Aishwarya Sathe, Author at NineFit - Shop Fitness Wear and Gear

Best Dumbbell Set for Weight Training for Workouts at Home

Posted on March 31, 2023March 31, 2023

Whether you’re looking for a new weight set to add to your extensive collection, or you’re a newbie who’s looking for their very first dumbbell set, this is the article for you.

The issue surrounds how to choose the best home weight set for you. Are powerblock dumbbells the route you should take? or Something more beginner-friendly, like hand weights?

Here, we’ve compiled the three best dumbbell weight sets to use in your home gym to make the buying process a little easier.

1. Rubber Encased Hex Dumbbells

These types of dumbbells typically range from 10-50 pounds, and they’re very budget-friendly. The only thing is that they’re typically sold individually, so you’ll need to purchase two.

The rubber coating is great for at- home gym use. It protects the floor and whatever other surface you might set your weight down on. The handles are typically contoured for easy grip, and the hex shape prevents them from rolling all over the place.

The shape of hex weights allows you to stack them for easy storage – this makes it so you don’t have to purchase a dumbbell set with a rack.

2. Adjustable Dumbbells

If you’re looking to splurge a little, adjustable dumbbells are a great choice. These often come in the shape of a hex, just like the previous selection, which makes them unlikely to roll and easy to store as well. With adjustable dumbbells, you can choose from a myriad of weight increments to customize your workout so it’s exactly what you need for that specific day.

You might have to invest a bit more upfront for adjustable dumbbells, but it’s important to remember that these sets include over 10 pairs of regular dumbbells because of their adjustable weights which, in the long run, is actually a better deal than buying all of the weights separately.

3. Hand Weights

You’ll often find hand weights in fun colors, and sold in weight ranges from 2-20 pounds. Geared towards beginners, they’re easy to grip and also extremely affordable.

They might not come with enough heft for lower body exercises or more advanced workouts, but they get the job done for people who are looking for a straightforward, upper body training session at home.

Your Best Weights

Whether you’ve been lifting weights for years or want to dive in by getting started at home. These weight sets won’t steer you wrong. Try adding one of these selections to your home gym today!

Top 5 Benefits of Fitness Trackers You Need To Know Today

Posted on March 31, 2023March 31, 2023

Whether you’re an athlete by trade, a hobbyist, or someone just starting to get active, fitness trackers are a huge asset to the exercise community. As sleek as a watch worn on your wrist, the activity tracker allows you to stay up on your health and wellness in an easy and convenient manner.

Here are the top five benefits of fitness trackers:

1. They Encourage You to Get Active

It might be obvious, but fitness trackers encourage you to get on the move. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of meeting your daily goal, and achieving it can be as simple as getting up and doing a few extra laps around the office – something you might not have done without the fitness tracker gently encouraging you.

2. Get Insight on Your Sleep

Getting good sleep is essential for the body’s overall health. Wearing a fitness tracker can help fix your sleep cycle so you can become the best version of yourself. Wearing one is also helpful for people with sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, because activity trackers can monitor the quality of sleep you’re experiencing as well.

3. They Keep Track of Your Heart Rate

If you’re looking to measure the intensity of your workout, there’s no device handier than an activity tracker. This little device provides data on how hard you worked and how much energy you exert so you can take a look at those numbers and adjust your workouts accordingly. And it’s never a bad thing to keep up on the health of your heart.

4. They Support Healthy Eating

You may choose a calorie counter watch with a food tracking capability that assists in weight loss through calorie counting. These trackers can also support users in making healthy choices by educating them on the foods they’re choosing to eat.

5. You Are Held Accountable

Fitness trackers might be one of the best exercise devices to hold you accountable to the work you say you’ll do. Some trackers offer challenges on both an individual and group scale so people are more likely to reach their goals inside the gym and during their everyday lives.

The Fitness Trackers Lifestyle

After reading these benefits, it’s easy to see how an activity tracker can enrich your life. It keeps you on track regarding your daily steps, physical exercise, healthy eating – even with sleep. So, what do you think? Is it time to invest in an activity tracker for yourself?

Upper Body Workouts: Perfect Workout Practices for Your Upper Body

Posted on March 29, 2023March 29, 2023

If you’re looking to get your upper body in shape, it’s important that you know the best upper body workout practices. From great upper body exercises to the best workout equipment, let’s take a look at the best ways to get an upper body workouts at home.

Upper Body Workouts for Beginners

If you’re just starting out in your fitness journey, it’s best to start with a simpler workout routine. Don’t worry, though, as long as you’re doing the right exercises, there’s still nothing stopping you from getting a full upper body workouts!

