Ab Roller Review

There's kind of an obsession in the US with abs. Everyone wants a small stomach and toned washboard abs. This may stem from the fact that in this country we also like greasy fast food but not its obesity effects. The biggest obstacle in the way of toned abs is simply: Crunches are hard. To be quite blunt, they suck. I'll do hundreds of push-ups, I'll run, jog, lift, I'll do anything without complaints, but throw me some crunches and I'm ready to throw in the towel. It's for this reason that companies are always churning out new devices to make ab workouts easier. One of the cheaper options is the Ab Roller with Pro assist. This one goes for about $20 - $25 and claims to make firm abs easy by isolating the abdominal muscles while eliminating back and neck strain. Additionally this comes with the "pro assist" spring, which is basically just a spring that attaches to the back of the headboard to make the movements even easier. What they don't tell you is that the Pro Assist spring is completely worthless, but more on that later. First let's look at the claims.

Easy to assemble:

It is...mostly. I set it up i about ten minutes without reading the instructions (I'm a guy.) Well, I set up everything except the stupid spring in ten minutes. It took me a lot longer to figure out the pro assist part because it's a retarded design that can't be physically attached the way they tell you to.

Isolates abs and eliminates neck and back strain:

Well, it does make it easier to perform crunches without placing too much pressure on the neck and back, so you can perform more reps with the ab roller.

Pro assist spring ads a boost to your workout, cushions the neck, and adds fun to any exercise:

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! If you call having a limp spring that frequently falls out of place under your head while you do crunches fun, then yeah. If having an unstable piece of metal wobbling under you throwing of your balance somehow helps in your workout, I don't understand how. This is probably the dumbest thing I've ever pulled out of a box.

Final Verdict: The Pro Assist part is a waste of material, but the ab roller itself has some value. This is not a miracle machine; you still have to work to see results, but if you hate regular crunches or have back problems, this may be a good $25 investment.

Kava: Herbal Miracle or Toxic Plant? a Look at the Facts

Kava has been around for many years and has been used by people around the world as a muscle relaxer, a social drink, and a treatment for anxiety and depression. Traditional kava is served as a tea by the pacific islanders but can also be found in pill form. Kava pills are often marketed as a healthy herbal supplement to treat problems like depression, but concerns over health risks and side effects have caused a significant decrease in the availability of these pills. It's important to consider both the benefits and the side effects of any supplement.

Benefits

Kava has been used for centuries for both social and medicinal purposes. The main active ingredients in kava root are called kavalactones. This chemical compound has been extensively studied in laboratory studies. It has been found to reduce convulsions, promote sleep, and relax muscles in animals. There is also indication of pain-relieving properties (umm.edu). When drinking kava tea, one of the first things we notice is a numbing of the mouth; because of this numbing effect, some cultures have used kava for a mild anesthetic. Most notable, however, ar the psychological effects. Kava is very relaxing and has similarities to the effects of alcohol but without the loss of cognitive function. Studies have found that kava has a very similar result to valium in the treatment of anxiety and depression. Additionally, kava may offer the same benefits as prescription drugs while lacking some of the negative side effects. "A 2004 study found that 300 mg of kava may improve mood and cognitive performance. That is significant because some prescription drugs used to treat anxiety, such as benzodiazepines (like Valium and alprazolam or Xanax), tend to decrease cognitive function" (umm.edu).

Side Effects

Reported side effects can range from mild to severe. The most notable side effect when drinking the tea is the instant mouth numbing. Some may also feel light headed and relaxed, but not drowsy. Drinking a lot of the tea in a short period of time can lead to a temporary reddening of the skin like a rash, but this subsides within a few hours. On the more serious side, studies have indicated possible liver damage associated with kava use. Fears of liver toxicity caused the removal of kava pills from shelves in the US and the all out banning of kava sales in Germany. One important note is that the findings that indicate liver toxicity were primarily pills and not the traditional preparation. Further study has found that the toxic elements are found in the leaves and stems of the plant and not in the root. Traditional preparation involves using only the dried and ground root powder, but some companies have taken the short cut route of including leaves and stems, creating a product with significant health issues. There is no complete consensus at this point about potential health risks, but it is evident that some products are a greater risk for health problems than others, and traditional kava root powder is a safer option than unknown pills. As a result of new information, Germany has scaled back its ban, and kava is being looked at worldwide for it's health benefits with less fear of negative side effects. If kava sounds interesting, try it in moderation, and make sure you purchase from a reputable seller that uses root only.

