Epic 425 MX Treadmill

Epic 425 MX Treadmill

December 16, 2007 EST | Fitness

Set and reach your workout goals with the EPIC 425 MX, offering a powerful 3.0 CHP commercial-grade motor, One Touch™ controls and Goal Setting Programmability. Now, you can plug in specific workout goals into the treadmill's console (i.e. the calories you want to burn and the time in which you want to burn them) and the console will automatically alter other aspects of your workout (i.e. your speed) to help you reach them. The 425 MX also comes with full-length ComfortStride™ cushioning, a 350 lb. weight capacity and 12 years of warranty coverage on the motor.

Epic 450 MX Treadmill

December 16, 2007 EST | Fitness

Burn calories and stay motivated with the Epic 450 MX treadmill. Power-packed with features, this state-of-the-art treadmill offers a ClearView™ Backlit Console, 1-touch™ Speed and Incline™ controls and 6 Personal Trainer Workouts(2 Heart Rate Programs). With the 450 MX, you also get an expanded 20" x 55" treadbelt, designed to support up to 300 lbs., and a 2.25 CHP Commercial-Grade motor. Plus, you get the protection of ComfortStep™ Impact Reducing Cushioning, which reduces impact on your joints. The 450 MX also comes with the built-in convenience of a CoolAire™ Workout Fan, an PowerPulse™ Heart Rate monitor and SpaceSaver® design. Order today! [More...]

Epic 800 MX Treadmill

December 16, 2007 EST | Fitness

Get customizable fitness with the power of commercial-grade components with the EPIC 800 MX treadmill. Protect your joints, while experiencing the perfect level of comfort, with ComfortStep Adjustable™ Cushioning. The MX 800 also helps you set and reach your home fitness treadmill goals with Goal Setting Programmability. On the commercial end, the 800 MX comes with a 2.75 commercial Odyssey™ drive motor, 2.5" commercial steel rollers, a 15-year motor warranty and a 325 lb. weight capacity.

Epic View 550 Treadmill

December 16, 2007 EST | Fitness

Never miss a moment of your favorite TV shows again with the EPIC View™ Treadmill, featuring a built-in, 7" TV with multi-color, on-screen display and Intermix Acoustics. A MusicPort also allows you to plug in any electronic music player and listen to your favorite tunes while you workout. Other features available include a 3.0 CHP Odyssey II™ commercial motor, full-length ComfortStride™ cushioning and a 350 Lb. weight capacity.]

HealthRider 330 Elliptical

December 16, 2007 EST | Fitness

Now, you can get the best of both worlds – cardio and strength training – with the HealthRider® 330 Elliptical. 12 levels of digital resistance, an EKG™ Heart Rate Monitor and more help you get the most out of your workout. An easy to read LCD display helps keep track of your speed, time, resistance, distance, calories burned and more. 6 preset programs and 2 learn programs will help you get the workout that is best suited to your needs.

HealthRider T600i Treadmill

December 16, 2007 EST | Fitness

The HealthRider® T600i Treadmill will help you get in great shape and keep off the weight. You can change settings instantly with One Touch™ and Power Incline™ controls. The 1.5 CHP Continuous Duty Motor gives you all the power you need, while SoftTrack™ cushioning protects your joints. 6 workout programs and iFIT® compatibility will keep you motivated, and SpaceSaver® design lets you fold away your treadmill when not in use.

HealthRider N35 Exercise Bike

December 16, 2007 EST | Fitness

The feature packed HealthRider N35 Bike will help you get a great cardio workout and keep you focused on your goals with incredible features like 5 Personal Trainer Workouts created by a certified personal trainer and our new target pacer that tells when is time to speed up or slow down to get the most out of your workout. Add to that a CoolAire workout fan to keep you cool, SMR Silent Magnetic Resitance and our convenient Step Thru Design and you're on your way to the best shape of your life.

HealthRider H550i Treadmill

December 16, 2007 EST | Fitness

Packed with all the features you need for a great workout, the HealthRider H550i is the perfect treadmill for staying in shape. Get all the power you need with a 2.50 CHP motor. Change your settings instantly with speed and incline controls. Stay motivated with 10 different workout programs. You can even fold away your treadmill with the convenient SpaceSaver® design when not in use.

New Sporting Goods

The Only Interactive Personal Trainer System

December 16, 2007 EST |

This is the only cable motion exercise machine that connects to the internet and downloads exercise routines from virtual fitness professionals demonstrating the correct exercise form and pace on a conveniently placed 17" LCD monitor. Eliminating the need for gym memberships, this system allows you to enjoy the benefits of exercise with the guidance of professional personal training in the comfort of your home. Once an exercise is selected from a library of 120 movements, the monitor shows the previous weight amount lifted for each exercise, ensuring a gradual increase in workout resistance, while the onscreen personal trainer allows you to mimic the correct movements as you workout. The LCD has a touchscreen that allows easy menu navigation, while the integrated computer suggests exercises based on your fitness goals (strength, muscle tone, basic conditioning, sports training, physical rehabilitation) or by specific body part, tracks the number of repetitions and sets, and graphs workout progress, ensuring maximum efficiency and effectiveness in your exercise routine.

