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Tony Little on HSN selling Body By Bison Buffalo meat? When did this happen?…

I probably shouldn't watch TV while I eat lunch at home, but I do. I was surfing around the DirecTV program guide when I noticed Tony Little was on HSN, and being that he only appears on HSN to pitch new products, I had to tune in to see him get all whipped up about his new miracle breakthrough.

As it turns out, Tony wasn't selling exercise equipment today…oh no sir, he was selling meat - more specificaly Bison Meat.

Somehow or another Tony Little has become the Spokesman for a product called Body by Bison where he is partnered with one Dr. Kevin Weiland who is a board certified doctor of internal medicine. Dr. Wellands claim to fame is that he's the author of "The Dakota Diet", if that rings a bell.

What I can't figure out is whether or not Tony Little actually owns the Body By Bison brand, or he's just shilling for HSN and they branded it to him. EIther way I think he's got a winner on his hands as it seems like everything he touches turns to gold (good marketing helps too, and he's covered there).

Bison meat has long been known to be a good alternative to beef because it's super lean (low fat) and is packed with a ton of protein per serving. The only thing with Bison meat is the taste isn't for everyone.

If you're die-hard about eating beef and turn your nose up at chicken and fish, Body By Bison may not be up your alley.

You can find out more about the Body By Bison brand here.

It seems everywhere I turn these days I see the treadmill desk manufacturers like TrekDesk (Trek Desk) touting the "super awesome" benefits of walking on a treadmill while working.

So what's the story with treadmill desks and stand up workstations? An specifically the TrekDesk? Keep reading for a full review…

TrekDesk Treadmill Desk

[Treadmill Desk Review from Good Morning America News Show]

I have to come right out and admit that the whole notion of walking on a treadmill while standing at your workstation in the cubicle farm seems preposterous. Personally, I have a hard enough time trying to type while sitting still and I'm pretty coordinated ex hockey player.

Maybe the benefits of using a TrekDesk Treadmill Desk outweigh the lack of productivity? Let's do some investigation and find out…

Benefits of Using a TrekDesk (as seen here on the TrekDesk Website)
According to TrekDesk, the benefits of using a treadmill desk during the workday are as follows:

• Lose weight (50-70 lbs/year potentially)
• Restore health; build major muscle groups
• Prevent diseases & boost resistance
• Boost mood, memory and cognitive abilities
• Boost productivity & decrease absenteeism

 Holy crap! That's a seriously positive outcome for just walking on a treadmill at your desk while you work [8 hours per day x 250 days a year = 2200 hours of walking].

Better yet, I think I'll go for a run on my treadmill at home and burn 500 calories per hour and lose the 50 pounds in 1/8 of the time. That way I can sit in my comfy chair at work all day and not have to worry about being exhausted when I get home from walking the entire day.

OK, I’ll admit, maybe I’m overdoing it a bit here with the running vs. walking comparison but I do it to make a point.

The point is, I think it’s pathetic that it’s come to this. Have we become so fat, lazy and unmotivated that we’re now resorting to hamster like exercise tactics at work?

TrekDesk Treadmill Desk Specs

• Accessory Slots: Keeps accessories in place on the desktop.
• Large work surface ( 72 inches by 34 inches) larger than most desks.
• Beveled edges for comfort and appearance.
• Height adjustment console (adjust to perfect ergonomic position for typing).
• Strong, durable, metal base support system.
• Allows utilization of incline features of an added treadmill.
• Logo area.
• Center "cut out" keeps treadmill controls and accessories within reach.
• Manuscript holder keeps books, magazines, papers upright for easy reading.
• Phone Stand/File Tray: Great organizational feature.
• Stability support struts add stability to the desktop.
• Robust metal support arms for added strength and durability.
• Two (2) Cup Holders /Miscellaneous: Perfect for your water bottle.
• TrekDesk works with nearly any existing treadmill. Built to last a lifetime.

TrekDesk Bottom Line - Is It Worth the Investment?
I know I’ve basically bashed treadmill desks the entire article here so you’ll be surprised to hear that I actually recommend the TrekDesk based on its solid build, budget friendly price and ease of assembly.

There are also a couple of features of the desk itself that make it stand out from the competition.

First, I like the fact that you can use virtually any brand of treadmill with the TrekDesk and that’s a real money saver (you can see the best treadmills to use with the TrekDesk here) . With some treadmill desks from the competition you need to buy a super expensive $4000 proprietary machine you can only get one place (the manufacturer, go figure).

Second, the desk itself it rock-solid with stability support struts and a  full metal base,  and it’s fully adjustable so each user can customize the feel and fit to their preferences.

If you have to get a treadmill desk, I don’t think you’re going to do better than the TrekDesk for the price.

Note: You can get more info on the TrekDesk on their official website by clicking here...

