Stuff We Like
Consumer Reports for Bodybuilders
by Chris Shugart

There are literally thousands of bodybuilding tools on the market today. These include exercise gadgets, athletic training devices, books, videos, and supplements. They run the gamut from complete garbage to products you absolutely need to own. It's probably no surprise to you that most of these toys and tools fall into the recycle bin category.

Therefore, we've decided to act as a sort of bodybuilding Consumer Reports and review all the various stuff aimed at the typical Testosterone consumer. Don't worry, though, we won't waste your time writing about the infomercial crap you see late at night on cable. Well, maybe we will, but just so we can poke fun at it and humiliate the shills who push this crapola.

Instead, we'll focus on the more serious side of training devices and information sources. Since we don't accept outside advertising here at the web site, we're free to tell it like it is without having to worry about da man telling us what to think about a product.

Each product will be rated on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the best.

Indo Board Balance Trainer

Developed originally by Hunter Joslin as a training device for board athletes (surfers, wakeboarders, skaters, snowboarders etc.), the Indo Board has now worked its way into Olympic training facilities, weightrooms, and the offices of physical therapists. Proponents of balance training (including T-mag contributor Coach John Davies, who introduced me to the Indo Board) note many benefits to this type of conditioning:

• Improved balance, stability, and coordination

• Strengthened core musculature and stabilization

• Increased range of motion, strength, and agility

• Heightened awareness and focus

• Injury prevention

• Promotion of muscle recovery

Of course, there's a lot of controversy about balance and stability training within the strength and conditioning community. While many agree with the list of benefits above, others (like T-mag columnist Ian King) think this type of training is overrated for an athlete and really just a fad being pushed by those wanting to create a niche for themselves in the overcrowded fitness industry. Well, I'm going to let the esteemed experts fight this one out amongst themselves and focus instead on the device in question and my experience with it.

The Indo Board system is basically a wooden board and a plastic roller. You place the board on the roller and let the fun begin. When I first received the Indo Board I popped the accompanying tape into the VCR and watched as the inventor of the board and others performed some amazing feats of balance and coordination. Of course, I didn't realize how amazing these feats were until I hopped up on the board for the first time. This thing was tough!

After a few minutes though, I began to get the hang of it. A few minutes after that I was lying on ground groaning and the board had shot across the room, killing my boss, TC, instantly. (No, no, TC's fine, but I did bust my butt.)

I learned something very quickly: the moment you think to yourself, "Hey, I'm getting pretty good at this Indo thing!" your brain sends the "fall on ass" message to the body! Hunter recommends that new users hold on to a partner at first and use the board on a carpeted or grassy surface to slow it down. He ain't kidding!

After a few days, I was able to train on the Indo board for up to an hour without falling. After the first of these longer sessions, I woke up sore in the glutes and abs. You can feel your whole core contract and stabilize when on the board. Once I became more used to it, I began performing bodyweight squats while "in trim," (in balance) along with other coordination drills like "hanging ten." That's where you walk to the end of the board and let your toes hang off, just like a surfer. Looks easy. It isn't.

The board and the roller are very well made and stood up to a lot of punishment. I did manage to put a small crack in it though, after taking a spill and sending the board flying into a brick wall. No worries; the board was still fully usable. Coach Davies actually has his athletes perform weight training drills on the board, so it's obviously very sturdy.

The Indo Board comes in a variety of shapes and colors. I got the plain natural board, but there's a psychedelic option available as well. Most people should start out on the original Indo board, which is short but wide. Those who are over 6' tall or over 225 pounds may want the "Surf Pro" model instead, which is longer and uses a larger roller. This is the model I tested. The learning curve is a bit steeper with this one, however.

I feel my balance and coordination have improved since I started using the Indo board, plus it's just a whole lot of fun to play on. In my best surfer lingo I say, dude, the Indo board is like totally gnarly!

The basic Indo runs about $100. The big model I tested runs $170. For more info, checkout www.indoboard.com. Surf's up!

