okay, it seems very well made, but its just straps and handles! I''m glad I got it and like using it. I''d recommend it but when you realize that you paid all that for just...okay, I won''t say it again!

The carrying bag it comes with is a little too small to conveniently get the TRX into. It can be done, but it wouldn''t have hurt to make it a little bigger.

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Suunto X3HR Heart Rate Wrist-Top Computer Watch with Altimeter, Barometer, and Thermometer

Ask any outdoor enthusiast what manufacturer they''d trust when it comes to precision instruments and the answer would probably be Suunto. Their slogan is "Replacing Luck" and that''s very true when you see how accurate their instruments are. Case in point: I recently bought the Suunto X3HR and went hiking up a mountain with a few friends. We reached the summit and hiked to the trig beacon to get an "accurate" indication of how high we were. The X3Hr was spot on (to the metre) while the GPS unit we carried was out by quite a few (and there wasn''t a big tree above us or cloudy conditions to affect the GPS signal). Apart from the accuracy of the altimeter, what makes this watch even more useful is the fact that it has a heart-rate monitor, barometer and thermometer. That''s in addition to the obvious functions like stop-watch, back-light, etc. If you enjoy spending time outdoors and want to get the most out of it, I''d highly recommend this watch. It takes a little while to get the hang of the functions, but once you do it really opens up a wealth of knowledge as to your performance.

For myself the watch has almost everything I need. When I''m training for runs the heart-rate monitor is incredibly handy and I didn''t realise how much it can be an asset to measuring performance. The watch will show you your max heart-rate over the run, the average heart-rate, and the highest altitude you reached. The only drawbacks are that if you want to measure your split times over a long run, the 10-split memory isn''t really enough and if you''re not yet used to the watch buttons you might press the wrong one and comprimise the data you''ve gathered. But for the price you''d pay for the X3HR, you''d be hard pressed to find another make of watch that can do the same things. If you are looking at something more advanced, the X6HR might be worth looking into. I was sorely tempted to go for that model when I tried it out in the shop. Self control sucks sometimes.

I''ve tried a few different types of HR watches by Timex and Polar...Polar was really expensive for the features that I wanted, along with a non-replacable battery unless you send it to the company...Timex just wouldn''t work unless I had been sweating profusely because I have a very hairy chest and the chest strap couldn''t make a proper connection unless it was drenched. I''m pleased to report that this watch works just fine, no pre-wetting on the chest strap contacts is required. The chest strap is comfy and unencumbersome and it is able to accurately record my HR through my mat of chest hair. It also stores 6 workouts, splits included, in the memory which is convenient if you forget to record a workout in your logbook.

Here are my criticisms for the watch:

-The watch is a bit bigger than "normal" watches (about the same as a Polar, I''d estimate) and it makes for a very readable face even when sprinting, so if you looking for a sleek, small, sexy watch this isn''t for you.

-Too much info: The watch is able to show the current temperature, pressure, and elevation...which I found useless, but if your into climbing or backpacking it may prove to be more useful.

-There are three main menus, TIME, TRAINING, and MEMORY and if you do push-ups or bend you watch wrist back 90 degrees you will press a button to change the menu display (but I''ve never been too interested in my HR while doing push-ups).

-To make the indiglo/night display show up you have to press and hold down a button for 3 seconds, so it doesn''t give the quickest feedback for night runs.

Given all of those criticisms you''d think that I hate this watch. But, I love this watch and I will probably keep it for the rest of my life. It is sturdy, solid, water-proof, easy to use, the display rocks, and it works for hairy people.

*A quick tip if you buy through Amazon, get $30 off if you apply for the silly credit card, I did that and got the blue watch for $70, promptly chopped up the card, and got a great deal for a rock solid HR watch.

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The watch does exactly what it is supposed to do according to the product description. Looks cool as well, although the picture doesn''t give a perspective how big the watch actually is; it is a bit bigger than I expected; but they had to pack into it a barometer, HR monitor and thermometer.

One has to be aware of the following facts: The altitude is computed from the barometric pressure, so the precision changes with weather and time of the day so one has to set the reference point often to get good results. The temperature that the thermometer shows is something between the body temperature and the outside temperature, since when the watch is on a hand, it''s too close to the body. So to get a precise outside temp, one has to take the watch off and wait for about 10-15 minutes. But this behavior is expected and inevitable in this kind of a device.

Overall, I''m totally satisfied with this watch, and would recommend it to anyone needing a sports watch and a heart rate monitor for running/workout.

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The watch is of good quality and does the things it says it will do. When I purchased this item, I was under the impression that it calculated altitude. It actually displays altitude based upon barometric pressure. The user must give the watch a baseline altitude for it to function correctly. Also, somewhat significant weather change can cause your altitude to display incorrectly. Perhaps this is a common way of measuring alititude, I don''t know. I suppose for the utmost accuracy you''ll need to go with a GPS enabled model. Overall, this watch is still a great product for the price, just be aware of how the product works.

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I had been looking for an altimeter with heart rate function. This one works very nicely and is comfortable to wear without the bulk, that so many of the multi use watches, seem to have. Has accurate altimter, reliable heart rate readout, with nice multi memory storage, as well as temprature and barometric pressure. All in all, a great value!!

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adidas Women''s 3-Stripes Signature Pant

Fits great, incredibly soft and comfortable. Do not dry on high heat though, it will take the softness away eventually.

The description did not explain how thick the material was. I wanted a much thinner material. Please provide that information in the details.

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THESE ARE VERY NICE PANTS,WELL MADE & SUPER WARM...HOWEVER UNLESS YOUR OUT IN THE COLD CONSTANTLY THEY ARE TOO WARM TO WEAR AROUND THE HOUSE OR EVEN TO THE GYM. THEY ALSO RUN ABOUT 1 SIZE LARGER,ALTHOUGH I PREFER LOOSE FITTING THINGS TO WORK OUT,BUT THESE JUST LOOKED LIKE CLOWN PANTS. I''M 5''4 130LBS & WEAR A 8 (SINCE I LIKE LOOSER PANTS)& THE MEDIUMS JUST FELL OFF OF ME,THEY WERE ENORMOUS IN THE STOMACH AREA AND ABOUT 3 INCHS TO LONG IN THE LEG.

