Home Health and Fitness

New Extreme Sport: synchronized binge-watching and peddling! Made possible with Harvil’s Foldable Exercise Bike

Exercising might have just gotten a lot more convenient… no more excuses!

With this foldable exercise bike, now we can ride essentially anywhere. It’s slim design and foldable technology allows wonderful transportation abilities and very easy storage. The assembled dimensions are 26.4 in L x 20 in W x 46 in H and it weighs 44 pounds. On Amazon, they come in the fun and vibrant colors of aqua and peach. 

The bike features 10 levels of magnetic resistance which can be adjusted to achieve your desired routine. Like most bikes, the cushioned seat can be adjusted to suit any height and preference. The pedals are anti-slip and have straps to keep your feet secure. The digital monitor displays speed, distance, time, calories burned, and heart rate. 

There’s no need to drive to the gym anymore, which means that you don’t even have to go out in public! So, workout in your “I’m with stupid” t-shirt and Spongebob pajama shorts in your living room while binge-watching Stranger Things 2 on Netflix. You won’t regret it. How would I know? …Nevermind. Have a glass of wine, because after that ride, you deserve it. Then place your bike back in its super small and secret hiding place until next time.

It gets better! We can help our economy by supporting Harvil, a family owned company out of the USA!

Purchase a Foldable Magnetic Exercise Bike by Harvil on Amazon now for @129.99.

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New Extreme Sport: synchronized binge-watching and peddling! Made possible with Harvil’s Foldable Exercise Bike originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 22, 2017 at 8:16 am.

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Any essential oil users out there?

Four or five years ago my wife was introduced to essential oils by a friend who was selling them as a side business.  She quickly became hooked and honestly, I kind of rolled my eyes at the idea of the incredible power of oils to “cure what ails ya”.  Now, I don’t want to say that I have been fully converted to the point of thinking that the only medicine I need is the oil of an orange peel or a peppermint leaf but I have really come around to some of the homeopathic qualities of some of these oils. 

Have I lost some of you already?  Do you think that I’m a Colorado hippy trying to cure serious disease with crystals and positive thoughts?  I’m not.

My background is biochemistry and chemical engineering so I have taken a lot of classes concerning neurological and musculoskeletal chemical pathways and how the triggering of certain neurotransmitters or other natural chemicals in your body and although I don’t know exactly how each of these oils work on things like mood, stomach aches, sore muscles, etc. I have seen the results.  I will pause again for the rest of you who think I’m crazy to think of another topic you would like to find to read about on our site.

……ho hum……just waiting…….

If you have read this far you might be in the same camp as I am or maybe even some serious oil users.  Or maybe you are just amazed that I think some of this stuff works.  Either way, you are still with me so let’s press on. I have a pretty decent collection of oils that are in my office that either I have wanted to have or my loving wife has sent with me to help me with any of a number of things I battle regularly like bad moods, stress, tense muscles, allergies and acid reflux.

At home, we have a much much larger collection of them that I have no idea what they are for and cant pronounce about 20% of them.  I have a diffuser that has sat on my desk for the last couple of years and I use it daily.  I also apply oils directly to my skin.  People always come into my office and ask “why does it smell so good in here?” or “what is that smell?  I love it!”.  I am not trying to fill the halls of my office building with the magical healing power of lavender oil but I enjoy it and I think it helps me, if for nothing more than having a pleasant scent that occupies one sense while I am hard at work.

We also have diffusers throughout our home that my wife puts different oils in to add a nice scent to the house but also to serve a purpose.  Mixing lemon, lavender and peppermint are great for seasonal allergies so we often have that going in the living room in the spring when the kids are running in and out of the house and the doors are open and you can see the pollen from the pine trees falling like snow.

My favorite oil is by far frankincense.  I put a little on my neck a couple times a day and just the smell of it makes me feel good.  After months of using it and going through a couple bottles, I finally asked my wife “what is frankincense supposed to be used for?  I just love the smell and it makes me happy.”.  She replied, “its main use is for depression, mood and stress”.  Okay, that was a pretty good blind study for the scientist in me.

I also use lavender to help me turn off my brain and get to sleep, peppermint to ease sore muscles (just like Icy Hot) and upset stomach, and different blends for stress and allergies.  Don’t get me wrong, I still take my medications for my migraines, and eat an antacid if I had too much red wine and pasta sauce, but I have seen a real benefit to these oils.  Anyone out there had the same experience?  Is anyone still reading at this point?

Anyways, I wanted to take a break from the tech product reviews for a second to tell you about my experience but I really want to hear from you all and your experiences and/or thoughts good, bad or indifferent. Tell us about your experiences in the comment section of this article.  Thank you for indulging me.

All of the oils and diffuser were purchased with my own funds.

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Any essential oil users out there? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 21, 2017 at 8:08 am.

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Stand Corrected perfect posture stretching device review

Do you have soreness and discomfort from being hunched over your electronic devices all day? The Stand Corrected is a stretching tool designed specifically to relieve that tension in your upper body, neck and shoulders. The designers also claim that it can help to straighten your spine and undo years of bad posture problems with regular use. Let’s go check it out and see how it works!

What is it?

The StandCorrected was designed Dr. Tom Carpenter, a certified trainer, chiropractor, and corrective exercise specialist. By elongating shortened and tight muscles in the upper body, the claim is that the device will correct posture issues and pain associated with hunching over our electronic devices all day. They even claim that the StandCorrected can reverse damage from years of poor posture is used regularly over time. 

Out of the box, the Stand Corrected is a simple device. There’s a foam tube, through which is inserted a nylon webbing strap with a series of loop handles stitched into it. A pair of Velcro strips is set in the strap at either side of the tube, to which you attach a pair of foam pads. It’s all well constructed with thick foam padding and wide, durable nylon webbing. 

