World Fitness Blog : Leading Global Bloggers

November 30, 2021

Smith I/O MAG Imprint 3D: First Custom-Fit Snow Goggles

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , — admin @ 7:53 pm

It’s 15 degrees colder at the top of a mountain. Might even be 20. You’re breathing heavy, a combined effect of how hard you had to work to keep speed in all that snow just to get to the lift—and the excitement at how deep the white is today. You’ve rarely seen snow in the trees like that. It started falling yesterday while you were doing laps. It piled up outside the tavern after the lifts closed and just kept dumping through the night—fine, dry powder. It’s even deeper out there in the back bowls, you notice—while trapped perspiration heat from your body filters upward as you ride the lift through the morning cold. This may be the best day you’ve ever had at this hill … if only your goggles weren’t so fogged.

Sometimes snow gear feels far more complex that it needs to be. But on days like this, with body heat and mountain cold colliding, all of that generally ignorable scientific jargon suddenly becomes relevant.

Smith, a leader in performance eyewear for nearly 60 years, has just released a snow goggle with a fit like no other—one that won’t fit anyone like it fits you. The new Smith I/O MAG Imprint 3D is the first custom snow goggle created to the exact contours and features of your face. This is the most custom eyewear you can get—exactly matching your unique facial shape and dimensions.

A pair of Smith’s New I/O MAG Imprint 3D snow goggles
Smith I/O MAG Imprint 3D goggles. Customized to match the precise contours of your face. Courtesy of Smith

“Custom fit ski and snowboard boots make all the difference on the mountain, so we thought, why not tailor-make goggles too—since it’s gear that so closely interacts with the body and is also incredibly individual?” says Eric Thorsell, Senior Engineering Manager at Smith. “We’d been experimenting with creating a custom goggle, and the phenomenal feedback we received from people with more unique face shapes—larger or smaller features, asymmetrical features, and even things like broken noses—was immediately apparent and compelling for us to bring the bespoke experience to market.”

Smith, the company that invented the sealed thermal lens and breathable vent foam, utilizes a downloadable app created with Test Flight. On your phone, you follow the on-screen instruction as it scans the features of your mug. Using the patent-pending 3D Technology, an individualized 3D print of your face is sent to Smith’s U.S. factory. The team then hand-builds the face flange tailored exactly to your face with Smith’s trusted technology. You have your facially-customized goggles back in 14 days.

Split image. Left half of a man's face, right half a computerized diagram of his facial contours
Courtesy of Smith

Until now, 12-15 mm of face foam has been used to establish fit by adjusting between the frame and facial contours. With Imprint 3D, the frame itself is tailored to match the unique shape, allowing for significantly thinner foam and reduced pressure points. Light and air leaks—what causes fogging—is thus prevented while allowing for lower strap tension and a greater field of view.

In other words, now you’re concentrating on your line instead of mucking around with your goggles.

The tech uses Smith’s proprietary ChromaPop branded lens (you get two with the I/0, for different light conditions) which provides superior clarity. Lenses can be quickly popped out and swapped through the MAG technology using strong magnets and dual locking.

While fractions of measurements and tiny tweaks may seem irrelevant with goggles, these are the little things that can make a huge difference on the hill. You may not have any “Wow, this really works!” epiphany in the doing. It’s subtler than that. But, at the end of an epic day, it will hit you. Your goggles were not an issue.

[$450; smithoptics.com]

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BLM firefighters compete in physical fitness challenge – Wildfire Today

Filed under: Fitness — admin @ 6:15 pm
Billings Veterans Fire Crew

By Karly DeMars, BLM State Fire Planner; and Chris Barth, BLM State Fire Mitigation and Education Specialist

Physical fitness is essential to firefighter performance, mental health, and safety. For example, fatigue has been found to be a contributing factor in many firefighter accidents. To encourage physical fitness, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) sponsors the annual BLM Fire Operations Fitness Challenge. The voluntary fitness challenge provides a common system by which BLM firefighters can measure current fitness, establish fitness goals, track fitness improvement, and receive recognition for their efforts.

Recently, several BLM Montana/Dakotas wildland firefighters participated in the annual BLM Fire Operations Fitness Challenge. The highest scoring male and female participants in Montana/Dakotas were recognized for their achievements. Both are firefighters from the North Central Montana District and work at the Zortman Fire Station. First-year seasonal firefighter, Jessica Race, was the top female participant and third-year seasonal firefighter, Kevin Henry, was the top male participant. Those participants scoring a Level 4 (300 points) were also recognized for their achievements.

