Power Press Push up Review

The power press Push up Board is the latest in the genre of workout equipment to put a new spin on Push Ups. Like the perfect push up and all the other bars and stands before it, powerpress claims new revolutionary design to transform your workout. Is it really all that though?

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Let's look at what you get for around 46 bucks on Amazon. Included are 1 push up board, two handles, exercise DVD and workout guide. The great thing about Powerpress is the design of the board. The handles fit easily into preset spots that target different muscle groups. Each color coded section chest, back, shoulders and triceps has 2-5 different hand positions for versatility in your workout. This is great for training different parts of your body and isolating specific muscles. The included workout plan and DVD provide more guidance and structure for your workout.

To be honest, the DVD is not very exciting and features the exact same standard warm-up from every workout video ever and nothing really insightful in the workouts. The concept is solid though, featuring exercises alternating between plyometrics and push ups.

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While the Power Press Push Up Board is not a complete revolutionary workout system, it is a great tool. What it does provide is consistency in hand placement which forces you to use correct form, and the versatility to change up your movements. It is a great tool for building strength and targeting neglected muscle groups. The variety of options make this great for muscle confusion or HIIT training. Using Power Press consistently will improve your strength and and ability, but so will the perfect push up, push up bars or even good old fashioned hands on the floor push ups like the military has been doing forever. In the end this is a good product but it is not necessary. If you need more structure in your training, this may be the thing for you, but if you're not overflowing with cash these days you might want to wait a few months until its $19.95 at Walmart.

Consumer review: Billy Blanks Boot Camp Elite DVD

Billy Blanks' Bootcamp Elite is an advanced workout system that stands as a follow up to the very popular "Tae Bo." The set includes three DVDs and a set of resistance bands. The bands are very useful and adjust to different lengths for varied resistance and include removable 1-pound weights in the handles for an extra kick. The main attraction, however, is the workout DVDs.

Many of the exercises demonstrated in the boot camp videos use the resistance bands, but none of them actually require them. The flexibility of using the bands or not and the optional extra weight makes "Boot Camp Elite" useful to people at different levels of fitness. Also this allows for longer use of the product by gradually stepping up the resistance. The three discs cover a wide range of exercises for a full-body workout. Each disc has a specific theme or "mission."

Mission One "Get Started"

The first video is essentially an overview and warm up for the more advanced exercises in the program. This is basically a combination of strength training, abs, and cardio to get you ready for mission two. Don't be surprised if you find it difficult to make it through the warm ups the first time. The Boot Camp program is very intense and it starts that way right off the bat. One complaint would be that the program starts and moves a little too fast. It may take a little bit of time to get the movements down, but with some dedication, it will be easy enough to learn.

Mission Two "Maximum Power"

Disc two of Boot Camp is focused on strength training. Exercises include bicep curls, shoulder press, and a series of moves designed to increase strength and muscle definition. Running approximately 43 minutes, this video stands as a good tool for strength training, although it would be better with some more core and leg work, as it is largely geared toward upper body work.

Mission Three "Rock Solid Abs"

Disc three is about 28 minutes of direct ab work. Using variations on crunches, leg raises and resistance training, this one does a good job of targeting your mid-section

Overall

Is Billy's Boot Camp Elite a good investment? Well that depends. If you are really out of shape and looking for a place to start, this probably isn't it. Many will find it difficult to make it through mission one because this program is not designed for amateurs. Additionally if you have had success with P90X, Boot Camp may be too tame for you. This is geared toward people who are somewhat fit and want to take it up a level. The product claims to get "results in 7 days" but don't expect to be ripped in a week; do expect to be sore, but remember this is not magic. Billy's Boot Camp Elite can be found for around $20, so overall it's a pretty good value for the price.

Super Short Reviews: Product Reviews Without the Filler (Exercise Products)

Iron Arms:

Probably the best piece of equipment out there for developing muscle tone in forearms. It's basic, simple and effective. Iron Arms uses isometrics to increase strength and muscle tone.

Price: $20-$30

Shake Weight:

Really stupid, but really great. You can't help but feel stupid while using this strange device, but you will be surprised by the burn you feel.

Price: $15-$30

Tower 200:

Excellent concept with a poor design. The mechanics are great, but the materials used are too cheap so the product is not durable and could cause injury. The tower 200 is a great product for moderate use, but when pushed to its limits, it doesn't hold up.

Price: $110-$120

Perfect Pushup:

Buy this! The original Perfect Pushup is still one of the best and most simple products out there for improving strength and tone.

Price: $20-$30

Ultimate Body Press:

Excellent all around workout device. The "Ultimate Body Press" is designed for numerous body-weight exercises such as tricep dips, chest dips, and body weight rows. This product has a very sturdy design and works perfectly for its purpose.

Price: $100-ish

ISO7X:

This is another really great isometric device. It uses pushing and pulling motions to exercise different muscles in different ways. Isometric exercise is great for fitness, and the ISO7X is a great product at a pretty good price.

Price: $20-$30

Ab Roller with Pro assist:

Do not buy! The Ab Roller is okay but nothing special. The "Pro Assist" is a nonfunctional rip off that actually interferes with the working of the roller.