Rating: 9

Xvest: Firefighter Model

T-mag tested out the Xvest several months ago and pronounced it the best one we'd ever used. Now the Xvest folks have come out with a new monster: an 84-pound model! This is one of the heaviest vests we've seen. Like the lighter versions, it's built for abuse and fits like a glove. It can also be lightened by taking out the metal rods, which is good because just putting on an 84-pound vest is quite a workout!

Besides the weight itself, the main difference in the Firefighter model is how the weights are stacked. The makers of the Xvest didn't want to make it longer or wider to accommodate more weights as that would take away from the balanced feel and fit of the vest. So this one is just a little bigger overall to support the extra weight. It doesn't impede movement and pull-ups and dips are still possible.

Since we already know the Xvest is a good product, I sat down and talked to the inventor and president of the company, George Morrison. George knows a thing or two about athletic conditioning so I picked his brain about why he built such a heavy vest and about weight vest training in general.

T-mag: You've mentioned PRT to me in our previous talks. What is it?

George: PRT or Physical Readiness Training has crept into the mainstream training world. In decades and years past, PRT was a military, firefighter and police term relating to specific training regiments: exercises or programs that would keep them in good enough condition to handle the everyday situations related to their job. We receive questions daily on our website about PRT and how the Xvest can be incorporated.

T-mag: Give us some examples please.

George: Here are some examples of PRT:

1) 5 to 25 mile hikes with Xvest (up hill).

2) Moving sand bags or large stones from one pile to another.

3) Long bike rides 35 to 100 miles with the Xvest.

4) Walking up stadium steps or stairs with the Xvest.

Actually, any activity that requires endurance, physical strength as well as mental strength can be considered PRT. Shoveling snow is a good one. Keep in mind that it isn't a hypertrophy exercise; it's a total body and mind exercise that's designed to test your abilities.

T-mag: Sounds damned challenging! Now, your 40- pound model kicks my tail. Why an ungodly 84-pound model?

George: Our 84-pound model is called the Firefighter model for one very simple reason: firefighters kept requesting a model weighing over 80 pounds for their training. Also, the US military is ordering the Xvest and the 84-pound model. It fits into their training regiments and there's less of an opportunity for injury than the pack they wear on their backs.

T-mag: What can bodybuilders get out of weight vest training?

George: Bodybuilders can achieve great hypertrophy results using the Xvest through specifically designed complex training programs. I've begun to work with athletes that compete in bodybuilding developing such programs. Weight vest training is great for metabolic enhancement. If you’re in the cutting stage and employing HIIT to enhance your caloric consumption, add the Xvest and watch the fat melt away.

T-mag: Drop a killer weight vest training program on us, George.

George: We call this one the "Xvest Century Circuit":

1) Jumping Jacks x 100 reps
2) Squats x 100 reps
3) Push-ups x 100 reps
4) Lunges x 100 reps
5) Dips x 100 reps
6) Step-ups using a bench x 100 reps
7) Chins or Pull-ups x 100 reps
8) Jumping Jacks x 100 reps

Don't attempt to do all 100 reps in one set! Break it up into ten sets or some set configuration your body can handle and perform in circuit fashion.

T-mag: Sound vicious! Thanks for the quick interview, George!

The Firefighter Trainer model is about $250. The lighter the model, the lower the price. For more info on all Xvest models, go to www.thexvest.com or call 800-697-5658.

Rating: 9

GNC Cold-Milled Flax Seeds

Most all T-mag readers know about the importance of omega-3's. These are the "good fats" which offer a wide variety of health benefits. Fish oil and flax seed oil are the usual choices, along with Udo's Choice.

I admit though, I hate flax seed oil. To me, there's nothing quite as nasty as a mouthful of oil, even if it is a healthy oil. Sure, I've put it in my protein shakes, but I can still taste it. Besides, I relish my chocolate Grow! shakes. It's almost sacrilegious to screw up the flavor with yucky flax oil! I'd heard flax seeds themselves were pretty tasty so I decided to give them a shot.