ProForm 4.5 Trainer Treadmill

December 16, 2007 EST | Fitness

Lose weight, while rocking your workout, with the ProForm 4.5 Trainer. Packed with features, this amazing training treadmill comes with a Custom Weight Loss Center, which allows you to enter your weight, workout time, the number of calories you want to burn and the center will create a fully-customized, weight-loss workout, based on your individual needs. And, with an Interplay™ Universal iPod® Dock, you can listen to your favorite music through 2 premium speaker and stay better motivated throughout your workout. Other features available on the 4.5 Trainer include a powerful 2.75 HP drive motor, 8 built-in Personal Trainer workouts, the comfort of AirTech™ cushioning, a 300 lb. weight capacity and an incredible lifetime frame and motor warranty.

WHEN SHOULD KIDS START SPORTS?

It's not easy to determine how early to start children in organized sports. Children of the same age vary considerably in their physical and psychological maturation, and there is no practical method of measuring maturity. Assuming the child has shown interest, five or six is the generally accepted earliest starting age for organized team sports. At the early ages participation should be limited to sports that involve a lot of physical activity and encourage the development of major motor muscles.

Children in grades 1 - 4 can benefit most from games that are modified to meet their needs and abilities. Play and fun are more important to this age group than highly structured sports that emphasize the outcome rather than the process. Parents and coaches are usually the ones concerned about winning and losing. When helping your child select a sport, keep balance in mind. Encourage your children to try many sports and activities when young and not to think of specializing or playing competitively until they reach middle school. Make sure a balance also occurs between adult organized activities and free playtime. Children need time to just be kids and to play with other kids without a set of rules or adult involvement.

The most important decisions to make, are which youth sports organizations and which coaches are best for your child. Make sure that you take the time to find out about the league, its leaders and coaches. Better yet, get involved and volunteer to coach. Participating in sports is a healthy way, both physically and socially, for your children to channel their youthful energy in a positive direction. Make sure your children's first experience encourages them to begin a lifelong interest in physical activities and good health.

There are many other options besides team sports available to a child who wants to participate in sports. Parents should also encourage their children to become involved in individual and lifetime sports such as bowling, golf, swimming, tennis, gymnastics and martial arts. You can find information about these sports by visiting the facilities or through the yellow pages of the phone book.

Jeffrey Elliott in The Pool Capital of the World!

Jeffrey Elliott, a billiards buddy from AZBilliards and bilyar.NET (Masirib5), spent six unforgettable days in the Pool Capital of the World! Known as Jeff to close friends (and Anting-Anting Jeff/Double A-J to his best pals at Larawan Photography) Masirib5 arrived on June 30, 2009 – direct from Cool, California.

Jeff went straight to the AMF-Puyat Superbowl at the Makati Cinema Square in Makati City to meet me after checking himself in at a condominium unit in Libis, Quezon City. After exchanging plesantries, I introduced him to members of the Makati Pool Players Association (MAPPA), including my good friends Lito de Castro, Jason Calubaquib, Jesse Cambosa (MAPPA President), and World Champion Rodolfo Luat, aka Boy Samson.

Masirib5 played his heart out until 11 PM that night, readying himself against a one-on-one match up against Rodolfo Luat the next day! Armed with his solid-hitting Chuck Starkey cue, Jeff played a series of one pocket games against Luat. ‘The former also received one pocket lessons from the world champion, which Jeff took by heart. I was very much impressed with my friend’s desire to improve in his game of choice – one pocket. And I was more amazed at how well Jeff and Rudy bonded with each other!

The following day, Jeff had his first taste of money game match-ups in the Pool Capital of the World! Jeff played 9-ball against one of my good buddies, on and off the pool circuit, Engineer John Dale Tubale aka JTube of bilyar.NET. They played 9-ball for Php500/set. And guess what! Jeff won the series against JTube! No kidding!

Still, what happened, e.g., matches and lessons with Rodolfo Luat, money game wins, etc., was just one of the many surprises in store for my good friend from Cool, California. Indeed, July 3, a Friday, was a dream come true for Masirib5. As Jeff was minding his business – sitting near the locker area of the pool hall and fiddling with his stuff – The Magician, Efren Bata Reyes, went up to him and introduced himself to Jeff! You should have seen the expression on Jeff’s face when Efren Reyes shook hands with him! Jeff was like stunned and all!

They chatted the minutes away as Efren readied himself for an interview with the Pillar of Broadcast Journalism, Cheche Lazaro, for the Probe Profiles television program. And yes, Jeff got to be a part of the show, too! He was interviewed (both off- and on-cam) by Cheche Lazaro, about his thoughts on the greatest pool player ever, developments in the sport, and what-have-you’s! But, we’re not done yet! Jeff was also filmed playing a series of one-pocket games with Efren Reyes! Yes, you’ve read right, friends! Jeff played against Efren Reyes – and everything was filmed!

Little did Jeff know that the day wasn’t over yet! I wanted Jeff’s visit to the Philippines to be really special. After all, it was his first time here, thus, I guess there should be a first time for everything pool related. And to complete the series of firsts for one of the coolest dudes I have met in my life, I sponsored him in his first-ever tournament in the Philippine Island – YoYo’s 9-ball tournament at the Hobbies of Asia in Pasay City! The outcome of the tour surprised everybody, and I mean every one! Jeff placed 2nd runner up in his first tour! He beat notable players from my club, including past champions and upcoming superstars! True to form, Jeff and his Chuck Starkey were a force to reckon with that week! You were just awesome, kapatid!

More activities followed for my buddy, including dinner at Dampa, Macapagal, a place where one actually buys live seafood (e.g., prawns, crabs, squids, and lobsters) and take them to restaurants in the area to be cooked according to one’s taste. Jeff also had a hell-of-a-good time in Tagaytay, where he mingled with the locals and sampled some of the Philippines’ favorites, e.g., adobo, bulalo, and pansit bihon.

