A few weeks ago I hosted a giveaway for a Gym In A Bag, and guess what? Jerry at Gym in a Bag was so impressed by your comments that he wanted to give another one away! Thanks Jerry! I’ve been using it consistently since I got mine and have enjoyed feeling stronger and more toned. As I told Jerry on the phone the other day, not only can I tell a difference in my shoulders and arms, but I feel that I’m standing up straighter, making me a little taller – which I love.
If you don’t remember what Gym In A Bag is all about, let me remind you. Instead of the traditional rubber bands, or round resistance bands that you just grab onto, the Gym in a Bag uses a patented system utilizing cuffs. Why cuffs? Because as Jerry said, “Using bands was never supposed to be about the grip, but rather about isolating and strengthening muscles. Whenever you grip something, part of your energy is going to the grip and forearm, taking away some of the effectiveness of whatever exercise you are doing.”
That makes a lot of sense to me. And although I’m not Kim Lyons, (who demonstrates their product) I think I’m looking better than I did before!
Here’s Kim demonstrating the cuffs – you can see she’s not gripping the cuffs with her hands, but rather letting them rest on her wrists. This is the big difference between this system and all other bands.

So do you think you have to join a gym to workout? And how would you use Gym In A Bag if you won?
I have to admit a bias here, because I have never joined a gym in my life. I’ve visited them several times with friends who invited me along to see their favorite gyms, but I’ve never actually had my own gym card. I also have to admit that I’m not fit in the same way as MizFit or Jody, but I still want to improve.
I’ve known many people throughout the years who have had that gym card in their wallets but it never saw the light of day. They paid their fees, went a couple of times, and stopped going. And these weren’t obese friends, but rather average sized men and women who just thought that the financial commitment to a gym membership would make them exercise on a more consistent basis. For them, it didn’t. I have also had friends who joined a gym, loved it, and go very consistently.
What if you can’t afford a gym membership, or don’t feel comfortable in a gym, or just don’t want to join a gym. Can you still get a decent workout at home without all the fancy gym equipment. Of course you know what my answer is: YES! You just have to DO IT, and Gym In A Bag is a great way to start!
I’ve done a little bit of everything during my weight loss years and the 12 years since I’ve hit maintenance. I’ve gotten weights, rubber bands, stability balls, and kitchen chairs and I’ve used them all at different times. I’d encourage you not to let lack of gym membership funds stop you from working out and strength training. I’d also encourage you to visit the Gym in a Bag website and check out their product.
How can you win a Gym In A Bag of your own this week? Well, leave me a comment letting me know how you will use the Gym In A Bag, twitter this post using @fittothefinish, or write a little blurb on your site, linking back. For each entry, please leave a separate comment so I will be able to count you properly!! The contest will end Wednesday at midnight, CST, and is only open to US residents. Sorry to my foreign readers!! Diane
Disclosure: I received a Gym in a Bag to try and now you can win one!







I will use the gym in a bag to supplement days when I walk. Walking is a great cardio workout, but doesn’t increase muscle strength like resistance training.
I’d love to use the gym in a bag to tone up my flabby muscles! Thanks for the giveaway!
.-= Jenn´s last blog ..Vacation =-.
Just tweeted
.-= Jenn´s last blog ..Vacation =-.
Blogged about it here.
.-= South Beach Steve´s last blog ..Is Spring Around the Corner? =-.
Tweeted it.
.-= South Beach Steve´s last blog ..Is Spring Around the Corner? =-.
This week I’m traveling for business and it would have been perfect to bring with me. Plus all the snowstorms we’ve had lately it would allow me to get in a strength workout even when the gym is closed.
.-= Cynthia (It All Changes)´s last blog ..Pushing Towards the Goals =-.
Since i’ve never used bands before i’d love to try them
.-= suzanne´s last blog ..Another busy day! =-.
I would love this because I don’t have a gym membership and I desperately need to incorporate weight and strength training into my cardio and running routines!
Very cool! I would love to have a gym in the bag for my work-from-home-during lunch workouts and for the weekend! sometimes I just don’t want to go to the gym and would love to mix up my workouts!
