Personal Trainer Austin Texas » Exercise Equipment

Shake Weight – As Seen on TV

margo-personaltrainer — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 01:18:55 +0000

Okay, I need to chime in on this product being parodied on the likes of SNL and other shows. If you workout, don’t expect much. Mostly, it’s just embarrassing to use, so the comedians are having their fun with it. See me below?

I’m holding a homemade “shakeweight” – hahahaha. Close enough; save your hard earned money and pass on this one people.

Sincerely,
Margo

Torso Flexion for Core Strength

margo-personaltrainer — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:41:25 +0000

As I say in this brief video, you may use a regular swiffer, broom, or pole of any sort as long it’s light. You do not need a special bar at all; anything around the house will do! This is great for ab strength, tone, and flexibility. It can actually feel good, too. :-)

Take care,

Margo

Skype Personal Fitness Training

margo-personaltrainer — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:24:18 +0000

Live Personal Fitness Training can come to you! If you have a webcam you’re all set.
See video below and visit my website: http://www.1-on-1fitnesstraining.com to learn more about getting Skype so you can do personal fitness training with me, live, from my studio to your location .

Take Care,
Margo

Exercise and Running Shoe Wear & Tear

margo-personaltrainer — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:55:33 +0000

Hi all,

It’s that time of year when more of you will be heading outside to walk or run, and perhaps hitting the workouts even more for the proverbial warm weather clothing. That means it’s time to check your shoe tread. On the right you can see bald areas on my shoe bottom; left are my new ones.

Shoe Tread

If you aren’t sure by ‘feel’ if you need new shoes – look at the tread. If you see any worn or bald spots it’s time to toss them and get new ones.

Warm regards,
Margo

Mini Stability Ball Workout

margo-personaltrainer — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:36:24 +0000

Exercise your abs, glutes and chest on the Stability Ball in couple of minutes.

For those of you who enjoy the Stability Ball and are short on time, here is a 3 minute workout hitting your abs, glutes, chest and arms.

Take care,
Margo

Weighted Body Bar Exercises

margo-personaltrainer — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:18:55 +0000

Previously under the category Exercise Equipment titled “Weighted Body Bar” I mention a few exercises using this apparatus. The less complex a piece of equipment is, the more likely you are to use it. Here are just a few demo shots of body toning exercises you can do with a weighted body bar. As always, for the New Year I’m all for using mostly gravity, you and your body, and a minimal amount of apparatus. That said, if you want to add apparatus, this body bar, along with stability and medicine balls and a Bosu, are plenty to get anyone started and fit. I’ve mentioned these simple exercise tools previously, and will expand on what to do with them more this month. Here are a few shots of Weighted Body Bar moves. As always, I’m here for you via email or phone for details on these exercises.

BICEP CURL TRICEP PRESS

BACK ROW CHEST & SHOULDER PRESS

Take care everyone,

Margo

Plank – Abdominal Exercise

margo-personaltrainer — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:27:29 +0000

This exercise for strengthening your trunk/core requires no equipment; just you and gravity. The picture above demonstrates “plank”. During this time of year when many of you struggle with exercise time; do plank to hit those abs. A strong core is key to wellness. Hold plank for 15 seconds, relax, then work up to 30 seconds, or a minute. You will feel your arms and shoulders too.

More advance moves include raising a leg or an arm; but let’s keep it simple for the start of this New Year on our heels. If you own a Bosu, you can do this as shown below to add difficulty and stability to this move.

More exercise and nutrition tips coming for 2010!

Warm regards,

Margo

Resistance Ring

margo-personaltrainer — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:44:57 +0000

Many of you have asked me what this is when you’ve seen it in the background of some photos. I have some funny names for it, but the correct name is Resistance Ring, most commonly used and known in Pilates circles (excuse the pun).

I like it because it’s light, travels well, challenges stability, and is easy to use. It’s comfortable when pressed against your body, and is useful in trunk stability and strengthening, and for targeting inner thighs, and chest as shown below. Resistance can be increased by squeezing, so it works with many strength variables. There you have it! Now when you see it hanging in a photo, you know what it is, although your imagination might be more fun!

Chest Press on Left

Inner Thigh on Right

Warm regards,

Margo

Fitness & Health – Holiday Gift Ideas

margo-personaltrainer — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:39:13 +0000

Stuck? Need Gift Ideas?

Many of us experience difficulty in shopping for family and friends. Another thing we all experience? Receiving gifts we will NEVER use. A client of mine suggested I share this with you here. Spare friends and family the expen$e of giving you an unwanted gift. Instead, try what she did and suggest a Gift Certificate from One-on-One Personal Fitness Training! I do them every year for people surprising significant others or friends. They aren’t just for new people to get them started; it makes a great gift for someone already committed to fitness and health, who’d love to get one session, or a week of sessions or more, as a holiday gift. I can mail it or you can pick it up! What better gift to give someone then an investment in their health and well being.

May I also suggest the following gift ideas! A book about the food industry to fascinate and educate, “In Defense of Food” or “The 5 Day Miracle Diet” a book about ending cravings and eating for life long health.

GIVE A BOOK TO YOUR READER FRIENDS!!!!

Another great fitness gift idea is exercise bands! They’re affordable, fun, light, easy to store, and work great for body strengthening and toning, and travel easily!

Last but not least, for the beginner walker to hard core runner, give them a “Polar” brand heart rate watch and strap for keeping track of their heart rate perpetually, and to track time and exercise intensity!

All these are great gifts that show you care not only about them, but their health and well being too! Hope these ideas help make your shopping easier!

Take care,

Margo

Rebounding (and as seen on TV)

margo-personaltrainer — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:33:14 +0000

Rebounders or mini-tramps have been around for many years. The models sold today are a bit bigger and more sturdy then those of days gone by (from what I’ve seen), and the DVD’s that come with it supply a lot of variety (and imagination ala ‘hip hop’ and ‘yoga’) to keep it interesting and fun. They are easy to learn, and easy to store…this model folds up! The model I am endorsing and show here is the “Urban Rebounder” that I purchased on line. Email me for details on that.

I like it for stability and balance work, and the fact it allows you to jump without hard impact. I’m still a fan of hard impact; yet many of my clients have varying reasons why they may need to reduce or eliminate hard impact, and this rebounder is a great alternative. And fun.

The model I have also comes with workout bands that attach to the sides so you can do arms, shoulders, etc, while standing and/or bouncing. It also comes with a detachable handle bar (shown in the photo above) to hold onto for security and balance, or as a tool when lifting one leg or for sitting and working abs, etc. Lots of options!!!! And fun (did I say that already?)

I love the Rebounder for burning calories, jogging without hard impact, twisting and jumping jacks and squats, abs and more. I think it’s effective, beneficial in too many ways to list, (and lots of fun). The DVD’s that come with are a hoot, and great for novice to advanced.

Take care,

Margo