Archive | July, 2016

Don’t Break Your Elliptical Machine! – Tips On Elliptical Care And Maintenance For The Extra Large

I know this is a sensitive issue. I don’t mean to point fingers or call anybody names. The fact is, that many people use elliptical trainers because they want to lose weight. And unlike treadmills, which are tough and durable, your elliptical machine may not be able to bear the weight if you are an individual who is classified as “obese.”

If you are over about 250 pounds, you have to take special care with your elliptical. If possible, you should take into consideration that you need a tough machine when you are shopping for an elliptical. Elliptical machines are naturally not as durable as treadmills and other fitness equipment.

Check Out The Weight Limits When You Buy

Here’s a simple tip on buying ellipticals. If you see a model that is less than $500 and says that it has no weight limit, they are lying. One of the reasons why cheap machines are cheap is that they can’t carry as much of a load.

Unfortunately, companies often overestimate how much weight their machines can carry. This is especially the case with low end models. With a cheap elliptical, even someone who weighs 150 pounds may put a strain on it. Don’t believe the weight limits!

One way around this is to check the machine out yourself. Get on it and see how it runs. If it can’t hold you, it will start to wobble quickly. After a minute or so, you’ll know if it can hold you or not.

Another way around this is to buy a more expensive model that is especially designed to be durable. This may not be a practical solution if you want to save money on your machine, but a more expensive elliptical will be made to hold more.

This will cost you more, but look for an elliptical that is “commercial class.” These are the ones that are made for gyms and fitness centers. They are strong, and are made to withstand lots of abuse. But, they’ll cost you more.

Elliptical Machine Maintenance

There are two things you can do to make sure your elliptical isn’t going to croak. First, do a routine maintenance check once in a while. Make sure everything is screwed down and bolted, and nothing is loose. If things are rattling loose, you can tighten a few screws here and there and keep the machine from falling apart more.

Another thing to do is to use your ears. If you hear a grinding noise or anything else slightly out of the ordinary, check out your machine. Something is definitely wrong. You can fix most elliptical problems yourself with a screwdriver or two.

Always pay attention to your machine and take note of anything that may be running differently.

The Good News!

Elliptical trainers are great for losing weight with less stress. They offer an easier workout than treadmills, and you can lose the same amount of fat. Some models of ellipticals have BMI and body fat reading features. If your primary goal is shedding a few pounds, this is a great feature to help you keep tabs on your progress.

Almost all elliptical trainers, even the cheapest models, have heart rate monitors as a standard feature. These features are constantly being improved and being offered on less expensive models.

An elliptical machine is a wonderful, easy way to lose weight. Some research suggests it may be a better workout for obese individuals than a treadmill. In any case, with an elliptical machine you will see results quickly.

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Bowflex M3 Max Trainer Review – Pros and Cons of the Bowflex Max M3

Thinking about the Bowflex M3 Max Trainer? The M3 is the most affordable model in the Max Trainer series – coming in under $1000.

The other model is the M5, which is the premium version of this hybrid elliptical trainer-stair stepper. The M5 runs about $500 more than the M3. This leads a lot of people to wonder what’s the difference between them – and is the M3 really a good buy.

With that in mind, here’s a review of the pros and cons of the Bowflex Max M3 to help you decide:

#1 Most Affordable, High-Calorie-Burning Fitness Equipment on the Market

The M3 comes in under $1000 – which makes it one of the most affordable Bowflex machines on the market (Treadclimbers start at $2300+). This in itself is a big bonus.

You can burn up to 2.5 times more calories than a treadmill, elliptical or stair stepper with this machine. That means you lose weight faster.

According to the manufacturer, the Max is also designed so that you can get this high-calorie burning effect even if you only workout 14 minutes a day. So it’s great if you’re too busy to spend hours slogging it out on a treadmill.

#2 Work Your Upper Body and Engage More Muscles

According to the manufacturer, in the lab, the Max engaged more core and upper body muscles even than the elliptical trainer.

Not only does that explain the higher calorie burning effects, but it also helps you tone your upper body – unlike a treadmill or stair climber.

#3 Low Impact Means Less Pain on the Joints

The Max trainer was built to be very low impact – combining the stair climbing action with the upper body arms of an elliptical.

So if you struggle with joint pain, shin splints or even a bad back, this could be the right machine to help you avoid that – while still getting your workouts in.

#4 The M3 Max Trainer Workout Keeps You Burning Calories For Hours After Your Workout

Bowflex built both the M3 and M5 models to include the specialized high-intensity 14 minute workout. This workout has been designed to challenge your body with small bursts of activity followed by longer rest periods.

This kind of exercise has been shown to ramp up your metabolism for up to 24 hours after your workout. So you’ll burn more calories even at rest after your workouts on the M3.

#5 Save Space in Your Home

The M3 Max trainer has a smaller footprint than most treadmills or even elliptical trainers. It measures 2.5 x 3.5 feet.

So if you don’t want – or have the space for a lot of bulky equipment, the Max M3 is a great option.

So those are the pros – what about the cons?

