After 20+ years of doing straight-bar bench presses, swinging at tons of volleyballs and throwing too many footballs, my right shoulder is screaming… no más!!!
I’ve finally listened to my shoulder and quit bench pressing with a straight-bar and switched to using dumbbells, which alleviates the shoulder stress. When I can’t get to the gym, I like doing pushups but the simple pushup position still tweaks my right shoulder.
From the many ads and claims of the Perfect Pushup, I decided to buy a set and give them try…
“The Perfect Pushup puts a new spin on one of the oldest exercises, the pushup. Invented by someone who knows a lot about pushups, former U.S. Navy SEAL, Alden Mills, the Perfect Pushup’s rotating handles allow your arms to rotate naturally when you do pushups the same way they do when you throw a punch or press up a dumb bell. This unique feature accelerates results by engaging more muscles in the arms, chest, shoulders, and back. It also helps reduce strain on wrists and elbows, and helps to stabilize and strengthen the shoulder joint by engaging the scapular and rotator cuff muscles. You will notice the comfort and effectiveness of the Perfect Pushup on the very first try!”
When I opened the box, I was expecting a metal base but the Perfect Pushup is made of lightweight plastic. Despite the plastic build, they are quite sturdy. After using the Perfect Pushup a few times, I’m very pleased with them. The elevated platform provides a deeper range of motion and a better pump than regular pushups. More importantly, the rotating handles eliminate the stress and pain in my shoulder.
But is it worth the $40? Or should you just get a cheaper set of pushup bars? If you don’t have any joint issues, then go with pushup bars. They are cheaper, take up less space to store and you’ll get a similar pump from the elevated platform. However, I would highly recommend the Perfect Pushup to anyone with shoulder or wrists issues. The rotating handles put you in a much better ergonomic position than normal pushups and should reduce or eliminate joint pain.
I don’t know if it’s the perfect pushup device but compared to doing normal pushups it is perfectly better.
Garmin is on a roll these days. Today, they announced two new cycling computers, the Edge 605 and Edge 705, scheduled for a December 2007 release. From the Garmin blog…
“Cyclists, you spoke up and we listened. You wanted color, you got color. Mapping and more navigation? Check. What about being able to monitor power output on the same device? Impossible? Hardly. And try this on for something completely new: Wireless, unit-to-unit data transfer. No, we’re not pulling your chain. We proudly present the Edge 705 and the Edge 605.
The Edge 705 represents several breakthroughs in cycling technology, including power compatibility and wireless unit-to-unit connectivity. Through collaborative efforts with SRM, Quarq and other experts in mobile power diagnostics for bicycles, Garmin for the first time gives cyclists the opportunity to monitor GPS position, power, heart rate, speed, cadence, altitude and gradient on the same display. And Edge 705 users will be able to share their information – including saved rides, waypoints and workouts – with each other through ANT+Sport wireless technology.”
I’ve been using the Garmin Edge 305 for over a year and I love it. There were only a few features (navigation and power output) that I wish my Edge 305 had. It looks like Garmin granted my wishes with the Edge 705. Comparing the specs, the improvements of the Edge 705 over the Edge 305 are…
Unit-to-unit data transfer is interesting, but I would prefer to wirelessly transfer my workout data to my computer. It’s strange that this feature is included in the Forerunner 50 but not the Edge 705. However, I am really excited about the third-party power meter integration. Power output is by far the best training method on a bike. And I am curious about the size of the power meter solutions and how they will mount to a bike.
With the larger screen size, the Edge 705 is slightly bigger and heavier (16.9 g more for the weight weenies) than the Edge 305. The new units are also more expensive. The list price for the Edge 705 is $540 - $709, depending on accessories. There is currently a $75 rebate on the Edge 305 and expect the price to drop further with the release of the new Edge units.
I’ll report more on the new Edge models as it gets closer to their release date. GPS position, navigation, heart rate, speed, cadence, altitude, gradient and power, what more can you ask for in a cycling computer?!?!