Here's a cool story from England about Super-Fit Mimi Anderson, she's trying to break the female treadmill challenge record by running almost non-stop on a treadmill for 7 days.

In the treadmill challenge video at Kent Online Mimi talks about the difficulties she's encoutering with a stress fracture in her ankle, and the fact the she's only getting about 2 hours of sleep per night.

Her diet for the challenge consists of smash (must be an English food), butter and cheese that she equates to tasting like baby food but gives her the energy to pound out the milage for 20 hours a day.

With any luck, Mimi hopes break this record she needs to run 400 miles, but she is planning to go much further, hoping to break the male record of 517.25 miles.

I hope she can tough it out and reach her goal, but even if she succumbs to her ankle pain or sleep deprivation her efforts are being rewarded by raising money for the Help for Heroes charity that helps the wounded Servicemen and women returning from Afghanistan and Iraq (very cool).

The first thing I noticed about Super-Fit Mimi's challenge is the treadmill she's running on, which is pretty geeky of me but that's why I write this blog and website.

Did you happen to catch the treadmill manufacturer while watching the video? Think it was a Proform? Maybe a Nordictrack? Perhaps a Weslo?

None of the above. The treadmill she's using is a Star Trac, which should speak volumes to all you considering a cheapy treadmill to run on. If you want to actually run on a machine and get into great shape like Super-Fit Mimi, then make an inestment in a treadmill that won't fall apart in 2 months.

OK, lecture over…enjoy your weekend.

Does Barry's Bootcamp work? Well, that depends on how you define the word "work".  It's like asking the question, "Does fishing work?" Yes fishing works, but once you stop fishing you'll never catch another fish.

If what you really want from Barry's Bootcamp is to lose 20+ pounds of fat in a couple weeks so you can go back to sitting on your ass eating pizza and drinking beer, you're an idiot.

Once you stop using Barry's Bootcamp, or any other workout for that matter, and you slip back into your couch potato ways you're going to be fat again - plain and simple.

Not to mention the fact that to achieve any significant and lasting weight loss (I'm assuming your doing Barry's Bootcamp or watching the Barry's Bootcamp DVD's at home to lose weight and not for a feel-good ego boost) you need to change your eating habits significantly or you won't see any meaningful results.

On a positive note, any radical upward shift in activity (like Barry's bootcamp) will benefit the typical lump to help boost their metabolism, cardiovascular output and strength. But with that said, there are the typical concerns with a workout like bootcamp. Many potential bootcamp trainees should be aware that even the most basic strength movements and cardio routines will be more than their unconditioned bodies can handle safely without fear of injury and over training.

What You Get with Barry's Bootcamp
Three DVDs with nine workouts, a transformer, power handles, two sets of resistance bands, and Hollywood Code Red: 6-Day Rapid-Fire Weight Loss Workout and Eating Plan

The Shtick
Burn fat 9 times faster, Hollywood Code Red Workout hosted by Pamela Anderson and Natalie Raitano, Biggest Loser Ties (Alison Sweeny).

Exercise Equipment Expert Verdict
If you really need a kick in the ass to get you motivated try Barry's Bootcamp DVD, but have a back-up plan ready for when you lose motivation working out at home alone.

Just when you thought you'd throw-up watching Randy Cotoure pimping his exercise machine called the Tower 200 and calling everyone princess, along comes Joe Weider and his gang of back-door marketers trying to cash in on their "newest home gym breakthrough" called the Weider X Factor.

Want to know what's funny about the Weider X Factor and the Tower 200 gym? They're both knock-offs, or re-imaginings if you will, of the hapless Suzanne Somers EZ Gym that was pedaled by the fine fitness experts over at HSN (at least that's where I first saw it).

Wait a minute… what the hell is going on here? Now I'm confused.

Let's see if I've got this straight. There was a gym from Suzanne Somers called the door gym that targeted women initially, and now men too because there's a market thanks to these other idiots who jumped on the bandwagon. Then comes a re-invention of the the door gym idea called the Randy Couture Tower 200 Gym that's marketed as a quasi MMA tough guy gym. The Tower 200 gym was demonstrated in the TV commercial by the Carpenter from HGTV's Designed to Sell (Greg Plitt), that later appeared as a personal trainer on the show "Workout" with Jackie Warner. And now Weider is making a gym called the X Factor? Is that right?

So is the X Factor the third generation of the Suzanne Somers EZ Gym?

Maybe Joe and the boys at Weider need to spend a little more time on R&D and develop their own ideas. Oh wait, they did that a few years ago with the Weider Crossbow. No, I'm confused again, the Weider Crossbow was a lousy attempt to steal customers from Bowflex. How'd that workout I wonder?

