Tea - Tea is a healthy drink, low in calories and loaded with nutrients
Diet & Nutrition

Health Benefits of Drinking Tea

Tea is an aromatic beverage made by pouring hot or boiling water over cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Tea originated in Southwest China as a medicinal drink – but it rapidly spread around the globe (the British empire played a big part and this). Tea is now second only to water as the most common beverage consumed globally. What’s herbal tea? Herbal tea is made with infusions of fruits or herbs, and typically does not include the tea plant. We’re not going to discuss herbal tea in this article, instead we’ll focus on the traditional kind. The exclusion of the tea plant leaves in the process for making herbal tea makes it a fundamentally different beverage. How is [Read more …]

A photo showing Concept2 indoor rowers in use at a CrossFit box - indoor rowing is an excellent exercise.
Exercise

Indoor Rowing – an Excellent Full-Body, Low-Impact Exercise

An indoor rower (or indoor rowing machine) is an exercise machine that simulates rowing a watercraft. Indoor rowing is an all-around excellent exercise. First of all, it’s a highly effective full-body exercise, but it’s also a low-impact workout. But it’s not easy – remember the last time you had to row a boat? Shown here is the Concept 2 Model D Indoor Rower, which many consider to be the gold standard for indoor rowers (especially in CrossFit). Want to get the benefits of this low-impact, full-body exercise? Here’s everything you need: Why is rowing such great exercise? Here’s the reasons: Full-body exercise – The indoor rowing machine requires effort from both your upper and lower body. With a lot of [Read more …]

Manufactured to the same high standard as our Rogue Competition Plates, these KG bumpers feature an all-black, gloss-matte-gloss finish and a unique, color-coded rubber stripe that wraps around the full perimeter of each plate. That stripe, along with raised, color-coded lettering on the face of the plate, allows for quick visual weight identification from any direction or distance.
Exercise Equipment

Garage Gym – The Olympic Weight Plates

Let’s look at Olympic weight plates – cast iron plates and bumper plates. The most important item in your garage gym is an Olympic barbell that will meet the needs of your preferred training style. But a barbell with no Olympic weight plates isn’t a challenge for very long. In this article, we’ll review the Olympic weight plates you need: Looking for Black Friday deals on Olympic bumper plates? Check back here for all the great gym equipment deals like Hundo Pricing, and more. Black Friday is the best time of the year to buy bumper plates. The Olympic barbell uses weight plates with a 2.0-inch diameter hole in the center. Beyond that you can choose metal plates (iron or [Read more …]

A Rogue Olympic weightlifting barbell - loaded with Rogue training bumper plates
Exercise Equipment

Starting Your Own Garage Gym – The Olympic Barbell

We’re going to talk about what is probably the most essential piece of gear for a great garage gym – the Olympic weightlifting barbell. We’ll provide examples of Rogue barbells – because we think Rogue Fitness makes the best barbells for your home or garage gym (or your CrossFit box!) Here’s the barbells we’ll be reviewing. Be sure to read through to understand the specific strengths of each model. Rogue Olympic WL Bar 20kg men’s bearing bar – Made in the USA with 215K tensile strength steel. Needle bearings for ultimate spin – also great “whip” – so it is the best barbell for Olympic lifts. (Rogue Fitness) Rogue Ohio Bar – Stainless Steel The awesome Rogue Ohio Bar in [Read more …]

The RML-390C is the colored version of Rogue RML-390BT Power Rack. Like the standard model, this unit is manufactured in Columbus, Ohio, and updates a classic Westside power cage design with 3x3" 11 Gauge Steel in your choice of 10 custom Rogue semi gloss powdercoats. With an interior depth of 24" or 30", the RML-390C is an all-in-one power rack that can improve the efficiency of a small garage gym or major weight training center. With 0.625" hardware and Westside hole spacing, it also provides an appealing middle ground between the Rogue Monster and Rogue Infinity Series power racks. Easy to set-up and install out the box, this rack comes standard with a pair of Monster Lite J-cups, a pin/pipe safety set, four band pegs, and a 43" Fat/Skinny Pull-Up Bar.
Exercise Equipment

