DIY Barbells and Dumbbells

So I was browsing barbells back in early March when I noticed the prices were a bit ridiculous. Prices often ranged from $100 to $300 just for the bar, not counting the weights.

And because I love frugal exercise equipment it occurred to me that I should do a post about DIY barbells and dumbbells.

Using a variety of materials anyone can make their own barbells and dumbbells. Concrete? Sure. Sand? Why not. Dirt or water? Absolutely. Wood? If you have lots of wood to spare, then do it.

The point is that you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars to equip yourself with your own set of dumbbells and barbells. You can just build them out of recycled materials or from things you find at the hardware store.

5 Bodybuilding Tips you can do Today for $0

Let's pretend you want to start bodybuilding or weightlifting today, but you don't have the budget to go buy fancy equipment or get a gym membership.

With a recession looming and rampant inflation, now is a good time to invest in BUYING NOTHING, but instead making use of the muscle between your ears to start weightlifting today without having to spend a penny.

 #1. Bodyweight Exercises

You don't need fancy equipment to do the following exercises:

• Sit-Ups, 8 sets of 12
• Push-Ups, 8 sets of 12
• Squats, 8 sets of 12
  
• Jumping Jacks, 8 sets of 12

Admittedly the jumping jacks will feel more like cardio, but you're still technically lifting your body during the process.

#2. Less is More, sets of 8 to 12 reps

Start with doing 8 sets of 12 repetitions of each exercise you are doing. So 96 total.

Every 3 weeks of doing these exercises you can change the number of sets and repetitions as follows:

• 9 sets of 11
• 10 sets of 10
• 11 sets of 9
• 12 sets of 8
  

So the volume stays roughly the same, but the focus at the beginning is on endurance, while as you progress it becomes more focused on strength. It is assumed that after 3 weeks of doing the same exercise that your endurance should have gone up by now. You should also be a bit bored and looking for a change and wanting more of a challenge.

If you're really desperate for a change you can jump two stages instead of one, or possibly progress to the next stage every 2 weeks instead of 3.

#3. Look around your home for Old Exercise Equipment

Chances are likely you already have some equipment laying around the house, possible yours or your spouse's, or roommate's. Ask if you can use the equipment. Ideally you will be looking for the following items:

• Dumbbells
• Barbells
• Kettlebells
• Chin-Up Bar
• Exercise Mat or Yoga Mat
• Weightlifting Bench
  

With those you can do a variety of weightlifting exercises.

But you can also make do with other items that you find around the house. Don't have any weights? Fill a cloth grocery bag with books and lift that instead. Or a bucket of water. Or a sack of flour. Small children...

#4. Ask Friends and Family for Old Exercise Equipment they don't use any more...

Tell them you made a New Years Resolution to exercise more and are looking for donations of any exercise equipment they don't need or use. IE. Exercise equipment they probably would've thrown away eventually anyway.

Not all the equipment people give you will necessarily be meant for weightlifting or bodybuilding or powerlifting, but you shouldn't turn down anything you can potentially use for exercising. Eg. If someone offers you archery equipment, take it because archery is a great way to build your upper back muscles.

If someone gives you something that you really cannot use try trading it for different exercise equipment via Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace or similar websites.

#5. When Exercising focus on Form and Safety

Do the exercises properly. If you're not sure how to do the exercise properly consult YouTube or various websites on the topic. You don't need to spend $$$ on personal trainers in order to learn how to do an exercise properly.

Do the following:

• Be cautious.
• Don't overdo it.
  
• Learn the correct form.
• Be patient.
• Start small, build gradually.

MORE TIPS!

Eat lots and eat healthy. Don't be afraid to eat too much. It is more important that you eat lots of healthy food so that you have plenty of nutrients and protein to build muscle.

Got vitamins you should be taking? Start taking them daily.

Eat more often to replenish your strength and energy levels.

Avoid junk food.

Rest and recover.

Learn how to do compound lifts/movements properly.

Find a program that fits your needs.

Stick with it!

Only train 3 to 4 days per week.

Alternate leg days and upper body days / different muscle groups so that muscles have more time to recover and grow.

Take scheduled breaks.

Don't be afraid of (healthy) snacks. If you're hungry, eat something!

Practice the mindset of an athlete. Think of yourself as being "in training".

Better to eat too much protein than not enough.

Creatine Monohydrate (found in red meat), but you can also buy supplements. They're not cheap however. I swear the price has doubled in the last 20 years.

Fish Oil or Krill Oil, not only good for your brain, health, lowering cholesterol, etc, but also good for building muscle.

Best Home Gym Investments for Strength Training

Getting a daily workout in during a busy schedule is always a challenge. Between work, school, and family life, finding time to spend in the gym is almost impossible. But, since exercise is the most beneficial thing you can do for your health and is entirely within your control, you know you just have to find a solution.

One solution to this common problem is to work out at home. Creating a home gym is an effective and easy way to exercise daily when you struggle to find time and motivation. By working out at home, you take the extra time and stress of going to the gym out of the equation, saving time and money.

So make exercise easier and more obtainable by creating your own personal home gym. Stock your home gym with the appropriate equipment, and start enjoying a workout in your own home.

The Top 7 Best Home Gym Investments for Strength Training

A home gym is a perfect solution to the issue of not getting enough regular exercise, but it can be challenging to determine what equipment you should buy and which equipment you may not need.

Take a look at the top seven best home gym investments for strength training to help guide you toward creating the perfect home gym that is right for you.

Adjustable Dumbbells

One of the best investments for strength training exercises you can do from home is adjustable dumbbells. Adjustable dumbbells are relatively inexpensive yet so versatile that you can use them to work every muscle group in your body.

Another great thing about adjustable dumbbells is that they don’t take up much space. They are the perfect addition to a home gym with limited space since you won’t need as many different sets of dumbbells to account for the different weights you need. They are easy to use, and storing them is never a problem.