Using the Stand Corrected is just as simple. Start by standing or sitting up as straight as possible. You’ll place the tube behind your neck, with the pads resting on your chest at the shoulders. Grip the strap at the appropriate-length loops for your height, extend your arms to make sure it’s centered, then bring your hands around to the small of your back. Pull downward to create tension on the pads at your shoulders and the tube at the base of your neck, and look up. If you’re doing it right, you’ll feel the stretch at the base of your neck as you gently pull the straps down and continue to look up. Hold that stretch for up to 2 minutes (Stand Corrected recommends you start at 15 seconds, and work your way up), and release.

There are some very helpful instructions on the web site to help you get started, including a video to walk you through the motions. I was able to successfully execute the stretch within minutes of opening the box. It’s that simple.

Does it really work?

Getting older sucks. I’ve had issues associated with poor posture over the past few years, and have been working to correct them with stretches and exercise. Pulling the StandCorrected out of the box, it struck me as another one of those “as seen on TV” contraptions (Ab Roller, anyone?) that looks nice on an infomercial but doesn’t actually do anything. Honestly, I didn’t believe that this thing was going to work.

You know what? I was wrong.

At first use, I could feel a difference in my neck and shoulders. You know that lovely “pop-pop” sound you get from a good stretch, followed by that sense of tension relief? Yeah. I actually got that. I made my wife test it (despite numerous eye-rolls) and she was equally surprised. 

I’ve been using it regularly for several weeks now. After working at home all day, pecking away on the laptop, I often get stiffness & soreness in my back, neck, and shoulders (again, getting older sucks). I’ll use the Stand Corrected a couple of times throughout the day, and it really helps to straighten things out and relieve that tension.

There’s also something to be said for simple convenience promoting regular use. Stow it in a closet or drawer, grab it for a quick two-minute stretch, and you’re on your way again. It’s easy to enough to use that you don’t mind strategic games several times a day. You could throw it in the drawer at the office, too… it’s also discrete and easy to pack if you want to take it with you on an extended trip.

Will it reverse alignment and posture issues over time? I don’t see any studies done with the device to support these claims. And you should consult your physician before engaging in any exercise or stretching routine, especially if you have chronic issues. I will tell you that, after several weeks of regular use, I do feel a difference. I think it’s a great addition to your regular stretching routine.

The Stand Corrected stretching device retails for between $20 and $25 depending on where you shop. It’s available at Amazon, Walmart, Sears, and Kmart. Visit the Stand Corrected site and click on the “Shop Now” link for purchasing options.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Stand Corrected. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $20-$25
Manufacturer: Stand Corrected
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Works as designed for relieving muscle tension in your upper body, neck and shoulders.
  • Well designed and constructed.
  • Simple operation.
Cons:
  • May not work as intended if you have a chronic condition — always check with your doctor first!

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Stand Corrected perfect posture stretching device review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 19, 2017 at 9:45 am.

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Spire introduces new Spire Health Tag fitness biosensor

Do you remember the Spire activity tracker that I reviewed almost 3 years ago? Spire is back with a brand new fitness device called the Health Tag. The Health Tag biosensor that is designed to attach to your clothes instead of wearing it around your wrist like the majority of activity trackers on the market. The Health Tag uses advanced algorithms to provide real-time personalized health advice for sleep, stress levels, and your daily activity.

Spire Health Tags are available in packs of multiple tags so you can attach them to the clothes that you wear the most, such as bras, underwear, pajamas and exercise gear. Since there are multiple Health Tags, you don’t need to reattach them to a new shirt each day and you don’t even need to remove them when you wash and dry your clothes because they are waterproof and will survive the laundry cycle.

The small trackers don’t need to be recharged on a regular basis either because the built-in battery will last for almost 2 years!

The biosensor inside each Spire Health Tag tracks your physical activity (via heart rate) and sleep quality. It also tracks your breathing which reflects your stress and calmness levels. When the Health Tag senses that you need to do something it will send actionable reminders through the app to guide you through steps at specific times like:

“It took you 26% longer than usual to fall asleep last night. Got time for a quick breathing exercise before bed tonight?”
“Today you were 22% less active than usual—and 42% more tense than usual. What can you do to turn this around?”
“Awesome workout! You burned 246 cals with an average HR of 163 bpm. You fall asleep 16% faster after working out. Sleep well tonight!”

The Spire Health Tag is available in packs of 3 for $99, packs of 8 for $199, and packs of 15 for $299. You can order now from spire.io

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Spire introduces new Spire Health Tag fitness biosensor originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 16, 2017 at 12:00 pm.

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No more swallowing horse pills with Tespo’s Vitamin Dispenser

Nobody likes the feeling of swallowing a large pill, especially without a beverage. Well with Tespo’s new Vitamin Countertop Dispenser, your vitamin is your beverage. There are a variety of supplements to choose from including multivitamin pods for children, men, women, sleep aid, caffeine, and energy, focus with eye health support, menopause relief, hair, skin, and nails. 

Once you’ve selected your vitamin, just start the dispenser much like a Keurig and enjoy your healthy and delicious shot of vitamins. Recent studies have even shown that taking vitamins in a liquid form rather than pill or capsule form is more beneficial for digestion. Tespo’s vitamin pods are non-GMO and contain no sugar, net carbs, calories, or preservatives. Up to three pods can be stored in one dispenser, allowing quick and easy access for the family. For $99, you can receive one Vitamin Dispenser and a cup, power cord, and one Tespo-Go for on-the-go emergencies. The pods are sold separately, however.

You can pick up a Tespo Vitamin Countertop Dispenser on Amazon now.

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No more swallowing horse pills with Tespo’s Vitamin Dispenser originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 2, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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