Indeed, I believe that my good friend, Jeffrey Elliott, aka Masirib5, aka Anting-Anting Jeff, had a grand time that week. Why so? Well, for starters, Jeff is seriously contemplating on retiring here! The beauty of the Philippine Islands and the warmth of its people have convinced Jeff to move in here as soon as possible! And to quote Jeff, “I have never met a Filipino I didn’t like!”

To my kapatid, Jeff:

Having you here was a blast for all of us, bro! I miss the fun, camaraderie, and friendship! Here’s hoping to see you soon – very soon!

More on Jeffrey Elliott aka Anting-anting Jeff

Masirib Guro Jeffrey Elliott studied several martial arts including Renbu-kai-Karate, Kenpo Karate, boxing and Inayan Eskrima.

Masirib Guro Elliot studied Renbu-kai Karate at Samurai Karate School in San Jose, California from Sensei Bob Cory, Terry Ellis and Ted Orssten and Kenpo Karate from Sensei Ted Orssten at the american Karate School in San Jose, California. He studied boxing at Garden City boxing Club in San Jose since 1979 from boxing coaches Gus Spencer, Eddy DeVaughn and Joe Amato. Guro Elliot is a USA Boxing Coach and has trained local amateur and professional boxers since 1985.

Guro Elliott began studying Eskrima from Suro Mike Inay in 1974. During the latter half of the 1970's, he traveled with Suro Inay to Stockton, California to study privately with Grand Masters Angel Cabales and Max Sarmiento. He also assisted Suro Inay in creating the West Coast Eskrima Society. Guro Elliott attained the rank of Masirib Guro from Suro Inay in December 1999.

Monday, July 27, 2009 Manny Pacquiao 10-Ball Cup on NBN-4! It's Billiards on TV! Manny Pacquiao Graphic

Billiards buddies and pool player friends, airing of the Makati Pool Players Association (MAPPA) Manny Pacquiao 10-Ball Cup is this coming Sunday, August 2, 2009! The historic event will be broadcast from 2 PM to 3:30 PM on NBN-4.

Winners of the MAPPA Manny Pacquiao 10-ball competition include:

Class C
Champion - Stephanie Liwanag
1st Runner-up - Emily Dagala
2nd Runner-up - Catherine Albornoz


Class B
Champion - Tony Macahilig
1st Runner-up – Taka Japan
2nd Runner-up - Carlito "Vice" De Castro


Class A
Champion - Cris Ty
1st Runner-up - Mark Fallorina
2nd Runner-up - Dave Rogel


Class O
Champion - Joven Tamang
1st Runner-up - Rico Carballo
2nd Runner-up - Tata Angeles

Congratulations to Jesse (Gonzales) Cambosa (MAPPA President) and the 2009 MAPPA set of officers for a job well done! Kudos to all of you, friends!

And oh! I have already seen a preview of the broadcast, which includes a lot of clips featuring the National Fist, Manny Pacquiao, running out the rack! Truth be told, I am very much impressed with the quality of the production! And I kid you not!




"It's always historic billiards events with The AnitoKid."

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Mark Andrew Spitz

Mark Andrew Spitz (born 10 February 1950) is a retired American swimmer. He won seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, an achievement surpassed only by Michael Phelps who won eight golds at the 2008 Olympics. Between 1968 and 1972, Spitz won nine Olympic golds plus a silver and a bronze, five Pan American golds, 31 US Amateur Athletic Union titles and eight US National Collegiate Athletic Association titles. During those years, he set 33 world records. He was named World Swimmer of the Year in 1969, 1971 and 1972.

Spitz was born in Modesto, California, the first of three children of Arnold and Lenore Smith Spitz, an American father and Puerto Rican mother, who were Jewish. When he was two years old, Spitz’s family moved to Hawaii where he swam at Waikiki Beach every day. “You should have seen that little boy dash into the ocean. He’d run like he was trying to commit suicide.” Lenore Spitz told a reporter for TIME (April 12, 1968). At age six his family returned to Sacramento, California, and he began to compete at his local swim club. At age nine, he was training at Arden Hills Swim Club in Sacramento with Sherm Chavoor, the swimming coach who mentored him and six other Olympic medal winners.

Before he was 10, Spitz held 17 national age-group records, and one world record. At 14, his family moved to Santa Clara so Spitz could train with George F. Haines of the Santa Clara Swim Club. From 1964 to 1968 Mark trained with Haines at SCSC and Santa Clara High School. During his four years there, Mark held national high school records in every stroke and in every distance[citation needed]. It was a remarkable and unprecedented achievement. In 1966, at 16, he won the 100 meter butterfly at the National AAU Championships, the first of his 24 AAU titles. The following year, 1967 Mark set his first world record at a small California meet, in the 400 meter freestyle, with a time of 4:10.60, and emerged on the world swimming stage.

Family life

When Spitz returned from the Olympics, he began dating the daughter of one of his father’s business acquaintances after seeing her picture. Suzy was a tougher sell. “She was disinterested,” Spitz says. Less than a year after Munich, Spitz and Suzy Weiner, a UCLA theater student and part-time model, were married on May 6, 1973. They were married in a traditional Jewish service at the Beverly Hills Hotel. They have two sons, Matthew (born October 1981) and Justin (born September 1991).

Schooling

From 1964 to 1968 Mark attended the Santa Clara High School. After graduating he went on to Indiana University.