Forms and Varieties

As mentioned above, the product is sold in pill form as well as a powder for making tea, additionally, some companies sell other products like canned drinks with kava in them. These products, however, likely do not have enough of the kavalectones to have much effect, and may have a greater risk of including toxic leaf extract. In terms of varieties, there are several. The most commonly sold variety is "Melomelo Kava" native to Vanuatu followed closely by the somewhat stronger kava of Fiji. Many varieties exist offering different strengths both of flavor and effect, but they all do essentially the same thing.

Useful Information

If you don't live in an area where kava is common, buying online is the best option. Ensure that the vender sells only pure root powder. Remember to shop around, but don't assume the cheapest is the best value; remember quality above price. Also understand that making kava tea is not easy. The tea is prepared and served at room temperature, so there is no heating water, but there is a lot of soaking and straining which takes quite some time if you do it right. Most important: buy a strainer bag! These are sold for around five dollars by the sane people that sell the powder. Good kava tea cannot be made with coffee filters or any other method; trying this will simply waste your time, money, and kava powder. Check with your doctor about drug interactions, and possible health risks involved, use responsibly in moderation, and enjoy.

Sources:

www.ikec.org/publications/docs/PressRelease-EuropeanKavaUnjustified.pdf

www.nakamalathome.com/.../europe-lifts-kava-ban-and-south-pacific-hopeful-for-resumed-kava-trade.html

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/kava-kava-000259.htm

Iso7x Review

The Iso7x is a product that claims great results with little effort at an amazing value. Of course any product "seen on TV" promises to be a revolutionary new idea at a low price that will change your life. How does the Iso7x hold up?

First we need to look at what exactly the Iso7x is and then we can review the pros and cons of the product itself. Explaining the product is kind of difficult because it is very different from most common exercise equipment. While it is different from most exercise devices, it is not a brand new idea. The design is a variation on a bullworker. The bullworker was an isometric device that came out in the 1960's and featured a spring loaded cylinder that creates resistance when compressed.

The Iso7x copies the original bullworker design with the main changes being to the material used in its construction. Essentially there are two cylinders with one overlapping the other, and inside is a large spring. At each end of the bar created by the joined cylinders is a hand grip. Nylon straps are attached on opposing sides of the cylinder linking at each end of the bar so that when they are pulled outward it forces the cylinders to compress against the spring.

The Complete Book of Isometrics: The Anywhere, Anytime Fitness Book

The design of devices like the Iso7x allows for multiple different kinds of exercise because the hand grips can be used for pushing motions while the pulling exercises with the straps work entirely different muscle groups. While it does allow for several different exercises, the important question is whether the iso7x workouts are effective.

One good test for the effectiveness of any exercise is the impact you feel while performing it. The old adage of "no pain no gain" is very true. It's important to not injure yourself, but performing exercise that doesn't place enough stress on the body will garner no results. The Iso7x definitely puts significant stress on the targeted muscle groups. This product offers a pretty strong impact that you will definitely feel. The reason for this is not some revolutionary new concept specific to the Iso7x; on the contrary it's because of the rather old concept of isometrics the product utilizes.

The HELM Core Fitness Strength Training System - Multi Grip Push Up and Plank Device for Balance Ball and Stability Ball

Isometrics are exercises that work the muscles hard because they don't mirror common activities in daily life, and thus the body is less apt to deal with them. Isometrics involve holding contracted muscle in a static position. This means that as opposed to a range of motion movement like in a curl or a push-up, the muscle would be held in place against continuous resistance. The Iso7x achieves this by compressing the spring and holding it in place for seven seconds.