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I love these pants. Not are they only soft and comfy on the inside, they are super warm! I live in Colorado where going to the gym in the winter can be super snowy and cold. I wear these pants over my workout shorts in route and am never cold. I really like that they are easy to take off with the ankle snaps once I get inside.

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Polar RCX5 Heart Rate Monitor

If you search for "Polar RCX5 In Depth Review" from DC Rainmaker (I read it but do not know this person), you''ll find the most detailed review of any Polar product, showing both GPS features (though Polar has 3 different GPS modules). The reviewer has a lot of experience with GPS and other training devices, but this is his first Polar device using the *.HRM file format for PC connectivity.

As an unbiased user since 1998 (never received any discounts nor any other incentives), and more than a year testing Garmin Edge 500 and Forerunner 305, I can say that the Polar devices are slightly more difficult to set up, but far more flexible for many athletes. The DC Rainmaker reviewer uses hyper-rigid training programs planned in advance. Many people prefer something more flexible. Also, for cyclists out on the road, you do NOT want to have the entire ride programmed to such detail except for the most structured intervals. What you really want is to fuse both structured and unstructured intervals.

The beauty of the Polar products is that you can perform interval training at any time, not worrying about the lap button because you can easily reformat all of the reports after you download the raw data.

Let''s say you are out riding and feel like attacking a certain hill. You then wonder, how long did that take me after all? By examining the features in the HRM file, you can assign a lap termination to any sample data.

Let me explain more; the Polar devices work by taking the user-controlled sample rate, anything from 1 second to 60 seconds, and it records the velocity, altitude, cadence, and heart rate. When you press the lap button, it creates a separate sample with all of that same data.

When you recap the data, you can delete or move the special lap buttons, and you can assign a lap indicator to any of the sampled data. So if you are sampling at 1 second (recommended if you connect your Polar device frequently enough to your computer), you can examine your performance without worrying so much about the special "lap sample data." The advantage of hitting the lap button is obvious I hope, but having the flexibility is great too.

The only thing I can''t do that I have asked for is to have nested laps. As soon as you mark a subdivision, you lose the calculation in front and behind.

Let''s say I have a hill that takes over half an hour to climb, and within that hill I also have sections that I want to hit really hard. These would be nested laps. If I take the lap button at each landmark, I have to manually calculate the sum of the entire hill, or I have to delete the intermediate laps to show the automatic calculation. No big deal, but it would be very useful to redefine laps as the metrics between any pair of lap markers, whereas now they are simply a single point, both terminating one calculate lap and starting the next. If each ''lap'' was by definition, any pair of markers, you could leave all of your lap markers (as single samples) and define pairs of those markers as "laps."

Lap marker

Lap termination

Lap pair

So then I hit the lap button at all of the key point, but I might miss one. In the end, I fix the one I miss, then I take the pairs. Lap 1 is the entire hill, so that lap is lap-marker "A" and lap marker "Z." My next lap is the point between marker "B" (or "C") and "D" or whatever. According to the current scheme, I would have subdivided the hill. The laps can only currently be defined by adjacent markers. Any lap you add simply subdivides the adjacent markers you split when entering it.

If that''s still confusing, go ahead and ask questions and I''ll get back to you.

I''m not going to talk a lot about the redundant information from the DC Rainmaker review. What I suggest is actually to look at the Polar RS800 and CS600x, because these are the devices that can take the latest GPS, and have the best features for hosting *.HRM based files, which are required for the software features I advocate.

The CS600X is the only device that can use the cycling power add-ons (pedals from Look plus the existing chain tension calculator) AND GPS with HRM recaps (the CS500 only recaps summaries, but does not take sample recordings!), BUT it does not AFAIK take the running pod (stride pod). With GPS you can still measure speed of any exercise, but cadence is something athletes often want for running. It''s a tough call as a triathlete; running pod or cycling power? This device, the Polar RCX5 does not accept cycling power either.

If you go toweb dot polar dot fi slash en slash products slash compare?product1=nid_7881

And choose the 3 devices, you''ll be able to see in one table which is best for you. This model is probably the most flexible, but truly they each deserve consideration because each of them offer a bundle of features with the excellent *.HRM format (in addition to the GPS files, if you use that add-on). All can take cycling cadence, and it also helps to check frequently for an update, because it is not unknown for Polar to modify the selection by adding to the firmware and uprevving the model. The CS600X is an uprev from the CS600. The letters to the right of the numbers are always indicative of hardware bundles (like RS800CX) or uprevs, like the CS600X.

The only other caveat I have for Polar is not their fault. The Polar HRMs were literally the first portable heart rate monitors, and I believe also the first wireless models. The first model was a cassette recording that simply recorded the tone indicating the rhythm and then calculated back in the lab. The first wireless heart rate strap was a Polar product, and I can''t be sure, but I think the first PC connected HRM was a Polar model. They definitely had the first PC connected cycling HRM (recording the HRM file format along with cycling cadence and velocity, which then calculates distance) and in the late 1990s they offered the S-series cycling HRMs with altitude added, and shortly after they offered the power metrics.

