The At-Home Workout Shopping Guide

I get a lot of questions (basically 2 or 3 total) about the equipment I use to do my at-home workouts.  For the past several months, my workouts have exclusively been Beachbody workouts (T25, 21 Day Fix Extreme and P90X3).  Thus, the gear outlined in this post compliments these programs well (and I imagine other Beachbody programs as well).

1.   Dumbbells.  You need at least one set of dumbbells to complete many of the at home DVD programs.  We have a set of Reebok adjustable dumbbells which, with the turn of a dial, can be adjusted from 10, 15, 20, and 25, lb dumbbells.  Hopefully, as you progress through your workout program you become stronger and can lift heavier weights.  I moved up to 10 lbs recently (from 5 lbs).  We also have multiple sets of traditional dumbbell pairs for quick access, as some of the workouts move quickly, so it is helpful to have the dumbbells ready to go.

2.  Mat.  Our workout area is carpeted.  Rather than ruin our carpet by covering it in sweat, we decided to purchase a nice area mat for the workout room.  After extensive research, we decided to purchase a cardio mat from Square36.  Based on their FAQs and reviews on Amazon, a lot of people use their mats for completing Beachbody workouts.  The mat is 6' x 6' (Square 36 sells a 8' x 6' extra large mat).  The mat is constructed with high quality materials and is made in the USA.  The mat helps reduce impact on your knees when you are trying to do jump-knee-tucks or some other crazy exercise during one of the workout programs.

3. Pull-up bar.  For some readers, pulling themselves out of bed is an accomplishment.  If you are looking to get a workout in using one of Beachbody's programs, you will likely need a pull-up bar.  You can purchase a pull-up bar that hangs over your door frame.  I previously purchased one from Perfect Fitness, but our door frames are too high to use it (plus over time the door frame bars will likely wear on the door frame).  We purchased an ingenious device made in the U.K. called Pull Up Mate.  The Pull Up Mate is well constructed and is easy to assemble and disassemble.  We hang a pull-up assist on it as well (because doing an actual pull-up is hard). 

4.  Push-up bars.  If you sit at a computer all day, your wrists likely hurt.  Doing push-ups doesn't help your cause.  I purchased these CAP Barbell Push up bars which add more stability to the push up and take strain off of the wrists.  

5.  Resistance Bands.  Although I do not use them as often as the items above, we purchased a set of Bodylastics resistance bands.  The bands range in resistance (in lbs).  In many cases you can substitute a band for dumbbells.  The Bodylastics set also comes with a door anchor to exercises like a pull-up.  

Now just make sure that you spread out the purchases;additional research of these items while you are at work.  You don't want to appear as though all you do all day is surf the internet.

Office Snacks: The Current Landscape and the Need for Change

Unless your office is Chick-Fil-A, Dunkin' Donuts, Krystal or some other fine dining establishment, the food offerings at the office may be less to be desired.  Some employers offer their employees the opportunity to pay for snacks via a vending machine.  These lucky employees get to spend their hard earned dollars eagerly pressing "E3" or "D4" on the vending machine and watch a "claw" grab their package of Grandma's Cookies and it drop down to the opening at the bottom of the machine.

Other employees are a little more spoiled.  Their employers stock on site kitchens with goodies such as Nature Valley Bars (likely Oats and Honey) -- take one bite of these succulent snacks and three quarters of the "bar" is gone because its all over the floor of your office.  Maybe there is some communal trail mix sitting on the counter which "Dan the IT Guy" dips his hand in three times a day after changing toner cartridges all day on your office's malfunctioning printers.   Perhaps your assistant is the designated person who keeps a glass dish near her desk or cubicle stocked with Halloween candy so you can scarf down two or six mini Snickers as a satisfying snack.  

My office certainly meets some of the criteria above; however, I don't partake in such snack shenanigans.  No, thank you.  I bring my own snacks and you should too -- the snacks taste better and they are less likely to cause your ass to outgrow your desk chair every six months. Snacking will also help curb that loud awkward stomach growl that interrupts every meeting you have between 10 and 11 am and 3 and 4 pm and save you from having to say excuse me because it's awkward that your stomach made a loud alien noise. Here are some of my go-to snacks I like to have available in my office at all times.  

1.  Field Trip, Turkey Jerky.  First of all, as you can probably imagine, having a large bag of turkey jerky sitting on your desk is a wonderful conversation starter.  Second, this meaty snack is delicious. Third, its a healthy snack (1 oz = 70 calories).  Field Trip is sold at wholesale stores such as BJ's -- so you can purchase a large bag -- which can last you while.  I am currently munching on the cracked pepper flavor.  