You can easily get a full-body workout with just one set of adjustable dumbbells. You can use the lighter weights for upper body exercises and core workouts and the heavier weights for lower body and back exercises. 

DIY Homemade Dip Station

If you’re really strapped for cash and want something that you can build yourself, try creating a DIY homemade dip station for your home gym. Dips are a great workout for your triceps, shoulders, and back, but they take time to perfect. A homemade dip station would be perfect for gaining strength in your upper body and would fit nicely into a home gym.

To create a homemade dip station, you need wood, pipes, clamps, and screws. The best part of building your own home gym equipment is making it as big or small as needed to fit your space properly. Just be sure you have all of the pipes secured tightly with fitted collars to avoid potential injury from a flimsy pipe fitting.

A homemade dip station is also used for bicep workouts such as high pulls and pull-ups and can also work as a stability bar for performing other exercises that require balance.

Workout Bench

Another simple piece of equipment that is perfect for a home gym is a workout bench. Having a workout bench will make exercises easier to complete and helps keep your posture in good form. They are easy to install and often found in yard sales, garage sales, or various online secondhand retail stores like eBay.

A workout bench is excellent for completing workouts utilizing dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, and standard core work. You can use it as a stepping stool for dumbbell step-ups, or if you’re working those glutes, a bench is a great workout tool for hip thrusts and split squats.

If you want to save even more money on your home gym, you can also DIY a workout bench. Use wood blocks, foam, and sweat-resistant fabric for the upholstery to create a workout bench that is perfect for your small space.

This is the perfect solution if you’re unsure if a traditional-sized workout bench would fit into your space since you can make it as big or as small as you’d like.

 

Resistance Bands

Resistance bands are perfect for quick, home workouts. They are easy to use, easy to store, and incredibly cheap.

Resistance bands are ideal for strength training those small muscles that tend to be difficult to grow because you’re creating resistance against the muscle. Still, the weight isn’t so heavy that you cannot work the muscle to failure, which is important for muscle growth.

Some other workouts you can complete with resistance bands include donkey kicks for your glutes, fire hydrants for your thighs, and overhead resistance band pull-aparts to grow your shoulder muscles and bicep curls. It’s amazing how many different muscle groups you can exercise simply using a set of bands.

When choosing the perfect resistance bands for your home gym, be sure to find a set that offers a few different resistance levels, and ones that are color coded for the different weights are also convenient.

There are also some with handles and some without. Resistance bands with handles are great for arms and upper body workouts, whereas booty and lower body workouts use bands without handles.

Punching Bag

 

Another great addition to a home gym that adds the opportunity for both cardio and strength training is a punching bag. You don’t often think of a punching bag as gym equipment, but you’d be surprised how many muscles you work when using one. 

 

Punching bags are small in size, so they fit into your home gym easily, are generally non-intrusive, and are easy to install. 

 

You can buy a punching bag at any local sporting goods store or make one yourself. Then, using wood, metal, or steel to hang the bag, you can simply install your own for a super inexpensive DIY version of a punching bag. Just be sure the bag is secure so that when you’re punching away, the bag stays tightly in place. 

 

A punching bag is also a great way to incorporate cardio equipment into your home gym without taking up too much additional space, like an elliptical or a treadmill would require. Building muscle strength may be your initial goal, but cardio is also very important for a well-rounded workout program that will help keep you healthy for many, many years. 

 

Virtual Personal Trainer

 

Another home gym investment that will help you increase your muscle strength while also keeping you motivated to reach your goals is a virtual personal trainer. 

 

A virtual personal trainer will create workouts tailored specifically for you and the goals that you are looking to achieve. Of course, you can have all the gym equipment in the world, but what good does it do you if you aren’t using it correctly?

 

Investing in a virtual trainer will give you a goal-oriented mindset and add more value to the home gym equipment you have already invested in. Personal training in a gym setting is expensive and calls for a trip to the gym every day. In contrast, a virtual personal trainer creates workouts for you virtually that utilize only the equipment you have available to you at home.

 

Having a virtual trainer also helps to hold you accountable for the workouts and adds a bit more of a personal touch to your program. It’s also helpful when you’re unsure whether you’re completing the exercises correctly, and it can help reduce your chances of getting injured while working out.

Kettlebells

 

Finally, when discussing the best home gym investments for strength training, we would be totally crazy not to include kettlebells. Kettlebells, like dumbbells, are easy to store, come in a variety of different weights, and are incredibly versatile. 

 

What’s more, you can use a kettlebell in place of two dumbbells in most cases, which is another reason why they’re great since you don’t need to purchase them in sets. 

 

Kettlebells are also good investments because they have handles that are easy to grip and perfect for people with weak wrists. In some cases, you can purchase them in different colors or styles, so it’s easy to depict which kettlebell is heavier or lighter than the other. 

 

Popular exercises that utilize kettlebells include kettlebell swings, lunge-to-arm presses, and teapot lifts, which are great for working your obliques! 

 

Before You Go

 

Creating your own home gym is the perfect way to invest in not only your home but also your health. You can get an effective workout from the comfort of your own home while still building just as much muscle strength as you do in the gym. 

 

The best home gym investments are things you can easily store to fit into a tight space, are versatile in their use, and can be made at home DIY for even more savings. 

 

So, stock your home gym today with these pieces of equipment for a fun, new way to work out and start seeing those muscle gains.

Jogging 30 Day Challenge: What Happened?

You may recall that earlier this year I embarked upon a "Jogging 30 Day Challenge" and then it suddenly stopped?

Well, I was about 20 days into it and injured my foot. I am not even certain HOW I injured my foot. I woke up one morning and my right foot was suddenly in a lot of pain, similar to a "Charley Horse" in terms of the amount of pain I was in.

But unlike a Charley Horse / foot cramps, it didn't go away after a few minutes.

It took months for my foot to start feeling like normal again, and even now I sometimes experience pain in my right foot.

So that's why my "Jogging 30 Day Challenge" ended unexpectedly.

I am hopeful to resume jogging sometime, but in the meantime I want to be fully healed before I do so.