Well, the M3 is a “simpler” version of the M5 Max trainer. So you don’t get some of the luxury extras:

#1 No Backlit Console

The M3 does not come with the backlit console that you get with the M5. This may or may not matter to you.

But if lighting is limited in your workout area, you may want to opt for the M5 model to see your workout stats (or just buy a small flashlight).

#2 Fewer Resistance Levels

The M3 has fewer resistance levels than the M5 – 8 vs 16. So if you’re in top physical condition, you may want the extra challenge of the M5 trainer instead of the M3.

But for new exercisers, they’ll probably be just fine with 8 resistance levels.

#3 Fewer Built-in Workouts

The M3 does have a manual and the special Bowflex 14 minute interval program – but that’s about it.

The M5 has several other built-in workouts like calorie goal, fat burn, stairs, steady state and fitness test. Again, this may or may not matter to you depending on your workout style.

#4 No Heart Rate Hand Sensors

The Bowfex M3 Max Trainer does come with a wireless heart rate monitoring system – but there is no hand sensor option. The M5 has both the wireless and hand sensor.

So what’s the bottom line?

The Bowflex Max M3 is a simpler version of the M5 premium Max Trainer. They both offer the same high-calorie-burning benefits, upper body toning, high intensity training and compact design.

So all of the basics are covered for you to get a high calorie burning workout..

The main differences are in the premium “extras” that many people like such as the extra resistance levels, backlit console and workout programs. So really it’s up to you and what you prefer.

But if you’re looking to see faster results in less time during your workouts, the M3 might just be the best machine for you!

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Learn How to Dunk or 10 Ways to Improve Your Vertical Jump

Let’s be blunt about it: if you play basketball, there’s two leagues of people – those who can dunk, and those who cannot. Although you might think it’s just a question of height, this is not at all the case. Of course, being tall helps, but even average height people – 5ft 9 or 5ft 10 – can learn to perform amazing dunks. How? It’s obvious – by improving their vertical jump. Now, there is a lot of ways to skin the jumping cat, but not all are equally effective (and some can actually be rather dangerous). I’ve put together a collection of tips and tricks that helped me improve my vertical jump from near nothing (after knee surgery on my jump leg and rehabilitation) to over 30 inches within 9 months.

Tip 10) Always warm up before exercise. Trying to push your muscles to the max without warming up appropriately before (with light exercises such as running up or down stairs, or jumping with a jumprope) is a bad idea and can easily lead to strains and other problems.

Tip 9) A basic jumping exercise is the squat with weight. While standing, slowly bend your knees with your back straight. Go down pretty low (you shouldn’t feel any pain or be uncomfortable), then slowly go back up. Doing this slow is key for building up quad muscle volume and power. Start without weights and increase difficulty by gradually raising the number of repetitions. People with major jumping power can easily do 100+ such squats. If you hold a weight such a dumbbell or barbell, hold it behind your head,

in one vertical line with your spine.

Tip 8) Separate weight training days from speed/plyometric days. Medical studies have shown that mixing these different types of exercises is actually bad for the results.

Tip 7) Use jumping rope. Although sometimes shunned as “uncool”, it is the basic plyometric exercise and one of the best ways to improve the explosiveness and power of your legs.

Tip 6) Never relax and let go during your waking time. During my rehab, I was hell-bent on getting my leg back to the same power level as before, and beyond that. I didn’t just exercise every day – I did it nearly

permanently. Of course, you can’t do heavy squats or plyometrics all the time because your legs can just do so much until they tire. However, even little things like walking toe-heel style instead of flat-footed, standing on half-bent legs while doing household stuff, or playing with your quads and calves while

sitting, are very effective when done regularly over a long period of time.

Tip 5) Calf exercise. It’s not only the big upper leg muscle groups that determine your total jump height. Powerful calves can easily add another couple of inches that you may be missing for a resounding dunk. The basic calf exercise is toe raises: stand upright, raise on your toes, go down, and repeat it 50-100 times. When your calves feel hot and burning, it’s time to make a break. A somewhat better variation is: stand on some stable horizontal ledge only with your toes and front part of the foot. Hold yourself at something with your hand. Go down with your heels about 30-45 degrees below the ledge, then push up until you are on your toes. Repeat as many times as you need to tire your calves. Again, key is slow and steady. Don’t pump up and down. It may be easier, but the effect is nowhere near the same.

Tip 4) Don’t overwork your leg muscles. Our muscles grow best when subjected to a cycle-wise load: a heavy workout, then a day of rest or just light exercise. To push your maximum jumping ability, you need

the large leg muscles to perform at their peak (and beyond). When overworked, they are unable to deliver that performance, and your jump does not improve despite exercising. A sign of overworking is when your leg muscles ache or burn.

Tip 3) Don’t just jump mindlessly. Focus on jumping completely. With every jump, aim to leap as high as you can. Scientific tests have shown that persistent focus on a physical activity improves the results by 10-20% on average.

