Cheap toys that work

[honeybunch]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON May-10-02 AT 04:32AM (Est)[/font][p]I bought a Thigh Tech XL, which is like the old thighmaster, and cost $20 plus shipping. The sucker works, believe it or not! It works like the adductor and abductor machines at the gym, but with not as much resistance, of course.

I like it because I'm not one to do extra tapes for inner and outer thigh work (don't have the extra time, primarily) to I like to use gadgets to do the work in less time. Previously I used a fit ball for inner thigh work, but the Thigh Tech works just as well. I used it the other day while I was putting on my mascara! I love time saving workouts!

My second cheap toy is a pedometer that I got for about $14.00. It's a no-brainer to use, and is a great tool to raise your awareness about how much you REALLY move around in a given day. I find that I really have to make an effort to get in enough steps (they say to aim for 10,000 in a day) on a non-workout day, or on a day when I do only weights. That means more flights of steps, or adding in more distance walking from the car to a store, and stuff like that. Cathe tapes make it VERY easy to rack up 10,000 steps in a day. I'm doing MIC today, and can't wait to see how many that one is. Imax was around 6700.

Don't we all love cheap toys?!!!!!

I have a not-so-cheap toy that I haven't used yet...the Jackie Chan Cable Flex. I'll report on it after I've tested it. I have a Body Blade that I'm going to drag out and use, too.

As you can tell, I'm a gadget freak. I'm going to get a Palm Pilot, and I'm SO excited!!!!!!

 

[getnfit@38]

Hi Honeybunch,

Thanks for the "heads up" on the Thigh Master! I was wondering about it.
Where did you find the $14. pedometer? I've been thinking of investing in one, but wasn't sure how much to spend, which are worth the $, etc.

Donna

p.s. Another "thank you" for the dips advice from another thread. I'm hoping to see some improvement in the upcoming weeks.

 

[honeybunch]

I got the pedometer on e-bay.

Hey, dips are great! I'm really learning to appreciate body weight exercises.

By the way, MIC was 8,620 "steps"!

 

[Debra]

Bands & toy balls!

The bands are great for resistance work & stretching. Easy to pack.

I have a pair of Voight's green genie balls but a kids toy ball is just as useful. Use during floor work, especially hamstrings. We use them in Pilates for balance work & working inner thighs.

Old tennis balls are a secret weapon for rebuilding arches. Never knew they would drop with age too!

I've looked at the pedometers but they require an even stride. My stride changes with the terrain (hills). But I'm thinking this might be a great shower gift for a mom-to-be who's going to have little time for structured exercise.

Debra

 

[Aquajock]

My favorite toy(s?) are my 2 pairs of 1.25-per-plate magnetic Plate Mates, to slap onto the end of my hex dumbbells; adds 2.5 pounds onto each dumbbell's weightload, and I can more easily increase incrementally rather than try to vault from a 15-lber to a 20-lber, or a 30-lber to a 35-lber or whatever. $19.50 per pair through Fitness Wholesale.

Annette

 

[Bobbi]

I bought a Resist-a-Ring from Karen Voights website and, while not all that cheap (40 bucks with a tape) it works great. I also picked up a second step at Play It Again Sports for the risers and made myself a mini-step. I am so proud!

Bobbi http://www.plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif Chick's Rule!