The point of all this is that there are a lot of users out there, and many of them purchased products knowing they bought "the best" but never figured out how to use them. I can''t tell you how many times I have seen guys riding Polar HRMs with Ir ports, but did not know how to use it. I only know this when they tell me. As a consequence, you''ll find lots of message threads posted at various web sites, including Polar''s own "community" with unanswered questions. The web site is also not clear that the speed, cadence, GPS, power, running stride pod, and any other accessories are NOT universally usable on their devices. There are rational reasons for this, but they do not in my opinion make it clear while you are shopping that there are at least 3 divisions of products. The lowest cost are ordinary servos that transmit an uncoded tone to read. These can pick up adjacent servos from your cycling group (cyclists ride very close to each other). The next level up are coded to protect against this. All of the downloadable devices use coded servos. This makes a lot of sense. However (remember, Polar was the brand that created this market, others only followed) the next level of performance was desired and when the 2.4GHZ and higher spectrum became available, they created a new class of products used in the CS600, RS800 and now the RCX5. They can be mounted anywhere relative to the watch, you can leave it in your pocket, etc. They are really excellent and have to be "paired" before using them. This eliminates all crosstalk and dropouts. The data integrity is not near-perfect. Maybe it is perfect, I just don''t like saying that.

There is one final caveat regarding these servos; the highest quality models seem to have to be sent in to have their batteries changed. In theory, anyone with the tools can do this, but it''s not at all clear how you''d even open it! They seem waterproof, and seem sealed completely. I''ve not ever had to replace one in several years, but I''ve also tended to purchase new ones every 2 to 3 years. The heart rate strap was once the only device that required sending in for cell change, but they responded to the criticism, now offer a user-changeable cell, and it was in that iteration that they sealed the other servos! I believe only the cycling speed, and cycling cadence have this problem. The running pod, GPS, and power are all user-changeable.

I hope this helps.

I currently own a Polar FT60 HRM/watch and overall, I like the performance. What I don''t like is the lack of ANT technology since Polar uses their own WIND technology. I have been frustrated that I cannot upload my training files without the Flowlink (which has poor reviews). I purchased this watch after reading that it is unisex and suitable for female endurance athletes. First off, the watch face is HUGE and overlapped my wrist on both sides. I am a female endurance athlete and am 5''7"/126 with a 5 1/2" wrist. This watch is NOT made for female endurance athletes who are generally smaller in stature. Polar is a great product but needs to stay current with technology ANT is the trend with both Garmin and Suunto. Garmin watches and Suunto unisex watches, by the way, are also HUGE in size and not meant for female athletes. I finally found a HRM watch that I am extremely happy with the Suunto Quest (which is unisex and comes with and without a foot pod). Suunto is extremely user friendly I am not going back to Polar!!!

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I have owned several Polar throughout my life (FT06, RS100, FT80) and I believe the Polar RCX5 is a very good Polar if your needs are in synchrony with what it offers.

The Polar RCX5 is designed for triathletes who will swim, bike and run. It doesn''t mean you can''t use it for other sports but this the core activity this Polar was built for. It gives you the information you are accustomed to see in a Polar (BPM, time, laps, cals, etc..), however the addition that i really appreciate is the fact that you can see your avg bpm while excercising. This is a great feature for me as I know if I have pushed my limits already or if i have been a bit lazy.

On the other hand, this Polar doesn''t give you an automatic summary once you finsihed your routine. You have to go to data and look for it yourself.

I haven''t used the website so I can''t talk about it yet.

Another feature that was a surprise but an interested one is that the Polar will shut off from midnight to 6am. It does so to make the battery last longer and it was a bit scary at the beginning because you might think it is damaged but it is only a feature.

For my needs, if there was a combination of this Polar with the FT80 it would be incredible. However, I can''t feel frustrated as I have a very good Polar which helps me to workout every day.

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I''ve owned Polar products and used them extensively for endurance sports for 10 years. I think this will be my last. I''ve felt for the last couple years Polar was falling behind, but I eagerly awaited this big leap forward. I''ve been very disappointed. The watch face is neat looking, but hard to customize and can''t even create the combo I really want. The foot pod is still much bigger than garmin''s and a separate GPS given the size of the watch is again, way behind. I used to put up with the lack of interoperability with other devices, but it''s not worth it anymore (got a Trek this year with built in cadence/speed that can''t work with Polar.) Time to go get a Garmin.

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The watch is great but, right now is useless. I''ve bought it less than a year ago, then the wrist band started to break.

At first in the middle section, now it''s completely separated as 2 strings, with no place to hold the pin.

I cant find a wrist band to actually use it.

I wrote to Polar, I hope to get an answer soon. From Argentine

This strap design should be review by Polar.

I''ve used it normally, to train and as my everyday watch.

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adidas Women''s Firebird Track Top

This product was purchased for my daughter. I was very pleased to be able to purchase it at a reduced price @Amazon.com My daughter had originally asked for the lighter green color. But she was very pleased when she saw the olive color. She then wanted the pants, which was also purchased through Amazon.com at a reduced rate. Both products were received in a timely manner. Unfortunately the jacket had to be returned due to size. The product does run true to size, we just purchased the wrong size. Amazon made it quite easy to return it, and the purchase amount was credited to my credit card almost immediately after they received the returned product. Thanks Amazon for your prompt service.

Purchased for my daughter and she adores it. Fits very nicely and the color green (emerald) is beautiful. Seems to be true to size

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Garmin Forerunner 210 with Heart Rate Monitor (Teal)

• Easy-to-use, button operated
• Records position, speed/pace, distance and calorie data
• Automatic Time zone

My first Garmin GPS sports watch was a Forerunner 305. Worked OK but I was not too fond of carrying a canary cage around on my wrist. And I found most of the menu choices and options irrelevant to what I really needed, which was just to know my pace, distance and elapsed time. I eventually sold it on EBay and "upgraded" to a Forerunner 405. That I found to be a very frustrating piece of equipment: non-intuitive, complicated menus plus a very cranky touch-bezel input method. In a year or so of using that watch, I never got anywhere near comfortable with it. The touch-bezel seemed to have an evil life of its own; I really never could make it work right. And the battery had to be re-charged constantly. Finally, in a fit of frustration, one day I jerked it off my wrist, stomped it to death and threw it in a trashcan. No more Garmin for me for the last year or so.

But, finally, I could no longer deal with not knowing my current pace and started checking out sports watches again. Liked the reviews for the 210 and decided to try one, albeit with great misgivings. Now, after two racewalks using the watch, I can say that I highly recommend it. (Caveat: of course, at this point, I have no idea about long-term dependability.)

