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Comment on Crest 3D White Advanced Vivid Whitestrips, 14 Pouches Containing Upper/Lower Strips (28 Total Strips) by M. Kooiman "nerdette"

M. Kooiman "nerdette" — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:50:56 +0000

95 of 97 people found the following review helpful:

Dentist recommended!, March 9, 2009

M. Kooiman "nerdette" (Richardson, TX USA) -

This review is from: Crest 3D White Advanced Vivid Whitestrips, 14 Pouches Containing Upper/Lower Strips (28 Total Strips) (Health and Beauty)

Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)

Before using this product I wanted my dentist's honest opinion of Crest Whitestrips. He said: "The products used by dentists to white teeth that actually do something are identical to the solution used in Crest Whitestips. What makes one work and another not work is how well the product keeps the solution in contact with the teeth. The original Crest Whitestrips did not work well because they did not stick to the teeth well enough. If the Advanced Seal actually stick to the teeth - buy the Crest Whitestrips and don't spend the extra money paying a dentist to overcharge you."

I asked about whether they work on bonded and capped teeth and he stated very simply that all whitening products work only on natural enamel. My bonded front teeth would not get any whiter excepted for the parts where the enamel is exposed and then I might wind up with ugly bi-colored front teeth.

As for sensitivity - it is possible, with any whitener to experience temporary sensitivity. He recommended that if I experienced this problem to use the whitestrips once every three days and to use a good fluoride rinse on the two days in between. It will take longer to get results but you'll get the same results with less discomfort.

How long does the effect last? He said the whitening is mostly permanent - that the teeth will darken a little over time but will never go back to their original shade. If you're dissatisfied with the darkening over time, repeat the process. It is not harmful to your teeth.

My personal experience? The strips stick and stick pretty well. There are a couple of teeth that they start peeling off of before the 30 minutes is up but they're towards the back and don't show when I smile. My bonded front teeth are slightly lighter where the enamel is revealed but not enough to be obvious. The teeth that had no fillings, crowns or bonding are whitening. I've taken my dentists advice and am not using the strips every day. I skip a day or two between strips so I still have 4 days remaining. So far, I've not experienced any sensitivity.

Based on my personal results and my dentist's recommendation, if you are considering whitening your smile, try the Advanced Seal Crest Whitestrips. Not only do they work well, but mine came with a NICE coupon for the next round and an even whiter smile.

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Comments (4)

Comment on Crest 3D White Advanced Vivid Whitestrips, 14 Pouches Containing Upper/Lower Strips (28 Total Strips) by kone "kone"

kone "kone" — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:46:39 +0000

334 of 339 people found the following review helpful:

Crests Latest Bleaching Product Strip Stays on Teeth, April 20, 2009

kone "kone" (USA) -

As a dentist, I am often asked by patients and friends where to start in terms of selecting a bleaching product. Since Crest produces some very good products, I generally steer them to Crest products. However, there are a multitude of Crest bleaching products to select from, so where does one begin? Here is my advice in selecting and using Crest Bleaching products:

First, let's begin with the Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal. This product was introduced in February, 2009. It contains a 10% hydrogen peroxide gel that is attached to a clear strip (like a band-aid) that wraps around the teeth. The primary advantage to this system is that the strip adheres to the teeth better than all the previous whitestrip products. In fact, some users report that it can be somewhat difficult to remove. However, having a strip that adheres to the teeth allows the user to do other things (remain active) while they bleach - work-out, shop, drive, talk, even drink fluids. The previous versions instructed the user to bleach for 30 minutes while stationary so the strip would not be displaced. In terms of bleaching effectiveness, Advanced Seal is equivalent to Crest Premium, Premium-Plus, and Pro Effects (as they all have a 10% hydrogen peroxide gel).

A brief review of the other Crest bleaching products is in order to understand the options available. Crest White Strips come in as many as 7 different formulations. This can be very confusing for the consumer! Please remember the key difference in all these products is the strength of the hydrogen peroxide gel, and of course the price. The higher the dose of hydrogen peroxide, the faster the bleaching result, and the most costly as well. Here is a quick summary of the products:

1. Crest White Strips Classic (6% hydrogen peroxide, 14-day treatment). 2. Crest White Strips Premium (10% hydrogen peroxide, 7-day treatment). 3. Crest White Strips Premium Plus (10% hydrogen peroxide, and has 12 additional strips).
4. Crest Pro Effects (10% hydrogen peroxide, 10-day treatment).
5. Crest Advanced Seal (10% hydrogen peroxide, 10-day treatment).
6. Daily Whitening Multicare (6% hydrogen peroxide, 5-minutes/day, 6-week supply)
7. Daily Whitening with Tartar Protection (6% hydrogen peroxide, 5-minutes/day, has a chemical that discourages tartar from attaching to the teeth, 38 upper and lower strips)

In using any of the Crest bleaching products, please follow the specified instructions that come with each product.