I don't recommend anyone jogging when you have a sports injury in your feet or legs. Same with any other sports injury. If you have an injury it is your body telling you it is time to take a break.

5 Frugal Tips for your Dream Home Gym

5 Tips to Build your Dream Home Gym without Breaking the Bank

The pandemic made most people find creative ways to do the things they love the most, including working out. If you’ve missed the gym but aren’t ready to go back into that atmosphere quite yet, it’s easy to build your dream home gym without breaking the bank.

Here are 5 simple tips.

Keep it simple 

Don’t go overboard, building a killer gym overnight. Not only will you likely buy equipment you won’t use, but you’ll go way over budget. Instead, start small. Think of the workouts you must do that aren’t non-negotiable in your mind and budget for those pieces of home gym equipment.

Aim to buy one piece of equipment at a time to see how often you use it and if you’re seeing the results you desire.

Get creative with household objects

Just because the gym you belonged to had all the bells and whistles doesn’t mean you can’t improvise at home. Think about objects around your house that can double as workout equipment.

Chairs are great for bars for balancing or even a spot to sit to do sitting exercises; paper plates can replace sliders, and gallon water bottles can replicate 8-pound free weights as a few examples.

 

Figure out how you’ll work out

Will you come up with your own routines or will you stream workouts from a gym or streaming service?

This will add to your costs, so figure it into your budget. If you don’t want to use some of your budget on streaming workouts, check out YouTube, they have millions of workout videos you can use either to get you started or to keep you structured.

Pick one room in your home to create the gym

If you want to make sure you use your gym equipment, pick a room in your home and dedicate space for your home gym. You don’t have to build a new area or renovate – just clear out an area of a room or an entire room if you have the space.

Some people add small pieces of equipment to their family room or office and others use garage or basement space that they use only to collect clutter.

 

Use a cashback or rewards credit card to buy equipment

When you’re ready to buy equipment, use the most beneficial credit card to make your purchases worth it. Cashback or rewards credit cards pay you for your purchases. Look for the credit card that will pay you the most as each credit card pays different percentages of cashback and/or rewards based on the category you’re buying in. HOWEVER this really only makes sense if you pay your credit card bill every month on time. Otherwise the fees means that it isn't worth it at all.

Final Thoughts

Start small and build your home gym carefully, being mindful of your budget and also the benefits of having a home gym. It’s a big switch to go from working out with a group of other like-minded people to working out on your own.

Don’t go overboard right away – improvise with household items and buy only the equipment you know you need to have an effective workout. As you get used to working at home and you save enough money or have the right credit card to buy the equipment, you can build up your gym to make it your dream gym.

Jogging 30 Day Challenge: Day 1

I went jogging today for the first time in roughly 8 years.

It wasn't a long journey. I set a small goal of jogging to a bus stop and then back again, less than 6 minutes round trip. (6 Minute Cardio, huzzah!)

I am admittedly not in the best shape right now (partially due to spending months indoors thanks to COVID) and also the fact that I haven't jogged in 8 years.

I was recently conversing with a fellow archer at the Toronto Archery Range and he was telling me how he had taken a big break from archery and had not shot for years, and then only recently got back into it during the pandemic. Then I started thinking about how I haven't ridden a horse in over 20 years, and gosh it would be nice to do that again... Sadly buying a horse or getting riding lessons isn't really an option right now so that didn't make sense for me. Still it got me thinking about how many people take breaks from their various sports and/or exercise activities.

Eg. I haven't gone mountain climbing in over a decade.

Having a big break for a sport activity isn't a bad thing and is nothing to be ashamed of. It happens to many of us and often coincides with big changes in our lives.

The big change for me 8 years ago was when I moved in with my future wife and I started living in a different neighbourhood. Previously I had been living (and jogging) in downtown Toronto. The sudden change in surroundings and having a girlfriend/wife living with me caused a big change in my daily habits.

In April of this year we moved into a house, and the new neighbourhood has had a profound effect on me. Our backyard, our front yard, the closeness of the trees, the wilderness... It made me want to go jogging again. Sometimes just to explore the new neighbourhood, but that desire to go jogging had returned.

Last week I purchased a new shirt just for jogging in. A few weeks before that, new shorts suitable for jogging.

I already had suitable shoes, so that was not an issue for me.

What matters most is motivation.

Getting up, getting dressed in my jogging clothes, and then just go for a jog.

It doesn't matter if it is only a short jog. A short jog is much easier for people to get motivated for anyway.

I know some joggers out there who jog for hours (I had an ex who had an exercise addiction and it was so bad it was hurting her relationships). I don't recommend doing that. Some people may enjoy "Joggers High", but that isn't one of my goals. Still, that Joggers High can be handy for those people who enjoy hours long jogs.

In order to help motivate myself I have also decided I want to go jogging every day. Every day for 30 days.

It is possible I might miss 1 or 2 days, but I can make up for it by simply doubling the distance on any day for which I failed to go jogging the previous day.

Otherwise my plan is to "Start Small". Short jogs. Less than 6 minutes.

5-6 minutes per day for 30 days = 150 to 180 minutes of jogging.

Using a jogging calorie calculator (and my weight, which is currently 210 lbs thanks to me losing 10 lbs back in April when I was in hospital for 4 days) I then calculate my speed (5 mph) and how many calories jogging that much will burn...

1750 to 2100 calories. 1750 calories is equal to half a pound of fat.

However then there is the Afterburn Effect... wherein your heart rate becomes elevated for the next 24-48 hours and you feel more energetic. You feel more energetic because your body is burning fat reserves in order to give you more energy.

Used correctly, the Afterburn Effect can burn an extra 500 calories per day by making you more energetic for the rest of the day. (The exact results vary on the person and the exercise you did to kickstart it)

However if a person manages to activate the Afterburn Effect every day for 30 days, they will burn an extra 15,000 calories.

So instead of burning just 1/2 a pound of fat, a person might actually burn 4.78 lbs of fat.