Posted by: Chuck
Posted in Sports and Outdoors, GPS Devices
Tags 605, 705, computer, cycling, edge, fitness, gadgets, garmin, power, powermeter
In October, Garmin will be releasing a new fitness device, the Forerunner 50, which is not GPS-enabled. According to a Garmin press release, the Forerunner 50 is…
“an affordable, sleek and intelligent way to help runners and walkers track their workouts, automatically store their data and reach their personal fitness goals.”
“The central element of the Forerunner 50 system is an advanced fitness watch which interfaces wirelessly with other fitness devices such as a heart rate monitor or a foot pod that monitors speed and distance. The system includes a wireless USB ANT™ Stick that plugs into the user’s PC and automatically downloads workout data stored on the watch to a personal computer. No cables are necessary as the Forerunner 50 synchronizes with the computer once it is in close proximity. Depending on the model purchased, the Forerunner 50 accurately monitors and records heart rate or speed and distance or all of the above. The workouts themselves are made easier with the Forerunner 50 as its heart rate monitor and foot pod activate automatically upon movement, removing the need to turn the lightweight accessories on and off.”
“When used with Garmin Connect™ — Garmin’s online training site — the Forerunner’s benefits continue long after the workout. By pairing the Forerunner 50 with Garmin Connect, users can automatically log their workouts, track their totals, share workouts with coaches, friends and family and participate in an online fitness community with similar interests.”
With no GPS, the Forerunner 50 is a big departure from the Forerunner series. It appears that Garmin is targeting the fitness/running/HRM watch audience, particularly users of the Polar S120 and Polar RS200sd. I’m a little perplexed on why Garmin has decided to produce a non GPS-enabled fitness device. My preference would have been a GPS-enabled Forerunner with the size of the Forerunner 50.
Currently, I own a Polar RS200sd running HRM with foot pod for speed and distance. I’m also a very happy owner of a Garmin Forerunner 305 and an Edge 305, which I use for running and cycling, respectively. Based on my experience with Garmin fitness products and many HRM watches, I’ve created a pros and cons list for the Forerunner 50.
Pros
Cons
Who should get the Forerunner 50? I would recommend the $106 Forerunner 50, Heart Rate version to anyone who works out primarily at the gym and wants to monitor their heart rate. Next, I would recommend the $150 Forerunner 50, Foot Pod or the $200 Forerunner 50, Heart Rate & Foot Pod version for the runners or cyclists who want to track their speed and distance in a sleek sports watch, but isn’t concerned with a small inaccuracy in data.
With that said, I wouldn’t recommend the Forerunner 50 to people looking for the most accurate speed and distance information that a GPS device offers. Additionally, if you are want advanced features such as virtual partner training (train against a digital person), courses (compete against previous workouts) or an altimeter, then go with the Forerunner 305.
A Forerunner 305 is only $165 after rebate and provides HRM, GPS and a barometric altimeter. Granted it’s on the larger side compared to the Forerunner 50, but it’s only 1.22 oz (34.5 g) heavier. With a $50 rebate, the Forerunner 305 is cheaper than the top of the line Forerunner 50 version, with more features and better accuracy. Unless you are hell bent on a sleek fitness watch, the Forerunner 305 is the better value.
Posted by: Chuck
Posted in Sports and Outdoors, Watches, GPS Devices
Tags fitness, forerunner50, gadgets, garmin, hrm, training, watch
I’ve been using Neutrogena Active Sunblock for the last several years and love its non-greasy feel. As an active person, I judge sunscreens by how they feel on my skin when applied and during sweaty exercise. What I should be evaluating is the sunscreen’s UV protection, but that’s difficult to determine since I never get sun burned.
I recently saw a magazine ad for Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock with Helioplex, which claims to offer better UVA protection, so I picked up a tube and tried it out. From the Neutrogena website, Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock “is a revolutionary, dermatologist-tested formula that contains Helioplex technology, the latest breakthrough in UV protection.
Helioplex delivers unbeatable UVA protection. It works better to help prevent damaging UVA rays from penetrating deep under skin’s surface. Dry-Touch technology absorbs excess sunscreen oils, leaving a clean, lightweight, non-shiny finish.
Serious sun protection never felt this light on your skin.