1. For most products, the instructions will direct you to bleach twice a day for 30-minutes a time. The inner part of the strip has a chemical called hydrogen peroxide that causes the stains inside your teeth to be oxidized and turn white. Applying the strips has a small learning curve as you will probably bend or fold a couple of them before you get the technique down.

2. Leave the strips on for the time recommended in the instructions and do not overbleach your teeth, as this can lead to sensitivity. Crest bleaching products will generally work for most people, especially younger people and those with yellow stains.

Potential Disadvantages to Consider

1. Hydrogen Peroxide can "burn" your gums. If you notice a burning sensation when you use the product, it is the chemical oxidizing (or burning) your gums (it will turn them white with a minor chemical burn). Depending on how severe the burning is, it may cause you to want to stop the treatment. It is OK to stop the treatment for a day or two to let the gums heal. Once they are healed, resume treatment with the White Strips. Try to not get the strip too far up on your gums.

2. Your teeth may become senstiive during the treatment time. Try to tolerate the sensitivity if it is mild, but if more severe, take a day or two off to let the teeth settle down and then pick up where you left off. You may notice much more sensitivity to cold water, ice cream, etc. The peroxide causes a revesible inflamation of the inner pulp, or nerve center of the tooth and makes the teeth very sensitive to biting or cold drinks or foods. If your teeth become too sensitive, back off on the strips until the sensitivity is gone before resuming bleaching.

3. The strips only cover your front teeth, so only your front teeth will bleach. You may notice the distinct difference between the back (unbleached) teeth and the front (bleached) teeth. Since most people notice the front 6 teeth anyway, this is not a big deal. However, if you have a wide toothy smile, you may want to have a dentist make you a tray that will hold the chemical on the back teeth to whiten them too.

4. The bleaching effect works best on yellow stains. If your stains are due to tetracycline (brownish grey stains in a band on your teeth, your best bet is to have a dentist whiten your teeth in the office for two... Read more

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Comment on Crest 3D White Advanced Vivid Whitestrips, 14 Pouches Containing Upper/Lower Strips (28 Total Strips) by M. Pickering

M. Pickering — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:05:07 +0000

517 of 528 people found the following review helpful:

An Advanced Solution That Works - But Still a Chore, March 24, 2009

M. Pickering (MI, USA) -

This review is from: Crest 3D White Advanced Vivid Whitestrips, 14 Pouches Containing Upper/Lower Strips (28 Total Strips) (Health and Beauty)

Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)

As a person that consumes large amounts of coffee and tea, keeping my teeth white has been an ongoing struggle that has prompted me to buy just about every whitening product available. Every time Crest comes out with a new Whitestrips product I give it a try. Many have been disappointing, and all have proven to be a somewhat unpleasant chore to use. Now I understand that doing something to make your teeth whiter is worth some time and effort, but using the Crest Whitestrips is usually a messy, uncomfortable process that I have always dreaded. Still, I have always been able to get noticeable results so I continue to use them nonetheless. Until recently I was getting the best results from using the Crest Whitestrips Pro Effects 10-day System. However, those strips still tended to slide around on my teeth and required that I keep my mouth closed for the entire treatment.

In February I was given the opportunity to try the new Crest Advanced Seal Whitestrips kit. It is certainly a big improvement over the other Whitestrips products. The Advanced Seal kit only requires a 30 minute treatment once a day, whereas the rest of the Whitestrips product line requires two 30 minute treatments each day. The entire kit lasts for 14 days, but it promises that you will see results within 3 days. The kit contains 14 packets, each packet containing an upper and lower whitening strip. Each strip is coated with a peroxide-infused gel, which is claimed to mold and adhere to teeth better that any previous Whitestrips product. Crest also notes that this product will only work on natural teeth, and will NOT whiten caps, crowns, veneers, fillings, or dentures. These Whitestrips should not be used by anyone under the age of 12, and should not be used on teeth with braces. Crest even claims that you can drink water while whitening your teeth with this product.