At Indiana University from 1968-72, he was a pre-dental student and member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. Time Magazine asked him if he wanted to return to dental school after the Olympics. “I always wanted to be a dentist from the time I was in high school, and I was accepted to dental school in the spring of 1972. I was planning to go, but after the Olympics there were other opportunities. I did some television and speaking engagements, and things just went from there.”

Mark Spitz is frequently erroneously referred to as a dentist. According to the Indiana University School of Dentistry, Mark Spitz was planning on attending in the fall of 1972, but instead he moved to California. In 2006, Spitz sued Procter & Gamble as they failed to receive permission to include him in a promotional ‘History of Dentistry’ poster for Crest. He was quoted in the Chicago Tribune in June, 2004 saying, “I’m probably the most famous dentist who never became a dentist in the world.”

Carl Froch devastates Jemain Taylor

Connecticut, April 27, 2009- Nicknamed “The Cobra”, Carl Froch made a dramatic and stunning performance by concluding the 12th and final round by overpowering his opponent, Jermain Taylor, the former middleweight champion. “The Cobra” proves his winning ability by giving Taylor, the crowd’s favorite, crushing blows that catapulted him to victory. Taylor’s comeback to the boxing spotlight was supposedly his fight to regain back his prestige. Affectionately called “Bad Intentions” by boxing enthusiasts, Taylor was the betters’ top pick until Froch made it all clear that he’ll remain the king in this weight division.

As for “The Cobra, Carl Froch has a remarkable fighting record to back him up. With 25 wins (20 of which by knockouts, and 0 losses, that’s no way for boxing critics to underestimate this pound-for-pound fighter from Nottingham, UK. Defending his title as WBC’s super-middleweight champion, it wasn’t an easy task though. Many critics argued that the fight would surely belong to Taylor, the 30-year old boxer from Arkansas. This wasn’t the case, however. He did well good enough to put all his critics ‘doubts to rest.

He did a fine job just as he grabbed his sought-after title from Jean Pascal December last year. It was a spectacular match to behold giving fans and critics alike the kind of fight they were looking for. Pascal ended up lying on the canvass in the third round of the match after amassing devastating blows from the Briton.

“The Cobra” really seemed to have stung Taylor with all those clean-cut punches and counterpunches landing hard on his face. By scoring big over Taylor (it was a TKO), talks are circling around about Froch’s next bout. Rematch with Taylor is not far from possibility. Taylor hungers for a nice hard-winning comeback and kicking back Froch to his UK hometown might be a good idea. All he needs to do is go back to the ring and walk his talk.

Master Duck

From April 9 to 12, the was filled with crowd fans as they witness some of the most unforgettable shots in golf.
These big time memories could only come from big time tournaments, and the crowd was not disappointed by what they saw in the 2009 Masters Tournament. The golf course was not only filled with the crowd, but also with the biggest names in golf. Some of the stars that were present are Retief Goosen, Padraig Harrington, Vijay Singh, Trevor Immelman, Michael Campbell, and Angel Cabrera. They were joined by 90 other players in the course. This $ 7.5 million golf tournament was held in Augusta, Georgia. The big budget could only mean big winnings as the tournament promised $ 1, 350, 000 for the champion.
And who won the 73rd Masters Cup? Well, it’s another great April for the Latin American country of Argentina as one of its patriots bagged the title. The accuracy of the Argentine Angel Cabrera wowed the crowd and impressed the commentators in the whole of the four-day tournament. The 40-year old crowd favorite was heavily applauded as he walked to ceremonially claim his title. Nicknamed “El Pato” (The Duck) because he waddles as he walks, this golfer is not new to being a victor. He already won the US Open in the year 2007 at Oakmont.
His appeal to the crowd was among the greatest in the tournament. A jolly and passionate guy, he always got support from the crowd when he needed it most. He owes his great performance to the amazing life that he has. He actually began his golf career at 10, not as a player because he came from a poor family. He worked at the Córdoba Country Club as a caddy and became a good golfer by playing with other caddies.

Band Exercise for Core Strength and Balance

This dynamic band exercise builds balance and core strength. The rotational movement of the exercise challenges the lower body through the entire movement.

• Stand on your left leg and bend your knee slightly.
• Hold the exercise band with your right hand so that your elbow is fully extended.
• With a quick, but controlled motion pull the band toward you and down and across your body in a throwing motion.
• Repeat the movement 15-20 times and switch sides.
• Perform 2 sets on each leg.

The One Leg Squat and Reach Exercise Isolates the Gluteus and Improves Balance

sing this type of stability exercise challenges your balance and engages muscles that are used while performing any exercise your perform with one leg at a time, such as running, cross country skiing, and even cycling. This exercise is also a good way to regain balance and stability after an ankle, hip or core muscle injury. By maintaining this stable position during the exercise, you will engage your glutes, hips and core muscles by working many muscles at one time.

Muscles Worked: Abdominals, Glutes.

How to Do It

Basic One Leg Squat and Reach:

• Place an object on the floor about 2-3 feet in front and to the left of your left foot.
• Balance on your left foot; raise your right foot off the ground.
• Slowly bend your left knee and lower your torso.
• Reach forward with your right hand and touch the object.
• Maintain your balance by extending your right leg slightly.
• Be sure to keep your left knee over your left foot.
• Touch the object, pause, and return to the start position.
• Maintain a slow and controlled movement throughout the exercise.
• Repeat the exercise 5-10 times. Switch feet and repeat on the other side.
• Complete 2 sets.