BLM fitness winners

“Firefighter fitness and well-being are the foundation to maintaining a healthy and resilient workforce to meet the demands of the job. BLM Montana/Dakotas encourages all our firefighting staff and partners to participate in high-quality training and fitness activities for the challenges they face,” said Aaron Thompson, BLM Montana/Dakotas State Fire Management Officer. “While the BLM Fire Operations Fitness Challenge is voluntary, Montana/Dakotas firefighters consistently participate in this annual activity, and we are proud of both Kevin and Jessica for their accomplishments.”

The BLM Fire Operations Fitness Challenge tests participants in four basic exercises — push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, and a timed run of either 1.5 or 3.0 miles. Participants are evaluated using a point system for each exercise category. Achievement is categorized in level increments where Level 1 is the minimum and Level 5 the maximum fitness level.

Congratulations to all 2021 BLM Fire Operations Fitness Challenge participants!

For more information on BLM’s Fire Operations Fitness Challenge, visit: www.nifc.gov/about-us/our-partners/blm/training/fitness-challenge.

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‘I didn‘t really understand’: Moises Henriques baffled by Test axing SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 23: Moises Henriques of New South Wales shows his frustration during day four of the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Victoria at Sydney Cricket Ground, on November 23, 2021, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Filed under: Outdoors — Tags: — admin @ 2:54 am

Through no fault of his own, New South Wales veteran Moises Henriques suddenly finds himself well out of contention for a Test recall.

Moises Henriques was on track for a long-awaited return to Test cricket earlier this year, but the New South Wales veteran suddenly finds himself well out of contention through no fault of his own.

Henriques was part of the Australian Test squad for last summer’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but was not selected during the four-match series against India.

The all-rounder was also named in the Australian squad scheduled to tour South Africa in February, but the Test series was postponed due to Covid-19 concerns.

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Matthew Wade had been omitted from the squad, and several pundits believed Henriques would have replaced the Tasmanian at No. 5 in the South Africa tour went ahead.

But earlier this month, the 34-year-old was not named in either of the Australian squads that travelled to Queensland ahead of the Ashes.

Henriques did not play any first-class cricket between March and November due to Indian Premier League commitments, and that lack of red-ball cricket at least partly contributed to his axing.

“I have a different view to what the selectors do,” Henriques said.

“To be picked on one Test tour and be told that I was there and thereabouts to be playing on that tour, then the next Test tour rolls around and you‘re not in the best 25.

“It‘s a huge fall, considering I hadn’t played any other four-day games or (Sheffield) Shield games in that break.

“I didn‘t agree with the process of it all.

“I didn‘t really understand the logic.

“But it‘s not my job to understand the logic either.

“It‘s just my job to go out and keep playing as well as I can.”

Henriques has been one of the most consistent performers in the Sheffield Shield over the past 24 months – since September 2019, he has amassed 1145 runs at 60.26 in the first-class competition, scoring five centuries and three fifties in that time.

Last year, he was named joint Sheffield Shield Player of the Season alongside Victorian batter Nic Maddinson.

Speaking to reporters earlier this month, national selector George Bailey said it was “unfortunate” that Henriques had not had an opportunity to push his case for selection since returning from the second leg of the IPL.

Henriques delayed his return from the United Arab Emirates to avoid hotel quarantine and subsequently missed the Blues’ first two Sheffield Shield matches of the summer.

When he finally joined the New South Wales side ahead of last week’s first-class match against Victoria at the MCG, the Australia and Australia A squads had already been announced.

T20 World Cup hero Mitchell Marsh and Queensland batter Matt Renshaw were included in the Australia A squad, with both seemingly leapfrogging Henriques in the pecking order.

“Unfortunate for him, that we haven’t been able to see him play any cricket up until this point,” Bailey said.

“I‘ve been in good contact with Mo and he knows that not being here, certainly as part of the A squad, is not necessarily the end for him.

“We know he‘s a quality player and he’s been particularly consistent, but I guess it’s a slight difference of our Ashes focus of trying to win the here and now versus the balance of the Australia A game.”

Henriques made his Test debut back in 2013, but has only represented Australia in the game’s longest format on four occasions – his last appearance in the Baggy Green came more than five years ago.