Here is the 3-step method for using this product (taken directly from the Crest website):

1. Peel:
- For best results, do not brush teeth immediately before applying strips.
- Open foil pouch and remove.
- Peel strips from backing.
2. Apply:
- Apply gel side of strip to teeth. It will instantly mold and adhere to teeth.
- Align strips with gum line and press gently for good contact.
- Fold the rest of strip behind teeth to keep in place.
3. Reveal:
- Wear strips for 30 minutes once a day, remove and discard.
- Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal comes off cleanly.

After using this kit for the full 14 days, here is what I have personally experienced:

First of all, the claim by Crest that these strips hold much better to your teeth is true. In fact, when trying to remove these strips some may feel that they hold TOO good. I have found that removing them can be a somewhat difficult and messy task. After being in your mouth for 30 minutes the strips are rather slimy and slippery, so I have learned to pull one end loose and then use a tissue to pull the strip off my teeth. You really have to tug pretty hard in order to get these strips off from your teeth! Second, the strips still leave some unpleasant residue on your teeth, so you will want to make sure to brush right after removing the strips. Third, the strips are still a little bit of a pain to apply. It's hard to fold them over your teeth without getting creases in them. But, the fact that they hold strong is a great thing. They hold on tight for the full 30 minutes, and therefore don't slide around on your teeth like the previous Whitestrips did. I don't experience the excessive amount of saliva generated by the previous Whitestrips products either. Although some folks do experience a mild amount of increased sensitivity after repeated use of this product, I was able to complete the full 14 treatments (without skipping a day) without any discomfort whatsoever. These Advanced Seal Whitestrips are a great improvement in design, and they are ultimately much easier to use. I definitely notice that my teeth appear whiter within 2 to 3 treatments, and by the end of the 14-day treatment my teeth looked wonderfully bright.

Overall I am very pleased with the improved design and excellent results provided by the Crest Advanced Seal Whitestrips product. They're not completely perfect, and they are still a bit of a chore to apply, use, and remove. But when all is said and done these strips are definitely the best effort produced by Crest yet. If you are looking for whiter, brighter teeth, and don't mind a 30 (35 minutes including removal and brushing afterward) minute inconvenience for 14 days, I highly recommend the Advanced Seal Whitestrips system from Crest. Shop around though, because they can be found much cheaper on the Internet than in local retail stores. I have found them nearly twenty dollars cheaper on sites like Amazon than what they sell for in brick... Read more

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Comment on SE Single Ended Pick Set 5 Pieces Reviews by D. Jensen

D. Jensen — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:35:23 +0000

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

sturdy dental pick set, November 9, 2008

D. Jensen (Idaho) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: SE Single Ended Pick Set 5 Pieces (Misc.)

I've owned several dental picks in the past and have found them useful for many tasks. The good ones I use until I lose them, and the bad ones break first. These will surely be lost first, as they are very sturdy. Indeed the handles are thicker and heavier than I've encountered before. The hooks are strong and tough but not brittle. All and all a very nice set at a very affordable price. I appreciated the free shipping - or rather than the shipping was included in the price.

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Comment on SE Single Ended Pick Set 5 Pieces Reviews by lic

lic — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:19:21 +0000

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

Not as stated, March 7, 2011

lic -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: SE Single Ended Pick Set 5 Pieces (Misc.)

The technical detail states these are stainless steel picks that can be autoclaved and used by technicians. It also says well made and long lasting. This set is not stainless steel, only the tips are. They cannot and should not be autoclaved because it would ruin the cheap chrome plated handles, not stated. Technicians should not use these, as the package says "not for medical use". This is not what I ordered. The stainless steel dental mirror I ordered, however, was as stated and is from the same vendor.

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Comment on SE Single Ended Pick Set 5 Pieces Reviews by Valerie

Valerie — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:38:37 +0000

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

NOT FOR MEDICAL OR DENTAL USE, March 15, 2010

Valerie -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: SE Single Ended Pick Set 5 Pieces (Misc.)

First of all, these are strictly NOT for dental use, or any kind of medical use. It says so right on the package. Only the tips are stainless steel, the handles are cheaply plated and mine are chipping all over already even though I just opened the package. I'll probably throw them away in case they have lead in the silver paint/plating, because it is getting everywhere. They were cheap, so my expectations were low, but if I saw these beforehand I would not have ordered, and return shipping would be more than I paid.

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Comment on Crest Classic 100% More Pack Whitestrips, 112-Count by Katelynn

Katelynn — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:41:51 +0000

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

Works great., July 17, 2010

Katelynn (Ohio) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Crest Classic 100% More Pack Whitestrips, 112-Count (Health and Beauty)

My husband I are both ex smokers, so we had slightly discolored teeth. After a week of using these, I could tell a huge difference. Almost all the stains were gone! And after two weeks, our teeth were white again.
The gel inside the strips can be kinda a weird feeling but other than that this is a great product.