Price: Overpriced!

Supreme 90-Day:

Buy from Wallgreens. The company that produces this will rip you off if you order over the phone or online. If you buy in the store you will avoid extra mystery charges on your CC and will get a pretty good product at a really good price. This set of workout DVDs will work you hard and bring noticeable fast results if you can stick with it.

Price: Around $20

Top Ten Best Colognes for Fall

Are you looking for a new fall fragrance? If you're a man looking for the best cooler weather cologne or if you're shopping for your boyfriend/husband, check out these excellent scents ideal for fall.

Polo Explorer

Polo Explorer perfectly captures the essence of the great outdoors. The scent instantly puts you in a calm wooded area on a cool autumn day. It's a very warm woodsy scent that goes perfect on a cold day. Read more about Polo Explorer here.

Burberry London

This is one that is very popular right now, and is recommended for use in the fall. There are several Burberry scents out there such as "Burberry Brit", "The Beat", "Touch", and "Burberry Original" but Burberry London appears to be the most positively reviewed and highly praised scent from the lineup. Some Burberry scents are criticized for being too strong, but London is a more mild and pleasant fragrance. It's a warm fresh scent that evokes images fall.

Cuba Red

The entire Cuba line is surprisingly good and affordable. It's easy to find a large bottle of Cuba Red or Cuba Gold for under $10 online. I've included both "Red" and "Gold" on the list because they are both exceptional fragrances, but "Red" stands out as the one more intended for the fall. This cologne is a little too strong for a hot day, but it's combination of woods, spice, and just enough cinnamon, makes it a great fall/winter cologne.

Cuba Gold

I actually must say that Cuba Gold is one of the best colognes out there, and it is certainly a great deal. The scent is indistinguishable from Jean Paul Gaultier's "Le Male." I personally have had numerous people falsely identify my Cuba Gold as "Le Male." So essentially you get a popular designer fragrance for less than half the price. The scent is subtle but noticeable and has a combination of sweet and spice that perfectly compliments a cool autumn day or evening.

Curve

The original Curve is a classic that defies explanation. This is not actually intended as a fall or winter cologne. Curve is marketed more as a spring cologne, but it will garner compliments year-round. I've included this one because it is just so great any time of the year, and its apple accord and subtle sweetness work well in the fall.

Versace Dreamer

A very complex cologne, Versace Dreamer is a great sophisticated scent that works year-round. Many people are put off by the opening of this cologne because of its strength, but when the top notes die down you're left with a subtle warm scent that is nothing like any other cologne out there.

Lucky Number Six

Liz Claiborne's Lucky Number 6 is a great scent that is highly underrated. This very affordable fragrance has notes of plum, sandalwood and vanilla that make it a unique fall scent.

Dirty English

Juicy Couture's Dirty English is a very strong and masculine scent that is reminiscent of old school colognes with a hint of freshness to make it modern and unique. Personally I have the same issue with this one as many report about "Versace Dreamer." The top note seams a little too strong and potentially obnoxious, but the dry down is excellent. This cologne is ideal for fall and winter because the scent is very strong and creates an aura of warmth.

Versace Black Jeans

This is a very affordable designer cologne with a dark subtlety which lends itself well to the fall and winter months. Black Jeans is a floral fragrance but it's nothing like you would expect when thinking "floral." The scent is very dark and masculine; overall this offering from Versace is a very unique scent.

Corduroy

This is hands down my favorite fall/winter cologne! It's close to the top year-round, but it's so perfect for cooler weather. The fragrance from "Zirh International" is one of the best kept secrets in the industry. There's a pretty good chance you haven't heard of this one, but it truly is exceptional. Corduroy is another cheap online buy that surpasses expectations. The scent is an indescribable oriental/gourmand that is very noticeable but subtle enough to offend no one. Corduroy's fragrance carries a soft warmth that makes people want to get closer to you on those cold days and nights. This is a must have, and definitely the Best Fall Cologne.

You may also want to read:

Sean Jean's "I Am King" Review

The Best Affordable Fragrances For Men

Polo Explorer Review

Rushfit Workout Review

The Rushfit workout is an 8 week program of exercise featuring a combination of cardio and strength training. This program featuring MMA star George St Pierre seeks to be an all around workout as apposed to Insanity's heavy cardio or P90X's muscle building program. Is it worth buying? Let's take a closer look at Rushfit.

Overview:

Rushfit is an MMA themed workout designed by Eric Owings and featuring George St-Pierre. The program contains six DVDs providing a range of different exercises to target different muscle groups and fitness goals. Each workout contains a 10 minute warm-up and a five round workout followed by a cool down. The central workouts utilize both isometric and explosive training to work the body in different ways and to promote overall fitness. Additionally Rushfit features bonus workouts for flexibility and agility.

Pros 

Rushfit is very well put together and features some pretty innovative exercises to provide a solid full body workout. Many of the exercises rely on body weight only, and others require only light dumbbells. This program is simple and easy to set up in your living room without a lot of equipment. While this is a simple workout, it is not easy. Rushfit uses mostly simple methods to create a very challenging experience that will grant serious results. This workout will burn a lot of calories, burn fat and build muscle in a relatively short time. The length of the individual workouts is a big plus as they are all under an hour. A short workout that doesn't require a lot of equipment makes it easy to fit into your schedule. Lastly the price is a big selling point for Rushfit. Listing on Amazon for under $30, this program is noticeably cheaper than many competitors.