Advanced One-Leg Squat-and-Reach:

• Because shoes offer additional support, you can increase the difficulty of this exercise by performing it barefoot. This engages the small muscles of the foot and ankle that stabilize the ankle and maintain balance.
• You can also hold a small, 5-8 pound dumbbell in your hand as your reach forward and slowly reach out to the left as far as you can go, pause 3 seconds and then slowly return, switch hands and reach to the right.
• Repeat 10-15 times on each side and switch to the opposite foot and hand.
• Do 2 sets for each side.

Do You Have a Favorite Ab Exercise or Core Workout?

o you have a favorite abdominal or core workout? Have you discovered one that you think works better than all the rest for you? Share your tips, tricks and favorite workout for your mid-section with the rest of us.

Medicine Ball sit-ups

Like a normal situp but hold an medicine ball with both hands. When you go up slam the ball on the ground in between your legs. When you go down slam the ball above your head on the ground. I do 300 a day with a 12 lb medicine ball but i started off with 200 with a 8 lb. Takes me about 9 minutes.

—Guest Grant

train your abs standing

Wood chops work your entire core in a very functional way. Use tubing, cable machines or med balls.

—Guest coachscott95070@yahoo.com

sit ups on the bosu with medicine ball

Sit on the edge of a bosu with your knees bent and toes touching the wall. I use an 8 lb ball and bring it over my head as I do sit-ups. The bosu supports my back as I tighten my abs to bring myself back up to a sitting position. Works great.

—acretin

lots of hanging leg raises

Like the captain's chair exercise, but I hang from a chin up bar with arms straight. I lift my legs up & try to touch my toes to my hands or the bar. When I fatigue, I keep lifting my knees up to my chest until I am wiped out. Try it - it's killer.

—Guest joe six pack

mix it up

To be effective, I think you need to do lots of different types of ab/core exercise. If you do the same thing all the time you stop getting the benefits. At least that's my experience. Variety is good.

—Guest Ty

Plank

The plank exercise may be #10 on their list, but is #1 one my ab workout list. I think that since I started doing it, bot only my abs a stronger, but my entire torso, core and shoulders too. Do the plank people!

—Guest Kelly

Bicycle Crunch Rocks

I think the bicycle crunch is an awesome ab exercie IF you do it right. I see so many people doing it so sloppy and think you get more if you go slow and controlled. Don't rush it and it works.

What Sports Do You Think Build the Best Abs?

What athletes do you think have the best abs? There are some sports that naturally build a great core and help you get a great six-pack without the boring abdominal exercises. If you want better abs choose sports that engage the right combination of movements and you will build a strong, sexy mid-section naturally. Some of the top picks include: Soccer, kayaking, gymnastics, swimming and skate skiing. What do you think? Which athletes have the best abs?

I think horse riders get the best workout, as not do they only use their core strength, they use every muscle in their body if done correctly.

—Guest Jo

Irish Step-Obviously!

Us Irish dancers Have to have perfect posture while doing turns and difficult leaps.

—Guest Taylor

Gymnastics

I'm definitely going to have to go with gymnastics, despite the potentially perceivable bias. I did competitive gymnastics for over 6 years and, though I was shy about it, had an 8-pack that was the envy of all the girls I went to school with. So much of the sport is dependent on balance and core strength, it is easily the most defined part of a gymnast's body.

—Guest Tanya

Of course soccer

A soccer player has the best killer abs - the main reason is the game ..they have to run at least 10km per game continuously along with trunk rotation, power hitting the ball, jumping, tricky movements that involve the trunk and hip.

—Guest sandeep

Slack

Hello everybody! My opinion is that gymnasts have best abs!

—Guest Slack

best abs

collegiate style wrestling, and the workouts involved use every muscle in the body - it builds a strong core and abs

—Guest robin

Swimming

Swimming builds the best abs because it is fast and the muscle is lean. I'm a swimmer and abs are not hard to get.

—Guest Lisa

nah...Mixed martial arts really do it

cmon guys! MMA its the best for natural fast abs..do u guys have an idea how hard Thai boxers and jujitsu guys train?? Have you seen their bodies on tv..no doubt, I'm an muay thai boxer,I lost 30 lbs in no time and built my six pack,including that last one on the bottom,The V !! try it out!

—Guest Livio

fighters

Boxing and mma. I have never seen any championship fighters or mixed martial arts champs with bad abs. Their training and diet is far more intense than any of the other athletes previously mentioned.

—Guest powe

60's jive dancing and others

It seems to me that any fast or semi-fast dances from the 50's, actually, and later would help if they were done regularly. Can you do 'The Jerk' correctly?

—LeCherie

Dance

I do all of those sports mentioned above and definitely gymnastics.

—Guest Jd

BEST ABS? TRACK AND FIELD

track and field gives you the best abs because to run, you need good cardio and ab workouts. To be physically fit is EVERYTHING! Also running gives your abs, buns, and thighs a great workout. :)

—Guest H MO

Swimming builds best ABS

I am a swimming coach. Swimming builds the best abs and the fastest also.

—Guest Arles Carballo

Pole Dancing

Is by far the best core workout I have ever had. It's gymnastics, pilates and dance all in one!!

—Guest roxy

athlete with best abbs

a dancer for sure because they need tuns of strenth to do all of their lifts, to hold up there legs,split leaps, kicks, and to do everything that a dancer would want to do

Running

Runner Mom
Running Her Planet
Running World
Runner's Web-women
Running Times-women's
Second Wind Running Club-womens
See Mommy Run-motivation, find running groups
Speedy Sneakers-is dedicated to promoting womens' health and fitness for life through walking and running programs.
The Running Women
USA Fit
Women Runners
Women's Running Race-one of the oldest races, on Mother's Day
Your Running.com-Share your passion here!

