Awhile back (Read: Mid-Summer = FAIL!) America's Nutrition contacted me about reviewing their products; they offer everything from nutritional supplements to weight loss pills, protein powders, as well as fitness, bath and beauty products. After perusing the site I said I'd be willing to review a few things and lo and behold they sent them all! I had chosen a few xtraining items that would be extremely beneficial to maintaining my fitness as I worked through the wretched leg gremlins that derailed my marathon training.
Let's get ready to... XTRAIN!!!First up we have the Valero 8lb Medicine Ball:
This bad mama-jama is PERFECT for core training! It comes with a page of exercises but I Googled to find more; this post from April was THE BEST one I found and also this site that has a few more. I do the various floor related moves while I'm icing and/or elevating post-run and it's the perfect distraction during those 15-20 minutes. I started out with sets of 25 a few times a week and added 25 more each following week. You can do these core exercises anytime; while you're watching TV, waiting for your laundry to dry, etc... Improving core strength will let you run for longer without suffering from fatigue and will also decrease your risk of suffering an injury. Of all the items I reviewed the medicine ball has been my favorite and has been utilized the most, as in almost daily.
Again, the product came with an exercise card but I Googled more; This site had exercises to tone up every part of your body but my all time favorite exercise is the one that helps strengthen your hips, good for peeps with ITB issues. (I couldn't find a pic so I'll just reenact it for you.) 
Left: Starting position / Right: Take one step to the right/leftReturn to starting position by bringing the leg you didn't take a step with over to join the one you did. Repeat across a room. Repeat with the opposite leg taking the step and go back across the room. Feel the burn, strengthen the hips!
Finally we have the PurCore Balance Board;
For those of you that followed my xtraining during my injury you would have seen me mention using the balance foam a lot at the gym, this balance board is essentially the same thing. It helps improve your balance, strengthen your lower legs, ankles, etc... and also your core. As my balance improved I would perform free weight arm exercises while on the board to make it a more total body workout. There are many exercises that you can do and I found this site that has a series of video's called How to Exercise on a Balance Board that instruct you how to maximize the board. This product would be great if you had tile and/or wood floors but because I have carpeting in my apartment it just didn't get very much use.
As I've mentioned, xtraining is essential to my training plan and helped me come back from my injury stronger than ever. A big thanks goes out to America's Nutrition for sending me the different products to test out and review and I will definitely be picking up some more, for home use equipment as the temperature continues to drop around here and you should too!
To end, as a thanks to y'all for reading I'm going to conduct a little giveaway; If you have unlimited access to tile and/or wood floors and would like to win the PurCore Balance Board that has been used on carpet only approx a handful of times please leave a comment below with a reason why you need to improve your balance and core. (I'll throw your name in twice if you share an EPIC klutz FAIL.)
Isn't it high time you got your xtrain on?!?!?!
As I've mentioned, xtraining is essential to my training plan and helped me come back from my injury stronger than ever. A big thanks goes out to America's Nutrition for sending me the different products to test out and review and I will definitely be picking up some more, for home use equipment as the temperature continues to drop around here and you should too!
To end, as a thanks to y'all for reading I'm going to conduct a little giveaway; If you have unlimited access to tile and/or wood floors and would like to win the PurCore Balance Board that has been used on carpet only approx a handful of times please leave a comment below with a reason why you need to improve your balance and core. (I'll throw your name in twice if you share an EPIC klutz FAIL.)
Isn't it high time you got your xtrain on?!?!?!
Disclaimer:
- Per FTC Guidelines: America's Nutrition provided these items for my personal use at no cost to me.
- Contest is being conducted by me personally and is open to US residents and all you Canuck's
- The winner will be chosen at random by Random.org and awarded on 3 Things Thursday (10/28/10)
35 comments:
I also enjoyed using the wonderful x-training products! But not the abs stuff, I hate those workouts.
Its a hard lesson to learn, but cross training is so important for keeping those legs happy!
A strong core makes for better HUMPAAAAAGE!! LOL LOL
I am currently in rehab for back pain which turned out to be the result of really poor core conditioning. My poor back is absorbing a heck of a lot to shock from running. My problem is I hate cross-training while training.
I used my 8 lb medicine ball last night! LOVE!
As for my entry into the balance board contest... I fell nearly all the way down an escalator in Union Station in DC one morning. Epic fail!!
Great post!
1. I do need to get xtraining in my training regime;
2. I really do have to work on my core, because...
3. my back really doesn't like the high mileage...
I neglect my poor core :(
And we just got tile in our living room! Did away with the entire carpet, and it looks much better. It's the perfect combination.
Hey, I would love the balance board because i recently moved and our gym doesn't have either Bosu balls or a balance board. As for an embarrasing story one of the few times I got my boyfriend to run with me I ended up falling on my butt, and to make it worse the sidewalk was completely flat.
I need the balance board to give myself a better core for running to help prevent injuries. I start PT tomorrow for my tendon issues on my left leg and this could really help me. Thanks!
I'd love to try the balance board. I attempted to do yoga the other day as my cross-training and realized I've lost all kinds of balance, strength and flexibility with all this running, crazy!
so true that it takes many of us an injury to realize teh value of cross training!