While you probably shouldn’t begin your upper body lift exercises with an extremely heavy weight, light dumbbells are an excellent starting point. An upper body dumbbell workout can include a variety of exercises from curls to rows, and the stronger and more experienced you get, the more weight you can start using. Adjustable dumbbells are perfect for this, allowing you to put on and take off weight as needed so you can always be at your ideal challenge level.

Great Upper Body Exercises

Aside from dumbbells, there are plenty of other ways to strengthen your upper body as well. For example, pull-ups are a great way to hit your biceps, triceps, and back muscles all at once, and the only equipment you need to do them is a pull-up bar.

If you want to go even more minimalistic, though, push-ups are a solid option. Like pull-ups, they work a variety of muscles including arm, shoulder, and back muscles all at once. What really makes push-ups a great exercise, though, is how easy they are to fit into your daily routine.

There’s no equipment required, meaning that every so often throughout the day, you can do a few push-ups for a quick workout interval, getting plenty of exercise over a longer period of time. Then, once you get home, you can use more specialized exercises and equipment to finish up, making for the perfect workout.

Use a variety of exercises and be sure to have a rotation in place so that each of your muscle groups will have time to recover after a long workout. From there, as long as you stick with your routine, you’re sure to notice the benefits!

Looking for more great equipment for your active lifestyle? Visit our shop at NineFit today!

Top 5 Resistance Band Exercises You Can Do in Your Gym Routine

Posted on March 24, 2023March 24, 2023

Resistance band exercises can be hugely beneficial for your strength workouts, and they can help you get the most out of your time spent at the gym.

At the gym, you have the opportunity to add bands to the bench press, or you may choose to deadlift for a greater sense of resistance. If you’re looking to build muscle and strength, look no further than resistance bands.

Top 5 Resistance Band Exercises

1. Wall Lateral Pulldown – targets the lats and upper back.

This is one of the best back exercises with bands. Just stand with your back against the wall and place the resistance band around your thumbs or wrists. Stretch your arms straight above your head, then pull them down with your elbows at your side, bent to a 90-degree angle, with your shoulder blades pressed together.

2. Bicep curl – targets the biceps.

Sit on a chair or on your heels and place the resistance band under your right knee, then hold it with your right hand. Pull that hand up towards your shoulder and keep your upper arm in place with your elbow under your shoulder. Make sure to perform equally on both sides.

3. Triceps Extension – targets the triceps.

For this exercise, hold the resistance band in your hands and bend your elbows. Then, place your right elbow over your head with that forearm parallel to the floor. Place the left hand in front of the left shoulder and extend your right arm, keeping it near your head.

4. Shoulder External Rotation – targets the shoulders and upper back.

Use a mini band for this exercise and place it around your wrists, then bend your elbows and keep them close to your body. Move your forearms out to the side, stretching the band, and rotate your palms at the same time so that they face upward when the band is stretched.

5. Fire Hydrant – targets the glutes and hamstrings.

On all fours, place the resistance band above your knees. Align your neck, back, and hips and move your left leg out to the side to stretch the band while keeping the rest of your body in place, then complete the repetitions on the other side to get a great leg band workout.

Making the Most of Your Resistance Bands

The best exercise bands are ones that you know how to use correctly. Follow the directions for these exercises to reap the benefits of your resistance band training.

Exercises to Improve Your Mental Wellbeing

Posted on March 23, 2023March 29, 2023

You probably already know that exercise is good for your physical body, but did you know it’s just as good at maintaining your mental wellbeing?

The Mental Benefits of Exercise

There are tons of ways that exercise offers mind and body support. Here are a few benefits that could coincide with exercising on a regular basis:

Reduced anxiety
Reduced symptoms of depression
Improved self-esteem (and therefore improving your mood)
Reduced social withdrawal
Improved cognitive function

Best Exercises for Mental Wellbeing

The best exercises for mental fitness vary from person to person, since the most effective mental health activities are those that you enjoy doing. What matters most is that you’re moving!

But if you’re not sure where to start, here are three of the best activities for mental fitness:

1. Walking

Walking may seem simple, but it’s a great place to start – and it’s easily sustainable. Even a 15-minute walk does wonders to clear your head. Remember, you don’t have to complete high-intensity exercises for an extended period of time to reap the benefits.

As your body gets used to walking, amp up the intensity with a faster pace or more hills. You’ll see that your body starts to enjoy benefits as well as your mind.