I had read that Garmin moved their headquarters and, in the process, got rid of a bunch of their programmers. If that is the case, then perhaps this Garmin 210 is the happy result. Best thing, the irritating touch-bezel is gone! Hooray! Here we have 4 physical buttons. The complicated, hard-to-use menu system is gone, replaced by something easy enough to learn in just a try or two. (Alternatively, you could break down and read the instructions.) The screen does not divide up into slices and offer you choices of what to put into each slice. It just shows you distance at the top (set for miles for kilometers), elapsed time in the middle and pace (set for current or average) at the bottom. Period. Which is all I ever want to see on the watch face, anyway. Fancy stuff like a "virtual runner" is not there. But it saves your history and you can upload runs to Garmin Connect if you want. And it does a few other things that probably some, but not most, users ever actually use. Bottom line is that it''s user-friendly, simple and straight-forward -everything the Forerunner 405, in my opinion, is not. And the battery, unlike the 405, seems to go for a while -they say at least a week or more, depending on use, of course -without having to re-charge.

I give it 4 stars instead of 5 only because of the cable USB connector which ends in a 4-prong clip that has to be aligned with 4 connectors on the back of the watch. Takes some attention to clip it in right and looks to me like an area that might develop trouble. I notice that Garmin makes a big deal out of telling you to clean those connections, which probably means they tend to get unclean very quickly and not work right. Would be great if there was just a simple mini-USB plug to go into the watch, like a camera uses, instead of that bulky clip. But, for now, the clip works fine for me and may never give any trouble, for all I know. Also, I have no idea how the watch will hold up over time.

For anyone who mostly needs just the basic information about their run or other activity and especially for anyone who has become frustrated with one of the touch-bezel models or with other Garmin watch operating systems, this watch could be just what you are looking for. BTW, there is also a Forerunner 110 that is very similar and $50 less but my understanding is that it only shows average pace, not current. That would not work for me.

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Bought this watch as a gift for my wife. I''ve had the Garmin Forerunner 205 for 2.5 years and my wife had been interested in getting her own for some time. The thing that was holding her back was the size of the 205. It just didn''t fit comfortably on her wrist. The 210 solves that problem with it''s compact size and actually offers more features than the 205 (heart rate monitor and interval support). The 210 is so small I would actually consider is reasonable to wear around as a regular men''s sport watch (unlike the 205 it is easy to display time as the primary screen rather than buried in a sub menu).

The only reason I didn''t give 5 stars is the USB connector / recharging cable. The watch has 5 points on the back used for downloading data and charging and to connect it to the computer or power plug you have to use an odd proprietary clip that clamps down on the front and back of the watch. You have to be very careful to line up all 5 of the contact points otherwise charing won''t work. I''m guessing they didn''t use a standard mini-USB for reasons of water resistance, but the clip is not easy to connect to the device and it can slip off of the watch easily. My 205 has a cradle that the watch sits in, I''m not sure why Garmin went away from this approach, but the cradle is clearly preferable to the clip.

If you can get over the clip for charging I highly recommend this watch.

As a side note we also considered the Garmin 110, but did not purchase that because it doesn''t offer real-time pace information. That was a deal breaker for me. If you are considering the 110 spend the few extra dollars for the 210. You won''t be sorry.

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After my IMTX training buddies finally convinced me to invest in a Garmin Forerunner, I decided to go with the 210. I did a lot of research and I liked the functionality and look of the 210, and went with that. I bought mine online at REI (had some gift cards) and it came with free standard shipping, and got here just in time for my race last weekend.

So it arrived on Sat and my race was on Sunday morning. It charged fully within a couple hours, and it took me only a few minutes to figure out and complete the initial set up. Another minute later and I had all the basic functionality figured out. On race day (sprint du), it found the satellites very quickly, less than a minute. The run portion was in a park, not on Google-able roads, and the 210 worked as well as I had hoped. It was easy to check my pace, my heartrate and distance without distracting me from the race. I love how it beeps every mile (you can change the default lap distance), but the beep is not too loud to be considered annoying.

I went for another 8mi run at the local park trails and did 3 loops (also a non-Google-able route), and it worked GREAT! Satellites were found in about 10sec. After the first loop, I stopped the 210 while I took a moment to de-layer (it was chilly but I warmed up quicker than I thought). Then re-started it again no issues there. My pace was easy to track and the mileage seemed to be very accurate.

I connected the 210 to my computer when I got home VERY easy to figure that out and install the necessary software. Within about 5min, I had connected and was able to see my run data, from the race and my training run.

Very good GPS watch, very fun and easy to use highly recommend for anyone who wants to make running more fun, or who is as fascinated by data as I am.

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I recently bought the Forerunner 410 based on features and reviews. I absolutely hated it and returned it after 3 days. I wrote a separate review on the 410. I got the 210 and love the size for a woman''s wrist. The GPS connects in a few seconds and the features are very easy to use. (With the 410 I ran a 5k with the instruction manual in my hand.) As others have said connecting it up to those 5 tiny contact points that you cannot see is a bit tricky, but it charges fast and I have been able to upload my data into the Garmin Connect website and MapMyRun with ease. I only wear it when I am running or biking and it goes to a power save mode when not in use. The watch lasted a week without running out of battery time. This is using GPS (while running) and running about 20-25 miles per week.

PROS:

Very simple to use

Good size for woman''s wrist

Could use as a regular watch due to it''s size

GPS connects fast

Power save mode

Has pace, distance, intervals, etc

CONS:

The battery contacts are tiny and tricky to get in place

Heart rate monitor strap seems very soft and pliable but cuts into my skin.

WISHES: Had vibration mode for intervals when wearing headphones

Purchased the first Garmin Forerunner 210 on the advice of my fitness trainer. After ten uses indoors, I attempted to synch the watch with my PC. The wrist unit screen flashed bright blue and went dead. Since I was within days of the 30-day Amazon return policy, I hustled to return the Garmin. Amazon sent me an new replacement model quickly. I was thankful the 210 did not fail a week later.

