Guess what. It’s Friday, y’all! Wow. I felt like the biggest redneck typing that. Even living in the South my entire life, I have never been a big “y’all”-er. But it’s Friday and Friday deserves a little crazy. So – Happy Friday, y’all!

Just like the past couple of weeks, Friday now means a rest day for me. Though, it still a little odd resting on Friday instead of Sundays (my standard rest day of choice for years). I feel like on a weekday I should get up and do something just like all my other weekdays. Then, I remind myself the rest prepares me for my Saturday long runs and gives me the chance to have a less stressful and crazy morning one day of the week. Much needed and both good for the health.

Besides, just because I’m not getting my workout groove on doesn’t mean I don’t do things to better my health in other ways. I think we too easily forget about all the many, many, many ways we affect our health beyond our eating and fitness habits. Like flossing, sleeping, taking care of our money, hydrating, taking the stairs, or saying “I love you”. But you know what? Those DO count!

You know what else? Those can also count and add up to moolah in your pocket. You heard me. Cash. Money. Bills. Well, more aptly…Starbucks. iTunes. Amazon. Fandango. SpaFinder.

Yes. I’m for real.

Earlier this week, I received some information about a new site called DailyFeats.

At first, I thought “whatever…another product pitch”. Then, I took a closer look. You sign up. You check in daily or throughout the day (they even have an app!) to mark off certain feats you accomplished. You earn points for every little thing you do to better your health. Your points add up. You cash in your points for prizes – like gift cards to iTunes, Amazon, Fandango, and Starbucks. Ummm…why the heck not?!?!

I have received nothing for this. Nothing. I simply had to share it with you all. I love that DailyFeats offers a site to focus and reward a broad spectrum of healthy behaviors and positive actions.

 
I can finally get something for the incessant laundry and dishes!!!

There are so many things to earn points with. Not just workouts or meal choices, although those are there too. Just like I enjoy checking in with my budget to remain aware of my spending, this is a cool way to check in with my habits to look at my lifestyle and how I care for myself. AND earn some free new running music down the line…helping me rack up even more points.

Sure, it’s another thing to keep up with online. Sure, there are some ways they could make the site more user friendly – such as allowing you to check in more than one feat with one click instead of individual clicks for each. Sure, it can take a bit of time to rack up 2000 points for some of the better gift cards (although I have racked up over 200 in just a few days). Even with all that, I still think its a pretty cool site. I’m signed up. I have the app. And I’m working towards a free movie night with the husband. We don’t have a huge entertainment budget, remember? 😉

• What are some ways you take care of your health beyond the standard eating and fitness habits?
• Want to sign up for DailyFeats? Earn 50 points to get you started by entering the code faithfitnessrun50 when signing up. 🙂

**I cannot express enough that I received nothing for this post. I was simply made aware of this site and decided to give it a try out of my own personal will. The opinions are 100% my own, honest thoughts.

I don’t consider myself a super picky person. I’m truly only picky over a few things:

• the texture of foods
• men (good thing I found one that lived up to my long list of expectations!)
• jeans (the one clothing item I will splurge on)
• product reviews

I regularly get pitches to review different products on the blog. I have gotten very good at saying “No Thank You” and moving on in many of these situations. I will only accept things to review that I could see myself naturally using, liking, and discussing on the blog. For example, I have turned down a fairly well paid review of Slim Fast because it’s a product I know I wouldn’t choose to use on my own and I don’t really jive well with the product’s message. Then, I get opportunities to review things like a new workout. A new workout geared specifically towards my problem area (da booty) and from a company I have worked with before.

Those types of products I happily agree to review and get excited when they show up on my doorstep. And they have never let me down…until now. It pains me beyond belief that I must enter into the realm of the negative review - something I carefully try to avoid with my nit-picky approach to product pitches. Nonetheless, here we are.

Exercise TV offers a plethora of great workout options, including many free clips and mini-workouts, on their site. I think they have great material overall, so I couldn’t wait to try out the full version of the new Butt Bible workout they launched for the summer.

The workout includes 6 circuits – 3 upper body circuits and 3 lower body circuits, which cover different levels of length and intensity. For some cross training one day last week I opted to complete the 40 minute lower body circuit since I have a good fitness base and wanted a longer workout than the 20 or 30 minute options. Within 5 minutes I had to grit my teeth and convince myself to make it through the thing. Why?

The instructor, Pauline Nordin, had completely unnecessary language and motivational tactics. I can’t even tell you how many times she cussed. Nor how many times I had to roll my eyes at her saying to stop whining because everyone wants “to get a butt like hers” and that its a “status symbol” we should all shoot for just like a big house and nice car. Come ON!!!! Seriously?! I personally don’t find someone saying I need to look like her to look good much motivation at all. It just ticks me off. I know looks are a big motivator for many and something most fitness instructors in workout videos will comment on, but the Butt Bible and Pauline Nordin took it to excess.

As for the workout’s effectiveness?

Forty minutes of straight leg work does give a workout. However, there wasn’t any real innovation to the moves or layout of the exercises. The DVD simply went through 3 or 4 straight sets of typical lower body exercises – step ups, lunges, one legged deadlifts and squats, plie squats, and hip thrusts. Personally, if I’m not getting something innovative from the workout, I would rather do my own thing and save the money. I appreciated that the workout did train my booty like it claims, but it didn’t really hold my interest or make me want to do it four times a week as the video’s program suggests.

The Butt Bible DVD workout certainly didn’t suit me with its need for a little more variety and a lot more class. With all of that said, I can see how this video set would be a decent choice for someone looking for an effective workout with a basic layout and wishing to simply follow a DVD. And someone not turned off by the style of instructor mentioned above. Sorry, Excercise TV, but this one was a bust in my honest opinion.

• What types of things are you picky about?
• Have you ever had to give a bad review of a product?