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Comment on Crest Classic 100% More Pack Whitestrips, 112-Count by Tammy

Tammy — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:35:28 +0000

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

Excellent product, Excellent Price, July 20, 2010

Tammy -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

We do snowmobile hillclimb races and I noticed in the pictures of me that my teeth were yellow in the pictures. I was recommended this product by a pharmacist. I had to use 2 store packages because my teeth were so bad. Now they are very white and I get comments constantly about how pretty my teeth are! For some reason, I cannot find this product in the store any more and was able to find it on line with more than twice as much for pennies more. I highly recommend Crest Classic Teeth Whitner Strips and ordering it online saves you a lot more money.

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Comment on Crest Classic 100% More Pack Whitestrips, 112-Count by Sing T. Loc

Sing T. Loc — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:33:14 +0000

40 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

It takes time, December 13, 2010

Sing T. Loc (New York) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Crest Classic 100% More Pack Whitestrips, 112-Count (Health and Beauty)

The "Crest Classic" whitening strips are a good buy but be weary of the time needed to whiten your teeth. The instructions tell you to not brush before applying the strips so if your teeth are sensitive; you might want to wait at least a half hour before you apply. You might also feel a burning sensation due to the peroxide in the strips. It's recommended that you keep the strips on for at least 30 minutes so during that time, your mouth might produce lots of saliva. Overall, the strips work well but not as well as the "advanced" more pricey strips. If you want your teeth as white as quickly as possible, do not buy this product. It's a simple equation, low peroxide longer wait, higher peroxide level shorter wait but teeth might become sensitive.

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Comment on Scrawny to Brawny: The Complete Guide to Building Muscle the Natural Way by Golden Pharaoh "goldenpharaoh50"

Golden Pharaoh "goldenpharaoh50" — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:47:52 +0000

36 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

Skinny bodies are a thing of the past!, May 8, 2005

Golden Pharaoh "goldenpharaoh50" (Calgary, Alberta Canada) -

This review is from: Scrawny to Brawny: The Complete Guide to Building Muscle the Natural Way (Paperback)

Absolutely fantastic! The frustration over being an ectomorph is something that only the truely skinny can understand. I had just healed after two sessions at the gym that took me a week to recover. During that time, I reevaluated my weightlifting; what was I doing wrong? I had eaten good foods and trained at least 3 time a week with only a little definition to show for it. Then, I heard about this book. I ordered it not expecting much but, boy, was I wrong. The information in this book specifically directs its focus towards us skinny guys. The emphasis is on compound lifts in the body of the training program but they also use the first four weeks to level out your muscle groups to prevent injury and so you look more balanced (this cured my weak back muscles!).
A nice thing too is that the book devotes half of itself to nutrition. Other books will only give you exercises and have you go on your way which always leads you to thinking what you're doing wrong. They list out how you should eat and when; let it be known that this portion is a major lifestyle change.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their body. So what are you waiting for "skinny"? Get to work!

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Comment on Scrawny to Brawny: The Complete Guide to Building Muscle the Natural Way by GC

GC — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:54:24 +0000

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

Extremely Solid Workout and Nutritional Information!, June 24, 2007

GC (Atlanta, Georgia, USA) -

This review is from: Scrawny to Brawny: The Complete Guide to Building Muscle the Natural Way (Paperback)

This is my first review on Amazon, and the only reason I decided to write one on this product was because of how excellent it turned out to be, and because some of the negative reviews that I read might scare some people away from a geniunely useful book.

I've owned it for about two years now, but I've been working out for a lot longer than that for my high school and college athletic careers, with very little to show for it. S2B has dramatically changed the way that I work out-the frequency, the types of exercises, and the volume I incorporate in my workouts. On this program, I went from 6'2 170 pounds to 6'2 195 pounds in about a year on this program, and got vastly more strong. I now do reps with weight that I used to be unable to lift once.

I've seen a few reviews that claim that they have gotten very fat etc. from employing the nutritional advice advocated in the book. There are a number of reasons why this might have happened, but the authors explicitly say that it is an outcome-based nutritional process that you update every two weeks. If you are gaining too much fat--then stop and adjust the diet! Perhaps some of the authors of these comments are not lifters in the true ectomorphic, high-metabolism "hard-gainer" mold or they did not perform the workouts with the proper intensity. I know that if you use the nutrient partitioning/timing that Dr. Berardi recommends, and you eat a lot of nutritious food (aka load up on salads, very lean beef, chicken, fruit) and perform the workouts just as they appear on a consistent basis with hard effort, you will put on muscle and while it is impossible not to put on a little fat with it, in most cases it is barely noticable.