Cons 

The warm up gets really old fast. Each DVD starts with the same warm up. Not just the same routine, but the exact same video. After a few days, hearing George St-Pierre explain the importance of the warm up "The body is like an elastic…" blah blah blah gets really annoying. Also, while most of the workouts are pretty simple and straight forward, some require a little more footwork and complex movements. It seems like sometimes you have to focus too much on the choreography which takes away from the actual workout. 

Overall 

Rushfit is a very solid program. The tone is very laid back, which would be a pro to some and a con to others. This is not the kind of video workout where you get yelled at by a Drill Sergeant type instructor to work harder. If you need that kind of motivation, Rushfit may be too relaxed for you, but if you find people like Shaun T to be a little over the top, you will appreciate the more calm approach here. The workouts are shorter than P90X and Insanity but pack a serious punch. Overall Rushfit is a very affordable high quality workout worth trying if you're serious about fitness.

Other Reviews You might be interested in:

1UP Bodyweight Trainer Review

Blackheart Rum Review

Spiced rum has been a popular choice in adult beverages for years, and the undisputed leader in the genre has been Captain Morgan. In recent years, however, several new varieties have emerged offering a cheaper alternative to the Captain. These alternatives range from cheap knockoffs of Morgan to high quality budget rums. Most have nautical names like "sailor Jerry" and "Admiral Nelson" as a not so subtle connection to Captain Morgan. New to the scene is "Blackheart."

At less than $13 for a 750 ml bottle of this 93 proof concoction, Blackheart seemed like a steal, more so with the attached $10 rebate form. Because I'm dedicated to helping the public by providing good product reviews, I took the time to sample this one for those who aren't sure about making the buy.

The first thing I notice is that the bottle is nothing impressive, which is fine with me, that's how prices stay low. The label features a pin-up girl pirate and old style calligraphy on the front. The back of the label has some story about a sexy, seductive, pirate chick named blackheart who.........bla bla bla, who cares? They made it up because it looks cool on a label. The bottle and label, however, are not what's important. Let's get to what's inside.

The first smell after opening the bottle indicated something different from other spiced rums. The opening was notably darker and hinting at perhaps something more complex. The first sample taste was not so much complex as intense and offensive, however, this is to be expected when sampling a high proof rum standing alone at room temperature. To properly test Blackheart, it had to be mixed into a drink to see how well it blends.

Test One: Vanilla Cola. I love some Captain and Coke, so this was an important test. When I mixed the drink I was surprised at the smoothness. I could barely taste the alcohol, and actually wondered briefly if I had made a measuring error. My concern was short lived as I began to quickly feel the effects of the Blackheart. A smooth drink with a punch? Test one was a win.

Test Two: Lime Shooter. Spiced rum, lime juice, and a shot glass....interesting, but probably not the best idea for those of us over the age of 25. The drink itself was good in a "I'm doing horrible things to my body" kind of way. The Blackheart holds up as well as any other rum I've sampled in this shot.

Verdict: Surprisingly smooth without lacking strength, Blackheart is a pretty good value for the spiced rum enthusiast.

Iron Arms Review

You may have seen the "Iron Arms" forearm exerciser advertised on TV recently. This is a product that has been out for some time, but recently began a new ad campaign. The device was marketed under a different name and packaged alongside the ISO7X. At the time the company wanted to tie the Iron Arms to the concept of isometrics which was the foundation of the ISO7X. For this reason they marketed as "Iso-Arms." The same product is now in full infomercial hype mode looking to attract new buyers, but the question remains, is it any good?

First lets look at what the product is exactly. This is a device designed to target the forearm muscles. This is not a multi-function piece of equipment; it will not build biceps or give you rock hard abs. It is simply a forearm strengthening device. This is one selling point for the Iron Arms, because there are not a lot of products that specifically target this part of the body. While this is a selling point for some, it's important to mention that some others would say that such investments are foolish because any weight lifting logically uses the forearms, and as such, forearm targeted machines and exercises are unnecessary. This product is clearly geared toward those who feel that they need more strength and definition in their forearms.

If you are one of these people, this is a pretty good product. Essentially the Iron Arms consist of two spring loaded hand grips within a plastic figure eight frame. Reps are performed by twisting at the wrist which compacts the springs creating resistance. The motion can be done clockwise or counterclockwise to impact different muscles. The product does do an excellent job of isolating the forearms, and the impact on the muscles is quickly noticeable as you work.

In terms of the design, the product seems really cheap at first sight, but seems to be sturdy. The hand grips are well designed and comfortable, and the overall design is ergonomic and functional. When it comes down to it, this is a pretty simple device that simply does what it's supposed to. It's nothing revolutionary, but it's pretty good. $19.95 might be a little much for something that accomplishes the same results that could be achieved with weights, but If you're looking for an easier way to target your forearms, the "Iron Arms" might be worth a try.