Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide: Day 38
I know the holidays are still over a week away, but like most of you, I’m already thinking of the fast approaching New Year and figuring out what my resolution for 2011 will be. While I have never been one for a formal New Year’s resolution, every year I like to challenge myself and hopefully see some positive changes at the end of each year.
One of those changes I would like to make in 2011 is to get in better shape. I’m not hoping for six-pack abs or anything, but with two growing children to cart around, I could certainly use some more endurance and muscle mass to get me through the day.
Since neither a gym membership nor a spare bedroom for fitness equipment is likely to happen now that our family size has doubled in the span of two years, I knew I needed to find a compact and inexpensive workout solution. But, even though I don’t have a large space designated for working out, I still really wanted to avoid workout equipment that is flimsy and a waste of time and money.
When I found Hayneedle and browsed through their strength training equipment section, I was incredibly excited. Not only do they have a huge selection of equipment that you just don’t see everywhere, they also have a great easy to navigate website that can help you narrow down items in your price range, and in our case, within our space limitations.
After searching and comparing various home gyms on the Hayneedle site, I ran across the Weider X-Factor door mounted gym and was more than intrigued. I had heard of doorway gyms in the past, but the fact that I heard of Weider before and that a reputable site like Hayneedle stocked them made me far less nervous about ordering something that was so far out of my comfort zone.
The X-Factor honestly seemed pretty genius the more I thought about it and I got more and more excited for my package to get here so I could get a head start on my New Year’s resolution. Once it arrived, we tore into it and examined the X-Factor contents. I was happy to see that it comes with everything you need to get started (except a door, of course), and includes an awesome exercise chart to hang on a wall or door, 6 workout DVDs, and a nutrition guide, all of which are great for someone like me that is just starting out. The X Factor consists of 6 sturdy bands, 2 handles, 2 ankle straps, and 4 connection clips. It comes basically assembled and all that is needed to start your workout is to stretch the bands into an X formation to all four corners of a door. It will work best on a door that has good clearance on the bottom and at least a little bit on the top for the unit to slide over it easily. It is also a good idea if you can find a door that opens out, which will allow you to use the door jamb as an extra support.
Within minutes we had the X-Factor Gym set up in our living room on a closet door and then we started up a DVD to check it out. Immediately upon setting it up we were impressed by the quality as well as the design. Really, the more I played with it and realized how many different ways you could use it, the more genius it seemed. Even though it is based on a pretty basic idea of resistance bands, it’s the execution of the Weider X Factor that makes it rave-worthy.
With the X Factor you don’t need to find a place to store big and bulky weights or have to change the weights frequently while you work out. Since the X-Factor works by merely clipping your handle or strap to the resistance band of your choice, changing the amount of resistance or your point of connection takes mere seconds. It’s this flexibility that gives you the ability to do an insane amount of different exercises and easily switch between them during the course of your workout. I must admit that when I was first looking at the Weider XFactor on the Hayneedle site, I had no idea how cool this system really was. I was absolutely shocked when I got to try it out this past month and realized how completely versatile and expandable the system is. With varying amounts of resistance from 15lbs all the way to 210 lbs, it can really be used by both beginners as well as experienced weight trainers and can mimic just about any strength training exercise you can imagine.
Also rave-worthy is the smoothness of the resistance band workout that makes it ideal for just about anyone. Instead of the jerkiness of typical weightlifting, the resistance band workout allows you to use more fluid motions, which reduces impact on your joints and decreases the possibility of injury.
I am so excited to use the Weider X-Factor Gym throughout 2011 and really make the most of the space we have. With a different DVD to watch nearly every day of the week and a quick start poster that allows you to exercise literally any time you find a free minute, it’s going to make my 2011 goal that much easier for me.
Quite honestly if it wasn’t for seeing the X-Factor on the Hayneedle site surrounded by the biggest names in home gyms and workout equipment, I don’t think I would have ever tried a doorway mounted gym. Just knowing that if I had opened the package to find a cheap piece of junk that I could have used Hayneedle’s No Hassle Return Guarantee made me really confident in my purchase. This piece of mind allowed me to try a product I might have otherwise missed out on but now am really happy I gave a chance.
Wanna know something else that’s cool? It’s FREE SHIPPING Day on the Hayneedle site today – as in right now. Just visit http://www.hayneedle.com/ and enter FREESHIPDAY at checkout before 11:59 EST and ship all your packages for free. How cool is that?!
Price: $94.99
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a $100 gift card to use at any of the 200 Specialty Hayneedle Stores!
To Enter: Simply visit Hayneedle and tell me what you would spend your gift card on
And, as always, there are extra entries available!
1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)
2) "Like" Hayneedle on Facebook or follow the Hayneedle Blog (1 extra entry for each)
3) Tweet about this giveaway using @raveandreview and @Hayneedle with the link to this post (url) after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)
4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (2 extra entries, just post the URL where I can find your writeup)
5) Place my button in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)
6) Comment love. Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!
7) Email love. Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)
8) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)
On January 31st at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to US Addresses only.
Winner, winner! This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for all who entered and congrats to: #259 Heather H. said... Voted for you today (#6) 12/26 A big thank you to Hayneedle for providing the X Factor Gym for review as well as a giveaway to our fabulous readers. All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.