Even if you are not a prototypical ectomorphic hard-gainer, the advice offered in this book is great for building strength and size. The authors advocate a focus on compound lifts using free weights, without a lot of machines or smith machine work that might be good for the ego but aren't good for working the joints or the multiple stabilizing muscles throughout the body. All in all, a solid, informative, entertaining and easy to read book. I would highly recommend it, although the information can be slightly disorganized and the many interesting research references contained in the book are not cited. (There is a book called Njtrient Timing that describes the principles Dr. Berardi employs for sale on Amazon that is also a great book and sheds a little more light on this very interesting and useful subject). Hope this helps!

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Comment on Scrawny to Brawny: The Complete Guide to Building Muscle the Natural Way by Mark

Mark — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:28:02 +0000

138 of 140 people found the following review helpful:

A review by someone who did the whole program, October 5, 2009

Mark (Minneapolis) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Scrawny to Brawny: The Complete Guide to Building Muscle the Natural Way (Paperback)

Many of the reviews on here seem to be from people who are just starting or who gave up on Scrawny to Brawny. I went in determined to do the whole four month program and am proud that I finished it up through the last day.

MONTH ONE
Phase I is the Corrective Phase and, I feel, the best part of the whole book. A series of precise tests show you your weak points and then you spend 2 to 6 weeks correcting them. This is especially important for skinny guys who can seriously hurt themselves if they start squatting loaded barbells without the underlying tissue support. The stretches and small lifts are HARD work and I really felt my ligaments and support muscles getting stronger. I had a "bum knee" which tended to feel weak or have pangs before I started this program and since I finished it, that never happens. Great workouts.
The food portion was far less successful. Similar to others who have mentioned this, I could not humanly consume the amount of calories they wanted each day. On the very first day, I found myself laying on the sofa groaning in gut pain at 9pm because I was so engorged. And I was still supposed to eat another meal before bed. I cut back just enough to make my consumption actually possible without vomiting from then on, but my body fat still soared in this first month. I continued to monitor food amounts each month as directed by their Decision Making Matrix, but it was shocking to start off the program with the first serious paunch I'd ever carried.

MONTH TWO AND A HALF
It was in this month that I strained my back doing one of the lifts and had to take a couple weeks off and start using a lifting belt to continue. Keep in mind that most lifts are illustrated with a single photo and the description of how to execute them assumes some familiarity with the equipment and proper form. I'd taken a weight training class in college and used dumbbells a lot before but strained my lower back lifting a barbell above my head and arching too much. If you're going to sink the significant amount of money that's called for (see below) into this program, you might also plan on a once-a-month meeting with a personal trainer just to assure you're doing everything properly, unless you're versed on full body barbell lifts.
Also, they wanted me to do several chin-ups at a time during my workouts and I could barely do one. There was no guidance on what to do if you're not ready for an exercise yet. Do fewer? Do them halfway? Who knows?
On the plus side, people started making comments about how much bigger I was this month. One co-worker even flattered me that I was getting "huge".

MONTH THREE
This month focuses on building strength for the last big push of muscle enlargement. Good workouts with noticeable growth on my legs and butt.

MONTH FOUR
This was the weakest part of the program. Workouts moved up to four a week to increase growth and left me feeling tired most of the time, even on days off. I'd start workouts not feeling 100% because I was still tired from my last workout. Muscle growth kind of stalled as a consequence, even though I really put everything I had into it and was still eating enough to keep my body fat higher than average.

PLUSES
The general info presented here (less the excess calories) is solid. i learned a lot and appreciated the mix of technical info with practical tips. Although not a lot larger, my legs and butt are more shapely than ever before- I don't have chicken legs for the first time. And the corrective phase was very effective in building a strong core.