What does 5 lbs of fat look like? Well, it is bigger than a brick. Maybe about twice the size of a brick in terms of volume.

So that 5 lbs isn't really a small amount of weight. It is a sizable chunk of your body mass. For me that 5 lbs equals roughly 2.4% of my body weight. If I could lose 5-10 lbs by jogging over a 2 month period... Wow. What a big difference that would make to my waistline.

I would have pants in my closet that would suddenly fit again.

Jogging is also a frugal exercise. You need very little in terms of "equipment". A good pair of shoes suitable for jogging is really the only important thing you need. Most of us can find an old t-shirt or shorts suitable for jogging in. You don't need to "motivate yourself" like I did by buying new clothes just for jogging.

I did that partially so that every time I look at the clothes I would be reminded that I purchased them just for jogging and it would remind me to go jogging. It also creates a "monetary responsibility" in which you feel the urge to fulfill the duty you originally committed to when you purchased the clothes or jogging shoes.

Jogging Tip - I hate crosstrainers. I don't recommend them if you're new to jogging. Instead get something more like basketball shoes which have more padding and are comfortable to run in. Crosstrainers are horrible uncomfortable. I have both, but I definitely prefer the basketball shoes for jogging in. Are they more expensive? Yes. Do I care? No.

Other Ways to get the Afterburn Effect

• Cardio exercises (cycling, swimming, etc)
• Weightlifting
• High Intensity Interval Training

Regardless of what exercises you are doing what really matters is your motivation. You have to ask yourself what are your excuses for not exercising, and then ask yourself what are your reasons for WANTING to exercise.

 And then you let your reasons for win.

What are your excuses?

I am including the image below as a good example of a person who didn't let her excuses hold her back.

Fun Halloween Archery Ideas that won't make a Mess

 Every year some silly person brings a pumpkin to the archery range, makes a mess shooting at the pumpkin, and then leaves their stinky mess behind.

Also they make a huge mess on their arrows and then have to clean their arrows with rubbing alcohol, otherwise their arrows will smell like rotting pumpkins.

There is a better however!

And it is reasonably frugal...

#1. Halloween Skull from the Dollar Store

Your local dollar store sells a wide variety of Halloween items which makes for a fun (and less messy) archery target. It doesn't have to be a skull, but that is certainly an option. It could even be a glow in the dark skeleton suitable for night shooting.

#2. Zombie Archery Target

Sometimes your local archery stores sell a variety of zombie themed archery targets. Below is a zombie pizza man. They're pretty inexpensive too.

#3. Old Halloween Decorations

Chances are likely you have some old Halloween decorations you should throw out. But before you throw them out, why not reuse them as an archery target?

#4. Halloween Archery Target

Print out the following Halloween Archery Target using your printer or take it to Staples / Kinkos to print out a larger poster.

Or make/decorate your own archery target.

Squats - A Good Foundation for Any Exercise Routine

If you think of working out like building a house, then squats would be like pouring the foundation.

Squats are an essential move to help strengthen your lower body, and they help fortify the base for all the rest of your movements. Squats are a crucial move not only because they work so many different muscles, but also because the muscles they build work to balance your body when you are doing other exercises, thus benefiting your exercise routine for the rest of your body.

Thus if you are going running, why not do 20 squats first?

If you are starting a weight lifting workout, why not do 20 squats first?

Yoga? 20 squats first.

Some people swear by stretching before a workout, some people are against stretching because the stretching can sometimes cause sports injuries because people overdo the stretching. But 20 squats is not a huge number and they will certainly help to build the muscle groups that you will be using often.

They also cost zero equipment. So squats rank high on the frugal exercises.

There are also many kinds of squats. You are not limited to one kind. Just pick your favourite and add it to the start of your workout.


Example: Barbell Squats

5 Effective Women’s Body Shaping Exercises You Can Do Today

Guest Post by Melissa Lobo, December 2017.

There are so many ways to stay in shape especially if you exercise daily or take breast enhance pills. However, with the holidays just around the corner, it’s a whole lot harder to keep that unwanted weight at bay. The best thing you can do to keep things in hand is to maintain a daily routine of exercises. Once it becomes second nature to you--just as habits are wont to be--it will not be too difficult to stay in shape. Here are 5 effective women’s body shaping exercises you can do today.

An Easier Way to do Push Ups

Push Ups
This classic is a terrific all-around exercise that will keep your body firm in all the right places. It burns up calories faster, too, so doing a couple of sets each day will help you lose that unwanted weight. Chest muscles are the main target of this particular exercise, so doing a 3 sets of 15 push ups each day plus taking breast enhance pills will make you look extra fit in a bikini in no time at all. Steadily increase the number of push ups to a maximum of 30 once you get the hang of it. Here is the right way to do your push ups:

• Palms flat on the floor.
• Hands should be spread apart slightly wider than the shoulders for better balance.
• Keep feet close together.
• Raise your body by fully extending your arms. Then, lower your body until your chest is as near as possible to the floor.
• Get your strength from your core.

Basic Yoga Poses
It comes as no surprise that some yoga poses have made it to the list of the5 most effective women’s body shaping exercises you can do today. This is because the nature of this exercise provides holistic wellness. While it keeps your body in shape, the meditation that comes with executing the poses is also healthy for the soul. Some of the poses that you can do include the following:

• To keep the body firm, you can do the downward dog. It stretches the entire body even as it relieves the stress and tension of joints and tendons.
• For an excellent abdominal workout, do the plank. You should hold this position for about 10 to 15 seconds. You can also do the side plank. As the name suggests, you basically do the plank literally on your side. Your weight is supported by your core and you lift up your body by propping up your left elbow and forearm. You have to hold this pose for about 30 seconds.
• For firmer legs, do the tree. Rest your right foot on the opposite upper thigh. After about 15 seconds, do the same with your left foot connecting with the right upper thigh. Your hands should be in a prayer position all throughout these poses.
• For more shapely hips and thighs and to build strength in your core, you can do the warrior pose. You basically do a “backward lunge” balancing your weight on both legs. This pose targets legs, buttocks, core, hips, and the torso.
• For better-shaped quadriceps, kneecaps, and abdominals, go for the mountain pose. This is the best way to begin your daily exercise routine. You basically hold a standing position while activating your core. Breathe deeply and steadily 10 times before doing other exercises.
• The bridge is also a great exercise to do to shape your rear. Keep your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor while lying down face up. Raise your hips to form a straight line from shoulders to knees. Pause for about ten seconds before lowering your body.

