Amazon’s “Most Popular Items” for Strength Training Enthusiasts.
My Amazon “Wish List” is so long that it even overwhelms Santa and every time I get another “might be interested” email from Amazon my list get longer. Well almost every time. Yesterday morning, I got an email that said,  “As someone who has browsed for weights, you might be interested in seeing some of our most popular items.” (Emphasis mine.)
Let’s take a look at some of Amazon’s “most popular”, I’m assuming, strength training items since I’m someone who has browsed for “weights“.
Popular Item #1 -Zumba Fitness Total Body Transformation System DVD Set
I must of missed “the party” but since when is dancing strength training? Oh yeah, when they added the “toning sticks”. Don’t get me wrong I think Zumba is a blast! I went as far to become Zumba certified two years ago but Zumba is cardio not strength training.
Popular Item # 2 – Shake Weight Dumbbell
Really? Nuff, said. Why not shake a can of soup for 6 minutes and save yourself $20. I’d be singing me some OutKast while I was at it, “Shake it, shake it like a Polaroid Picture, shake it, shake it”
Popular Item #3 – 5lb Hand Weights by Valeo
The only people who need 5lb weights are those who find it hard to lift a gallon a milk or those who love doing 100s of repetitions. I’m not saying there aren’t circumstances where a 5 lb dumbell is appropriate but far too often women underestimate their strength or follow the advice of “gurus” like Tracey Anderson.
Popular Item #4 – 5 lb Adjustable Ankle/Wrist Weights
These look best with leg warmers.
Popular Item #5 – (my favorite) The Firm 5lb Kettlebell Kit with “Transfirm” Your Trouble Zones DVD.
What a cute way to “transfirm” your trouble zones. Adorable. People will go out and buy these sweet little kettlebell babies hoping to “transfirm” (sorry that cracks me up) their bodies. Then when they don’t look like the lady of the cover of the dvd they will get mad and tell all their friends kettlebells are a waste of time. I know, that lady on the cover with the rockin’ arms didn’t get those by lifting a 5 lb kettlebell. Kettlebells can totally “transfirm” bodies but not 5 lb ones.
Popular Item #6 – 10 lb Hand Weight by Valeo
Getting better. 10 lb weights can be quite useful. The problem is most women will out grow these rather quickly.
Popular Item # 7 – Bowflex SelectTech 1090 Single Dumbbell.
Now we are talking. A dumbbell that adjusts from 10 lbs to 90 lbs with the turn of a dial. I can’t vouch for the quality of this product but there is definitely enough resistance here to get the body of a super hero. (Or for those still put off by the idea of super hero body then how about a “beach ready body”.) The only thing it’s $300 for one dumbbell which brings us to…
Popular Item #8 – Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells
Two adjustable dumbbells that adjust from 5 – 52.5 lbs in 2.5 lb increments for the first 25lbs. It’s like having 775 pounds of dumbbells in two dumbbells. Priced at $400, it’s about 52 cents a pound. Not a bad deal especially for someone with space constraints. You could do many different exercises and continually challenge your muscles by increasing the weight. Again, I can’t speak for the quality as I have never used these but out all the “most popular items” this seems like the best bang for your buck. Versatile and useful. (If you don’t mind getting used, I’ve seen these and Powerblocks selling on Craigslist for a fraction of the price.)
Now for some rogue math? If these are the most popular items among Amazon’s strength training shoppers then does that mean 57% of people strength training are using 5 lbs or less? I wonder.
What do you think about Amazon’s “popular items”? Has anyone used the Bowflex adjustable dumbbells? I’d love to hear your opinion on them or on a good brand of adjustable dumbbells in general. Anyone out there buy the Shake Weight or at least think about it? 😀
Have you entered the Alo Yoga Pants giveaway yet? There are still a few days left to enter!
Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn
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It’s funny that you posted this… I just sent out a tweet yesterday asking for recommendations for a kettle ball workout. I love the FIRM videos, but passed over this one because I don’t think that 5lbs is enough. But I am thinking I should add those Bowflex weights to my wish list
This cracks me up! I so needed the ultra-buff babe-holding-5-lb-kettlebell giggle this a.m.! Sheesh. And I love me some Zumba but you’re right, it’s NOT strength training.