Weider X Factor Verdict
If you put a gun to my head and made me choose between the Weider X Factor, the Tower 200 and the Suzanne Somers EZ Gym -with tears in my eyes- I would tell you to pull the trigger.

The new line of Live Strong Exercise Equipment from Lance Armstrong that includes (4) treadmills, (3) ellipticals and a lone cylce was launched online today on their new website at LiveStrongFitness.com

I have yet to get my hands on any of the gear in person but will perform a scouting mission this week around Minneapolis and will report back with my findings when I have them.

To keep you satiated until then (because the new line of equipment looks really nice and hits the right price points) I'll give you my first impressions about their model lineups that I came across at Livestrongfitness.com

Live Strong Treadmills
The treadmills come in (4) models that range from the $799 entry level LS7.9T with a 2.5 chp motor and 20" x 55" live running area to the $1699 top of the line LS16.9T with a 3.25 chp motor, 20" x 60" live running area and wireless heart rate control.

Live Strong Ellipticals
The elliptical offerings from Live Strong aren't as varied as the treadmills with only (3) models making the initial curatin call. The budget elliptical in the group is the $799 LS7.9E with no incline option and 8 programs while the $1299 flagship LS12.9E is outfitted with 21 levels of incline, a 10+ livetrack fitness journal and wireless heart rate control.

***All ellipticals in their lineup use the same 23 pound flywheel and 20" stride

Live Strong Cycle
The lone offering from Live Strong in exercise bikes is the LS9.9IC which is a spin style bike. My guess with the bike offering is that they catered to Mr. Armstrong with the initial release and pegged a median price point with more bikes to be released as the sales numbers or inquiries demand it.

From the look of things it appears the the LiveStrongFitness brand has done their homework on the design and pricing of their equipment (not surprising considering they're manufactured by Johnson Health Tech who also make the Vision and Horizon brands) and should be a staunch competitor in the sweet spot of the home fitness market.

Visit LiveStongFitness.com for specifics on their entire model line

Question

I want to firm up and lose weight and feel better - I cannot afford to buy several machines - I have to keep it under $600 if possible - is it best to get a Treadmill or Elliptical for overall weight loss? I am in my mid 40's and weigh around 180. I want the most bang for my buck. Thanks!

Answer

Trying to decide between a treadmill or elliptical trainer for weight loss is a common dilema that many of my visitors face, and some freakout about it to the point of having paralysis by analysis and end up doing nothing.

I've covered this topic (and many similar questions) in great detail on the blog on the following posts:

Elliptical vs Treadmill

Treadmill vs Elliptical Trainer for burning Calories

Treadmill vs Exercise Bike

Treadmill vs Rowing Machine

Treadmill vs Road Running

I hope that helps answer your question, "Treadmill or Elliptical for Weight Loss". If there is anything you are still confused about, drop me a line and let me know so I can help you out.

Here's a new workout I came across today from Reebok called "Jukari Fit to Fly Circ De Soleil Experience" that is targeted at women who, according to Reebok's polls have suggested "Women perceived exercise as a chore, were unmotivated and uninspired to exercise but would workout more often if the gym was fun."

So what does the Jukari workout and gym entail exactly?

Fit To Fly is an hour long group training class that, at least for now, can only be performed at select health clubs on the East and West Coast who offer the class (no mention of a home version yet as they are still rolling out the group classes).

The apparatus used in the Jukari Fit To Fly (JFF) is a device called the Flyset which looks like a combination of a Trapeeze and a TRX Suspension Trainer that I have been recommending for the past two years.

Class members use the Flyset for spinning, swinging, stretching and hanging for a total body workout that's a cross between cardio, strength training and circus stunts.

In combination with the JFF Workout, Reebok has released a new line of shoes and apparel called the "On The Move Collection" and "Easy Tone Shoes" which are available exclusively at Reebok.com.

Is the new Fit To Fly Workout and Gym for you?

As rediculous as I thought the workout sounded from the press release (before looking at it on Reebok.com) I would have said no - but with it's similarity (nice way to say ripoff the TRX Suspension Trainer) I know that body weight workouts using gravity work extremely well at helping you get in shape fast. And yes, they can be fun too.

Did you see the TRX Gym on the Biggest Loser where Bob had the Pink and Blue couples outside for their workouts because they lost their gym privileges?

They got a killer workout using their body weight as resistance and loved every minute of it!

I hate to break it to Bob, and the Biggest loser TV show, but I've been telling my readers of the Exercise Equipment Expert blog about the TRX Gym Suspension Trainer since 2007 (see my video review here on the blog)

Oddly enough, I didn't get a mention on the show for turning them on to this home gym but I'll forgive them this one time because I'm feeling nice today.

If you missed TRX Gym on the Biggest Loser, you can watch the entire video clip below - enjoy…

Get the TRX Gym on Biggest Loser Couples on sale w/ Free Shipping