When using this device or any other form of isometric exercise, you will notice much more of a burn than from range of motion type exercise. This makes for a great way to increase strength and build muscle, but the Iso7x is not the only way to benefit from isometrics. The idea behind the product is great, but the device itself has pros and cons. Before buying any piece of equipment, it's important to look at all aspects of the product.

Benefits: The benefits of Isometric exercise cannot be denied. Isometrics are definitely one of the best ways to build strength and muscle. The ISO7X is a very simple and good product for performing these exercises. A chart is included that lists 36 different exercises and multiple different programs including advanced, intensive, and specialized training. Utilizing the various exercises the device is capable of will definitely provide a solid workout. Additionally, the ISO7X is a very lightweight and relatively small piece of equipment that can be used anywhere.

Quality: The quality depends on whether you are willing to shell out the extra cash for the deluxe edition or if you get the basic. On the basic version, the Cylinder appears to be quite sturdy, and the hand grips are of strong plastic design. The deluxe edition features rubberized hand grips, a stainless steel design, an upgraded spring mechanism, and a lifetime warranty (whatever that means these days.) In both editions, the weakest point would probably be the straps; they are decent and should last a long time, but they would be better made with metal cables rather than nylon straps. The Basic and Deluxe versions don't differ enough to make a huge difference in durability; it's mostly a difference in price.

Value: The product is very good, and the price sounds very good, but as with anything sold on TV, the final price is different from what's advertised. The official site sells the basic edition for $29.99 plus $12.99 shipping and handling; they also throw in the ISO Arms forearm exerciser for free! Of course free isn't really free. After adding all the extra charges, the $29.99 ISO7X and "free" ISO arms come to around $50, or $60+ if you upgrade to the deluxe. The 7X can be found for less on Amazon, but whether you are better buying from Amazon or the company website depends on how important the bonus ISO arms are to you. Check out or review here. In terms of basic value, the ISO7X isn't an amazing value, but it's not a bad buy either. It's a fairly good product at a fairly good price.

Results: I'll say the same thing I said in the Tower 200 review; there is no magic machine to provide instant results. Don't believe the hype about incredible fast results. This will not make you look like the guy in the commercial, but it will provide you with a tool to build strength and muscle. If used correctly with dedication to fittness, the ISO7X can offer great results. If you've never tried isometric exercise, and you want to increase strength, give this one a try.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION:
The Contributor has no connection to nor was paid by the brand or product described in this content.

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More Affordable Fragrances for Men

If you read my previous article on affordable cologne, you know that I'm a proponent of balancing price and quality. Blow you will find more options for those who want a lot of variety in their fragrance wardrobe. These are not the best out there, but they are decent products at low prices.

FCUK ($10-15)

This is one that created a lot of controversy a while back. The name stands for French Connection UK. The resulting anagram, however, was very offensive to a lot of people. The name is an obvious marketing ploy combined with their slogan "scent to bed." FCUK is pitched as a very sexy seductive scent, and it comes in male and female versions FCUK him, and FCUK her respectively. I'm not sure that it lives up to the promise of sexiness, but some people really like it, and it gets points for uniqueness. This one doesn't smell like any other cologne and if you're worried about smelling like every other guy, this will definitely set you apart. Beware, however, that this is a very strong scent and very little is needed. At first spray, it's very strong, and a little obnoxious. After several minutes of drydown, the scent softens to a more clean smell while still keeping its unique spice. If used properly (very lightly) this will provide a clean, fresh, long lasting smell with a little something extra. This scent is not for everyone, but if you want something different, give it a try.

Lucky you ($15)

Lucky you was the Liz Claiborne/ lucky brand scent that was a predecessor to the great Lucky Number six. The latter is the superior fragrance, however Lucky you is quite popular and for good reason. This is a very clean refreshing scent with good longevity; it gives you the crisp, clean, fresh out of the shower smell all day. This one is perfect for a light everyday wear.