Regardless, Henriques is adamant he can make a long-awaited return to the Test side if he continues piling on the runs at domestic level.

“I still believe if I score enough runs, keep banging the door down and keep doing what I know I can do well, then I‘ll still play another Test match for Australia,” he said.

Henriques will lead the Sydney Sixers in the eleventh edition of the Big Bash League this summer, with the men in pink hunting for a third consecutive title.

The Sixers will face the Melbourne Stars for their tournament opener at the SCG on Sunday, with the first ball scheduled for 7.15pm AEDT.

Australia and Australia A will play a three-day internal match in Brisbane starting on Wednesday, but Queensland’s dreary weather threatens to interrupt the squad’s Ashes preparations.

The first Test between Australia and England gets underway on Wednesday, December 8 at the Gabba.

Read related topics:Sydney

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Endometriosis: targeting a different type of pain may be key in improving treatment – new research

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: — admin @ 2:11 am

Around one in ten women worldwide suffer from endometriosis.

The condition is characterised by chronic pelvic pain, which is not only extremely painful but can also result in infertility.

It is caused by tissue that resembles the lining of the uterus (known as the endometrium) growing outside of the uterus.

READ MORE: The traumatising image that forced Nine reporter to run for a cause

Cropped shot of a woman suffering from stomach cramps on the sofa at home
Around one in 10 women worldwide suffer from endometriosis. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

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There’s currently no cure for endometriosis. And though there are treatments available for managing symptoms and pain, these often have limited effectiveness — with some trials showing between 11 per cent and 19 per cent of women have no reduction in their pain.

Most current pain treatments for endometriosis have focused on targeting what’s known as “nociceptive pain“.

This is pain that’s associated with potential or actual tissue damage. Generally, nociceptive pain responds well to standard painkillers, so most endometriosis treatments contain ibuprofen or paracetamol.

But given that only some women with endometriosis respond to these types of pain treatments, researchers are now beginning to investigate a different type of treatment based around what is called neuropathic pain.

This is pain that happens because of damage to the nerves themselves — and it often doesn’t respond to painkillers like ibuprofen. Neuropathic pain conditions can cause great psychological distress and intense pain.

We wanted to know whether neuropathic pain could explain why some women weren’t responding to traditional endometriosis pain treatments. And we found that 40 per cent of people with the condition can be classified as experiencing this kind of pain.

Cropped shot of a woman suffering from stomach pain on the sofa at home
Endometriosis is caused by tissue resembling the lining of a uterus growing outside the uterus. (Getty)

READ MORE: How a brave 17-year-old saved her 12 siblings from a lifetime of abuse

Nerve pain

Until recently, no research had looked into whether people with endometriosis actually have neuropathic pain. But there are a couple of theories why sufferers can experience this kind of pain.

First, the bits of tissue which begin growing outside the uterus — called “endometriotic lesions” — have new nerves inside them. These new nerves could be more sensitive, or they could be being squashed by other tissue, both of which can cause neuropathic pain.

Second, the only definitive way to diagnose endometriosis is through laparoscopy (where a small camera is inserted into the pelvis through a small incision in the belly button). This naturally involves cutting through nerves, which can lead to post-surgical neuropathic pain.

We carried out an online survey of 1,417 people who had reported having endometriosis that had been diagnosed by laparoscopic surgery.

The women’s reproductive system. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

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We used a screening tool for neuropathic pain called painDETECT, which is made up of nine questions that ask about the characteristics of pain — such as whether the pain is “burning” or “like electric shocks”.

It also asks about how the pain varies over time and whether it radiates to other areas of the body. Depending on the answers the person provided, we were able to categorise people into having either nociceptive pain or neuropathic pain — or a mixture of both.

We found that 40 per cent of respondents had neuropathic pain. A further 35 per cent had a mixture of neuropathic and nociceptive pain.

We also found that those with neuropathic pain experience greater pain in general (both during their period, throughout their menstrual cycle or during sex), greater anxiety and depression, and greater fatigue and cognitive dysfunction (such as having trouble thinking and remembering things).

We also found that the greater the number of endometriosis or other abdominal surgeries a person had had, the more likely they were to have neuropathic pain.

Surgery is not only used to diagnose endometriosis, but to cut or burn away endometriotic lesions in the hope of relieving symptoms.

