TRAINING TIPS: " The New - 'StreetStrider' - Just May Change Your Life"!

Have I got news for you! Today, I am announcing the arrival (or at least 'my knowledge' about the existence of) a REVOLUTIONARY new piece of Cardio Equipment that I absolutely can not WAIT TO ACQUIRE!
Ever used an Elliptical Trainer? I have and quite often actually; especially over the past two years.

You see, I have an extensive home gym. I have to of course, I train many clients here and among the myriad of equipment I possess, I'm convinced that  I own what I consider to be the 'Cadillac' of Elliptical trainers. It's the "TRUE TSX". Ahhhh, what a pleasure. IF you propel an elliptical trainer as vigorously as if you were running and work at using your body with the same form as if you were, studies show that for all intents and purposes, you basically ARE running; but with  the absence of the aggressive, jarring and often injury producing impact that running creates. They've found that when an elliptical is used in this fashion, your body will produce almost the exact same Vo2 uptake (oxygen utilization or energy expenditure) and  multi-joint muscle recruitment that a runner does. In short, you might as well be running. This is how I ride all Elliptical Trainers and my heart rate monitor agrees! But it's important to be honest with yourself about your workload and form. Give it a try but be prepared for a balance learning curve.

 In short order, you'll have it down pat and if you care enough, you'll never hold on or dog it again. If you're concerned that you may be taking it a little too easy, download my "Elliptical Fit Volume I" MP3 (Ipod) workout and test yourself to be sure. You can download this 40 minute killer workout at www.FitIsItCardio.com or Itunes!

  This information is wildly important of course - not only to the professional athlete, but to the average fitness enthusiast who longs to run but wants to save their body from the harsh impact. It's impact that injures. If you would already have described yourself as a runner, but now have an injury or a chronic condition that would preclude you from doing so (like me)....we know what an especially hard pill that is to swallow. I was told "NO WAY"  after my spinal fusion  2 years ago in order to hold my previously broken neck in place and to keep this body of mine in good working order; Don't tell any one but I still put in a good 6 mile run once a week. HEY GET OFF MY BACK...I CAN so I do - but I realize that I must be extremely careful!

So, if  running has been nixed from your life and you just can't seem to just accept that lying down, you probably struggle with personal dialogue something like this - "Man, I'm putting in some serous miles on this Elliptical but I'm going no where. If I could really run again.. I mean I love this feeling, but just want so badly to take it out there - that would be a little slice of heaven on a nice day like today".  Well my friend, I can say that I DO understand and I suppose if we could figure out how to do that, well we'd be geniuses, right?
WELL Guess what? There are Geniuses Among Us and They've Created The StreetStrider !!!
An elliptical on WHEELS! You heard me right, it's an elliptical that you take OUTSIDE to RIDE! OMG!
So now, we can glide down the street with the wind in our hair and the sun on our face once again. Who knew?

Well, apparently Dr. Oz did  because he has one... that little creep ( of course I actually admire the heck outta the guy and  I'm secretly happy for him. I JUST WANT ONE TOO).
"It's combines the benefits of jogging, skiing and cycling, but low impact for the knees and back" says Oz,(and other joints too I might add ). Apparently he's even ridden it to work, at least once anyway.
SO here it is. The perfect solution and they apparently they've thought of everything.

There are four models including a one for the  kids.  This way, the entire family can get out there and have a blast sweating together and getting or staying in shape. Just don't tell them it's good for them and they'll be the first ones out the door. They've also created a stationary rack you can purchase, so you  never have to miss a workout, even when the weather just won't cooperate.

So there you have it. I love reporting on good news. An Elliptical trainer that gives you the "Moves like Jagger" without the impact that can leave you crippled.

I'm including a link to their site and it appears that they're offering 20% off with free shipping right now, creating  even more incentive to purchase one and get your groove back.
The second link is  from Youtube, so you can check it out in motion.

So enjoy and remember, I will be silent for a few days as I have some nasty dental surgery tomorrow. Depending on how I feel, I may be posting just a couple days worth of the "Best - o - Candace" during my recovery down time.

Until Next Time,
Saddle up the StreetStrider and hit the Road Jack!
Candace

www.StreeStrider.com

TO check out youtube as well...go to    http://youtu.be/60_oiytG1-E 

There are several to watch actually, so you can really check it out...

Wednesday's Wellness: “Lighten Up - Road Rage Can Damage Your Health”!