Escape ($25-$35)

Released by Calvin Klein in the early 90's, this scent has become a favorite of many people, but it never reached the popularity of other Klein fragrances. The lower popularity means lower price, and if you want something of good designer quality at a reasonable price, Escape is an option. This one has a strong but pleasant scent that dries down to a soft sandalwood tone. Some might feel that it has too much of a perfume smell and lacks masculinity. The fact is that it does have a significant floral note but still remains a very male scent. Perhaps it would do better with additional musk or wood notes, but overall, Escape is a good fragrance for occasional wear.

Remember that high quality does not necessarily mean high price, and an expensive price tag does not guarantee quality. You can find success while spending less, and I hope this guide helps.

Sean John I Am King Review: Fragrance Royalty, or Celebrity Hype?

Sean John's I am King was released in late 2008 following the success of unforgivable. The company aimed to build on the success of its earlier fragrances, however, I am King falls short of this goal by bringing little to the table. Every new fragrance that comes out talks a good game about being original and daring. They all have a lot of hype, few back it up. I am king is no different, and the pretentious name does little to help the matter. With a name like that, one has certain expectations; the name implies a very high class scent that stands out in the crowd. Sean John's latest offering simply does not stand out as anything special or unique. It comes off more like an average low end cologne with a high price tag.

The fragrance list includes tangerine zest, orange, cranberry, French berry note, Mediterranean water accord, key lime, lemon, cedar, and vetiver. Few if any of these notes are actually detectible in this fragrance. The green and aquatic notes are missing leaving a very fruity citrus smell. At first spray, however, there are no notable citrus notes, but rather a synthetic recognizable scent of a common cologne. With all the hype, the celebrity endorsement, and the heavy price tag, the initial burst is astonishingly average and cheap smelling. The initial smell is like a strange assortment of scents that don't really go together and don't compliment each other. However, the opening notes are short lived and within 15 minutes or so you have a better idea of the base scent you will be wearing for the day. The top notes you smell when first applying a cologne, are not as important as the dry down scent you are left with, and Sean John's I am King has better base notes than top notes. The base smells better than the opening, but it's not enough to save this fragrance from the discount shelves.

After the dry down, king has a pleasant fruit smell that's not unlike an apricot body wash or scrub. While it does have a light somewhat feminine fruit scent, there is an element that somehow retains the masculinity of the cologne. It's a soft male fragrance that sits close to the skin, so it won't make you stand out in the room, but it will make you smell nice in close romantic situations. The problem is that if you are paying for a designer fragrance, you aren't looking to smell "nice." If you're spending top dollar for cologne, you should get something that gets attention and stands out from the pack. I am King does neither. With so many affordable fragrances on the market that excel far beyond Sean John, this one should be left on the shelf.

Review of Polo Explorer Cologne for Men

Ralph Lauren has long been a big name in fragrance as well as fashion. The most notable contribution would have to be the Polo line of men's cologne. Launched in 1978, Polo went on to include several incarnations and variations including, Polo Blue, Polo Black, Polo Double Black, and Polo Explorer. In this review, we'll take a look at Polo Explorer and rate its value in terms of price and quality.

Price: Polo cologne is quite popular, and as a result it's not cheap, however, when you compare it to others like Armani colognes, it's quite a bargain. Polo Explorer can be found on Amazon for between $33-$45 for a 4.2 oz bottle. I've found it at target for under $20 for a 2.5 oz bottle.

Longevity: Some people have said that Polo Explorer does not have much staying power, and that Polo colognes in general do not last long. Others have reported it lasting 6+ hours. Partly, this depends on the person and their individual body chemistry, but for me, I tested it and it lasted around 5 hours.

Scent: The scent of Polo explorer is really great because it doesn't fit too easily into a category. As the name would suggest, Explorer is designed to evoke a sense of wilderness adventure. A good fragrance will take your mind and your senses to a new location. Polo Explorer places you in a fragrant forest. You expect this one to be a woodsy smell, and it is, but it's also more. The thing about green forest scents is usually they simply involve lots of strong pine smell, and I don't really like them. I don't have any desire to smell like a car air freshener, or pine sol. Nobody wants to be that guy in the office that smells like a walking Christmas tree. For that reason I'm usually skeptical of green forest scents, but Polo got it right.