Pelvic pain stomachache concept. Hands of young woman on stomach as suffer on menstruation cramp, indigestion,gastrointestinal,diarrhea problem
Surgery can be used to diagnose endometriosis. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

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Looking forward

Our finding about the prevalence of neuropathic pain highlights the importance of investigating how to treat and manage it in relation to endometriosis.

But what we can’t tell from our study is what’s causing this neuropathic pain — and whether repeated surgery for patients is helpful or harmful.

Going forward, it will be important to carry out studies looking at better diagnosing neuropathic pain and looking at how it is experienced from person to person, which may help them determine the underlying mechanisms of pain in endometriosis.

Ultimately the better we understand these mechanisms, the better we’ll be able to develop drugs to treat endometriosis pain.

It may also be worth investigating whether treatments for other neuropathic pain conditions — such as postherpetic neuralgia, a complication of shingles which causes burning pain — work equally as well for people with endometriosis.

These studies will also need to investigate how to identify those who are most likely to benefit from these treatments, potentially using screening tools such as questionnaires.

This is especially important as we move from the one-size-fits-all approach currently widely implemented to a personalised treatment plan which is chosen based on the patient’s pain symptoms.

Lydia Coxon Postdoctoral Researcher, Pain in Women Group, University of Oxford and Katy Vincent Associate Professor, Pain in Women Group, University of Oxford.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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How to Spend a Weekend Full of Adventure in Palisade, Colorado

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 1:46 am

On the Colorado River, rugged Palisade is the perfect headquarters for a post-ride hang. The introduction of Palisade Plunge, an absolutely epic new mountain bike trail, is reason enough to visit the western Colorado town. Lucky enough, there are plenty of other great spots to get your fill of good brews, stoke, and relaxation.

BIKE

Rapid Creek Cycles offers rental bikes and a $35-per-person shuttle for the 1.5-hour drive to the trailhead. The nearby town of Fruita has fantastic desert single-track at 18 Road—Zippity, PBR and Chutes and Ladders are classic trails.

SHOOT

Cameo Shooting Complex is a 1,700-acre facility with electronic-scoring shooting and archery bays; sporting clay ranges; and 3D archery trail loops with life-size foam targets.

DRINK

There are 40 wineries in the area, including five within a mile radius of town. East Orchard Mesa, Talbott Farms and Talbott’s Cider Co. are early stops on the pedal-friendly Fruit & Wine Byway tour.

Men eating at brewery
Like the locals, Pêche and Palisade Brewing Company are hearty and eclectic. Courtesy Image

EAT

Palisade Café & Wine Bar bases meals around local produce and wine. Pêche. does everything from Thai-fried chicken and fresh lamb to port short ribs and charred ribeye. Like peaches? Sweet Cheeks Peach Stand serves seven varieties of organic peaches on 20 acres.

CRASH

Spoke & Vine is a renovated 1950s-era motel catering to trail riders with cruiser bikes, craft beer and cornhole. Within walking distance of town, its welcoming website banter—“If you’re ‘high maintenance’ this might not be the place for you.”—sets the tone.

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The traumatising image that forced Nine reporter to run for a cause

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: — admin @ 12:11 am

I’ve been running since I was about 15. It started out as a fitness thing, but quickly became an addiction! It gave me some rare time where I was on my own with my thoughts. As I got older, someone planted the seed of doing the half marathon. I thought, why not?! I’ll never forget that satisfaction and the endorphins of my first race, I just loved it.

Since then, I’ve done heaps of half marathons, and two full marathons: Melbourne, and New York, which was an incredible experience. I didn’t have my best race, I was a bit unwell, but nonetheless I finished it.

I had a bit of a hiatus from running towards the end of last year. I was in America covering the US election and the pandemic. It was an incredibly busy time as a foreign correspondent, so I took a bit of a break. This year, I moved home to Australia and got married. There was so much going on, I decided I really needed to do something for myself.

READ MORE: How a brave 17-year-old saved her 12 siblings from a lifetime of abuse

Alexis Daish
Alexis Daish reporting from The White House. (Alexis Daish)

Now I’m back training for the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival half marathon this December. The minute they announced it was happening, I had to do it. I think it’s going to be unlike any other atmosphere we’ve seen at the Melbourne Marathon just because of what this city has been through.

The important cause I’m running for

The focus of my fundraising has been to support police officers suffering from PTSD — prompted by the time I was the crime reporter in Melbourne. The Bourke Street story really rattled me; I was sent to that story when it was breaking. I remember the first image when I got out of my crew car with my camera man, was seeing a pram tipped on its side.