Ok, so I live in Baltimore. Just so happens, Baltimore often ranks near the top of the list when it comes to cities with the worst traffic in the country. We most always hit the top 20, with a new report from Highway Administration ranking us right at the top of the list! I live here. I understand this. I drive here. I've come to accept it... HOWEVER, I do so by conducting myself with a diplomacy that comes through sheer discipline alone, a lady - like dignity and a good dose of decorum. I wouldn't dare leave my home to hit these frenetic "Nascar speed ways" unless I first prayerfully considered asking for the will power it takes to produce a good attitude AND a hope that others might respond in kind.

Unfortunately. what I find is a situation that's given birth to behaviors bordering on barbaric.

Those of us who choose to refrain from ACTING OUT already suffer from what should and can best be described as BATTERED ROAD SYNDROME! We've been shot the bird, had expletives shrieked at us and been so closely tail gated that a single hiccup could cause a three car pile up.

And yet a new phenomenon has crept in among the road rage roadsters and I for one have had it with their already inappropriate, childish, dangerous and down right abhorrent
“Road side manner"!

It's what I call the 3 second rule. Goes like this; (and it happens to me at least two to three times a day now, without fail)- you are sitting at a red light, the light turns green...1 one thousand, 2 one thousand,3 one BBEEEEEEEPPPPP!!!!! YEP, if you don't get your foot from brake to gas petal in less than 3 seconds, the horn behind you goes off! Experienced it? My family has and I've taken a survey, lots of us have. It takes at least two or three seconds to move one’s foot from brake to gas, so my suggestion is to take a deep breath and ask yourself what you think you're going to do with that dubious nano second you believe you just gained. I also implore you to consider the health risks you’re taking by giving full vent to your anger that obviously has NOTHING to do with red, green or any colored lights, road signs, traffic delays or the inadvertent experiences such as being “cut off” by an other wise innocent driver who just found their blind spot (and you just happened to be in it).

IF you think that you can't sit still for three seconds without blowing your horn, I wonder what your family experiences at the end of a long day, when you blow in the front door and let it rip? Gerry Smith, Vice President of Organizational Health at Warren Shepell, is a consultant on workplace violence and spends most of his time teaching organizations how to make their workplaces safer, including how to drive safely. Smith says, “ Road rage can affect your health both inside and outside your vehicle”.

So true. We know that stress - manifested in various forms - can cause, contribute to, or exacerbate elevated blood pressure, various issues with pain, heart disease, digestive problems, sleep problems, depression, obesity, etc.

Many feel that road rage is a behavior that you either have and can’t control, or something you just don’t tend to experience. This of course would imply that those of us who don’t participate in such behavior, are just the type of folks who aren’t bothered by aggressive and annoying road related happenstance. To that may I say a short but sweet “BULL HONKY” (yes, my dad’s Oklahoma influence is showing once again)! Choices are all around us every day. I mentioned on Monday that “Happiness is a Choice”, is one of my favorite reads. I don’t know if it exists, but I would suspect it would be easy enough to write “Anger is a choice” as well. We all have the ability to change. Abstaining from participating in destructive behaviors; be it overeating, slothfulness, working too much or controlling ones temper when it comes to issues we CHOOSE to PERCEIVE as catastrophic (more on that idea on next Monday’s post - FYI), are within our power to overcome.

When it comes to the notion that one can ‘decide’ to either let it fly or to refrain from such antics, it’s nice to know that Smith agrees. When asked if one can choose to control oneself, even in the heat of the moment, he had this to say; "I believe you can. I believe you have an instantaneous second of choice to make, you either make the choice to be angry or make the choice to let it go and I think all of us can do that. Anger is something we choose to do. Anger is something we let happen. Most people think it's something that's beyond their control but it's not."

Wellness itself is also a choice – a decision one makes to move toward optimal health.

Make the choice to begin to work towards a state of balance today. Truly there is no time like the present. Do so, in all areas of your life. Though it’s not easy, it’s well worth the effort. Living a healthy, abundant life entails a balanced focus in all areas of our existence; intellectual, social, spiritual, emotional, physical and occupational. Life is short. SO, I beg you, lay off the horn and take a little time to smell the exhaust….it is a beginning - not only for yourself, but for the rest of us as well!

Until next time,

Power on,
Candace

Candace Grasso; For more articles, go to www.CandaceGrasso.BlogSpot.com

For information on Fitness, Nutrition and a list of our services, as well as our audio cardio workout downloads, go to www.FitIsItCardio.com