Women's Triathlon info: CWW triathlon-Training for the novice woman triathlete. Beginning Triathlon- Danskin-donates to breast cancer. Inside Triathlon Her Tri-multisport magazine for women, about women, by women. Runners Web-Women Triathlon Silicon Valley Triathlon-find a partner Slow Twitch-news, opinion, product reviews Team Estrogen-tri and fitness apparel. Tri California-training camps Tri Chic Tri Divas-brings the sport of triathlon, running, cycling and swimming to women of all ages and ability levels. Tri Events- Tri Find-find tris in your state. Tri Find.Net-Find Tri Races by State. Tri For Life Tri it Now Tri Newbies- how to get started Tri Newbie Triathalator-Triathlon Tips for beginners. Tri Swim Tri the World Travel-the Endurance Athlete's Travel Agency. Triathlon.org-official triathlon resources. USA Triathlon-lots of links. Women's Triathlon Calendar-national multi-sport race calendar, women only.

Where to find places to run: All sport Running-look up by race or by area Bay Area Races-lists races Cool Runnings-find by event or race Northwest Run-Northwest Races Run the Planet-Where to run and walk in the cities of the whole world. Run Race-All States Running places-Find Runs, Groups And Races In Your Area Or When Traveling Do It Sports-race events Running Network-races Run Walk Jog-California Races Women's Distance Festivals-lists races that are women's races or has a special women's only start time or wave.

San Francisco Bay Area Running Places and Races American Running Guides-Planning a trip to San Francisco? Check this site out. Bay Area Races-lists races Girls on the Run SF-girls grade 3-8 More Bay Area races Palo Alto Run Club Pacific Trail Runs-Runs that Aren't Races in Beautiful Places Race Reports-list of triathlons for men and women SF Dolphin South End Run Club The Scheduler.COM Team in Training SF Chapter-Walk or Run, Half or Full Marathons, 100-Mile Bike Rides and Triathlons

Swimming

We here at WSI, when it comes to swimming, wanted to ask the experts. So I walked down the hall and knocked on my daughter's door. She has been swimming since second grade, is certified as a life guard, and helps coach the summer swim team at our local pool. She KNOWS swimming.

For recreational swimming for women, it all begins with a suit. When I swim in a pool, I like to race the kiddies, play volleyball, shout Marco Polo, and dive for pennies, all with about 2 to 5 kids hanging on me. I need a suit that will stay up and maybe even make me look good. I am partial to Speedo® sports suits; they do both. I, and my daughter, especially like the T-Back or racer models that won’t fall down my shoulders as I am being wrestled to the bottom of the pool. But I realize (and some manufacturers, too) that women’s bodies come in many different shapes and sizes. Speedo® has different suits to flatter different body parts. Land’s End® and Jantzen® have different body sizes, too. Investigate your options. I look for competetive racing suits, as they tend to have straps that don't fall off your shoulder. Speedo does well for me.

Swim Accessories- My daughter highly recommend goggles if you plan on spending any time in chlorinated water. For extra staying power, use a double strap, that is, a strap that goes behind your head and splits in two to rest on the upper and lower part of your skull. Because women tend to have smaller contours and narrower eye focal widths, check out models that cater to that. TYR® is a good example, as well as Speedo®. For Youth Models, my kids like the Speedo's® Hydrospex Jr. They also make Speedo's® Hydrospex in adult sizes. Speedo also makes a pair of goggles just for women called the Speedo Vanquisher Goggles. This model has a low profile design with a soft silicone strap. Look for them and other accessories at these stores:
Sports Authority-type swimming
Fogdog Swim Page
Board Tactics Surf Shop has a good variety of Swim Shirts, Rash Guards Or Wet Suits.

Swim caps-Most caps are made of rubber or silicon, such as this Speedo Silicon Composite, but they are hard to get on by yourself and pull your hair getting off. Another alternative is a stretch lycra cap. Nike® makes a good one, and it is much easier on your hair.

Swim Shirts, Rash Guards Or Wet Suits:
Wet suits and stretch lycra swim shirts keep you warm in the cold and the sun off your skin. Body Glove, Morey, and O'neill are the top three. Board tactics surf shop has a good variety. Check out the store links below, they were similar, compare prices and look for free shipping. Sports Authority, and Fogdog Swim Page for swim shirts and wet suits.

Training Aids-
Such as fins, paddles, buoys, and kickboards make good training materials. Swim fins are usually shorter than diving fins. A good brand name is Zoomers. Some swimmers prefer the split fin model. Swim paddles are aids you wear on your hand to help you pull through the water better. Zura paddles are designed to help build upper body strength, improve stroke mechanics and enhance the feel of the water. Speedo Aqua Fitness Swim glove is a neoprene webbed-glove designed to fit your hand like a, well, glove.

Soccer Ball

Getting Started as a women's soccer player-it starts with the foot. You need to get good cleats and then tough shin guards, and a ball that will withstand your pounding.

Cleats-
Avoid getting softball cleats, which have an extra nub directly under the toes. To avoid buying soccer cleats, turn the cleat over and look directly below where your toes would be, and mentally mark off the middle. Then look to see if there is a cleat, or stub in that area. If so, it is a softball cleat: soccer cleats will not have a cleat in that area. Then, look for good padding inside and waterproof outside. Adidas®,Nike®, Didora®, Baden®, Brine®, Fila®, Puma®, Reebok are top soccer cleats.