That was an image that has never left my mind, and I still feel sick thinking about that day.

I really struggled with that afterwards.

Alexis Daish
The image from the Bourke Street Attack in 2017 that never leaves Alexis’ mind. (Alexis Daish)

Because I have dealt with so many cops in my line of work, I remember thinking imagine being a police officer dealing with this. I thought if I’m going to keep doing all this running, I should do it for something that means a lot to me, and supporting police with PTSD was the cause I chose to support. In the end, I raised around $13,000 with all my running.

Supporting police suffering from PTSD, Alexis has already raised $13,000. (Alexis Daish)

How I train for a half marathon

When I’m training for a full marathon, I’m training by the book. I used the Nike Run Club app for the full Melbourne Marathon and that worked a treat. I basically just followed it and I could not believe it. I thought the day would be a real struggle. I didn’t get a spectacular time but, the program worked.

Because I’ve done so many half marathons now, I don’t really stick to a strict program. Generally, I will just do one long run on the weekend, where I’ll increase my distance incrementally, usually by 2kms. Then, in the middle of the week I’ll do perhaps one run, which is just 7k-ish, and that’s it, two runs a week. Once my weekend run gets to 19km-20kms, I’ll then start to taper.

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Alexis Daish
(Alexis Daish)

How I eat when I’m prepping for a half marathon

I have done half marathons having woken up from a 21st the night before, with not much sleep. I think the champagne may have helped my performance, because of all the sugar. Nutritionally, I’m a pretty healthy person. I don’t believe carb loading is as necessary as people say. I have found for me that one of the best fuels the night before a long run is steak and vegetables. Sometimes I’ll do the carb loading after the run as a reward — like a beautiful bowl of pasta. I also think you don’t need to overdo the gels during the race. Depending on how you’re feeling and if you’re low on energy then they’re great. But if you don’t need it, I find it’s better to ease up because it can make you feel heavier in the race.

My tips for runners

It’s a bucket list thing to tick off. There is no better feeling than running into the MCG when you’re from Melbourne and you know this city so well. I would encourage anyone who enjoys running to put it on their list of goals.

In terms of tips, just enjoy it! On race day, you have to think of your energy as a tank of petrol. Make sure you’ve got enough petrol in the tank at the 20km mark to keep you going and get you to the finish line. And finally, don’t get over excited by the atmosphere on the day. Just run your own race. Soak it up and enjoy it!

(Alexis Daish)

My personal goal

I’d like to get sub-2 hours. When I was a bit younger, I was doing a half marathons at 1 hour 45 and 1 hour 50. I’m not that fast anymore, now if I get bang on 2 or just under I’d be stoked!

Want to get involved?

The Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival will take place December 11 and 12. There’s still time to support people running for great causes, like CPEC, Beyond Blue and The Heart Foundation. Help every step make a difference!

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November 29, 2021

Parallels in human, dog oral tumors could speed new therapies

Filed under: Health — admin @ 5:28 pm

Recent Cornell research compared the genetic expression profiles of a nonlethal canine tumor and the rare, devastating human oral tumor it resembles, laying the groundwork for potential translational medicine down the road.

While canine acanthomatous ameloblastoma (CAA) is common and nonlethal, it has a strong resemblance to an oral tumor in humans known as ameloblastoma (AM).

As a boarded veterinary dentist and oral surgeon, Dr. Santiago Peralta, associate professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and first author of the recent study in Scientific Reports, sees CAA in his clinic all the time.

“This research was a good example of a full cycle of translational research,” Peralta said. “We took something we were dealing with in the clinical setting, studied it in the bench setting and are now hoping to use it to help veterinary patients and, potentially, humans.”

The resemblance between CAA and AM had long been noted by scientists and clinicians, but no one had confirmed any molecular similarities. A previous study on AM tumors revealed the underlying mutations, piquing the interest of Peralta and his CVM colleagues. “We wondered if we should look at these mutations and see if they precipitate the canine tumor,” Peralta said.

They did just that, publishing a study in Veterinary and Comparative Oncology in 2019, that revealed that both AM and CAA shared mutations in a well-known signaling pathway, known as the RAS-RAF-MAPK pathway.