The Best Power Rack for Your Garage Gym

The foundation of the best garage gym or home gym is the power rack or squat rack. Why? Because it’s the best option for versatile and safe training with heavy weights. Shown here is the RML-390BT Rogue Monster Lite Power Rack (Rogue Fitness: ). It is an exceptionally well built product, and has all the essential features we look for in the best power rack for a garage gym. Got a garage? Then you’ve got space for a garage gym. The benefits of the garage gym are many: no crowds, no commute, no waiting for equipment. But, the downside is you’ve got to have the right equipment. You need versatile gear that will last for a lifetime. What is the [Read more …]

Coffee beans spilling from a cup - What are the health benefits of coffee?
Diet & Nutrition

Health Benefits of Coffee

Coffee – What are the health benefits of coffee? You may have heard – study after study has shown that coffee has numerous health benefits. Why is that? There’s a lot of reasons – because coffee has a lot of good stuff in it, and we’ll go through them all here. For many of us (around 85%, given the latest surveys), this is good news – so grab that fresh cup of coffee and continue reading. You can rest assured we’re drinking coffee as we write this too. Coffee has caffeine that can improve your energy levels This shouldn’t be a shock to anyone – coffee contains caffeine. Caffeine is a chemical compound that acts as a stimulant to the [Read more …]

An athlete workout out with a jump rope (or skipping rope). Jumping rope is a fierce calorie burning exercise that is fun, easy to do, and can be done almost anywhere. Great for weight loss.
Exercise

Jump Rope for Weight Loss and Fitness

Jumping or skipping rope is not just for kids and boxers – it’s a fun workout. Looking for a creative way to add some fun to your workout? Consider adding a staple of boxing training into your workout regimen – jumping rope (also known as skipping rope). Jumping rope to lose weight, burn fat, and get lean? It’s a great idea. Jumping rope is a fierce calorie burner. How many calories can you burn jumping rope? According to some studies as many as 370 calories in 30 minutes. We’re going to highlight a great product that can help you meet your fitness goals thanks to it’s calorie burning efficiency – the Crossrope Get Lean Jump Rope Set. How To Choose [Read more …]

Boxing Gloves - Used for Boxing Training
Exercise

Boxing Training For Health and Fitness

Boxing Training is Not Just A Hard Workout – It’s Fun Looking for a creative way to add some fun to your workout? Consider boxing training. Boxers are universally known as the hardest working, leanest, and most well conditioned athletes on the planet. That’s because facing an opponent in the ring for 12 rounds and dodging and delivering punches is extremely physically taxing. And boxing training prepares them for that. But boxing training isn’t just for aspiring boxers. The average health and fitness enthusiast can use basic boxing training techniques to add fun, creativity, and intensity into their workout routine. We’ll discuss the easiest ways to get started. These techniques can be scaled to any experience level. Basics of Boxing [Read more …]

Is Sitting the New Smoking? Sitting in front of the TV is not healthy
Aging & Health

Sitting – The New Smoking?

Dr. James Levine, the director of the Mayo Clinic at Arizona State University says that “Sitting is the new smoking“. Smoking, once a popular activity, was not recognized as the extreme health danger it was, until many years later. And now sitting may be in the same category. At first, this sounds ridiculous. But there’s a bevy of studies backing this statement up – and a possible logical explanation for why sitting for long duration is unhealthy. First, we’ll spoil some of the surprise – it’s not sitting in particular, but extreme sedentary habits that seem to be the risk factor. Secondly, it appears that being sedentary all day, then hitting the gym is not an effective solution. The extended [Read more …]

Barbell Back Squat - used extensively in Starting Strength
Exercise

Starting Strength Dictionary

FitAtMidlife’s Starting Strength Routine Dictionary It’s no secret – we love Mark Rippetoe’s Starting Strength routine. It’s the efficient, science and logic based training program that is made for beginners of any age to develop strength. Starting Strength utilizes the barbell. The barbell is the most efficient means to build strength – because it’s the device that can carry the most weight. That may sound intimidating, but it shouldn’t be. You start light and through the magic of linear progression you get strong – and build muscle mass at the same time. Starting Strengh places great emphasis on proper form, and it’s safe for the joints. Lastly, it’s targeted to novices – people who have never lifted before. And all [Read more …]