Downward Dog to Forward Lunge

Deadlift
This is a great toning exercise that strengthens the back, too. Here is how you do it:

• Prepare dumbbells.
• Stand on your left foot.
• Bend forward and lower your body while holding the dumbbells.
• Go as low as possible.
• Get your strength from your core.

Cardio Exercises
Of course, no exercise routine would be complete without a complete cardio workout. Cardio exercises are essential to the body-- which is why cardio moves are among the 5 most effective women’s body shaping exercises you can do today. Suggested cardio exercises include:

• Jogging
• Jump Rope
• Biking
• Swimming
• Using cardio equipment such as elliptical or treadmill

You can mix this up and schedule it to fit into your daily exercise routine. Time yourself so you can either maintain or increase the duration of these exercises. Usually, five to ten minutes would do the trick. Swimming can take a lot longer so you have to make certain scheduling adjustments as well.

When it comes to doing jogging, walking, jump rope, or users of cardio equipment, there is a basic scheduling that you can follow. You can do five minutes of continuous exercise. You can increase your effort to about 75 percent. At the 10 second mark, you give it all that you have by exerting 100 percent maximum effort.

Step Ups
Yet another classic exercise, step-ups target your legs, feet, and core. What you do is somewhat similar to climbing the stairs. The only difference is that you do it differently with only one step to mount on and go down from. You do this in a repetitive cycle of about three sets of 15 to 20 step-ups each.

Put them all together
Now that you know 5 effective women’s body shaping exercises you can do today, all you have to do is to design your own daily exercise routine with some breast enhance pills on the side. Know what your trouble zones are, and focus on them. For beginners, you can do 3 sets of each type of exercise, with 10 reps each time.

This does not apply to yoga poses, however. For yoga beginners, we advise you try and reach 20 seconds before going back to the starting position. Also essential is fitting in--at the very least--ten minutes of cardio fitness. Once you have designed your plan, you are basically good to go.

Never too late
It is never too late to get that shape that you have been dreaming of. Consult health and fitness professionals or dieticians on how to better refine your daily exercise routine. Check out what breast enhance pills will be most effective for you. Once you have a routine that works for you, stick to it, and you will be sure to have a healthy and trim body in no time.

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Melissa Lobo Bio

Melissa is a young and energetic writer, a mom to a sweet little boy, and a fur-mom to two perfect pooches. Before becoming the Associate Content Director for Project Female, she was a journalist specializing in topics related to women in politics and policy affecting women.

Four Extremely Effective HIIT Workouts

Guest Post by SpotMeBro.com

HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) is one of the best and most effective ways of shedding fat and increasing your overall fitness. The best thing about HIIT is it doesn’t take much of your time, making it a perfect workout for busy individuals. After successfully completing a HIIT workout, you’ll feel good and satisfied with a refreshed and clear state of mind.

Many studies have shown that by doing intense workouts helps boost your metabolic rate and ultimately burn more fat. If you are the kind of a person whose job is to sit more than 8 hours in front of a laptop or several hours at the office, then HIIT is probably the ideal cardio routine for you.

Here are five HIIT workouts that will definitely help you lose more fat and, of course, it’ll be very challenging – especially if you’re a complete newbie. Don’t worry, it will find a special place in your heart once you see those amazing results.

1. 8 Minute HIIT Workout

Let’s start with more resting time to allow your body to become used to the intensity and stress. You don’t need any equipment, belts or weights for this. There will be 8 one-minute rounds of 20 seconds of working and 40 seconds’ rest in between each exercise.

• Jab Cross, Front Right: With your right foot in front of the left and hips facing towards your left, bring your arms in a boxing position and jab forward with your right arm. Finally, throw a cross punch with your left arm and allow your body to rotate towards the right.
• Jab Cross, Front Left: Same as the above but with the opposite foot. Bring the left foot in front of the right one with your hips facing towards the right. Bring your arms up in a boxing position and jab with your left arm. Throw a cross punch with your right arm and allow your body to rotate towards the left.
• Jumping Jacks: Keep your feet hip-width apart and arms extended by your sides. Now, jump with your feet out and swing your arms above your head. Jump back to your starting position while lowering your arms back down to your sides. Do as many reps as you can.
• Bodyweight Sumo Squats: Slightly different from normal squats. Position your feet more than shoulder-width apart with your toes pointing at a 45-degree angle. Keep your back straight while lowering your body till your thighs are parallel to the floor. Drive yourself back up to the starting position.

2. 20 Minute HIIT Workout

An ideal workout for maximizing calorie burning and increasing your metabolic rate. There will be 20 rounds of 45 seconds of work and 15 seconds of rest in between exercises. When you hit the 10-minute mark, take a two-minute break and continue.

• Push-ups: Using the normal push-up technique, do as many reps as you can. Keep your hands more than shoulder-width apart and don’t allow your back to arch.
• Bodyweight Squats: Unlike the sumo squats, these are just normal-stance squats -- your feet under your hips.
• Butt Kicks: Stand in an area where you'll have enough space around you. Now, jog in place and kick the left heel back so that it touches your butt. Do the same with your right heel.
• Tricep Dips: Take a chair and place it against a wall for support. Now place your hands on the edge with your back towards the chair. Straighten your legs out in front of you while keeping the balance on your palms. Lower your body by bending your elbows and press up. Go for maximum repetitions.
• Side Lunges: You’ll be putting your body weight on your heels with your toes pointing forward. Step towards your right in a deep, lateral lunge and keep your knee above your toes. Switch positions and do the same for the other side.