In their most recent study, Peralta and his colleagues analyzed a large genomic dataset generated by the Cornell Transcriptional Regulation and Expression Facility (TREx) to better understand the biological consequences of these mutations. While doing so, they compared the CAA tumors with another common canine tumor (oral squamous cell carcinoma) and healthy gum tissue. These samples were stored and made available through the Cornell Veterinary Biobank and gene expression was profiled with RNA sequencing by Dr. Jen Grenier and her team at TREx.

The team also used genomic data from human tissues to run comparisons, thanks to their collaboration with a human oral cancer expert at the University of Turku in Finland. Through analyzing these different tissues, Peralta and his team were able to see that the mutations they had identified in their earlier study were largely responsible for the tumors they were seeing.

They also found that CAA and AM are very similar at a molecular level, reinforcing the notion that dogs represent a potentially useful natural model of the human tumor. “All the dysregulated molecules and pathways in CAA tumor tissues were consistent with the mutations we’d found and remarkably similar to those observed in AM,” he said.

Now that they’ve connected the dots between the underlying mutations and dysregulated molecular pathways driving tumor formation, Peralta and his colleagues have been working to establish in vitro and in vivo models of different canine oral tumors that can be used to test potential drugs. Any drugs that might prove effective in treating oral tumors in dogs could also be promising candidates for human patients with analogue disease.

“If dogs truly represent a useful clinical model of the disease, they also represent an immense opportunity,” Peralta said. Because the CAA tumors are much more common in dogs than AM are in humans, scientists can rapidly enroll many more dogs in clinical trials and get more translatable data from those trials.

Furthermore, dogs, which live in same type of environments as humans, are more accurate models of disease than other animal models. “My goal as a veterinarian is to bring solutions back to the clinic. We’re not there yet, but we’ve made a major step toward that,” Peralta said.

Story Source:

Materials provided by Cornell University. Original written by Lauren Cahoon Roberts. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

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Obe Fitness Review for 2022: Is It Worth It? – Greatist

Filed under: Fitness — admin @ 5:27 pm

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Virtual fitness has been absolutely exploding during the pandemic — and it’s not slowing down. Turns out, people are big fans of the convenience (and lower price $$) of working out at home.

Obé (rhymes with “olé”) joins the likes of Peloton and iFit as a streaming fitness service with both live and on-demand classes. Its classes are filmed in brightly lit studios and taught by perky instructors that give off total ~’80s vibes~. But is this midpriced fitness app the right fit for you?

We tried out a range of classes and dug into Obé’s offerings to see what’s amazing, what’s average, and what might have you looking elsewhere.

Obé’s founders wanted to inspire people to get into fitness through upbeat ’80s-inspired workouts. The classes are filmed in brightly lit studios, and instructors wear updated-but-definitely-still-’80s-inspired fitness apparel.

The company’s mantra is “Strive for Five!” — the goal is to exercise at least 5 times a week, with the recommendation of 3 strength training and 2 cardio classes. You have a lot of ways to do that with a single subscription.

Obé has an impressive collection of more than 6,000 classes, with up to 22 live classes per day. Classes require a minimum amount of equipment, and class length varies from 5 minutes to an hour.

Users access it all via a subscription purchased monthly, quarterly, or annually. Each progressively more expensive subscription level comes with more perks, but they all provide access to 6,000+ classes and all the live classes.

Though Obé’s classes give off that ’80s vibe, the classes are nothing like your mom’s beloved Jazzercise routine.

The company offers 18 types of classes, all with varying lengths (anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour) and fitness levels (including open level, beginner, advanced, prenatal, and postnatal). It also has class options specifically for kids and older adults. Talk about ~options~.

Buckle up! Here are all the types of classes Obé offers:

Some classes, like Ride, Foam Roll, and Bounce, obvi require equipment (you can’t ride if you don’t have an exercise bike, after all). But the rest of the classes require very little (if any) equipment. A yoga mat, the occasional dumbbell or ankle weight, and yoga blocks are all you really need.

You can filter classes based on the equipment required, so if your home gym is lacking, you can quickly find a class to do with what you have right at home.

You can buy an Obé Fitness subscription through either a monthly, quarterly, or annual plan. As these things usually go, you end up paying less if you commit to a longer membership. But Obé also offers some unique perks if you opt for the quarterly or annual plan:

We didn’t actually get to try the premium classes, but Obé describes them as “mash-up” classes where instructors pair up to teach classes together. The company says they’re the most popular classes, but TBH, it doesn’t sound like that big of a perk.

