Tani Preview - Your New Favorite Underwear

Looks like I may just have a new career as a men's underwear model! I recently was approached by the public relations department over at Tani USA to try out and review some of their super high end men's undergarments. I have been enjoying my 2UNDR men's underwear (with Joey Pouch) I reviewed earlier and have to say, a good pair of underwear just makes you feel... well more comfortable and as corny as it sounds more relaxed and confident. Nothing digging into you and a super soft feeling where it really matters.

Getting back to Tani USA and their line of men's undergarments, if you want the absolute best fabrics and quality construction then you will not be disappointed by Tani's products. Here is some background info on Tani.

YOUR NEW FAVORITE UNDERWEAR

You expect quality from the things you purchase. You appreciate craftsmanship, innovation and performance. We do too. That’s why we work with only the finest fabrics, innovative knits and finishes to make our collection of underwear, undershirts and loungewear. It’s a level of comfort, fit and function unheard of and unmatched in the category. Designed with a clean, modern aesthetic for a timeless appearance and a smooth, sleek profile, we make men's underwear like nothing you’ve ever put on. So don’t be surprised when you’re reluctant to take it off.

SETTING A NEW STANDARD

Our singular mission is to set a new standard in luxury men's underwear.  We aim to create the worlds best and most comfortable undergarments that change the way you think and feel about men's underwear.

WE DO NOT COMPROMISE

When you make the very finest products in a very particular category, it’s simply not an option. To design and create our collections, we source fabrics around the world that are both rare and newly innovated. We employ unique knitting technologies to produce the finest, softest and smoothest fabrics. And the quality of its performance must be as high as the quality of its feel.

SOPHISTICATION THROUGH SIMPLICITY

Our prevailing aesthetic is pure. There are no hidden pouches, panels or gimmicks. Design is streamlined, classic with a nod to modernity. We want the first thing you put on in the morning to be comfortable, uncomplicated and complementary.

At Tani, we make luxury men's underwear for those who understand the distinction between fashionable and fashion, and for people whose expectations are as high as our own.

Welcome to your new favorite underwear.

There's a ton more info about the Tani line of products over on their website covering things like Fabric, Form and Function so go read up some more if you're interested.

Still Hitting Those PR's - Always Pushing Forward.

I haven't shared a PR (Personal Best or Personal Record) with you guys in a while and probably because I rarely go for any singe rep PR's since for me at my age it is a bit risky in terms of getting an injury and what's the point really, just so I can say I bench "X" amount of weight.

I prefer to measure my Personal Bests with how many reps I can do at a certain weight and usually that weight is more than many people my age can even do 1 reo for, not to brag but just to put it all in perspective.

So here are a couple Rep PR's I got in the last couple of days:

Yesterday was Deadlift day and I was not into it at all starting out but as we progressed with the workout I was starting to feel pretty good and the weight was moving well. We had programmed reps of 5 starting out at 225 pounds and working our way up sticking to 5 reps per set. Here is how it turned out... 

• Set 1 - 225x5
• Set 2 - 275x5 Reps
• Set 3 - 313x5 Reps
• Set 4 - 363x5 Reps
• Set 5 - 403x5 Reps
• Set 6 - PR of 453x8 Reps

We also programmed in 5 Strict pull-ups in-between sets and finished off with 3 rounds of straight leg Barbell Deadlifts at 225 pounds x 10 reps again with 5 pull-ups in-between. View my Heart Rate Info for this workout!

My next PR was today in Bench Press, again I generally refrain from going under 3-5 reps at a time since it usually leads to a peck or shoulder injury but my bench has been getting stronger so today we did our warmup and then loaded 245 pounds on the bar for 4 sets of max rep Bnech Press. I was kind of surprised at my results!