3. 5/10/15 HIIT Workout

This workout demands less time and is ideal for beginners. There will be only 5 seconds of rest in between exercises for maximum intensity.

• 5 Pull-ups: Grip the pull-up bar with your hands wider than shoulder width. Now quickly perform 5 pull-ups without your body's momentum.
• 10 Kettlebell Snatches: You need a kettlebell for this workout. Place it between your feet. Now bend your knees and push your butt back. Look in front of you and swing the kettlebell back in between your legs. Now, quickly reverse your direction and drive it through using your hips and knees. This way the kettlebell will be swinging in an upward direction. As soon as it reaches shoulder height, quickly rotate your hand and punch straight up.
• 15 Kettlebell Figure 8's: Grab the kettlebell and place it between your legs. Bend your body in the same way as in kettlebell snatches. Now lift the kettlebell and pass it to your other hand between your legs in such a way that it forms an 8-figure.

4. The Quick 4-Minute HIIT Workout

Pretty easy, but will definitely make you sweat. Here is what you have to do without any rest in between the sets:

• Plank: Drop down into a plank and hold this position for one minute.
• Mountain Climber: From the plank position, get into a push-up position. Raise your hips, bend your knees and try to touch your right knee to your chest. Do the same with the left knee as quickly as possible.
• Jumping Jacks: Use the same technique for jumping jacks and aim for maximum reps.

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Frugal Archery Equipment, Part Three

Earlier today I answered an email from someone looking to get into archery but was on a tight budget. Fortunately I had already written a number of articles on the topic previously.

Examples

DIY Archery Equipment on a Frugal Budget, which details how to make your own bamboo laminate bow on a tiny budget.

Frugal Archery Equipment, Part Two, which is a guide to buying used equipment, the pros and cons of it, and what kind of equipment a person should be looking for.

Optional Archery Equipment: Need or Don't Need is a list of optional equipment that people don't really need / can craft themselves with very little skills. eg. Sewing your own bow sock or knitting your own quiver.

Years ago I also wrote a piece on the topic of "The Do-It-Yourself Approach to Archery Lessons", which explained a step by step approach to getting into archery and not paying for archery lessons.

Looking over those older articles published in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 I realized that perhaps it was time I wrote a Part Three on the topic. So here goes...

DIY Archery Equipment with (Almost) No Money and No Skills

Step One, read the PDF for Volume I of the Traditional Bowyer's Bible. Henceforth referred to as "TBB".

The PDF is available on Scribd and other sources.

The most important chapter to read is the one on bow design. Reading the other chapters are also handy as you will learn quite a bit about archery and bow making from Volume I of the TBB alone, so you don't necessarily need to read Volumes II, III or IV.

Some libraries might also have a copy of the book. Or if you know someone who already has this book perhaps you can borrow it from them. Whatever you do, find a way to read this book.

Note: Make notes from the various things you learn.

Total Cost: $0.

Step Two, determine what tools you actually have available that would be useful for bow making.

Ideally it would be nice to have the following:

• Hatchet or Axe
• Draw Knife
• Rasp and Files
• Carving Knife

Hopefully you will already have most of everything you need. If you don't ask to borrow some tools from some friends / family members. If you can get every tool you need without spending a penny then you will be in a good position to start bow-making.

Total Cost: $0.

Step Three, acquire the raw materials to start building a bow.

This might involve:

1) Cutting down a small hardwood tree with the above mentioned axe, and then splitting the tree into several staves the correct length for bow-making. If you get four staves from one tree then you will have enough to hone your skills 4 times.

2) Finding a piece of old oak / hard maple or other kind of hardwood that is a good length and shape for bow-making. There is a chapter in the TBB which details what kinds of wood are good for bow-making.

3) Buy a piece of hardwood. I find oak is one of the easiest pieces of hardwood to find and work with, and it relatively inexpensive.

4) Getting a piece of bamboo instead of using wood. This might involve having to buy bamboo, as it is not something people normally throw out. If you go in the bamboo route you will want to research everything you can about making bamboo bows. I recommend starting by reading DIY Archery Equipment on a Frugal Budget, as I cover one method on how to make a bamboo laminate bow in that article.

You will also need an extra piece of scrap wood for making a tillering stick.

Total Cost: Varies or $0.

Step Four, start bow-making using what you have learned in the Traditional Bowyer's Bible.

Tillering the Bow

Don't expect your first bow to work perfectly. In fact, expect your first bow to probably break. Pay attention to the tillering process and try to make a fairly light and easy to use bow. Don't try to make something really powerful like a "50 lb longbow capable of killing a bear" because chances are likely that bow will be sluggish, the arrows will fly really slow, and will be horribly inaccurate.

A common beginners mistake is to try to make a powerful bow. Instead try to make something that is easy to use, takes about 20 lbs to pull to a draw length of 28 inches, and shoots the arrows nice and fast because that is really your end goal: A bow that shoots arrows quickly and accurately.

After you've made several bows your skills will have progressed and you will have gone from having no bow-making skills to having a good start at learning how to make bows that shoot fast. Then you will be ready to try making something more powerful.

Total Cost: $0.

Step Five, making arrows / etc.

To make arrows and other archery equipment, you are basically just reading different chapters from the TBB and applying the same principles above. A scrap of leather for a shooting tab or an old pair of leather gloves to protect your hand. Buy or find the necessary parts for arrow making and fletching: Straight wood shafts + feathers for fletching + obsidian, flint, metal or glass for arrowheads.

The blue glass arrowhead shown below is made using flintknapping. All you need is a piece of glass and something hard (eg. a large nail or bolt works well) to hit it with to begin the process of learning how to flintknap.

Total Cost: Varies or $0.

But what if I don't want to make my own equipment?

Well then you are left with the following options:

1. Buy equipment that is used. In which case I recommend reading Frugal Archery Equipment, Part Two.

2. Buy equipment that is new, but try to save money by making your own accessories. In which case I recommend reading Optional Archery Equipment: Need or Don't Need.