Shin guards-
My son likes Nike® Tiempo Shield or Tiempo Pro Shinguards.

Soccer Ball-
The top brands make so many different models and colors every year, so check them out yourself. Top brands we like are Adidas®, Nike®, Diadora®, Fila,® Puma®, Baden®, Umbro® and Xara®. Remember, get the right size for your needs, or child's age. If you are unsure, this website, Soccer balls explained, will instruct you tyoes and sizes, including how to buy.

Practice Gear-
Soccer shorts need to be large in the leg, and tend to be nylon instead of cotton.

Sweats-
Look for feet with zippers. Waterproof and light weight is good.

Scrimmage Vests-
Reversible scrimmage vests come in handy. Check for minimum orders and ask if you need lettering.

Volleyball

Women's Volleyball-one of Women's Sports Information's favorite sports in high school.

Now that the warm weather is out, it’s time to drag out the poles and net and start up a volleyball game. So if you are a beginner, beach bum, or backyard enthusiast, here are some equipment tips.

Basic Equipment:
It’s all about the ball, that’s about as basic as you can get. There are a lot of balls made of different materials out there. But your skin was made to contact leather. If you are playing indoors get the softest you can find. I am partial to Tachikara®. Plus, I found it to be lightweight. Outdoor surfaces and water will destroy a good leather ball in no time, so if you are playing outdoors, get some sort of rubber or better yet, synthetic or composite material, such as Tachikara's synthetic leather or composite leather model. Molten® makes a pretty good outdoor one, as does Mikasa's Beach Pro Volleyball outdoor ball and Wilson Soft Outdoor Volleyball. And, oh, we at WSI just discovered they make a Spalding Infusion Volleyball, that is, a volleyball with a built in pump (so no more hunt for a needle). And as my old PE Teacher said, never kick a volleyball, it gets misshapen.

Shoes: For indoor volleyball, I always wear light-in-weight Asics®. Nowadays, cushioning products such as air, liquid or gel and even cushioning foam have added weight. Be sure to try them on and take a jump or two. Ask yourself if the shoe feels light and does it feel comfortable landing?

Most shoes have a suede or mesh upper sole to lighten it and allow for more breathability. Look for lots of stitching on the sides to support quick side to side movement. While ankle sprains can be common, I do not recommend any kind of high top, but there are some nice mid range soles out there. Shoes designed for indoor courts have a lot of grip. For best traction, check the bottom sole for a "herringbone" design made of rubber or rubber composite.

Now, these nice indoor court shoes will get chewed up by outdoor surfaces. Look for shoes labeled outdoor or grass. And for the beach, dress like the pros and go barefoot! Although I wear beach shoes, as I am a tenderfoot and our beach has all sorts of burrs and hidden debris.

Knee Pads: I have watched really talented court players not wear knee pads because they could dive in the air, hit the ball, and then catch themselves before hitting their knees. You and I are not so talented, so if playing on a hard surface, knee pads are the second best thing. Look for lots of padding, yet will not limit your ability to bend your knees, and enough elastic bracing that won’t cause the knee pad to roll down when sliding. Asics® makes a good adult one has lightweight foam padding and the brace is 9 ½ inches, which allows it to extend above and below your knee. Mizuno and Tachikara make good padded ones, too.

Indoor nets: Indoor nets are attached to poles that either go into the floor or are attached to a stand-alone-base. Find out what your gym floor standard is. If you can attach poles into the floor, find out if you want to go steel, for more rigidity, or lightweight but sturdy aluminum, and check out padding options to protect your players. If you require stand-alone bases, you don’t want the bases too heavy as you have to move it, yet not to light that the pole moves if a ball hits the net. Look for stand-alone bases that have wheels on one side to help with easy placement, and then check the weight. Some bases can be filled with water or sand for more weight. Look for adjustable poles that extend up to 10 feet and have hooks that let you change the net height.

Outdoor nets: Nothing is more frustrating then having your net sag or even fall when you are playing outdoors. To keep your poles up in the grass or sand, buy or make PVC sleeves to insert in the ground and then the poles go into the sleeves. Look for netting and tape made of mildew resistant vinyl or nylon. Make sure the bottom of the net attaches to the pole, or better yet, look for a net with a strong cable running on the top and bottom. This helps to keep the net’s shape. Look for ease up set up and storage. To do this, ask how long it takes to set the net up and take down? Are the cords that hold the poles in place easy to wind up, and attach in to the ground? Are the poles telescoping or are they in sections? For storage, can the net be rolled up still attached to the poles? Does the net come with a bag?

Now that you know how to get started, get out there! Volleyball is a fun recreational sport that can be enjoyed by players of all ages, all at the same time. Enjoy your volleyball inside or out! Volleyball.org is a helpful website to get you on your way.

SOFTBALL

What you need to know- Are you playing Fast pitch or slow pitch? (read our article on Fast Pitch Vs. Slow).

Getting back into the swing of things (pun intended) by joining a softball team now the warm weather is here? Or did your friend or even someone from your company talk you into trying softball for the first time? Whatever your reasons, here are some equipment tips for the beginner or player joining up after a long absence.

Basic Equipment:

Cleats-Make sure you are getting softball cleats, not soccer cleats. To avoid buying soccer cleats, turn the cleat over and look directly below where your toes would be, and mentally mark off the middle. Then look to see if there is a cleat, or stub in that area. If so, it is a softball cleat: soccer cleats will not have a cleat in that area. If you shop in the men's section, they might have metal cleats and they are only used in college or pros, so avoid them. You want the softer rubber or synthetic cleats. Now look inside the shoe. Padding on the inside makes the cleat more comfortable. Look to the outside for composite material to resist water.