Now, there are a couple of ways you can buy flax seeds. You can buy the whole seed, then grind it up with a coffee grinder, or you can buy them already milled and vacuum packed. Those who buy them whole tell me you have to have a special coffee grinder just for the flax seeds and if you don't clean it out thoroughly, it can get really get stinky. Forget that! I bought the pre-milled stuff, choosing the GNC Natural Brand.

The GNC brand cold-milled flax seeds are certified organic, come in 15-ounce packages, (28 servings) and run about eight bucks. Each heaping tablespoon contains 3 grams of omega-3's, 1 gram of omega-6, and 110mg of lignans (those cool little phytochemicals that combat estrogen). Each spoonful also has 5 grams of fiber. The outside of the seed is very similar to psyllium husks, which is the main ingredient in most natural fiber supplements.

How do you eat this stuff? You can put it in protein shakes, mix it into yogurt, or sprinkle it over salads and hot cereals. It doesn't have much of a taste at all really, but if you use a lot it has a mild nutty taste. It does have a coarse, gritty texture however, and smells like flax seed oil, just not as strong.

Flax seed oil is more concentrated, of course, so you get more than double the omega-3's from a tablespoon of flax oil compared to the milled seeds, but the oil gives you no fiber and you have to deal with that nasty flavor. (Granted, some people like the stuff, but I'm not one of them!) Milled flax seeds won't take care of all your "good fat" needs, but they can make an impact, plus the fiber aspect is very healthy and beneficial. Just remember to refrigerate after opening.

GNC cold-milled flax seeds can be purchased at (you guessed it) GNC!

Rating: 8

Altus Wrist Wraps

Several issues ago, Ian King recommended that everyone wrap their wrists when lifting heavy. This provides stability for the wrist, reduces fatigue, and reduces strain on the wrist joint. Powerlifters also like them to "lock" the wrist into position. (Now, as King has explained, this isn't a crutch like wrist straps, which wrap around the bar so you don't have to grip it. Instead, wrist wraps act as an injury preventative.)

I'd been experiencing some wrist pain when using a heavy benching program so I decided to get some wraps. King recommends using a powerlifting knee wrap cut in half, but I chose to just buy the real thing and invested six bucks in a pair of Altus Red Line wrist wraps. These are no-frills, competition-grade wraps made of heavy elastic weave.

I left the wraps loose on warm-ups and lighter sets and only tightened them up during heavy work. The little elastic thumb strap made them easy to get on by myself and wearing them made me feel more "solid" while benching heavy. After a few weeks of use, my wrist pain stopped. These wraps are useful little tools, just don't get them too tight. I had my hands turn blue the first time I wore them!

Altus Red Line wraps can be purchased at just about any sporting goods store. I got mine at Wal-Mart because I'm a shit kickin' redneck. For more info, see www.altusathletic.com.

Rating: 8

Reebok Speed Rope

I needed a new jump rope so I decided to buy something a little different so I could review it in this column. I settled on the Reebok Speed Rope, which is made of PVC and has a unique T-shaped handle "for added performance and balance."

First of all, the damn PVC "rope" never straightened out from being tightly wound in the box. I tried everything but nothing could de-crinkle this thing. I also found the rope to be too light. It was tough to get it going because there just wasn't enough weight to sustain the speed. It felt like I was jumping rope with a piece of string.

And those T-shaped handles? No better and no worse than a regular handle as far as I could tell. The box and website also promised to provide a workout program, but every box I checked came up empty. It was probably a lame routine anyway.

The Reebok rope runs only six bucks, but I don't recommend it. The T-shaped handles and materials are mainly just visual gimmicks. Any other leather or plastic beaded rope would be better.

Rating: 2

That's all the gadgets and gizmos for this edition! If you have any suggestions for products to review, just drop a note to me at CS@T-mag.com!