3. Borrow equipment from a friend who also does archery until you can afford to do one of the above options. Your friend is going to want the equipment back and if you break any of it, you will be expected to buy/replace anything you broke.

4. Ask friends / family members to get you archery equipment for your birthday / Christmas / etc. Be patient, that might take awhile to get everything you are looking for.

5. Sell / trade / barter old things you don't need any more to get archery equipment. That old bicycle you don't use any more? Sell it and buy archery equipment.

Got more ideas on how to get or make your own archery equipment? Post your ideas in the comments section below.

Happy shooting!

Is Canada's Wonderland cheaper than a Toronto Gym?

Okay, stay with me on this one...

How much does it cost you to get a 1 month membership at a Toronto gym?

Well lets look at a few big box store style gyms around Toronto...

Extreme Fitness... Cost? ~ $70 to $100 per month.

Recently got bought out by GoodLife Fitness, is referred to as an Extreme Ripoff by a BlogTo.com review. They try to sucker people in with 1 month free deals or "$8 per month" deals that later turn out to have hidden fees, even though they claim there is no hidden fees. They also claim there is no annual contract, which is bogus because everyone who signs up at their gym is automatically put on the annual contract (it is in the fine print). Learn more about this by reading Extreme Fitness, Extreme Ripoff. For fun try contacting Extreme Fitness and try to get them to tell you their normal monthly rate over the phone and discover how evasive they are about answering that question. Extreme Fitness also has a notorious reputation for overcharging people, double charging people, and refusing to stop charging you even after you cancel your gym membership. They routinely overcharge customers on purpose.

GoodLife Fitness... Cost? $63.92 + HST per month.

Spoke to the nice lady on the phone and she quoted me the above price. However having read reviews and some of the info on the GoodLife website, that price is the bare minimum. GoodLife likes to add extra fees for everything you can think of. Towel service. Access to the pool. Access to tennis courts. Day Care services for your kids if you bring them to the gym with you. GoodLife is all about gouging you with the extra fees. With tax included the total is $72.23 per month.

Next lets look at an organization that should be cheaper because in theory they're supposed to be a non-profit.

YMCA... Cost? $48 to $58 + HST per month.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto operates 8 locations with a range of different facilities, some with both gyms and pools. The prices vary on what is available at the location. The price is above is the normal Adult rate for people 22 years old or older. Unlike other gyms however the YMCA also offers family rates with prices varying between $81 to $97. Thus if you are a couple and have kids, you can truly save a bundle. We should note that the YMCA also charges a signup fee when you become a member.

And finally lets look at something that isn't even a gym...

Canada's Wonderland... Cost? $89.99 for a season pass + $45 for all season parking.

And yes, you read it correctly. Canada's Wonderland is arguably cheaper to use as your own personal gym if you don't mind driving there and paying for parking. The $89.99 is the normal rate for an adult season pass. (It is fairly easy to get a discount however as they do promo codes on a regular basis.) The season pass gets you roughly 4 months of access to the park, the splashworks pool, all the rides, etc. Certain things which are optional are clearly going to cost extra, oh and you should really bring food with you because the food prices inside Canada's Wonderland are ridiculously expensive.

Thus a person could theoretically go there, exercise, go on rides, stand in long line ups regularly, go swimming, completely avoid the fattening / overpriced food, and ultimately only pay $89.99 +$45 + HST = $152.54 for the 4 month stay.

Compared to 4 months at the Toronto gyms mentioned above you would be spending:

Extreme Fitness... $280 to $400 for 4 months.
GoodLife Fitness... $288.92 for 4 months.
YMCA... $216.96 to $262.16 for 4 months.

So Canada's Wonderland is cheaper than all the above examples, you will clearly have more fun there, and it is ultimately the more frugal choice (even with the all season parking pass).

Want to know what is even cheaper?

Toronto Parks and Beaches... Cost? Zero $s per year.

Parking is free. Swimming is free. Ice cream is extra. All the sand and beautiful skies you could want. Many of Toronto's parks have many unusual amenities.

Unusual Amenities

The Toronto Archery Range at E. T. Seton Park.
Sunnybrook Stables at Sunnybrook Park (where you can take horse riding lessons for a reasonable fee).
Riverdale Farm Petting Zoo and Dog Park.
High Park Petting Zoo and Fishing Pond (and Swimming Pools, Tennis Courts, and more).
Mountain-bike Trails / Hiking Trails at Don Valley Brick Works Park.
Allan Gardens Conservatory and Dog Park.
Centennial Park Conservatory.
Centennial Park Ski and Snowboarding.
Earl Bales Park Ski and Snowboarding.

Toronto Parks also are home to beaches, pools, skateboard parks, mountain-bike / hiking trails, ice skating/hockey rinks, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball diamonds, football/soccer/rugby fields, wading pools, water parks and more.

And the vast majority of Toronto Parks services are free.

Oh and lastly Toronto Parks and Recreation operates 81 community centres which have gyms and a wide variety of fitness options. If you live in Toronto then you probably live near one of them. Just register as a member and then just go.

Lastly universities often operate gyms which also open to the community, for a comparatively small fee. So if you live near Ryerson, U of T or York University those are also great options.

Five Exercises for Increasing Your Metabolic Rate

Increasing your metabolic rate is one of the easiest ways to get in shape and lose weight. Below are five exercises that boost your metabolism - and they're frugal, using only your bodyweight.

The primary purpose of these exercise is to get your heart rate up, which kickstarts the Afterburn Effect - a major boost to your metabolic rate and starts a fat burning process in your body. You should do the exercises until your heart feels tired, and then rest.

Best of all, these are exercises you can do every day, for 1 to 2 minutes each. 5 to 10 minutes per day isn't much, but if you are getting Afterburn Effect going then it will give you more energy for the rest of the day as you will feel more energetic, more alert, and you will be burning fat for approx. 24 to 48 hours after the exercises. Do them every day, and the Afterburn Effect is extended and multiplied, causing rapid fat burning.