Gloves-The softer the better, but more expensive. Can you squeeze the glove tightly enough to keep the ball secure if the base runner tries to knock it out? One trick to soften a glove is to stuff the size ball you are using in the webbing of the glove where it is caught and lash a belt or piece of rope around that, then stick the glove under your mattress for a few days. Brand names we like are Wilson®, Nike®, Mizuno®, Rawlings®, and Easton®, Worth®, Louisville®, Anderson, and DeMarinin®. If you know you are going to play primarily outfield, look for a glove with a bigger “basket” or webbing. If you are going to play primarily infield positions, look for a glove that does not have as big a webbing. This enables the fielder to get the ball out of the glove faster when throwing to a base. If you are insure where you will be playing, get a glove that is a compromise with a medium basket or medium amount of webbing.

Bats-This piece of equipment depends heavily on personal preference. General rules to keep in mind is the lighter the bat (measured in ounces) the faster the swing, but the heavier the bat, the more “power” you can put behind the ball and drive it farther. Ask to borrow many bats from your teemmates and find out which you prefer before buying. Many softball bats today have a bigger barrel (the area where you hit the ball), especially compared to a baseball bat. The barrel has also been engineered to make the ball fly farther if you hit it just right in the “sweet” spot. Again, experiment with different sizes and circumferences. One more rule of thumb: some leagues have “outlawed” bats because they are too powerful. Find out what bats are allowed or not allowed in your leaguer before buying. Softball.org has good information on bats and it's a good idea to check thme out before you buy. Brand names we like are Easton®, Rawlings®, Worth®, Louisville®, Anderson, Muzuno®, and DeMarinin®. We especially like the Easton® model synergy 2.

Accessories-You can usually tell a softball player by the scar just below one knee. It is from sliding in shorts and scrapping the heck out of your skin. I recommend slide pads to protect the knees, or the newer long slide brace-knee pad. And while you are at it, get slide pants that have padding on the hips and buttocks. Batting gloves are nice to keep your grip on the bat and also double as extra padding on your catching hand when worn in addition to your softball glove. Don't forget sunglasses. Look for sunglasses that have interchangeable lens. Relatively new yellow lenses help on bright but overcast days when you don't need something so dark. Other accessories are, hats, and a big bag to put it all in. Bat bags now-a-days have special hooks to hook that bag to the fence to keep your stuff handy and off the ground.

Ordering SoftBalls
Men's and women's softballs are different sizes and weights. The women's ball is lighter and flies further. Check with your league if you are unsure. Then check out the Softball.org, the official web site for certified equipment.

Getting Started as a women's basketball player

One of the hardest challenges we have faced is getting good courts for women to play on. Check out our Bay Area Teams and Leagues for places to play in San Fran, CA. Next are a good pair of shoes. See our article on how to pick out a good pair of shoes. High or low, tops that is, that is the question. They now make a wide range of mid sizes. too. Look for lots of stitching on the upper part of the shoe to support good side to side movement. This is one case in which you probably will have to shop in the men's department. We have found that Women's shoes are just not as good quality. If buying a men's shoe, make sure you ask yourself how high you want the mid sole, or heel. We have found that too much cushion, (a shoe made for a guy who needs to land from a dunk) places your heel higher off the ground. That can cause you to roll your ankle more easily. This article helps you in Choosing the Right Athletic Shoe for You.

The Basketball-Make sure to get a women's size basketball (28.5" circumference) Ask yourself if your ball will be used for indoor or outdoor play. Outdoor balls are more rubbery and have I have found that they are bouncier and have a strange, slippery grip. Leather balls are nice for indoor courts, but outdoor surfaces tend to chew them up. Make sure to get the women’s Size (28.5”). Our league likes the Spalding® TF-1000. I like my Wilson ® indoor/outdoor women’s ball. Spalding® has the Infusion self-pump (nice, but tends to be a little heavier).

Practice Gear-the style tends to be long and lightweight, not cotton. Get Mesh or dri-weave for your shorts and shirts, as you tend to run and sweat a lot. I highly recommend the “wick away” gear. Russell®, Nike® are the top two.

Helpful Women's Basketball Links: Basketball explained-history, rules, techniques, positions Basketball Hand Signals-visual aid of the referee arm motions Basketball Rules-Women's FIBA (International), WNBA, And NCAA Basketball Rule Differences Chicks with Balls-basketball info for women Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Full court press-women's basketball journal, articles, info. Gball Mag-for girls who play basketball Hoops Gurlz-lots of info on the college game Hoop Heaven- The basketball Superstore Hoops King-links and info Illustrated college basketball rules Internatinal Basketball-women NCAA College Sports Rules, women's and men's basketball Santa Clara Broncos-Women's basketball Stanford Woman's Basketball (okay, we're regionally biased) USA Basketball-official site Virtual Library-Basketball Resourcecs Women's Basketball All Americans-history of women's basketball awards and all past winners. Women's Basketball Coaches Association Women's Basketball cup of Coffee-many links Women's Basketball Hall of Fame-including news about women's basketball Women's Basketball Magazine Women's Basketball Server-WNBA, College info Women's College Basketball-There, we're not biased. Women's College Basketball Championship History Site- This site tracks the history of the women's college basketball national championships year by year. Women's Hoops Blog- great women's basketball blog. Women's National Basketball Association Yahoo Sports Women's College Basketball