Compared to Neutrogena Active, the Ultra Sheer sunblock feels just as non-greasy when applied. The Active sunblock is slightly dryer on the skin because of the silica in it. But after using the Ultra Sheer sunblock on several long bike rides, it’s hard to tell the difference between the two.
As I was preparing to write this post, I stumbled upon an article form Men’s Journal, Defending Your Skin. I had no idea that European sunblocks were superior to the sunblocks we can purchase in the States. According to Men’s Journal,
“But new technology is making its way to the market. Last December Florida-based Ivax rolled out Heliocare, an oral supplement long available in a different form in Europe. Extracted from a Honduran fern, the orange capsules, used daily together with a topical sunscreen, ward off long-term damage, not just sunburn.
Neutrogena’s new line of avobenzone-based lotions, Helioplex, meanwhile, is a homegrown competitor to Europe’s best. The lotions withstand five hours of sunlight; normally avobenzone loses potency after an hour. And by tweaking an approved ingredient, the formulas don’t require new review. “I test products all the time,” says Dr. Darrell Rigel, professor of dermatology at NYU medical center, who last year conducted a study (financed by Neutrogena) of 30 golfers and got European-quality results. “This might be the best I’ve tested.” 
People need sunscreen more than ever. Perhaps it’s coincidence, but in the U.S., with its slow regulatory approval process, skin cancer is on the rise. For men over 50 it’s the most common of all malignancies. Yet many sunscreen makers have decided that the hassles of the U.S. market – and the FDA – aren’t worth it.”
Based on this article and better UVA protection, I’m definitely switching to Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock. I’m also going to purchase Heliocare to use with cheaper sunblocks, especially when traveling, since I don’t check bags and therefore can’t pack sunblock.
If you spend a lot of time in the sun, make sure you protect your skin with new technology sun protection products, even if you don’t burn!
Posted by: Chuck
Posted in Personal Care
Tags active, fitness, heliocare, helioplex, neutrogena, sunblock, ultrasheer, uva
Recently, I watched Wordplay, a documentary movie, which features “Will Shortz, NY Times Editor and NPR Puzzle Master, and his brilliant, entertaining and often hilarious contributors as well as surprising celebrity fans. Wordplay takes us through the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament where almost five hundred competitors battled it out for the title “Crossword Champ” and showed their true colors along the way.”
The movie is extremely entertaining and I have a new found respect for the crossword phenoms. The A division competitors can solve the New York Times Sunday puzzles (hardest day) in 4 minutes. That is simply amazing!
Besides being in awe of the elite level competitors, I realized that I don’t exercise my brain enough. I have always been focused on physical fitness but have neglected mental exercise. From a recent NPR article…
“It’s called “use it or lose it” – the belief that exercising your brain will keep your memory and thinking skills sharp as you age, and maybe even ward off dementia and Alzheimer’s.”
“Gatz believes that you should start challenging yourself mentally when you’re younger, rather than waiting for old age to take Italian or piano lessons.”
So, before I “lose it”, I’m including more mentally challenging exercises to my everyday routine. My first goal is to do a crossword puzzle every other day. As a crossword puzzle newbie, I’m easing into it before I make it an everyday event. I’ve already signed up for a year subscription of the New York Times crosswords and tackling the Monday puzzles (easiest). It takes me 40 minutes to an hour to do a Monday NYT crossword. Hopefully, I can progress to the harder puzzles in the near future.
It is my understanding that doing puzzles (crosswords, scrabble, sudoku, etc.) is good for the brain, but only exercises a portion of it. Just like physical exercise, you wouldn’t just workout your biceps and nothing else. So the key is to cross-train your brain by varying activities that will stimulate and challenge your mind in new and different ways, such as learning a new language, playing a new instrument or taking a drawing class.
I have had becoming fluent in French on my to do list forever. Learning to play the guitar is also on my list. Which one should I do first? Man, deciding which new challenge to try next is making my brain hurt!
Related Resources:
Wordplay: The Official Companion Book - for those who enjoyed the movie and want more background info on the crossword craze.Posted by: Chuck
Posted in Books, Movies
Tags brain, crosstrain, crosswords, exercise, fitness, mental, puzzles, wordplay