When you smell Polo Explorer, you don't smell pine; instead you get a collaboration of scents that blend perfectly to create a deep and complex aura of woody and aquatic notes. In contrast to many other green woods fragrances, Explorer has the pine smell as somewhat of an undertone or a background to complete the scent. Polo Explorer is not exactly a green scent, a floral, or an aquatic, because it features each of these in perfect balance with each other. Picture a deep woods with a flowing river and wildflowers throughout; this is what you can expect from Explorer.

Overall Value: taking into account the great scent, the decent longevity (in my experience), and the mid range price, this is a pretty good buy. If you like woodsy outdoors scents this would be a great investment.

The Best Affordable Fragrances for Men

One of the most important investments a man should make is also one of the most frequently overlooked and misused. Men will spend a good amount of time and money on their clothes and hair in an attempt to look good, because as visual creatures, we think visually. We tend to think about our look much more than our scent, but neglecting the other senses in favor of the visual, is a huge mistake. Whether it's a date or a job interview, any time you want to make an impression, a good cologne is imperative.

Your scent tells people a story; it tells people something about you. A good scent will tell people that you are accomplished, energetic, and confident. A bad scent will say that you're cheap, desperate, and probably trying to cover something up with some dollar store cologne that smells like mouthwash. The problem for many of us, is that we don't want to be the guy wearing the terrible cheap cologne that smells awful, but at the same time, a couple hundred dollars for a popular designer fragrance is kind of outside the budget. If you're a normal person with a normal income, there are several options for cologne that ranks high in quality while not being too high in price. Below are three of the best fragrances out there that balance excellent quality with moderate price.

Lucky number 6

Price: $25-$35 3.4 oz bottle

Scent: (Mild) Musk/spice/floral

Longevity: Excellent

This is cologne that doesn't seem like cologne. This is a good thing. You don't want someone to think you smell like a good cologne, you just want them to think you smell good. Lucky number six has a soft smell that is sweet yet musky and features a unique scent unlike what you would expect from traditional male colognes. A blend of vanilla, plum, and Asian spices, the smell really stands out in a crowd but in a subtle way. It separates you from the pack, while not being overpowering. Another important note on this one is that it is definitely the longest lasting fragrance I have personally tried; apply it in the morning and you'll be set for the day.

Cool Water

Price: $20-$30 4.2 oz bottle

Scent: Fresh/Aquatic/green

Longevity: Fair

One of the most popular brands to come out in the last few decades, cool water from Davidoff changed the game in men's fragrances. In 1988 cool water came out and popularized the clean fresh aquatic smell that is popular today. Consider that Armani's Aqua Di Gio has been the top seller for the past couple of years and a top ranked fragrance, but had it not been for the influence of Davidoff's aquatic scent, Gio among many other colognes would never have become popular. Cool water is a classic and garners many compliments from women as it creates a clean sexy scent that gets a lot of attention. Probably the biggest downside is that it doesn't last very long. Some cologne will make you smell pretty good all day; Cool Water will make you smell great for a few of hours.

Curve

Price: $20-$30 4.2oz bottle

Scent: (Mild) Floral/musk/spice

Longevity: Very Good

There's something special about this one. I don't know what it is, but there's some secret in the blend of scents in curve that really stands out as something very unique and very appealing to many women. It's kind of odd because it's a very mild scent but also very noticeable. Also, it is a scent that several men are not personally fond of, but women seem drawn to. I did not particularly like the smell of curve when I first tried it; I wondered what the big deal was, I wondered what all the hype was about. I thought the smell was too light to notice much, and what I could notice, I didn't like. My opinion changed a little as the scent grew on me; it changed a lot when I started hearing female responses. Whatever the secret is in the scent, curve seems to strike a definite chord with women and bring favorable attention to the wearer.

Whether you want the calm, casual, laid back scent of curve, the mysterious spice of Lucky Number Six, or the crisp fresh smell of Cool Water, any of these great products can offer great results without breaking your bank.