Yoga Stretch Strap by FiveFourTen to Boost Your Workout

I’ve never been very flexible, even back in middle school I had a hard time reaching my toes when I stretched. But, I’ve recently gotten a great tool to help my muscles get the most benefit from stretching. The Yoga Stretch Strap from FiveFourTen is a great addition to my workout routine.

It is made out of 100% cotton, and is very durable. It is eight feet long and has steel “D” rings on the end that make it adjustable. It is also washable.

I had never tried a yoga strap, when I received this in the mail. At first, I doubted that it would do much. I tried it and was pleasantly surprised.  It is a great tool for relieving tension in my shoulders and between the shoulder blades. I have discovered that I love using this, since it adds a new dimension to my ability to stretch my muscles.

It’s January, and I am trying to start my year off by mixing things up a bit with my routine. One way is incorporating this new strap to get some deeper stretches and to improve my posture.
If you have no idea what to do with a yoga strap, I have posted links to a couple of videos below. I really like one for improving posture.

The FiveFourTen Yoga Stretch Strap is available for a good price (under $10) at amazon.com. It even comes with a one-year warranty.





*I received the yoga strap that was mentioned above for free, in exchange for my honest review.

Speed Jump Rope by Bella Naturals Review

I fell off the wagon some time ago with keeping fit. So when I recently had the opportunity to review Bella Natural’s Jump Rope, I saw this as a great time to start getting back in shape. I haven’t jump roped in a long time.

Jump roping is an inexpensive way to get fit. I absolutely love ways to avoid spending lots of money, including not spending money on gym memberships. I do like gym equipment, but I think that there are plenty of ways to get an effective workout without spending tons of money.

Jump roping is a great workout and burns lots of calories. Just 10 minutes burns the same about of calories of 30 minutes of slow cardio work. This is wonderful for people, like me, who don’t want to spend a lot of time working out. I like doing short bursts of more intensity because it feels awesome to have a short, effect way to burn calories.  Jump roping is also versatile for beginners or for those capable of a more advanced workout.

This jump rope from Bella Naturals is adjustable, has high grade metal ball bearings, and is made of a quality thin cable. It’s lightweight, yet durable. When it first arrived, I did doubt its durability because it is a very light, thin cable. It works well for me and does work smoothly. I like it better than the rope kind and plastic kind that I’ve used previously. It even comes with a neat storage bag.

It provides a great workout for beginners, WOD’s, Cross Fit, MMA, boxers, and anyone looking to burn some calories or get their hear rate going. Bella Naturals Speed Jump Rope is sold on Amazon.com.


I received the above product free, through a promotion of Tomoson.com, in return for my honest review.

Beginning a New Year

Many of us start the new year with resolutions to exercise more, eat healthier, lose weight, etc. But why? As we head into the new year it’s good to take a look at our motivation. If we are not focused then it’s easy to get off track.

Last year I decided to try to eat healthier. I was tired, lethargic, and depressed. I knew I wanted a better life. There are also some health issues that run in my family: diabetes, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis. My mother-in-law had a stroke at the beginning of last year and that really made me think. I wanted to live a long, healthy life. I knew that started with what I put into my body for fuel. So this year I am continuing my quest for healthy eating. Here are some good ideas.

• stocking up on whole grains
• choosing whole foods - foods that are minimally processed, no artificial flavors or sweeteners
• no partially hydrogenated oils
• no high fructose corn syrup
• choosing organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy
• choosing organic fruits and vegetables. Organic foods have no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fumigants, no GMO's, no irradiation, no hormones or antibiotics, or artificial ingredients. Choosing organic foods heps to keep chemicals out of your body, helps protect the environment. According to Earthbound Farm's website organic fruits and vegetables are 30% higher in antioxidants. They say emerging science is showing that average levels of nutrients are 25% higher in organic foods.

This year another focus of mine is daily exercise. I tend to get easily distracted and procrastinate. Exercise really does help me feel better. It gives me more energy & helps my mental outlook. I like walking outside, but during the winter it's cold and rainy. My goal is to limit my excuses. I do have an exercise bike and stair climber, but I seem to put exercising on the back burner. It really is a choice, though. I make time to eat dinner and make time to do other things that I like. So exercise is just another think that I need to make time for.

The key is developing good habits. As a little kid you are taught to brush your teeth and bathe. Keeping an exercise program going & making healthy food choices is no different.