MINUSES
I have a partner who is pretty independent, no pets nor kids, and I work half-time. Still, the shopping, preparation, storage, packing, unpacking, cooking, and washing up after the meals took almost all of my free time. Commute and changing time at a public gym would be added to that for those who don't work out at home. If you have a full-time job, a spouse who wants date nights, kids and a pet, you will find it very, very difficult to complete this program.
Between equipment and extra groceries, I probably spent a couple grand on this program, and that was getting super, lucky deals on used equipment via craigslist. At the end of the program, you're just left with the suggestion to sign up for their expensive online extension rather than any practical plan on how to convert what you've learned into a normal lifestyle.
The diet of almost all lean proteins got very monotonous after a while, even for someone who has spent much of his life in the food business and knows how to make simple food tasty. Before you even think of ordering this book, prepare and eat six meals tomorrow, all of them primarily consisting of lean protein (fat free yogurt, chicken breast, fish, turkey burger, 95% or more lean beef, egg whites...). Protein shakes do not... Read more

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Comment on Tone Fitness SDNHS-TN020 20-Pound Hourglass Shaped Dumbbell Set with Rack by Q. Laura "quasilaur"

Q. Laura "quasilaur" — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:34:12 +0000

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

Don't Buy for the Rack, June 1, 2011

Q. Laura "quasilaur" (Seattle, WA) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Tone Fitness SDNHS-TN020 20-Pound Hourglass Shaped Dumbbell Set with Rack (Sports)

The weights are nothing special. They're covered in a soft coating, color coded, and no-nonsense. They come shipped in a box appropriately sized for the items, which was another nice benefit. I viewed the rack as an unexpected bonus, and it turns out, it was a bonus that could have been left out. It's flimsy grey plastic that has to be assembled with small screws. The holes didn't exactly line up with the ones I got, and finding a screw driver (I have at least three) that fit the screws without stripping them was impossible. I gave up trying to assemble the rack, and leave the weights just tucked away on the floor. This could be just a bad rack, or could be my own ineptitude, but I think it's the former over the latter, as that I've had much successful experience assembling furniture in the past.

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Comment on Tone Fitness SDNHS-TN020 20-Pound Hourglass Shaped Dumbbell Set with Rack by HL1956

HL1956 — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:16:19 +0000

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

Works great and looks nice too!, December 9, 2010

HL1956 -

This review is from: Tone Fitness SDNHS-TN020 20-Pound Hourglass Shaped Dumbbell Set with Rack (Sports)

I bought these dumbbell a few weeks ago and I have been very happy with the quality. I use them for walking and some light toning exercises. They have a nice grip and the weight sizes are perfect for me. I love the fun colors too. The set comes with a plastic rack that holds the dumbbells togehter nicely and keeps them off the floor. I will be buying some more sets to give away for X-mas!

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Comment on Tone Fitness SDNHS-TN020 20-Pound Hourglass Shaped Dumbbell Set with Rack by D. KENT

D. KENT — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:39:33 +0000

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

Compact, cute and comfortable!, February 19, 2011

D. KENT (Palo Alto, CA) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Tone Fitness SDNHS-TN020 20-Pound Hourglass Shaped Dumbbell Set with Rack (Sports)

I didn't plan the alliteration... it just worked out that way... but it's true all the same. The little rack fits compactly in a corner (oh, there I go again) in my living room, they're really cute and colorful (oh no) and comfortable to hold. I bought them to use with my Jillian Michaels 30 day shred video after learning that eventually I'd be doing jumping jacks while holding hand weights. I had lots of individual weights but not a single matching pair. These are perfect. Highly recommended, and a great price.

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Comment on The Metabolism Miracle: 3 Easy Steps to Regain Control of Your Weight . . . Permanently by Lynette R. Fleming "Coauthor of Lunch Buddies...

Lynette R. Fleming "Coauthor of Lunch Buddies... — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:23:51 +0000

72 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

Metabolism Diversity, July 17, 2009

Lynette R. Fleming "Coauthor of Lunch Buddies... (Decatur, IL USA) -

This review is from: The Metabolism Miracle: 3 Easy Steps to Regain Control of Your Weight . . . Permanently (Hardcover)

All you have to do is look around to realize that people are different. If you're a pear, you gain weight in the hips and thighs. If you're an apple, you gain weight around the middle. I know someone (the husband of one of my friends) who first gains weight in his face! The fact is while we can be classified into general categories, we are all really quite different from one another in every way, including our metabolisms.

It should be no surprise to anyone that metabolisms come in different models. Many of you have friends or family members who can eat whatever they want and maintain a healthy weight, while you may have been fighting your weight your entire life.

For example, take my sister and me. No one in the world is as genetically close to me as my sister. Same mother, same father, same height, same eye color, same hair color, and only 15 months apart. That's about where the similarities stop. I'm a pear; Cindy's an apple. I'm 58 years old with no signs of diabetes or prediabetes, while at 57 Cindy has been trying to manage her type 2 diabetes for nearly 20 years. So close genetically and yet so different.

I didn't buy this book for me ... I bought it for my sister, but I have been reading it so I can help her. I now know why we are so different ... I have Metabolism A; Cindy has Metabolism B. If you have a roll around the middle and gain weight easily, you may have Metabolism B like my sister. If you do, you need to order this book today!

