If I was going to invest in just two pieces of equipment it would be a kettlebell and a foam roller. Thankfully, we have the space for a little more equipment in our RV but if I had to narrow it down to just two a foam roller would be one of them. Recently, I was sent the Rumble Roller to review.

Over the last few years, I’ve come to believe that foam rolling is not optional. It’s sort of like like flossing teeth, I may or may not love it but it’s worth the effort and time. What a a shame to go to the trouble of building stronger muscles and connective tissues and then not take care of it all.

My experience with the Rumble Roller.

Before using the Rumble Roller I was using a conventional smooth roller. It was serving its purpose but it seemed like no matter how much I used it (along with mobility drills) my achey hamstring (I pulled one of my hamstrings when I was doing taekwondo) would not stop acting up. I’ve been using the Rumble Roller for over a month now and, I kid you not, the pain in my my hamstring has all but disappeared. Coincidence? Possibly. All I know is my troublesome hamstring has not been troublesome since I started using the Rumble Roller.

Facts About the Rumble Roller

The Rumble Roller is water proof, latex free, comes in two different sizes and densities. The full size Rumble Roller is  36″ long with 200 bumps. The compact Rumble Roller is 12″ long with 64 bumps. It also comes in two different densities. The blue Rumble Roller is the regular density roller. The black Rumble Roller is 35% percent more dense than the blue Rumble Roller.

Here are some of the questions I had about the Rumble Roller and what I found out by experiencing it myself.

What makes the Rumble Roller different from a traditional roller?

Traditional foam rollers are smooth. The Rumble Roller is covered with flexible bumps or nubs that really dig into, stretch, and manipulate the tissues simliar to the thumbs of a masseuse. Whereas, unless you are very skilled at foam rolling, a smooth roller compresses the tissues rather than stretch it in multiple directions. You can really feel the bumps kneading the tissues.

Does it hurt to use the Rumble Roller?

Using the Rumble Roller is definitely more intense than using a traditional roller but not what I would call “painful”. The first week or so I did experience some discomfort but as I kept at it the discomfort subsided. This tells me that not only is foam rolling effective but my Rumble Roller was getting to tissue that I was missing before. Now it’s just as pleasurable to use (if not more-so) as a traditional foam roller.

Is the Rumble Roller hard to keep clean?

It’s a slightly harder to keep wipe down than a regular roller because of the bumps, but it’s molded with an antimicrobial that stops the growth of bacteria. This is good for personal trainers who might use it with multiple clients.

What size of Rumble Roller should I get?

I was sent both sizes and I prefer the longer one because it’s easier to move around on.  You can see in the pictures the difference in rolling my IT band. There is a lot more space on the full size model. Also with the compact Rumble Roller you have to roll one leg at a time when doing calves, hamstrings, etc. If you are going to use it in one place I’d get the full size.

However, for traveling the compact Rumble Roller is great. It fits right into a normal sized backpack. Currently, I store the larger Rumble Roller on the back of my couch to use in the RV and my smaller one in a backpack to take with me to different workout locations.

Should I get the blue or black Rumble Roller?

From the Rumble Roller site –

“For most people, including professional athletes, the regular density (blue) RumbleRoller is more effective. Its bumps are more flexible and more actively grip and manipulate soft tissue. The bumps on the extra-firm (black) RumbleRoller are considerably stiffer, and give it a “spikier” feel.

The jeopardy of going too firm is that it may be too painful — not too painful to use, but too painful to use correctly. For best results, you want to keep the muscle you’re massaging relaxed and pause long enough on each trigger point to allow it to release.

You may prefer the black RumbleRoller if you’re primarily using it on thicker muscles like glutes or hamstrings, are trying to dig deeply in around the hip capsule, are working on scar tissue from prior surgeries, or are accustom to rolling on PVC pipe. Otherwise, we strongly recommend the blue”

I was sent both and my experience was right in line with their advice. I loved using the black one on my hamstrings, my recovering hamstring in particular. However, I really do think the blue one is the best option for most people.

Alright, so these were the main questions I had before using the Rumble Roller. Rumble Roller has a very thorough FAQ page that will answer any other questions you may have about the Rumble Roller or feel free to ask in the comments and I will do my best to answer.

Do you foam rolle regularly? Have you ever used the Rumble Roller and, if so, what has been your experience?

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

Keep up with my kettlebell workouts, real food recipes, and more in one of three ways! 1. Sign up to have posts emailed to your inbox. 2. Subscribe to the RSS Feed or 3. “like” Girl Heroes on Facebook. Simple dimple!

Journey with our family on the road at New School Nomads as we travel fulltime in RV through the United States!

The post Rock’n and Roll’n with the Rumble Roller: A Review appeared first on Girl Heroes.

I did it. I finally bought the shoes that look like feet.

Vibram Five Fingers

Or sometimes known as frog shoes.

Or just shoes that look like feet.

I’ve been working out barefoot for over three years now. When I can’t workout barefoot,  I wear a thin soled shoe like Converse or my New Balance Minimus which I still love.

In fact, I was planning on buying another pair of New Balance Minimus (they have new gorgeous turquoise ones) when I came across a pair of Vibrams for 40% off at a little sporting goods store in Montpelier, Vermont. Have you ever been Montpelier? What a fantastic little town. It’s quaint, beautiful, has a ton of little resturants and it is the only capital without a McDonalds.

Anyway back to my Vibram Five Finger review. Yeah those shoes that look like feet and sort of creep me out.

Brent has been wearing Vibrams for over a year and he loves them. Personally, I wasn’t keen of the frog feet look but I am keen on being barefoot and saving money so I couldn’t pass up a great deal on a new pair of barefoot shoes.