• Set 1 - 245x14 Reps
• Set 2 - 245x14 Reps
• Set 3 - 245x13 Reps
• Set 4 - 245x12 Reps
• Total of 53 Reps for 4 sets at 245 pounds

At the end of the workout I performed three rounds of what I call Fly-Presses, this is where I start out doing Dumbbell Chest Flies and then switch to Dumbbell Bench Press. I used 50 pounds per arm for 8-10 reps per set per movement. View my Heart Rate Info for this workout!

How Important Are Your Genetics - GetFitOver40

In this YouTube video titled "How Important Are Your Genetics" I talk about how your genetics play a big part in your health and fitness journey.

The most important point I want to make in this video is that we are all different and unique and we should not be comparing ourselves to others around us. At least in terms of wishing we had this attribute or that attribute that someone else may have. This kind of thinking will only lead to disappointment because often there may be little we can do to achieve a certain genetic feature that another person is blessed with. You too will have genetic advantages in certain areas and the goal is to work with those advantages and also work even harder on areas that are genetically not our strong points. As long as you are making small positive improvement over time you are doing it right!

Specifically when weight training, some people have a genetic muscle makeup that responds to lifting weights really well, it's almost like they don't even need to try and they get stronger and more muscular, and then others work super hard in the gym but only see very slow progress in their strength and muscle gains. And the way our muscles grow is also determined by our genetics, not just which areas grow faster and larger but also how those muscle shape and attach to the surrounding muscles. There is very little we can do about the shape of our muscles as this is almost exclusively a genetic feature but we can work harder on those areas that are slow to grow to create a more balanced look. This is what body building is all about.

Another big roll in genetics is the placement of our body fat, some people put body fat all on their kegs and but while others put it all on their upper body or even just their belly region. Some people put very little weight on their face and then others seem to gain a lot of weight in their neck and cheek area. The only way to create equality in how body fat is stored would be to reduce it to extremely low levels so that it becomes none relevant but this is very hard to do and not practical for most people as we generally need some body fat on us to be healthy and feel energetic and healthy.

Genetics also determine to a large degree how our bodies will wear over time. Some people even at very young ages can get arthritis and/or even other diseases like diabetes and heart disease that can change drastically their ability to perform even moderate exercises. While some people seem to be healthy and strong even into their elder years.

At the end of the day we are who we are with our individual strengths and weakness. Make the best of what you have and if you want to compare yourself to anyone, compare yourself to the person you where a month ago or a year ago or even 10 years ago. If at the end of the day you are moving forwards and not backwards then you have nothing to complain about!

Age is Just a Number - GetFitOver40

In this YouTube video titled "Age is Just a Number" I talk about how your age really effects your ability to do pretty much anything physical.

Some people look at me and wonder how at 46 I can be in better shape then most people in their 20's? I ask what is stopping me from being in better shape then people half my age, is it my age? And if it is my age how does my age factor in to all of this?

The preset notion is that as we get older our bodies get weaker and more run down, and yes there is some truth in this but why does this happen? Sometimes genetics play a roll and even some very young people can end up with the short end of the stick and receive some disease that effects their health and ultimately effects their physical condition which can put limitations on what they can do in terms of exercise. As we get older the possibilities of sickness, disease and injury are more prevalent than a person much younger. But if we take care of ourselves through health, nutrition, fitness and being kind to our bodies, then we don't open ourselves up to the effects of aging as much.

There are also people in their 50's, 60's, and 70's that are still running marathons or doing power lifting or biking or what ever it is they enjoy doing physically. So yes if your genetics are on your side and you take care of your body then age becomes just a number, not the determining factor in what you should be capable of doing.

On the other side of the coin, a limiting factor may be time, perhaps you work 60 hours per week and come home to family duties at the end of the day that leave you beat tired with no interest in doing anything physical, but then again this has nothing to do with age? Anyone can be in this situation at any point in their lives. Perhaps it again is simply understood that younger people have more free time so they can use that free time to achieve their fitness goals more effectively.