I have had the replacement Forerunner 210 with premium heart monitor for six months. I have been using it both outdoors and indoors. It finds and locks on GPS very consistently. The Garmin Connect web site has been very helpful in tracking tracking and sharing information. After five months of use, the heart monitor failed to connect with the unit. I changed the battery in the heart monitor. To remove the cover, I was required to use a very small jewlery screw driver to release four very, very small screws. One of the screws began to strip, but I was able to remove the cover and change the battery. I''d love to know who what brain surgeon designed the battery cover. Very small jewlery screws??? Really???

The heart monitor worked for two weeks then began to fail even with the new battery. This time I replaced the battery again and the heart monitor failed to take a reading. I am on line now purchasing the basic heart monitor to replace the premium one that has failed. I note others have had issues with the premium monitor also, so I am not buying that one.

This is becoming an expensive investment.

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Aquatic Exercise Dumbells/Hand Bars - Sold in Pairs - 3 Resistance Levels

They''re nice. They''re not too bulky or long and fit nicely in your hands. My guess is that the "Medium" size provides about 5-10 lbs of resistance, depending on the depth of the water. I''m very happy with them.

I teach water aerobics and prefer these hand bouys to any other. I order them in mass because my students prefer them to the ones provided by the gym. They are durable and provide an excellant workout. They are the best quality out there.

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These are great. When I got them and took them out of the box I was shocked at how light they were and thought they would be useless. I was wrong. Once you get them into the water the water resistance makes them work really well. I highly recommend them.

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I use these in my gym''s water aerobics class. Several members of the class have their own barbells, in different brands and sizes I''ve seen them having issues with theirs not being buoyant enough, or end caps falling off during workouts, and they all spent as much or more on theirs as I spent on these. I chose this barbell because I had borrowed the instructor''s extra pairs many times, and these are exactly what she has. I thought they looked cheap before I used them, but they are very buoyant, provide strong resistance, and feel very solid in the water. I''ve never seen any of this brand fall apart during use. While I haven''t had my own for very long, the instructor has had her barbells for several years and they''ve held up really well. Couldn''t be happier with this purchase.

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The aquatic exercise dumbells are very good quality. I do my own water workouts and have used them extensively as part of that regime. I ordered the medium size and they give very good resistance. Would buy again.

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CAP Barbell 25 lb Black Olympic Weight Plate

$1 for 1lb is a good deal. Walmart charges more than $1 for their standard weight plates.

These are iron with a matte black finish painted on.

It''s for olympic weight bars. Olympic weight bars have bearings on the ends that allow the weights to rotate with momentum so you are less jerked by that momentum.

On ebay I found plates for $1 per llb also but you need to buy $150-$300 kits. I like being able to accumulate plates slowly for what I need, and I don''t need 150lbs since an olympic bar alone is 40lbs.

The cheapest would be to find these at a yard sale or a fitness business going out-of-business. But I didn''t have any luck finding either of those things. Olympic plates are much rarer I''ve found.

Hope that helps.

These are well built cast iron weights and this is what matters. I prefer the gold lettering of Gold''s Gym weights, but its no big. The reason I used an asterix is because one side of the weight plate is covered in stickers. They do not simply peel off. The glue has hardened and you will only be able to peel half of the sticker and the gum residue remains where you did manage to tear off the outer paper layer of the sticker. So, I soaked the weights in some detergent solution to break down the glue and then used those plastic scrubbies to get the sticker residue off the weight. You should know that the result of this arduous and completely ridiculous and unnecessary chore is a scratched plate as the scrubbing inevitably removes some of the black paint. It took a long time to do this to 4 weight plates. I imagine most will just leave the stickers on, so expect to do one of these 2 options with these sticker plagued plates.

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It is round, black and 25 lbs. Like other people said, the paint job really is silly. Whoever painted the gray lettering smeared gray paint outside of the lettering. Oh well, for the price, you can''t complain.

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Bundle - (3 Items): Heart Rate Monitor Watch + Personal Body Fat Test Caliper

I bought the p90x home fitness program and it was suggested that I get a heart rate watch. I like this watch because its strapless and I can easily take my heart rate during the water breaks. My main focus for doing the program was to lose weight, so it''s nice that I am able to track my body fat as well.

Well for 30 bucks I would expect it to have a better quality then something that can be put together for less than 1 dolar, the watch looks like a toy made os plastic, the heart monitor is not even close to the real heart rate, the watch strap broke after 1 hour of extremely light usage, it felt like if the strap just decided it would be better to finish its miserable life than to stay on the dumb watch, for almost 30 dolars it is not worth it, maybe for 5 dolars.

The Negative ion watch also sucks, you have to put a thin object to change the time on it, but it will brake if you put something thin on it, it is a rubber button, a very very very thin layer of rubber, that just gave up on its existence too, so for 30 dolars you get the plastic caliper, a strapless watch, and a black rubberband that shows you the wrong time.

I broke these things in less than 1 hour after the arrival, and I handle my things with extremely care, i felt like the hulk.

So if you want quality and durability, do NOT buy this bundle of junk, buy something for 40 dolars that will last for at least 1 year, not something for 30 that will last for less than 1 day, wrost purchase ever.

But if you do want to throw some money away on junk, I would say that this product is made for you.

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Bowflex Xtreme 2 Home Gym

I did a ton of research before buying the X2. I run on a treadmill 3 or 4 days a week (about 12-15 miles a week) and work up a good sweat, and my lower body is pretty lean. However, being almost 40, and not having trained with weights since high school, I felt I needed to start doing some weight/resistance training, particularly on my upper body.

Well, after 3 weeks, I can tell a huge difference after using this machine. I''m also glad I got the X2 instead of the X because of the ability to work out faster without pully changes.