Diane Kress, who struggled with her own Metabolism B, has come up with a three step program which will teach you how to live a life in harmony with your own unique metabolism.

Step One is carb rehab. You need rehab because carbs cause your pancreas to overreact and to release excess insulin to handle the rise in blood glucose. Your brain then gives you the signal to load up on more carbs in order to quickly raise the blood glucose. You are going to have to go through rehab to break this cycle.

Step Two is transition, a healthy path to carbs. Once you have completed Step One, your overactive pancreas has rested, your liver is functioning better, and your Metabolism B is ready to be reprogrammed to process carbs normally.

Step Three gives you the tools to keep the weight off for a lifetime. First you will identify your carb range, and then learn which carbs you can eat and how far apart to space your allotted servings. In this chapter, you'll find all the tools you need to continue your success ... charts, lists, and even tips on what to do when you slip up.

You may have Metabolism A, like me, but chances are you know someone with Metabolism B. About 45% of the population is afflicted with Metabolism B. When you see a young slender body with a small roll around the middle, you are probably looking at a person whose future includes weight-related health issues due to Metabolism B. While The Metabolism Miracle can help anyone, those with Metabolism B will benefit most. What I like best about the book is that it appeals to vegetarians and vegans, as well as those who eat meat. Many books appeal to one or the other, but not both. I also love the real-life stories of people who have been helped by Diane. I highly recommend this book to anyone who personally is struggling with excess weight, especially around the middle, or who wants to help someone else in that predicament.

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Comment on The Metabolism Miracle: 3 Easy Steps to Regain Control of Your Weight . . . Permanently by Beth

Beth — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:09:29 +0000

136 of 150 people found the following review helpful:

It is a miracle!, May 8, 2009

Beth (Morristown, New Jersey) -

This review is from: The Metabolism Miracle: 3 Easy Steps to Regain Control of Your Weight . . . Permanently (Hardcover)

For years I tried all kinds of diets saying to myself they should work if I really follow the rules, but they didn't. I thought I failed. Yet deep down I knew there was more to it. I'm not that lazy, yet the scale said otherwise. Then I learned about The Metabolism Miracle...and it is a miracle. In very clear language Diane Kress explains why my physiology doesn't fit the mold of all those other diets. She tells me why I am different and why those other diets will never work for me; something I knew but didn't understand. And it's backed up by fact based on Diane's research and physiology of the human body. A lot this has been known for a long time, yet no one has put the puzzle together like Diane has before. The book is full of information on how my body's metabolism works. The book explains each phase of the program in easy to follow steps and how your body will react to each step and it's full of data supporting each phase. In reading the book it seemed like there was an answer to each possible question - what if I slip (there's a plan to get back on track); what types of foods can I eat (not only are there sample menus, there are pages and pages of recipes); what do I do if I go out to eat; etc, etc. The book will be a reference book for me for years to come. I really am excited that I've found where I belong.

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Comment on The Metabolism Miracle: 3 Easy Steps to Regain Control of Your Weight . . . Permanently by Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Man "Jimmy Moore"

Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Man "Jimmy Moore" — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:49:50 +0000

186 of 201 people found the following review helpful:

Metabolism B CAN Be Solved With A Low-Carb Diet, But Why Remove Fat And Add Back In Carbs?, September 26, 2009

Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Man "Jimmy Moore" (Spartanburg, SC) -

This review is from: The Metabolism Miracle: 3 Easy Steps to Regain Control of Your Weight . . . Permanently (Hardcover)

When you prominently use such a strong superlative word like "miracle" within the title of a diet book, then you had better be confident in your ability to deliver the goods. Registered dietitian Diane Kress has done her homework and identified a unique issue that inflicts upwards of 60 percent of the population and many of them don't even know it. It's called Metabolism B and requires a way of eating that isn't exactly embraced by the nutritional gatekeepers of our day.

How many of us have gone on diet after diet for years without ever keeping off any weight that has been lost? I've done it way too many times to count, but Kress explains that for some people it may not be our fault that we have struggled so much. And the unsightly belly fat is the worst all the while walking around too tired to exercise, hungry almost constantly, and wondering if this is the best life has to offer you. It's a depressing state that nobody should endure.

People with Metabolism B are different because we (yes, I'm one of them!) cannot eat an excessive amount of carbohydrate without packing on the pounds. Kress is also a Met B, so she understands the struggle just like we do and has developed an effective plan for combatting this once and for all. It's not calories in, calories out, it's not eating disgusting low-fat and fat-free foods, and it most certainly is not mustering up the willpower. There's a three-step process outlined in this book that give you all the tools you need to lose weight and keep it off for good!