BUT the gift card *is* a pretty sweet perk — you can use it to buy Obé swag on the company’s website. We all love new fitness apparel and gear, amirite?

In comparison, Peloton and iFit both cost $39 per month for a family membership, which gives you and your fam (and friends, if we’re being honest here) access to a similar library of classes.

Overall, users love Obé. The workout variety, class length options, and bang for your buck leave users coming back for workouts day after day. Whether live or on-demand, you can find something in your available time frame that fits your fitness level and interests.

However, there are a couple of things that are hit-or-miss with subscribers.

First, the instructors. Overall, the instructors are great and very peppy (like “Saved by the Bell” kind of peppy). Some people live for that kind of optimism, but other people absolutely hate it.

Reviewers also say that some instructors provide better instructions and workouts than others. And yes, this is typical of any instructor-led experience — but it’s especially important to have good instructions when you’re working out at home, where you can’t get any personalized cues or corrections.

Some users also have issues with the whole brightly colored ’80s feel. This particular aesthetic isn’t for everyone. And keep in mind this isn’t a reflection of the workout quality — just the overall vibe.

We tried a range of Obé’s classes and felt a bit differently about each. Here’s how it went:

OK, now we know more about the app itself, but is it right for you? Here’s what to consider.

Lots of fun classes

Sometimes it is hard to get yourself to do an at-home workout. Doing the same moves over and over can get really old, making it feel impossible to jump into a daily workout.

Obé beats the boredom with a wide range of workout options, including some that use more unusual home workout equipment (hi, exercise trampolines!!).

The app also makes it easy to narrow down the selection of nearly 6,000 classes. You can filter by the part of the body you’d like to target, the style of exercise, your age, and your fitness level. It’s pretty fun scrolling through and seeing what your options are by changing a few of the parameters.

If you tend to get bored while working out at home, Obé’s extensive library won’t disappoint. But if you prefer your well-established routine, it may be hard to make Obé a part of that.

Upbeat, energetic instructors

If you’re the kind of athlete who needs someone energetic and positive, the Obé instructors will brighten your day. They’re fun and excited even though you’re not in the same room.

But if you’re a no-BS kind of athlete who would rather blast your own music and not hear the sound of someone’s voice, you might find yourself a little annoyed by the instructors.

Live options

The nice thing about live classes is that you have to be there when they start, which can be a great motivator for getting yourself to work out. They’re also an opportunity for shout-outs from instructors, which some people loooove, but some people don’t care at all about that stuff.

Sooo how does Obé stack up against competitors? Here’s a side-by-side look at Obé and other popular options:

Obé is worth the price for the right exerciser. If variety keeps you motivated and you like a bright, sunshiny workout, Obé has what you need. You won’t run out of workout options anytime soon. But if you want more advanced options or just don’t love the ’80s, you might want to look elsewhere.

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Expert debunks ‘dry scooping’ fitness trend

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: — admin @ 4:11 am

Thanks to TikTok, ‘dry scooping’ has become a dangerous fitness trend — with the term getting so much attention online, ‘dry scooping’ has been shortlisted in Macquarie Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2021.

The act of ‘dry scooping’ involves ingesting pre-workout powder straight, without mixing it with water or milk as directed. The controversial craze quickly hit viral status with gym-goers and teens on TikTok testing out the risky challenge. As fails flooded the hashtag, one TikTok user, Briatney Portillo, 20, made headlines after it was revealed she had a heart attack after dry scooping her pre-workout supplement.

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Thankfully she lived to tell the tale, however experts are concerned that many people still don’t fully understand the dangers that come with dry scooping.

So let’s get to the bottom of it, shall we?

Australian PT and Myprotein ambassador, Tom Bailey, admits the trend likely began as a misunderstanding.

“Placing things directly under the tongue is called sublingual administration and is common practice with some medications to help them absorb faster,” says Bailey. 

“People claim doing this with pre-workout results in quicker absorption because it skips having to pass through the digestive tract to absorb.”

However, there are two major problems with doing this with your pre-workout sports supplement powders.

“Firstly, the trend of dry scooping is taking a scoop of powder straight into the mouth and then swiftly chasing it with a mouthful of liquid and swallowing, defeating the purpose of having something absorb under your tongue.

