SurfShelf Laptop Holder

Boredom can be a real exercise killer.  Instead of setting aside time to do exercise, do the opposite by squeezing exercise into what you’re already doing.  Here are some tips for pimping up your workouts.

Resistance Bands

Keep a set of Bodylastics resistance bands next to your couch or recliner while you watch TV.  During commercial break get up and do some reps.  Out of a 1-hour show, about 17 minutes of it is commercials.  By the time a show is over, you’ll have worked out your entire body.  Each set comes with a manual of over 140 top gym exercises.  Plus, you can get the optional circuit training DVD.  Hook up a portable DVD player or laptop with the DVD queued up.  When the commercial comes on, spark up the DVD and start working out. 

Treadmill, Elliptical, Stationary Bike

If you’re doing work on your laptop, strap it onto a treadmill, elliptical, or stationary bike with a SurfShelf.  It allows you to use a laptop or portable DVD player on any other piece of exercise equipment that has a console.  I use it to catch up on old episodes of Lost and NCIS.  I also like to read all the e-book downloads I have.  When your concentration is focused on the laptop, you forget you’re walking.  Before you know it you’ve already gone a mile or more. 

Dumbells

Just like keeping some exercise bands close at hand while watching TV, you can do the same thing with dumbbells to get some resistance exercise.  You can go with a single set of dumbbells or the super cool adjustable SelectTech™ ones from Bowflex®.  With just the turn of a dial you can automatically change the resistance without fiddling around with weight plates.

Free Online Exercise

As of November 30, 2009, Blake Kassel, the creator and owner of the Bodylastics resistance bands, is conducting live resistance bands workouts online…for free.  He could easily turn it into a members only site and charge an access fee, but he’s not.  In fact, while I’m sitting here typing this, he’s online right now.  Man, what a workout!  The site will soon have live online workout programs for women, teens, and I can’t wait to see this one, a show for the kids on Saturday and Sunday mornings.  If you miss any of the shows, they’ll be recorded so you can watch them at a later time.  What a value!