I don't belong to a gym for a few reasons: the first is that I can't justify the monthly expense and the second is that I am a stay at home mother. I don't have family nearby and I don't feel comfortable leaving my son with strangers at the gyms child care center. So I am always very interested in fitness products I can use in the comfort of my own home.
I was excited when the people at Flexsolate contacted me about testing out their Gym in a Bag system. The idea that I could have my own "home gym" and it would fit neatly into a bag was intriguing.
(click on the picture to enlarge)
As you can see, the Gym in a Bag system is built around resistance bands. Most of you are probably familiar with resistance bands, but what makes this product unique is its Grip Free Technology. These cuffs allow you to isolate and target specific muscle groups. According to research, "the increased benefit to the user was measured at more than 300% during exercise."
So what did I think about it?
I liked that there were different level residence bands, color coded for easy recognition. I LOVE how compact and portable the system is. I can pull it out, use it in the comfort of my own living room and then stow it away in my closet. I'm able to get a great workout, but don't have to have ugly gym equipment cluttering up my living room. The system comes with an instructional dvd as well as a exercise flip book (seen HERE), that shows you how to step by step complete the moves.
(overhead shoulder press/shorts by oiselle)
From a safety standpoint I like the idea of resistance bands. When I work out, my son is usually beside me mimicking the moves. When I am lifting weights I worry about him straining or dropping a weight on his toes. With this system I was able to work out worry free, with him right along side me. Additionally I think I'll be less prone to injury, the bands are putting less stress on my joints then weights do.
My husband has been using the Gym in a Bag as well. As a man who likes to lift weights he was skeptical in the beginning, however he was convinced of its effectiveness within the first workout. By picking a higher resistance band then I used, he was able to get a great workout.
Our entire household now uses this system and I can easily say it's something I can recommend to people of any fitness level. You can find out more about the Gym in a Bag system by clicking HERE.
GIVEAWAY:
One lucky reader has a chance to win their own Gym in a Bag. The contest runs until 11:59PM EST May 7th. There are several ways to win, please leave a separate comment for each entry:
1. Go to GymInABag.net. Come back and leave a comment letting me know something you learned about the system.
2. Become a fan (or "like") Gym in a Bag on Facebook and tell them I sent you.CLICK HERE.(leave a separate comment)
3. Be a follower of my blog. (leave a comment letting me know)
4. Spread the word: post this giveaway on your blog,tweet about this giveaway, put the giveaway link in your facebook status,tell a friend,etc. Receive an extra entry for EACH way you spread the word. (leave a separate comment for EACH)
(disclaimer: I was given a Gym in a Bag, however, the review is entirely my own.)