Reviews
I am a self-proclaimed fitness app junkie! As such, I've tested out a ton of fitness apps and programs over the past few years. Here you will find my honest reviews of the programs and apps I've tried. My hope is that you'll find the information you need here to make a decision on which app is best for you!
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BetterMe Review 2023: Does This Pilates App Live Up to the Hype?
For the past two years, I’ve been dealing with the challenge of finding exercises that don’t trigger my migraines—a personal hurdle I’ve had to clear time and time again. This is why I recently regained interest in Pilates, a low-impact workout that promises to tone you up and complement other exercises like yoga. I was already a yoga enthusiast, but I felt something was missing; I wanted something more targeted that would help me build muscle and shed those pesky extra pounds I’d accumulated. And studies show a pilates can increase strength! But living in a small town, it’s not as though there’s a Pilates studio on every corner. So…
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The 7 Best Yoga Mats Overall – My Top Picks for 2023
Let’s be honest—juggling work, family, and social life leaves little time for exercise, let alone actually making it to the gym. But here’s the good news: You don’t need to step out of your home to get fit. All you really need is a quality yoga mat to transform any corner of your home into your personal yoga studio or workout space. A quality yoga mat is more than just an accessory; it’s your partner in carving out those precious moments for yourself. Ready to find the best yoga mat that suits your needs? Here’s my curated list based on the many mats I’ve used over the years. Disclosure: There…
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Egg Weights Review: Are These Compact Hand Weights Worth the Price Tag?
For a while now, I’ve been wanting to add a little oomph to my low-impact workouts like yoga, pilates, and daily power walks. You know, so I could burn a few extra calories and build arm strength without going into full-on beast mode (which I used to love but can no longer do because of chronic migraines.) But I don’t like using dumbbells for such activities; I’ve got small hands, and gripping those chunky dumbbells while wearing my Oura ring wasn’t the most comfortable experience. Plus, when the sweat starts pouring, I couldn’t keep a secure grip on those slippery suckers. Then I discovered these Egg Weights! If you’ve been…
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Lasta App Review: The App That Helped Me Get My Health Back on Track
It was good timing when the team at Lasta reached out and introduced me to their health-tracking app. I jumped on board right away. Why? Because I was in dire need of a new, effective way to track my fasts, which I was doing to complement my keto diet—a diet I started following about five weeks ago to help manage my migraines, weight gain, and overall health. In this Lasta App Review, I’ll share my personal experience with this intuitive and comprehensive tool and how it became a beacon for me during a turbulent time, guiding me back to a healthier, more mindful lifestyle. But first, here is some background…
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The 8 Best Yoga Mats for Sweaty Hands: Top Picks for a Slip-Free Practice
One time, after a long, hot yoga session, I thought I’d practice my arm balances. I had been working on eight-angle pose for months and had come this close to achieving it, but could never hold it for more than a moment or two. But on this day, I delighted in how easy it felt as I crossed my feet at the ankles and floated them off the ground. But just as I was about to celebrate (“Look ma, no feet!”), my sweaty hands slipped, causing me to collapse after only a few seconds. If you also struggle with sweaty hands, you may have a similarly frustrating story. But the…
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Manduka Prolite Review 2023: Grippy Down-Dog Bliss!
I’ve had a bit of a Goldilocks situation when it comes to finding the perfect yoga mat. One’s too thin, another too slippery, one started disintegrating after a few weeks, and don’t even get me started on the one that smelt like a rubber factory for weeks! You’d think something as simple as a mat wouldn’t be so complicated, right? But then again, yoga isn’t just any old activity. It’s a journey, a practice, and a lifestyle that deserves more than a subpar surface to flow on. In the past, I have come across some great mats – Jade, B Mat and Gorilla Mat, to name a few. But I…
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My Baloney-Free Oura Ring Review: Is it Worth the Money?
As a health-conscious tech geek, I’ve always had a weakness for stylish gadgets and health tracking. For years, I owned the Apple Watch Series 3, which was great, but wearing it while sleeping was uncomfortable, and after a few years, its tech (and battery life) was getting long in the tooth. I wanted something I didn’t have to charge daily, that was comfortable to wear to sleep, and could accurately measure my body temperature for menstrual cycle tracking. So my spouse got me an Oura ring this past Christmas. For the last six months, I’ve been continuously using this sleek piece of technology, and I thought I would share my…
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The 11 Best Booty Bands for Glutes in 2023
If you’re ready to give your glutes a glow-up, it’s time to invest in a pair of booty bands. These little loops of resistance are like personal trainers for your posterior, helping you sculpt a stronger – and shapelier lower body. Booty bands are a great addition to any home gym as they’re portable, easy to store, and won’t break the bank. Plus, their elastic design makes them a safer bet than traditional weights, so you’re less likely to hurt yourself. (A blessing for an accident-prone individual such as myself!) I love having these handy. Sometimes, I take a quick 10-minute break from work when it’s slow and squat it…
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10 Best Yoga Mats for Carpet: Top Stability Picks for 2023!
They say that life is a balancing act, and for many yogis, nowhere is this more evident than in trying to maintain a graceful downward facing dog on a high-pile carpet. Although most yogis prefer to perform yoga poses on cork or hardwood floors, sometimes it’s just not an option when you’re practicing from home. Yoga on carpet can feel like your asanas have been set to hard mode, your balance skewed by the squishiness underfoot. While some yogis are opting to turn their living rooms into a veritable Surya Namaskar Shangri-La, the rest of us are striving to achieve zen amidst coffee tables and comfy couches; adaptability is indeed…
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Asana Rebel Review 2023: Is it an Effective App for Weight Loss?
When the grind of my busy day-to-day schedule started to manifest in the form of chronic migraines, I realized I needed to press the ‘pause’ button on my fitness efforts. After taking several months off exercise to get my migraines under control, I began the search for a low-impact fitness solution that would accommodate my busy schedule, lack of gym equipment, and my newly developing aversion to anything high-intensity or high-impact. Enter yoga – an old love of mine; it’s the perfect amalgamation of body and mind workouts, and an exercise that could be performed anywhere, anytime, without the need for any fancy gym equipment. Disclosure: There are affiliate links…