I’ve been wearing them for about two week now.

The first few days were uncomfortable. I started out wearing them for about 30 minutes at a time not because I needed to get used to being barefoot but because my little toe started to go number after about 10 minutes. My odd little toe (It’s odd because not only can I *wave* it, it looks like it was drawn by a cartoonist.) did not appreciate it. However, my toe is no longer protesting.

The back of the shoe was uncomfortably digging into my heel a little but that also seems to be a matter of breaking in as the irritation lessens each time I wear them. I know I couldn’t have gone with a bigger size as these are snug but my big toe still doesn’t reach the end.

Lastly, they were hard to put on at first. They reminded me of putting on big puffy gloves as a child but they’ve started to form to my feet making them easier to get on. While they aren’t like putting on a pair of flats my feet pretty much slip into them without too much struggle.

What I really love about the Vibram Five Fingers is being able to be “in touch” with the earth. Literally.  Not in some “woo woo” sort of way. I love to feel the rocks on the ground without hurting my feet.

You can’t really feeeeeel the earth in heavy thick soled tennis shoes or hiking boots but my Vibrams make me feel and look like a frog.

I can’t say I would have bought these for myself had they not been on sale. I probably would have bought another pair of Minimus or different barefoot shoe that doesn’t look like feet but I’m getting used to the frog look.  They are also working great for my kettlebell workouts when being barefoot isn’t an option. Overall my Vibram Five Fingers serve their purpose by protecting my feet while allowing my feet connect with the ground and do the job they were designed to do.

But best of all my new shoes that look like feet connect better in a game of footsie with my love.

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

Keep up with my kettlebell workouts, real food recipes, and more in one of three ways! 1. Sign up to have posts emailed to your inbox. 2. Subscribe to the RSS Feed or 3. “like” Girl Heroes on Facebook (Be sure to click “subscribe” if you want posts to show up in your feed.) Simple dimple!

Journey with our family on the road at New School Nomads as we travel fulltime in RV through the United States!

The post Shoes that Look Like Feet – Vibram Five Finger Review appeared first on Girl Heroes.

Yes, I received my bands and ball for free.  That doesn’t keep me from being honest.

Using my Oxygenfit toner in my fancy garage gym to aid my pull-ups.

While I don’t use exercise bands regularly (except for the above exercise which is my favorite way to work up to pull ups) they are perfect for those with a limited budget, space, or for traveling. Bands are affordable, light, portable, small, versatile, and convenient.  You can easily throw them in a carry-on suitcase and eliminate one of the excuse factors when traveling.

After a bad experience with cheap bands (One broke and the handle hit me in the face bloodying my nose…yes it hurt like heck!) I was delighted when I saw  and experienced the the quality of the Oxygenfit Toners (bands).  What sets the Oxygen Toners apart from other bands?  Attention to detail and quality construction.  The plastic tubing is attached inside a nylon sleeve and the sleeve is securely attached to the handle.  There is also an optional attachment called the Fit Stik that allows you to add more variety and use the Toners more like a barbell.

The square part is heavily stitched for safety.  I can’t imagine this breaking!

The Oxygenfit Toners feel safer and more comfortable (no pinching) than an average exercise band.  As long as you aren’t using the band as a swing or for acrobatics then the possibility of the band breaking is virtually eliminated.

The ball?

I’ve always bought cheap balls from discount stores and inevitably it felt like I was doing planks on a balloon rather than a stability ball as the plastic felt thin. However, the Oxygenfit Body Ball is akin to the higher quality balls I’ve used at the gym.  Although, mine could have used a few more pumps of air.  Speaking of the the air pump it was really easy to use.  It took me 2 minutes and 37 seconds to fill up with air.  Yes, I actually time it with a stop watch and, yes, I’m easily entertained.

While I don’t use a stability ball every day (I don’t use any one piece of equipment every day), I do use them to add variety to my workouts and prevent boredom.   I consider it one of the better pieces of exercise equipment when it comes to price, effectiveness, and versatility.

The friendly people of Oxygenfit have offered to giveaway a Body Plan Kit (worth $94.95) to one lucky Girl Heroes reader.  The kit will contain 1 Body Ball, 1 Light Toner, 1 Fit Stick, 1 door anchor, 1 Air Stik Pump, Motivational DVD, Fit Stik DVD, and Gym Technik Mobile Application.

4 Ways to Gain Entries!

(Please make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry as I will pick a winner at random from the comments.  1 comment = 1 entry)

1. Leave a comment telling me what your favorite exercise is using the ball or bands?  If you’ve yet to use them what would you like to try?

2. Check out the Oxygenfit website and leave a comment telling me you have done so.  (There’s a short little video that gives you an idea of all the different ways you can use the Body Ball, Toners, and Fit Stick.

3. Mention this post on your blog.  Leave a comment telling me you have done so.  If you don’t have a blog you can email this post to a friend and leave a comment telling me you have done so.  You may mention this giveaway in multiple posts (or emails) up to once per day but remember to leave a comment for each entry.

4. If you have a twitter account please help me spread the word and Tweet about this giveway. “@girlhero is having her first giveaway: An Oxygenfit Body Plan Kit. Enter to win here http://bit.ly/dhskF9!”  You may tweet up to once a day but don’t forget to come back and leave a comment for each entry.

Contest will close next Monday March 29th at 9 pm PST and is open to US and Canadian residents!

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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The post My First Giveaway!!!!! Oxygenfit Body Plan Kit appeared first on Girl Heroes.