I knew exactly where this post was going with the title…and I am so glad you mentioned that “pint sized wonder” Tracy – no woman should ever lift more than 3 pounds – Anderson. I want to barf every time I hear her name.
I totally covet those Bowflex dumbbells. They are on my Amazon wish list for sure. Right next to the shake weight. 😉
There was a sale for a 3-piece kettlebell set at Academy for $30 this weekend. I should check it out b/c after reading your blog, I am so wanting to try them!
I use 5 – 8 lb dumbbells when I do some Jillian Michaels or Biggest Loser DVDs.
Oh and my MIL bought the shake weight! It makes me think dirty thoughts. She hid it from me b/c I made fun of her.
Everything I’ve every read about SelecTechs vs. PowerBlocks says PB >>> ST every time, primarily because 1) their mechanism has fewer moving parts and thus less of a likelihood to fail, and 2) they’re cheaper. I have a set of SportBlocks about which I have no complaints. I plan to get heavier ones once I have a bit more unspent money lying around. 😉
I can totally respect the preference to train with the intention of building strength rather than size. I’m broad-shouldered and tend to gain/hold bulk like an apple (I refuse to label myself one -_-), so I stick to bodyweight for upper body. There’s absolutely nothing up there I want *any* bigger (more *ahem* “lifted” and yes, more “toned,” but not bigger) than it already is.
I’m not at all afraid, on the other hand, to go heavy on the lower body, though I do go easy on lunges in favor of deadlift and squat variations. IMO that’s the best aspect of strength training: the ability to sculpt (I know how much you love that word, lol) your body into virtually whatever YOU want it to be.
To that end I agree with you that too many women underestimate its power; endless cardio certainly won’t do anything for your build the way well-researched resistance work will.
Haha, entertaining post. I get a lot of “you would like this” items when I visit Amazon that make me shake my head.
The only time I use anything less than 15lbs is when I’m working on the Bosu ball, as the focus is working my core (and I have a tough time with the multi-tasking heavy weights).
On kettlebells and weight…I still laugh about this. I only do the two handed swing for now (working on perfecting my form and the hoping to train with someone before moving on). I’ve been using the 8kg since I started, but never really noticed it said kg instead of lbs…it was just the perfect weight when I began. Recently I was trying different kettlebells to see which one to move up to and was mystified when I lifted a 10lber and it was extremely light to me. I’d been baffled the 8 had seemed so heavy but I figured, eh, it’s just in my head haha. Finally, my friend pointed out…”that 8kg…is almost 18 lbs”. Ooooooh. Yeah. Um…ok. Not one of my finer moments.
Haha, too funny! That shake weight is ridiculous. I’d like to know WHO actually buys those?!?!?! Hehe, and the part about the 5 pounders made me giggle! 😉
I bet the Shake weight is popular, just not for it’s intended use, nudge nudge wink wink.
I LOVE Zumba, but those sticks are basically maracas, not weights!
And Hubby and I bought a pair of Reebok adjustable weights from Target for about $175. They’re pretty good, but they only go from 5 lbs up to 25.
It’s funny….I started my exercise journey with the FIRM. It’s cheesy, but it really changed my life. I was overweight after way too much beer and pizza in college. Then the cliche, “must lose weight for upcoming wedding” popped up. I had played sports in high school, but no real fitness or training since. So I ordered some FIRM DVDs and set up shop in my basement. And it totally worked! I lost 20 pounds and gained a ton of muscle. Of course, I wasn’t using 5 lbs weights for everything. I jumped up to 10s and 20s fairly quickly. Any workout can be what you make of it. If you’re always pushing yourself, you’re bound to get bigger, faster, stronger. Unfortunately, most women don’t. And that’s why we browse around on Amazon looking for a fun new way to lose weight without breaking a sweat. Fail.
oh my gosh, your commentary is always the best.. but especially on the 5# db one! haha, love you!
Hahaha! That Firm dvd is hillarious! I’ve never seen someone actually hold a kettlebell that small!
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