“Secondly, caffeine takes approximately 45 minutes to metabolise and have its ergogenic effects. In reality, even if you did let the whole scoop dissolve under your tongue, you might get a 15-minute head-start on absorption, but the benefit doesn’t outweigh the risks,” Bailey adds.

READ NEXT: The facts on protein (and the myths you can ignore)

Anyone reminded of the cinnamon challenge?

That’s because they’re quite similar, the cinnamon challenge that peaked in 2012, saw participants attempt to swallow an entire spoonful of cinnamon in 60 seconds without water, with the risk of choking equal to that of dry scooping.

Bailey admits that while pre-workout powders are more soluble than cinnamon, it’s a much smarter move to mix it with water — “saving your throat, lungs and dignity” at the same time.

“Caffeine is also a diuretic, meaning it encourages your body to shed water. Take coffee for example, having something like a cappuccino has a net hydrating effect as you are having a decent amount of fluid. A double shot of espresso on the contrary has very little liquid and could cause you to shed more water that you ingest, which can lead to dehydration. 

A double shot of espresso is 160mg of caffeine, and some pre-workouts are 300-400mg, so it’s important to hydrate when having a higher dose of caffeine. Nothing will kill your training performance more than being dehydrated, irrespective of how high you’re flying on caffeine,” says Bailey.

Read next: Relax, you’re not protein deficient — you’re probably eating way more than you need

Why is it more beneficial to mix protein powders with water or milk? 

Other supplements like protein powder should also be mixed with something like water or milk. “If you were to try and dry scoop protein, good luck!” says Bailey, “A scoop of protein weighs in at 30-40g, roughly triple the weight of a pre-workout scoop.” 

“Instead, if you’re having a fast-absorbing protein like whey, then opt to mix it with water to keep the quick absorption. Mixing it with milk can slow the absorption of whey protein due to the fat and casein protein content of milk. If you do want to slow the absorption (e.g. before going to bed for a slower release of protein overnight), feel free to mix it with milk.”

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The one factor that makes Daniel Ricciardo become a ‘psychopath’ MONZA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 12: Race winner Daniel Ricciardo of Australia driving the (3) McLaren F1 Team MCL35M Mercedes celebrates in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo di Monza on September 12, 2021 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

Filed under: Outdoors — Tags: — admin @ 2:45 am

Daniel Ricciardo is often all smiles, but there’s one element in his life that makes him transform into what he describes as a “psychopath”.

The jokes, the famous smile and the quick wit that fires as fast as a cowboy from the best shooter in the wild west.

That’s the Daniel Ricciardo we see in the public eye. But what about the other side behind closed doors, especially when things aren’t rosy?

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As it turns out, the Australian’s competitive streak makes him a whole different person.

In fact, the 32-year-old transforms into a self-confessed “f****** psychopath” and has even injured himself when that competitive nature takes the wheel from his emotions.

Such a ruthless spirit when it comes to sport is critical in high-pressure environments, none more so than in F1.

But Ricciardo’s obsessive desire to win certainly did not begin when he entered the sport.

It came much, much earlier.

“As a kid, I was always a raw competitor in everything, whether it was table tennis or a game of Uno, I just hated losing,” Ricciardo told Autosport.

“And I think over the years and probably maturity, I’ve felt better with defeat.

“But I’m still in some ways a sore loser where I just f*****g hate it, you know?

“So when I flip or have those moments of rage, it’s when I believe I could have done it.

“The times when I was miles off, I wasn’t throwing chairs because it was more of a case of ‘hands up, I don’t know what to do’.

“But if it’s a situation where I’m a tenth off, but I know the tenth was on the table and I didn’t get it, that’s when it just eats me inside.”

The frustration of knowing a better result was attainable is something Ricciardo would take out on himself physically, but he’s become wiser in terms of venting his anger in better ways.

But no matter what, the scent of any competition transforms the Perth native into a different beast.

“I’m probably better at channelling that now and I’ve kind of injured myself breaking things in the past, so it’s not smart either,” Ricciardo said.

“Michael, my trainer, knows when I’m like this to kind of hug me and restrain me until I calm down!

“It’s funny because people probably wouldn’t expect that from me — I’m an easygoing, happy guy — but when there’s competition in place, I’m a bit of a f*****g psychopath I guess.”

Ricciardo will tap into that crazy side of himself for the penultimate time this year at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Monday morning, with lights out scheduled for 4:30am (AEDT).

Read related topics:Daniel Ricciardo

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