2. Yoga

Yoga is wonderful for relaxation and releasing tension, and it also increases bodily awareness and muscle tone.

Regular yoga practice has the power to lower your heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and cardiac output. It can also help boost the serotonin levels in your brain! This means lowered symptoms of anxiety and depression in the long run (and even in the short term, too).

what works for you and you’ll notice benefits before long.

3. Running

Running is a mental fitness activity that can be done on the gym treadmill, or out in the fresh air in your neighborhood. This activity is known to boost the mood, encourage stress relief, and make for better sleep. All of those benefits put together makes for improved emotional health, reduced anxiety, and lessened depression.

Stay Active to Stay Healthy

Your physical body isn’t the only part of you that can benefit from regular exercise. As you can see, your mind benefits as well. Take some time out of your day to incorporate one of these three exercises into your schedule and see how great it makes you feel afterwards.

Yoga Poses to Help Relieve Your Back Pain

Posted on March 21, 2023March 21, 2023

If you want a pain relief method that can benefit your entire body, look to yoga for back pain. Yoga is great for your entire body, but included in this article are three poses geared specifically towards the back. These back poses can relieve many types of back pain, but it’s important to remember to check with your doctor before going all out.

Three Great Yoga Poses for Back Pain

If you’re having constant back pain, yoga stretches for the spine will benefit you in both the short term and the long term.

Take a look at these three great back poses:

1. Cobra Pose

The cobra pose is a great type of yoga for back pain because it stretches out the chest, shoulders, abs, and neck.

How it’s done:

Lie on the floor facedown with your legs out behind you. Place your hands flat underneath your shoulders, spread your fingertips, and press the tops of your feet into the mat.
Keep your elbows tucked in and lift your chest by pressing your palms against the floor mats. Lift up until you’re fully extended (or as far as you’re comfortable).

2. Child’s Pose

Child’s pose is great for relaxation, as it releases tension in all of your muscles.

How it’s done:

With your knees wide, sit on your knees and make sure your big toes touch each other.
Lower down so your belly is between your thighs and rest your forehead on the mat.
Extend your arms with your palms touching the floor, then extend through your fingertips and your tailbone.

3. Seated Side Stretch

This yoga pose stretches the side body, the hips, the hamstrings, and releases tension that builds up in the spine.

How it’s done:

Sit on the floor with your legs extended and your feet hip-width apart.
Open your left leg out as far as what’s comfortable and keep your foot flexed. Bend your right knee and place the sole of your right foot on the inside of your left thigh.
Extend your arms over your head and lean your torso towards the left foot. Keep your spine long and your gaze forward, and rest your hand on your left foot, shin, or thigh while your right arm continues reaching over your right ear.

Yoga Pose for Back Pain Relief

When it comes to home remedies for back pain, there’s almost nothing more useful than yoga you can Use spine supporters during yoga. The next time you’re feeling tight or achy, try out one (or all) of these poses for some much-needed relief.

Jump Rope Is The Best Cardio Workout – Here’s Why

Posted on March 16, 2023March 16, 2023

Jump rope goes far beyond a physical activity to keep kids entertained – now, exercise using jumping rope is something that can benefit the body and mind of people of all ages.

Jump rope drills are one of the easiest and most effective ways to maintain your metabolism and your health in general. You don’t have to get a gym membership – just pick up a jump rope from your local sporting goods store and start burning calories, toning your muscles, and improving your heart health.

Is Jump Rope Good For Cardio?

Jump rope is great for cardio because you’re working almost all of the muscles in your body. When those muscles work, they pump blood and oxygen that supports a healthy heart and respiratory system. It might not happen overnight, but you’ll notice improvements the more you use your jump rope.

More Benefits of Jump Rope

Jump rope drills are great for your heart, but there are many other ways they can positively impact the rest of your body. Here are some of those ways:

It’s a total body workout.
- Your heart is pumping, your breathing rate is heightened, you’re using your legs and glutes to jump, your arms and shoulders are engineering the movement of the rope… you get a full body workout with your jump rope that engages all the muscles and speeds up your metabolism.
It’s great for weight loss.
- Jump rope is good for weight loss too. By reducing your calorie intake and intensifying your jump rope routine, you can lose weight steadily and healthily.
It builds muscle.
- Jumping rope engages almost all the muscles in your body and, as each one functions differently, it builds strength over your whole body.
It builds endurance.
- As you grow consistent with your jump rope, you’ll build endurance and be able to jump for longer, which will bring about more benefits.

Why It Is Good For Cardio?