One last point I want to make is the excuse factor. At any age a person can have an injury, physical disability or responsibilities that make achieving their physical goals harder than for others. Perhaps this happens a bit more as we get older. If it is important to you, you will find a way to make it happen, there is always something you can do even if it's not your fist choice, there is always at least a little bit of time in your day that you can commit to health and fitness.

I guess my point here is that age does not determine what you can do, other factors are much more important, and even if age has caught up with you and put limitation on your life, you still have options and choices that include health and fitness. You may be surprised at how you can turn things around just by making some small positive mental commitments to make your health and fitness a priority in your life regardless of age.

EC Technology Power Bank 22400 mAh Battery Pack Review - Geek Mode Off

I was sent a really cool Power Bank from a company called EC Technology a couple of months ago and finally got around to doing my review for it just now. I am for the most part a bit of a home body as I work from home and only really venture out for workouts and family activates. Most of these event do not require I bring along additional power but I do travel from time to time and having a big ass power bank sure come in handy on these occasion even if it just knowing I have my own power plant lactated in my travel back pack.

My EC Technology Power Bank 22400 mAh Battery Pack came packaged nicely with a USB charging cable (to charge the power bank) and of course it also came with a manual.

By the way it will take about 12 to as much as 30 hours to fully charge this high capacity power bank from a totally dead state, charging time will depending on the output amperage of the USB power supply you use.

Once fully charged you can expect to recharge the average Smart Phone about 8-10 times , keep in mind larger Smart Phones with higher capacity batteries will use up more of charge from the EC Technology Power Bank 22400 mAh Battery Pack than smaller Smart Phones will. Electronic devices like earbuds won't even make a dent in it!

Here are some of the Tech Specs for you geeks out there:

• Lithium Ion battery.
• Capacity: 3.7 V/22400 mAH/82.8Wh
• Input is Micro USB Port DC5V/2A (maximum)
• Output #1 is DC5V/1A
• Output #2 is DC5V/2.1A
• Output #3 is DC5V/2.1A
• Dimensions: 6.3 x 3.1 x 0.9 inches (160x80x23mm)
• Weight: 1 pound (462 grams)
• Built-in microchips to ensure safe use and long lifespan.
• 500+ recharge cycles over the life of the battery.
• Also has LED Charge indicators and an LED Flashlight.

Who needs one? 

• Anyone with lots of USB powered gadgets that may not always have access to a wall charger.
• For people who use their technology all day long and the built in batteries do not cut it.
• When traveling and you need that little bit of extra power to make it though the day.
• For literally anyone, sine we all forgot at least once in a while to charge our phones and need to run out of the house with a dead battery, just plug in the EC Technology Power Bank and charge on the go.

Pros & Cons:

• You can change many devices before having to recharge the EC Technology Power Bank but it is a little bit on the heavy side if you want to keep it in a purse.
• It has a built in LED flashlight but it is not all that bright, you will most likely find your smartphone flashlight to be brighter.
• You get three charging USB ports so you can charge three devices art once, no con to this!
• Attractive looking design and well made, again no con to this.
• Lives up to its power rating claims not like many other power banks that can not back up their specifications.
• Very reasonably priced for what you get.

Conclusion:

The reality is you don't always have a wall charger when you are out and about and we all find ourselves in that situation where we run out of battery exactly when we need our technology the most weather that be to make a phone call, take a photo, listen to music or simply because we are board and want to play some solitaire. When this happens and if there is no wall port available then you can either go without your tech or plug it into one of these babies! The EC Technology Power Bank 22400 mAh Battery Pack may be overkill for the average persons needs but if you are a person who is pretty mobile and need to have your gadgets fully charged and ready to go at all times then you will not be disappointed with the EC Technology Power Bank 22400 mAh Battery Pack.

Chances are if you have lots of gadgets then you have a  nice big bag to carry all of them around in anyway, so why not throw the EC Technology Power Bank 22400 mAh Battery Pack in along of the ride too.