I also have been able to gradually increase the weight so that I''m going to buy the two 50 rod extensions. I highly recommend this machine to anyone who doesn''t feel comfortable in a gym, and/or just doesn''t have the time to go. I have small kids and being able to hit this machine at 5:30 am when everyone is still asleep is a huge benefit for me.

As for assembly, it was fairly easy if you follow directions. The only difficult part was the pully system make sure you have it right as that is the backbone of the entire system. The pics in the instructions could have been a little clearer. Otherwise, bottom line is that this thing works and was a great purchase.

All five boxes arrived in relatively good shape... some punctures but not bad. The internal components are packaged in styrofoam so they are well protected. I decided on the Xtreme2 after trying out the Bowflex SE and the Xtreme(1). The Bowflex SE''s seat was very uncomfortable for me and didn''t have the multi-pulley system like the Xtreme2 so it would require a little more effort to move cables around. I would recommend the Xtreme2 over the SE for a few hundred dollars more. Setup took me about 4 hours, but I was moving at a slow pace so as not to miss any components. The instructions are pretty good. When assembled you can see that this is a real solid piece of workout equipment. Bowflex did a good job on it. Have been using it for approx a month and am amazed at the many positions that are available and probably lots more if you use your imagination. Highly recommend the Xtreme2 for those who know that this is the machine that they want. Serious bodybuilders should go elsewhere because the resistance is a totally different feel and I know the weights do not compare one to one for the Bowflex versus free weights. For anyone wanting to put on muscle and tone this is a great machine. If your sole purpose is to get "huge" you should get some type of power rack. I did call Bowflex three times with some minor questions/comments and they answered the phone within 15 seconds each and every time day or night. Great customer satisfaction. One last thing, if you are serious about working out and are fairly strong, get the 310 upgrade because it will make changing out rods much easier for you. Look around for prices too.

Also, one more comment... I purchased a 50"x60" rubber mat from Amazon for approx $49 and it is pretty nice but I don''t really think you need one for the Bowflex since it sits only on the four corner legs and nothing else touches the floor anyway. You probably could get by with some small size pads.

-Try one out somewhere before you buy and Good luck.

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This machine is very well put together, and Xtremely sturdy. It took a friend and I two hours to put it together, so be prepared for that. While assembly was a bit trying, the end results are worth it. As a 40 year old man, I wanted to start working out again. I hadn''t worked out since my Memphis State days, and I didn''t want to join a gym. I have the 410lb model, and it will be all the resistance that I''ll ever need. As I said earlier, the motion is smooth and challenging. While the power rods do deliver tough resistance, it is not challenging as free weights. For example I can bench press 300lbs on my X2, but on free weights I can do only about 240lb. That is a big difference, and all the exercises are that way too. That being said, I still find the bowflex to be a great homegym and I''m getting the results I desire. I''m not trying to get as huge as a wrestler, but the bowflex is changing my body and adding mass. Don''t pay attention to the bowflex commercials, where the guys are ripped to the bone. That just won''t happen on a bowflex machine, and I''m glad they''ve started showcasing real people with real results. For the average man or woman, this machine will deliver. With around 100 different exercises and variations, you can target all your muscles:legs, chest, arms, abs, back, and shoulders. I''m very please with the 10 months I''ve been on the machine. Though its kinda pricey, its worth using my tax refund on it. If you are thinking about a homegym, the I highly recommend this machine. You should also upgrade to AT LEAST 310lb rods, because the leg exercises are pretty easy and you''ll need the extra rods. For guys, I think you should get the 410lb rods because you''ll see rapid results. I''ve gone from benching 220 to 300lb in less than a year. There are cheaper machines, and free weights will give you much better results. But if you''re looking for an all in one machine, that will last for years, then try the Xtreme2!

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I wanted to write a review concerning the design flaw mentioned in the previous review. I to had this issue when I first got my bowflex and was quite frustrated...particularly when I read the review on this site. I decided to try turning the power rods around just to see if this worked and in my case it did. I had to unscrew each power rod from the base, turn it, ensure it locked into place, and then rescrew it back to the base. After doing this even the flimsy 5 pound rods no longer hit the cross bar. After doing this I contacted bowflex to see what they had to say about this issue. They informed me that they were working on a fix that would be sent out as soon as it was done.

My main reason for writing this was to make sure anyone else that had this issue and found this review knew that the issue IS solvable at least for some cases.

As to the bowflex itself I have only been using it for about a week now, but really enjoy the versatility as well as the action of the rods and pulleys. It is very smooth and easy to use and I would definitely recommend it for the average user. My roommate is a fitness guy (ex fitness trainier)....he worked out on it a few times and definitely felt that you could get pretty cut/toned with this machine...if you are looking for bulk look elsewhere.

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This is last year''s model and is the same model as the Extreme 2 SE, but without the ab crunch mechanism. The thing is, you''ll save about $500 or more buying the Extreme 2. You can later add the ab crunch mechanism for $199 or buy the preacher curl addition for $139 on the Bowflex websiteif you want it or really need it. The Extreme 2 is also better than the Extreme or the Extreme SE. You have more position options for overhead and squat exercises. You also don''t have to change cables as in the regular extreme.

I put it together by myself meticulously over 4 hours. If I rushed maybe 3 hours. Get a friend to help you. Now, this is a good sized, sturdy, heavy machine, which does seem to hide in a corner well. It''s height is 6''11. The plus is that it looks great, better than my old equipment. Equipment needs to be pleasing to the eye so you want to go and use it often.

Buy a $20, four wheel dolly at a hardware store. I was able to slip it underneath and wheel it anywhere I needed myself. I will move it from the family room if I have a party.

Time and efficiency were the main reasons I purchased this unit without having to go over a thousand dollars. I also don''t have to have a spotter. I bought the bowflex weight upgrades and have maxed it out on squats. The feel is smooth and less stressful on joints. It has a different feel than free weights. I still have my olympic bench and free weights when I need a different exercise.