2.  Larabar, Cashew Cookie.  Snack bars are a favorite among attorneys.  If I had a billable hour for every snack bar I watched an attorney consume, I'd finally get that bonus I was told I would be eligible for.  I enjoy a good snack bar; however if you look close enough at the nutrition label (or bother to look at all), you will see many ingredients that look similar to the names of items you listed on the product liabilities complaint you just filed.  Larabars, however, have all natural ingredients.  My favorite is the cashew cookie flavor.  Here are the ingredients of the cashew cookie Larabar:  Cashews and Dates.

3.  Apple.  How about them apples?  Yes.  I bring an apple to work everyday as a snack.  Not only do they fill me up for a little afternoon snack, but apples have lots of health benefits including lowering cholesterol, boosting your immune system, and helping increase brain function (not sure about this one).

So next time you find yourself scrolling through Facebook and suddenly juking your eyeballs out of their sockets as you try and catch that Tasty video showing you how to make Mozzarella Stick Onion Rings, you can just keep on scrolling as you now have a few delicious snack options for your office snacking pleasure.  You could also watch the Tasty video.  It's really up to you.  

K-Cup of the Week: Dunkin Donuts Original Blend

Each week I review a new delicious K-Cup on an "official" coffee grading system that emphasizes four critical categories:  (1) Aroma; (2) Strength; (3) Taste; (4) Marketing Tactics that Forced Me to Force My Office to Purchase Said K-Cup.  I will conclude each review with an Overall grade. This week I tackle a legend in the coffee business:  Dunkin Donuts and their Original Blend K-Cup.  

Aroma:  7

Each time I drop a "DD" Original Blend K-Cup in my Keurig and the coffee starts dripping into my cup, I am transported to a Dunkin Donuts store.  Unfortunately, there are no donuts waiting for me when my coffee is done brewing.  The DD K-Cup gives off that fresh coffee pot scent that is familiar when you stroll into a Dunkin Donuts.  Best part: You are the first customer in line every time.  No waiting behind Mr./Mrs. Over-the-Top catering order for the office! 

Strength:  6

Dunkin Donuts' Original Blend isn't the strongest coffee out there.  If you want to hover over your own body, you should try  Black Tiger or even DD's very own Dark Roast.  

Taste:  10

I love overhearing others get involved in the  Starbucks vs. Dunkin Donuts debate (and yes, I used "vs." instead of just "v."  This is Anything But Law.  If you want to see a "v." go read a casebook). This is a K-Cup review, so I won't go there.   All I know is that this is a delicious cup of coffee.  I drink my coffee black, not with a scoop of Baskin Robbins ice cream like I've witnessed others do at 7:30 am. I find the taste to be very rich and smooth.

Marketing Tactics that Forced Me to Force My Office to Purchase Said K-Cup:  7

This is a tough category to grade for this particular K-Cup.  It's Dunkin Donuts!  They don't need to have the face of a tiger on their K-Cup (or do they).  I wouldn't mind seeing Michael Vale on a K-Cup reminding me that it's "Time to Make the Coffee."

Overall:  9

This is a true go-to K-Cup.  Until recently, these K-Cups were only available at Dunkin Donuts.  However,  I recently purchased a pack of K-Cups at my local Publix.  I will say that the K-Cups purchased at Dunkin Donuts taste better than the K-Cups I purchased at Publix.  

K-Cup of the Week: Dark Magic

I drink a ridiculous amount of coffee.  In fact, I like to have just enough coffee where I begin to levitate above my own body. 

Each week I plan on showcasing a K-Cup that helps me achieve this goal.  This week, Green Mountain Coffee’s Dark Magic.

I will review the delicious cup on an "official" coffee grading system that emphasizes four critical categories:  (1) Aroma; (2) Strength; (3) Taste; (4) Marketing Tactics that Forced Me to Force My Office to Purchase Said K-Cup.  I will conclude each review with an Overall grade.  

Aroma:  8

Dark Magic doesn’t quite sting the nostrils, but the office will know you are drinking some Joe.

Strength:  8

I usually drink 2 cups of coffee at the office.  After the second cup of Dark Magic (20 ounces deep), I begin to levitate. This is a bold coffee.  Amazon's tasting notes provide that Dark Magic has "Spellbinding complexity.  Deep, dark and intense."

Taste:  7

Not bitter, but not the smoothest coffee I have ever tasted.

Marketing Tactics that Forced Me to Force My Office to Purchase Said K-Cup:  6

It's hard not to be intrigued by a beverage called Dark Magic.  Anything magical at the office is a must try in my opinion.

Overall: 8

If you are looking for a reliable, bold coffee for your Keurig morning routine, give Dark Magic a try. 

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