To bring the subject back around, jump rope drills are good for your heart because they engage the large muscles in the body. When you jump rope, the muscles move in a way that triggers quick breathing and an increased heart rate – two things that are great for heart health and overall longevity.

If you’re interested in bettering your heart and entire body with jump rope, there’s no reason to delay. Start out slow and build your way up to get in the best shape of your life.

Workout Gloves Guide Suitable For Gym

Posted on March 14, 2023March 14, 2023

There are many details that go into the perfect workout, and one of the smallest – yet most important – are gym gloves.

Here, you’ll learn whether or not you need gym workout gloves, what you should look for in a pair, and how to keep your hand gloves for the gym in good condition.

Do I Need Training Gloves?

Gym gloves are there to protect your hands while you work out. They can also provide great traction for weight lifting and other gym activities that involve a bar. You can also count on them to keep you safe from calluses, cuts, and bruises – not to mention germs and bacteria.

Workout gloves with wrist support provide an extra layer of comfort and strength for your wrists, while gym gloves in general provide support for your fingers and palms, creating a better grip for whatever you may be working on.

There are plenty of benefits that coincide with training gloves, but only you can decide whether you need them or not.

Choosing the Right Workout Gloves

What gym workout gloves you wear depends on the type of exercises you do. Each pair of gloves is different and provides a unique purpose, and different benefits.

If you use free weights, cardio machines, and the punching bag…
- General workout gloves (with optional wrist support) will work for you.
If you focus on intense training and are at the gym frequently…
- Find real leather gloves that have layered padding, wrist support, and breathability.
If you’re an infrequent gym attendee and focus on lighter weights…
- Try a pair of lightweight gloves with minimal cushioning.

When you choose your gloves, focus on fit (not too tight and not too loose), the amount of cushioning (and flexibility) related to the type of workouts you do, hand and wrist support, and palm traction for a no-slip grip.

Maintaining Your Hand Gloves

You’ll undoubtedly be sweating when you wear your training gloves, and that sweat can affect the fabric. To keep your gloves nice, place them in a dry setting (but out of direct sunlight), make sure they get 100% dry after you use them, and wash them frequently (using the regular cycle and detergent, then tumble drying on low).

Understanding Workout Gloves

When you find the perfect pair of training gloves, you’ll know. We wish you the best of luck in your search for the right gloves and, as always, you can contact us if you have any further questions.

5 Advantages of Wearing Weight-Lifting Gloves

Posted on March 9, 2023March 9, 2023

People have a lot of opinions about Weight-Lifting gloves. Whether it’s a personal or (sometimes ill-advised) scientific opinion, people do or don’t wear training gloves and feel pretty vehemently about their stance on them. Whichever side you fall on, there are some commonly-cited advantages of wearing gym gloves that might be perfect for you!

1. Increased Traction

The primary benefit of gloves (which actually creates basically all other benefits) is that they increase traction on your hands. Because gloves have padding and gripping pads that your palms and fingers can’t really replicate, they significantly increase the traction your hands have, which means a better grip on your weights.

Weight training gloves are designed to help keep your palms from getting sweaty or slick or weak and dropping your weight. Obviously, gloves won’t turn you into Superman, but they can definitely increase the weight you can do.

2. Help Your Mental Strength

Because gym gloves give you additional grip and stability, they help keep you focused. Working out is as much a mental activity as it is a physical one; since gloves reduce the risk of callouses or dropped weights, you can focus on actually perfecting your technique and doing the weight your mind can handle, since you have to worry less about your body’s potential weaknesses.

3. Lessen Hand & Finger Wear-and-Tear

Gloves prevent callouses (which means no worrying about tearing one) and reinforce your hands and fingers. This helps reduce long-term risks like joint problems or palm and finger damage. Gloves are very useful for this, especially if you’re a fan of, say, deadlifts, but not the popping and cracking of your hands and fingers after.

4. Decrease the Risk of Injury

Gym workout gloves increase stability and grip, reduce the chance of dropping weight, and keep your hands preserved. All of these benefits work together to help generally reduce the risk of injury. Anything from dropping a bar and pulling something to breaking fingers or the like is less likely with gym gloves because they keep your weight-lifting cleaner and safer.

Gym gloves with wrist support are especially effective for this, doubly so if you struggle with wrist problems.

5. Replace Chalk

This is a minor benefit, but it can be nice if you hate getting chalk everywhere: with gloves, you don’t need chalk anymore. So, kiss that powdery mess goodbye!

Learn more when you browse NineFit’s full selection of weight-lifting gloves and similar accessories!