The upper back seat is ergonomic and wide which makes it very comfortable. I can watch TV nicely as I sit.

People who have come to the house want to get one and think it is "cool". It also has a great warranty.

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Moving Comfort Women''s Flow Capri

Love these pants! They are a flattering fit. Snug from the waist band to about the middle of my upper thigh, then get a little looser as they go down. Hit my mid-calf, which I was worried about, usually these types of pants are either too long or too short and just make me look stumpy, but these are perfect. True to size, I''m usually a 3/4, or 27 in jeans, etc. and I got a small. Fits well, I may come back for the black ones too!

These fit and feel great. I wanted something with thicker fabric. I feel more secure and less selfconscious in the thick-but-tight exercise clothes. I don''t want to wear loose warm up type exercise pants to yoga, they get all twisted and bunched and I''m constantly adjusting, but the thin stretchy fabric ones I bought felt like stretch pants, not exercise clothes. These fit and feel wonderful, so comfortable. I''m 5''8" and weight about 135 with a bit of a booty :), and ordered a small. I was worried they would be too small, but I trusted the size charts and they fit perfect. They are a little higher on the waist, probably mid rise, with the ability to fold over for lower rise. I prefer higher rise because of my bigger booty. Too many exercise pants show too much in the back when I sit if they are low rise. Also, these don''t show my panty line, so I no longer have to worry about that. They were a little pricier than my budget liked at $40, but they are worth it. The color stays, they wash fine and still feel good. I got online today and ordered another pair. I''m just going to donate that other, stretch pants pair.

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My favorite workout capri, the Nike Modern Fit, is no longer made so I have been searching high and low for something that I love as much. These are perfect, true to size, very flattering cut and seams, heavy and not too shiny. Full gusset and very comfortable. Highly recommended.

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Moving Comfort is known for their excellent quality and fit, and these capris are no exception. An flattering option for us curvy women who don''t feel comfortable in tiny workout shorts, but need something airier for warmer months.

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I bought these to run in. Very comfortable I got medium (I''m a size 6) and the fit great! Very very comfortable to run in. The material is great...when you sweat, you really don''t see it which is nice. Gave a 4 because the material is really good quality and a little heavy to run inside on treadmill. Outside running they are perfect...

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GSI Super Quality All-In-One Waterproof Heart Rate Monitor Watch and Transmitter Chest Belt

I work out in the gym 5 days a week, for 45 to 100 minutes per workout. I am 51 years old, 6'' 2" and today weigh in at 216 lbs. I regularly use a heart rate monitor because the feedback motivates me to keep going. I generally need the chronograph to show me total time of my workout, and I like a calories burned counter to encourage how much fat burning I have done.

I could not believe the price on this item and ordered it primarily to check it out and have an extra heart rate monitor for when my others fail or have a battery go out, etc. I don''t like being without a heart rate monitor for my workouts. I have used this item for 3 workouts now and can recommend the product with a few caveats.

At less than $20, this item cannot be beat. The chest strap alone is worth more than what you would pay for this whole system. The watch allows entering personal user data such as gender, age, height, weight, maximum heart rate and even VO2Max. It will display your BMI based upon the entered data, and obviously uses the statistics to calculate calories and fat burned based upon heart rate and time of exercise.

The biggest negative about this item is that the display is difficult to read. The background is dark green. My other heart rate monitors have a light gray background and are much easier to read. I don''t know if contrast needs to be adjusted on it or what, but the watch is not as easy to read as my other watches. I have learned to tilt the watch at a 45 degree angle to read it the best, but the angle has to be just right to be able to read it. Also, it helps a lot to have light directly overhead. When I am in a dimly lit hallway, I have a very difficult time reading it. A backlight does come on when a button is pressed, but it does not stay on for long and I actually think the backlight makes it even more difficult to read. Nevertheless, keep in mind that my eyes are tired and old at 51 years of age, and I often reach for reading glasses and turn on a light in order to read. Younger individuals may not have as difficult time. This one negative issue, however, drops the rating from 5 stars to 4. It is a serious consideration in ordering this watch.

Another criticism I have is that the watch regularly cycles screens during a workout. This is nice when on an elliptical or treadmill, because you can just look at it and watch the different statistics show without having to push buttons. However, I like to use it while lifting weights, to make sure I don''t rest too much between sets, and to make sure I am pushing myself hard during the workout itself. For this activity, I would prefer to know exactly what screen is on when I go to look at it, and if I want to see calories, then know to hit the button twice to get to that screen. With the constant cycling, I don''t know what screen will be displaying when I look at it. I have to pause, squint at the hard to read screen, and figure out what screen it is on. It would have been nice if I could push or hold a button to turn cycling on or off.

The instruction manual is a little difficult to understand. It took me awhile just to figure out how to set the time. Once I figured out the logic of the buttons, however, using it is rather straight forward and not difficult at all. Following is a link to a manual to a similar watch which has option to transfer data to PC. This watch lacks the COMM option on the menu, but the other menu items are very similar.

One nice feature of this watch not normally found in watches costing $50 or less is that it will store data for your last 40 exercises. The stored data are also tallied, so you could see how much time, calories, and grams of fat were burned for the entire time you have been storing the data. I plan to use it for weekly totals since I generally track my progress by the end of each week. There are enough slots to do this for the month as well, or if you work out only 3 times a week, two months of data could be stored. You can traverse the menu to see each exercise individually as well. It will show the date and time of the workout, the average heart rate, the percent of maximum heart rate the average heart rate represents, the maximum heart rate during the exercise, the minimum heart rate and percent of maximum heart rate that it represents, the heart rate at the end of the exercise and its percent of maximum heart rate, the calories burned, the grams of fat burned, and items set in the user setup screen used in the calculations, such as your weight, height, and type of exercise (aerobic, exercise bike, stair stepper, treadmill, jog, walk, bike, or other).