Basically, you go through eight weeks of what Kress calls "Carb Rehab" as a means for giving your pancreas a chance to slow down on insulin production, heal and detoxify your liver, and allow fat cells to begin shrinking. You do this through an intense low-carbohydrate nutritional plan which will produce weight loss, improved health markers with your cholesterol and blood pressure numbers, and energy like you've never experienced before! Sample menus and food ideas are included in the book.

My only concern with what Kress shares in this book is her insistence on using "lean" meats, egg whites, low-fat cheese, and such. It's almost as if the registered dietitian in her won't allow her to see there are health benefits to consuming the fats contained in these foods as a regular part of the low-carb regimen for people with Met B. While Kress appreciates the work people like Dr. Atkins have done to promote low-carb principles to the public, she believes their ideas are antiquated since there has been so much research to come out in recent years. Unfortunately, I think she cherry picks the science that makes her case regarding saturated fat and isn't acknowledging the wealth of fresh new data that is out there.

The second part of the plan includes an eight-week or more "Transition...To Carbs" where "healthy carbohydrates" are added back into the diet to "gently restart your rested pancreas and liver." This was an odd change of gears since Kress has already identified that over half of people are walking around with an aversion to carbs. So what exactly is "healthy" about them that you need to put them back into your diet again? She says the carbs aren't the culprit, but it's their Met B condition that needed to get back into balance again. Eating the "low-impact carbohydrate" (I'll assume is low-glycemic load) is what will make that happen. But I think this is a recipe for falling prey to the carb creep that so often befuddles low-carb dieters.

The final phase is the "Lifetime Weight Maintenance" plan that adds even MORE carbohydrates into the diet along with the low-fat foods I previously mentioned as well as a few "treats" here and there. This is where you are supposed to live for the rest of your life, but how does this differ from any other high-carb, low-fat plan out there? What about people like me who are so sensitive to carbohydrate that they cannot tolerate more than 30-50g carbs daily? How does plan help lose weight and then keep it off forever adding back in carbohydrate no matter what their "impact" is?

As much I love the concept of Metabolism B and the low-carb solution that it offers people who are afflicted by it, I think Kress is still somewhat stuck on the idea that fat is somehow bad for you and carbohydrates play a necessary role in metabolism. Neither is true and that's unfortunate. Her insistence on things like eating every few hours, drinking lots of water, exercising 30 minutes a day for five days a week, and other typical dogmatic diet dictates shows she still hasn't caught on to what the latest studies are showing and is relying on her nutritional education to still guide her. I think she is on to something good, but it's not quite all the way there yet.

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Comment on Snorepin(TM) – The Smarter Solution Against Snoring and Sleep Apnea (Advanced Design Save Your Lungs) by Arend Dronkers

Arend Dronkers — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:21:06 +0000

45 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

Snorepin, October 14, 2010

Arend Dronkers -

This is a good product, strong and well designed, but how good it works for you depends on the size of your nostrils. It would have been good if the diameter of the Snorepin would have been shown as part of the description. In my case the snorepin works well if it stays inside my nostrils, but it often falls out, if I do not firmly press it as deep as I can and then it sometimes hurts.

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Comment on Snorepin(TM) – The Smarter Solution Against Snoring and Sleep Apnea (Advanced Design Save Your Lungs) by P. J. Woods

P. J. Woods — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:43:47 +0000

47 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

Amazing - completely stops my snoring!, October 29, 2010

P. J. Woods -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

I snore like a wild hog which is completely embarrassing for my dainty little nose. The main problem is that my nostrils are simply too compressed - particularly one side due to a bad deviated septum that couldn't be completely repaired. There isn't any way that a Breath Right strip will pull the sides up my nose open enough for me to breath. This Snorepin device is PERFECT! It didn't take long to get used to, and I don't even realize I'm wearing it anymore once I put it in. It completely opens up my nostrils so I'm breathing freely which prevents me from snoring at all. My husband is amazed! I admit that I wait to slip them into my nose when I turn out the light because I end up with a slight resemblance to Miss Piggy. But I suppose that's the point of the gadget - to open up those darned nostrils! Unfortunately, I frequently lose them in the bed just before dawn. If I start snoring at the point, my bunk mate is so sound asleep that he doesn't notice. But I'll gladly put up with search for it in the blankets each morning because there's an unintended benefit to this little flaw. I don't wake up in the morning light looking like Miss Piggy:)

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