Note - If you have a known heart condition you should consult your doctor before doing any exercises which could effect your heart.

Step-Ups - use a step or platform that is about 4-6 inches high. Stand with your feet hip-width apart and jump onto the step or platform at least 15 times. Repeat after walking around the platform in a complete circle.

Squats - stand with your feet hip-width apart and place your arms to your side. Pretend there is a chair behind you and almost sit bringing your arms out in front keeping your back flat and abdominal muscles pulled in.

Push-ups - begin on your knees or feet and place your hands shoulder-width apart on the step or platform. Inhale as you lower your body to the step and exhale as you push yourself up. Repeat for 15 repetitions. Pay attention to your form while doing push-ups, you want to do them properly to get the full effect.

Tricep Dips - sit with your back to the step and place your hands behind you on the step. Lift and lower your body using your tricep muscles to do the work keeping your elbows in line with your wrists. Repeat 12 times.

Lunges - stand with one foot on the step and place your other foot behind you so that your front knee is over your heel. Lower your body keeping your shoulders in line with your hips at least 12 times for each leg. Repeat on the other leg.

BONUS EXERCISE

Jumping Jacks - These old school exercises are actually amazingly effective as they get your heart racing fast, use both upper body and lower body simultaneously, and they require minimal space to do. Jumping Jacks are amazing at boosting heart rate and consequently your metabolic rate.

DIY Circuit Training Routine

Q

"Hey there,

I am wondering how much your services are for cardio circuit training for an hours work.
...rate of pay for an hour?

hope to hear from you soon.

Regards,
Adrian "

A

Hello Adrian!

I don't do circuit training. I shall explain why.

While it is a good way for personal trainers to make money, charging clients rates as low as $10 per hour and then getting bulk clients willing to shell out $10 each, the goal of the trainer is really to fit as many people into a single circuit training session as possible. eg. 10 to 15 clients, so that the trainer makes a quick $100 to $150. Some trainers might charge $20 and aim for 5 to 8 clients, but the end goal of the trainer is still to make money while doing very little actual work.

For the clients, yes, they do get a decent workout and they do get access to the personal trainer to ask questions, ask for advice/etc, but they could accomplish the same thing doing a DIY Circuit Training Routine and simply establishing an email relationship with a trainer, possibly paying the trainer for their time to answer emails if they have an excessive amount of questions or advice they are looking for. Ultimately circuit training with a personal trainer is a bit of a scam because the amount of time you have to talk to the personal trainer is actually quite small, especially if the group is crowded or time is constrained.

To Make your own DIY Circuit Training Routine

#1. Look around your home for whatever exercise equipment you already have available. It can be a mix of store bought goodies or even things you made yourself / substituted.

#2. Make a monthly budget for your exercise routines (eg. $10 to $20) to be spent on exercise equipment. Things like dumbbells, skipping rope, yoga mat, hand grips and other small items can be easily added to your routine over time. This allows your training circuit to evolve as the months go by and you collect an impressive collection of goodies to exercise with.

Note - If you don't have a lot of equipment you can even focus on frugal body-weight exercises that use almost no equipment. See the graphic on the right for examples.

#3. Clear a space in your living room or possibly your garage or basement where you exercise freely without bumping into things. If you have a backyard and you don't mind the weather, you now have an excuse to exercise outdoors and get some fresh air.

#4. Organize all of your exercise goodies according to high intensity exercises to low intensity exercises, and then alternate them in a circle starting with a low intensity exercise, then high intensity, then low, then high again, etc, only the circuit is complete. If you like a particular exercise more than others and want to focus on that exercise more you can even make it a Figure 8 design so the middle exercise is done twice during every full circuit.

#5. Schedule daily or weekly circuit training sessions for yourself. Make it part of your routine, possibly with a small reward for you to enjoy after each session (eg. playing Candy Crush for 30 minutes after you finish the routine, watching your favourite TV show, etc. The reward should never be sugary food, although healthy food is certainly acceptable.)

#6. During the scheduled time spend 1 minute on each exercise with up to a 30 second break between each exercise. If you are not tired after a particular exercise feel free to proceed to the next exercise with minimal rest.

Note - If you want to spend extra time on particular exercise you might also consider doing it for 90 seconds or 2 minutes instead of 1 minute.

#7. While exercising try to pay attention to the quality of your form. During a circuit training session with a personal trainer they SHOULD be watching your form and showing you how to correctly perform the exercise so you are maximizing results and minimizing the chances of sports injuries, however many personal trainers I have witnessed doing circuit training don't actually bother to try and warn their clients about the potential for sports injuries. Some of them even use the phrase "no pain no gain" when clients talk about the possibility of sports injuries, which is tantamount to asking for a lawsuit - which happened a few years ago to a New York personal trainer who ignored the complaints of pain from her male client and the man ended up with a permanent disability due to torn ligaments. My motto on the topic essentially is "if it really hurts, you are doing it wrong and you should stop". Stop and seek advice.

#8. If you have serious concerns about the quality of your form / sports injuries then schedule a session with a personal trainer who is an advocate of preventing sports injuries (me or someone equally adamant on the topic of prevention) for an one on one session and bring a list of questions to the session with you. If possible schedule the session at your home so you can show the trainer your routine, what exercises you are doing, and then they can see what you might be doing incorrectly and unsafely. If you email a personal trainer and they don't take your complaints seriously, find a different trainer for a second opinion. All else fails, stop doing exercise which is harming you and focus on exercises that don't hurt you. Some people, especially as they get older, get bad knees and other health problems which hinders their ability to exercise, in which case they should seek the advice of a personal trainer before attempting such exercises as a preventative measure. It is possible circuit training might not be their thing and they might want to consider swimming instead, which is more therapeutic for people with bad knees / joint problems.

I hope this helps!

Sincerely,
Charles Moffat
CardioTrek.ca