A very nice feature I found that my other heart rate monitors do not have is a battery saving feature. I regularly have to replace batteries in my other heart rate monitors, and they stay in the drawer all the time except when I exercise. This watch allows me to turn the display off by holding in the Mode button for a few seconds. To turn it back on, press the mode button. Nice. I am using this feature regularly and trust that it will minimize how often I have to replace the battery.

The watch also allows setting up three zones for heart rate and will show a graph of where you are in the zone and whether you need to push harder or less, but I personally do not care about this feature and do not use it. I know what I want my heart rate to be while exercising and do not need a machine to tell me that.

The chest strap has a user replaceable battery, and it wirelessly transmits to the ellipticals and treadmills in my gym. I am very happy about that. I don''t like having to hold the monitors on those devices. It also works with my other watches, so if I decide I want an easier to read watch, I will use one of them with this chest strap. However, this watch tracks much more data than my other monitors, and it saves them. So for now, I am going to use this watch and see if I get use to using it.

Some reviews complain about the monitor being off on the heart rate. In my experience, all heart rate monitors suffer from this problem. The first time I used this, before I had worked up a sweat, the heart rate was erratically high, then low. I licked my fingers and wet the pads on the chest belt with my saliva. The monitor quickly became steady and consistently accurate. I have compared this to other more costly monitors and have found it to be close enough for what I do. I have absolutely no gripes about how well this heart rate monitor tracks heart rates compared to other monitors. In my opinion, it does the job and does it well. Users, should expect that many issues can affect the monitor, including whether or not the chest strap is wet (the instructions say to wet them with water before use), some shirts, especially microfiber, can interfere with it, and proximity to radios, magnets in speakers, fluorescent lights, etc. can all cause issues with the function of a heart rate monitor. Some more expensive monitors use digital transmission to try and remedy these problems, but it seems to me unfair to criticize this heart rate monitor in this area. This heart rate monitor works just as well as other heart rate monitors I have from Polar and Life Wise that cost three times what this one costs.

Overall, you just cannot go wrong for $20. If nothing else, it makes a great backup, but I think this may become my primary heart rate monitor now. The truth is that I probably will order another one to keep at home (I use this one at my office). The price is just too good.

compared to other items with similar features, this was a steal. I''ve only had it for a few weeks, so time will tell how durable it is. As it stands now, it''s got good features. good data storage. quality hr monitor. so-so on user friendliness.

Buy GSI Super Quality All-In-One Waterproof Heart Rate Monitor Watch and Transmitter Chest Belt Now

I was very impressed with this product, how it kept track of so much information and seemed pretty accurate, and was comfortable to run with. Unfortunately, after three weeks it started giving wild readings. I am about to send it back, but I''m debating with myself whether to replace the battery, though that shouldn''t have died after a dozen uses.

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I purchased this item to monitor my heart rate while exercising at the gym. The monitor also includes other functions but they are difficult to set up as the User''s Manual is poorly written and not helpful.The monitor works at times (maybe 50% of the time). Generally it does not work when you need it most that is when running on the treadmill. I usually get readings of 30 to 40 (well below the trigger rate of my pacemaker) or on the opposite a rate of 180 which is well beyond my reach at my age. The only positive point of this monitor is its price. It is cheap... Cheap is a good summary for this item.

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Tells time fine. Knowing nothing about heart rate, I can''t speak to its accuracy, but it goes up as I work out. Only flaw is that it dose not have a light.

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13" TKO Stability Disc

After much reading and deciding and wondering if I was making the right choice, I was pleasantly surprised that I did. My hesitation was that no one wrote a review. THis Stability disc so far seems well made and came already blown up! what more can I ask for other that good Product, No Problems! :-)

Discs arrived on-time but were not inflated properly. One of them wasn''t inflated enough to be useable. No pump was included. Description should talk about inflaltion and what is needed to inflate. I returned them

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I bought this stability disc to work my thighs, butt and stomach especially; my core in general. I love it! I read up on this type of equipment and how good it is for someone with back issues like myself so I wanted to give it a try. I couldn''t afford a BOSU but I think this is a wonderful substitute. My husband is really appreciating it as a new element to his work out routine. Thus far, I have had no issues with it. It seems a very sturdy piece of equipment. The only thing I wish is that some suggested exercises would have been included. I have gotten ideas through my research of the type of equipment.

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I am a Special Education Teacher of kids who are 3 yrs old and under with special needs (disabiliies or delays). I use these discs for a number of activities *At home for physical therapy type of standing to strengthen our knees:) *At work/play with children, this discs are great to have the child stand on with help for stepping stones. Also, it gives my wigglers a way to wiggle on their seat (no pun intended) without getting up (from a seat or the floor) or moving away from their teacher!

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I have had the disc a month and it is deflated and will not hold air. My 8 year old son used the disc and it was not able to hold his 60 lbs for a month.

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Medi-Dyne StretchRite Exercise Strap

I was looking for help with my plantar fasciitis and this is perfect. It beats using a towel or belt when trying to stretch your foot or calf muscles. Great price and shipping was fair.

I highly recommend this product for stretching. It is well made and sturdy.

This exercise strap gives great control as to how much you want and can stretch. I would highly recommend it to anyone whose legs or thighs are tight.

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This is a great tool for runners for stretching. You can stretch every muscle is your legs especially the certain stretches that are difficult to do on your own.

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I bought the Medi-Dyne StretchRite for my wife who HAD plantar fasciitis. She follows the instructions in the user''s guide and has been stretching every morning for around 2 months. Despite the fact that she jogs every day and does not have any other treatments nor visit the doctor, the plantar fasciitis is now gone.

The product is strong and very well designed. At first I thought a belt would do the job but finally decided to purchase the StretchRite. It works great. The handle knobs are easy to hold and your hands will not get hurt when stretching. This is a purpose-built tool and worth the money.

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Having used the large rubbery bands for stretching, and having killed numerous of these--was delighted to find a well constructed one that my husband, with greater strength, can use without killed (popping in half). Buy it if you stretch with these--you''ll have it for YEARS.

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