You will be so proud!!!! I am no longer Anonymous!!!! And I am so jealous of your free trial stuff, for real! The Resistance tubes remind me of way back in the day when we had our little Gym stint together...oh yeah when I could once actually keep up with you! (Barely) Uhm I think I need the balance ball for real....hee hee Besides the infamous "ripping my pants and letting everyone see my butt" story...just this morning I fell in the shower while shaving and cut my foot and finger! Ouch! Ok..so I don't really need to win, but maybe for Christmas, LOL!
I'm glad that your cross training is going so well! I am rededicating myself to x-training, too... I'm going to get too burned out marathon training if I don't! I'd totally be interested in trying those resistance bands, since my hips definitely need strengthening...
I totally need that. Because uh...after my last marathon my back was more sore than my legs. Methinks I need to include some core work next time around. :)
Sounds like some decent stuff!
I am super clutzy and lack core strength BUT we also have allll carpet, so not gonna work for me!
I'm rehabbing plantar fasciitis, and already doing exercises to strengthen my ankles. The balance board will be the next step in my rehab.
As for an embarrassing story, I was out with friends one night wearing clogs. They're not the greatest for maintaining balance, and I've taken a few ugly falls in them. That night I went from being upright to being on the ground in seconds, in front of a whole bunch of my new boyfriend's best friends - who I'd just met. It was quite a first impression.
oh i would love a balance board! i could use it with future clients. you are so right, xtraining is so important. esp so for us runners.
i wish i had a clutzy story on the top of my head but i don't. does falling on a run and pooping myself count?
I need to improve because I am so clumsy and need better balance.
hewella1 at gmail dot com
I'm rehabbing plantar fasciitis, and I'm starting to do balance exercises to restrengthen my feet, ankles, knees, etc. A balance board would be uber helpful in strengthening my balance/core.
yeah, i have all carpet...but it sounds like you found some good cross training habits and tools! yay for staying healthy in the off-season!
Here's my epic klutz story...when I was in college (many years ago), I was running on the treadmill in these super cute but super impractical flair bottom pants, and of course, I stepped on the bottom of the hem, tripped, fell face down on the treadmill, and then slid down the treadmill onto the floor....while the gym was packed. Good times.
My friend Pam had what may be an even better story. She was taking a boot camp class, and they were playing Duck, Duck, Goose. (The ones in the circle were doing crunches.) She was diving to get back into her spot after having been tagged, hit the floor with her face, and got a black eye. But she stayed and finished the class!
PLEASE redhead…I need this PurCore Balance Board!
I have attempted to run my first half marathon three times now and always been derailed by injury. Usually something running related like my ITB or a stress fracture. But…I figured third time is the char and the November 2010 Philly Half was going to be it. I was taking care of myself, I was well ahead in my training and decided to finally make it officially and paid that $100 fee online. Two days later, dressed in my bathing suit and cover up to meet my gals at the pool, I miss the last step in my apartment and go down. I sprain my ankle and rip off chunks of bone in two areas on my foot. My orthopedist slapped me in the boot and put me on crutches. I was order to 4 weeks in physical therapy and was promised I would be back to running in 6 weeks. But almost three months later, I’m barely back to two miles due to the fact that I’ve fallen two more times since the original injury and I can send you the pic of a gnarly scar to prove it. Dorsaflexion was my original issue with the injury but since then the focus has been on balance and my orthopedist claims she won’t see me again if my injury is due to a fall. PLEASE…I need that balance board! Help me continue to work on my balance at home to get me back into my pre-fall condition and prevent me from dishing out $80/week at PT!
PS…this is the third time I’ve broken that foot due to falling down….seriously putting a kink in my running.
Love the blog!
Wow homegirl is desperate above me. I'm only entering bc I have wood floors. Oh, and you did give us a gratuitous vajayjay shot. Sidenote: iPhone wanted to autocorrect vajayjay into Canadian... Hmmm Marlene?
Nice reviews!
I'd love if I could get my cross train on. Right now, cross training is lunges after my runs and all sorts of toddler/child wrestling. That counts, right?
When I hit the floor for ab work LBM offers resistance via jumping up and down on me. I should have a 6 pack next week!
I need to improve my balance and core so I am NEVER EVER sidelined again!!!!
I can totally use the balance board because I was an epic klutz at the doctor. I went to go get my knees checked out after Chicago and when the doctor asked me to stand on one foot while on my tippy toe I almost busted on top of doc. I need me some balance in life! :)
I have unlimited access to tile around the house and this gadget would really complete my (very basic) home gym.... don't we all need a little more balance? ;-)
Those all look ... noththatfun. Sorry I hate the xtrain! LOL! But I love you.
You're a X-training machine! No wonder you're rockin' that 6-pack, working hard over there ;)
I do have tile floors in the kitchen & bathroom, but would definitely break something if I decided to use that crazy thing in either of them. ;)
Love me the medicine ball!
Balance boards and me are a sad combination. I've fallen more times at the gym that people probably think I'm just a big doof! I would love, love, love to win!
Have a great Tuesday girlie!
Awesome! I need a balance board myself to help rehab my knee. I use on during my PT sessions.
I need the balance board bc my balance workout is dancing on one foot in my room. Now hook it uppppp.
Wow, I have that same kind of stuff in the basement..... I wish I went down there more often........
Nice! that stuff looks awesome!! :)
Yeahhhhhh, so if I tried to use that rubber band thing, it would totally slip off of my feet and snap me in the nuts.
Tell me I'm wrong?
Yep, you can totally see it happening too
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