.-= fittingbackin´s last blog ..Book Club, Dining Room Project, Cooking & Cleaning! =-.
I need to get my butt in gear with strength training. This will really help me do my strength training at home!
.-= Mackattack (Beth)´s last blog ..Roasted Brussels Sprouts =-.
Tweeted…
.-= ‘Drea´s last blog ..Month-End Review, February =-.
I would love having this portable Gym-In-A-Bag! The weights I use know are not something I can pop in the car when I travel.
.-= MamaBearJune´s last blog ..HYC check in – 178.2 =-.
Aw, I always did think that Jerry was a great guy!
Nice giveaway.
.-= Cammy@TippyToeDiet´s last blog ..Finding (and Keeping) the Mysterious Mr. Will Power, Pt 1 =-.
Ooo, I’d love to have this at home – I could really use some strength training tools, since my gym closed on me at the end of last year!
.-= Jenn @ Watch My Butt Shrink!´s last blog ..Retro Butt Shrinking: You Like Me! Do You? Really? =-.
Just tweeted about this!
@jennifernobile
.-= Jenn @ Watch My Butt Shrink!´s last blog ..Retro Butt Shrinking: You Like Me! Do You? Really? =-.
Actually, right now I am finding the benefits of resistance training and I think this would help out with it a lot.
Just Tweeted this link!
.-= seth´s last blog ..February ReCap & an Idea =-.
@MistrTyler
I forgot my twitter name. Sorry:)
.-= seth´s last blog ..February ReCap & an Idea =-.
This looks really great! I think this would be of great use especially when I am working out with the Wii. I tried using regular bands but it is so hard to grip the controller and the bands at the same time. Of course these look like they would be great to use even without the Wii!
.-= Gwenyth Love´s last blog ..Family Fun, Frustration and a Weigh In =-.
With two young kids and working full time, I think the gym in the bag would allow me the freedom to work on strength training at home, in the evening when everyone is in bed.
What an great give-away! I would love to have something like this for the days when I can’t go to the gym. I like the idea of the straps instead of holding on to handles. Why couldn’t I think of something like that? Thanks for the opportunity to get something like this.
Yes enter me in the gym in a bag giveaway. I just read the blog for today about the “one cookie experience” and Diane described her “first six months”on the way to thin…well I am at maintenance..but not to goal. I have lost 126 and need to lose 24 more….so the reverse is true for me. I need a 6 month race to the finish line boost that the use of the gym in a bag would give me.
I really would like to win.
Thank you
Froggie
Please enter me in the gym bad giveaway. I do a ton of circuit training and aerobics at home and this would a huge addition to my tools. I’ve used bands in the past and liked them and think this would be fun to use.
Thanks for doing this giveaway!
.-= Sean (Learn Fitness)´s last blog ..Snack Recipes, Pliers Required? =-.
I just reallized that I’ll be doing a lot of traveling this summer and won’t have a gym to work out at, this would be perfect to travel with.
.-= Cindy´s last blog ..I WAS EARLY =-.
I’d use it on those rainy days when I didn’t want to get out and go to the gym. Or when I was traveling!
I will use the Gym Bag to try and get my husband to do resistance training with me!
I would love to win this..would b good for travels and on days that i can’t walk outside.
I think the Gym in a Bag would be great for travel. Currently I only toss a tube in my travel case. Though a tube is good enough to get a small workout, it does not offer enough variety when I am on travel for more than a couple of days.
.-= asithi´s last blog ..The Advantage of an Exercise Program Dvd Set =-.
WOW!! This Gym in a bag looks right up my alley!! I do not have the money for a gym and I dont think I would want to go to the gym anyway – I have learned to love working out at home! I am still learning about working out but I did have a band and I liked how it made me feel but I hate the way the grip part was always “wobbly” and then the dang thing broke!
I would love to try this product at home!
I do not have money to go to a gym and I work out at home. This will be a very good tool to help me with my strength traiing.
I have one inexpensive band, and it really works! I am drooling over the whole set!
It’s too cold to go out still so this would be great!!
I’m all about home exercise. It’s great to have everything I need to workout with in one place. No excuses!