Tip 2) Don’t expect results too soon, and never give up. I know several guys who bought expensive plyometric programs or jumpsoles expecting some kind of miracle within a few days. There’s no such thing

though, so once they didn’t see the quick results, their determination sizzled away and their jumpsoles would sit gathering dust. Although there are good programs around, there’s no miracles. The only thing that will radically improve your vertical is tenacity. Exercise a lot. Regularly. Make it your habit. Do it for months. Then – and only then – the really impressive results will come.

Tip 1) Plyometric exercise. You may have heard the word. Basically it stands for making a muscle contract immediately following relaxation, and repeating it many times. Applied to jumping in a basic case, it means that you jump, go down in the knees when you land relaxing your muscles, and immediately jump up again from the crouched position. This is tiring as hell, and for a reason – it puts the maximum stress on the

large leg muscles. If you are not used to it, your legs will probably ache after a few dozen repetitions. However, nothing beats this kind of exercise if you want to improve your jump quickly.

These tips should already get you underway, but they are just the tip of the iceberg. There’s a bunch of other highly effective, yet not so widely known techniques on quickly improving your vertical. Check out

http://www.howtodunk.org for a lot more effective, hands-on info on learning to dunk.

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Tips for Organists: How to Avoid Lower Back Pain When Playing Pedal Exercises on the Organ?

Many organists who try to perfect their pedal technique play pedal exercises on the organ. However, it is not uncommon for them to feel the pain in the lower back area. Although the reasons for this pain might be several, today I am going to write about the pain which arises from incorrect playing technique. If you feel the pain in your lower back when playing pedal exercises on the organ, read on to find out the possible solution.

Keep your upper body straight. In order to avoid back pain, it is best to sit up straight on the organ bench. To achieve that, sometimes it helps to imagine that a string is attached to your head and it extends very far upward. Maintain the erect position and do not slouch. If you hunch and bend your upper body forward with your head down, your posture will not be correct and this situation may be the cause of future problems.

On the other hand, if you sit up straight, at once you will start to feel the difference in your breathing as well. Since breath, our posture, and organ technique are so much connected, it is important to observe the above point about the position on the organ bench.

Point your knees to the direction of the feet. Now, when your position at the organ console is correct, you can begin to work on the right way to play the pedals which may reduce the lower back pain. As you press any pedal, your knees should be pointing to the direction of your feet.

In other words, try to avoid the situation when your knees point outward and the feet – inward. This is especially important, if you play in the extreme edges of the pedal board. Many organists perform such places incorrectly and as a result, they feel awkward. In fact, the lower back pain might arise from the incorrect pedal technique.

If you play in the extreme left of the pedal board, keep your upper body straight but your lower body (the legs) should be facing left. On the contrary, in order to play in the extreme right side of the pedal board – switch to the right side with your legs but face the music rack with your upper body.

You will be surprised, how much easier it will become for you to play pedal scales and other exercises with your feet this way.

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Swimming And Its Tremendous Therapeutic Benefits

Swimming is actually a skill that has many therapeutic benefits from children with sensory impairments and teenagers suffering from depression to adults suffering from arthritis.

In order to achieve a healthy and balanced lifestyle, one should eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep about 6 to 8 hours a day, and engage in physical activities.

Private and public pools have exercise programs that can help different conditions such as low back pain, arthritis, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, degenerative joint disease, and more.

Water aerobics is a good starting point for beginners then once you are confident in the water, you can engage in a more advanced exercise regime which will enhance your cardiovascular strength, endurance, and mobility.

Here are some tips to get the most benefits in swimming:

1) Use a wet suit especially if you tend to get cold easily

2) Wear goggles and bathing cap to help protect your eyes from your hair and water and to foster proper breathing techniques.

3) It’s easy to get carried away in the water. Think about what you are doing first so you can be coordinated. Your breathing, the movements of your arms and legs as well as your body position should all move towards the same direction.

4) Learn to relax and enjoy your swimming lessons.

Swimming requires the use of your lungs and your heart in order to meet the increased demands of oxygen to your body. It is indeed an excellent aerobic exercise that promotes muscular strength and flexibility.

Any aerobic activity helps lower your heart rate, increases the ability of your muscles to use oxygen, lowers your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as increase the capacity of your blood to carry oxygen to all parts of your body.

Swimming thus improves your aerobic capacity in such manner that your heart muscles get stronger enabling it to pump more blood per beat which in return increases your blood circulation.

People who live a sedentary lifestyle are likely to develop diseases such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, heart problems, and joint problems.

People who are active in swimming, sports, and fitness programs are less likely to develop the above diseases and rather have better endurance, muscle strength, range of motion, and improved tome and posture.

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How to Get a Flat Stomach – 3 Sensational Exercises That Don’t Even Target Your Abs Directly!

Did you know that direct ab exercises are NOT 100% responsible for a beautiful midsection? If you are wondering how to get a flat stomach and can’t understand why thousands of crunches and sit-ups have not achieved this, i will explain why. Although exercises that directly target your abs are great for toning, they will do very little to remove body fat. If you want to know how to get a flat stomach, herein lies your answer. Remove the rolls of fat and blubber that surround your waistline and the your new, sexy and beautiful abs will be revealed.

1) Bastardos – This is a variation of the squat-thrust. However, this action packed exercise will hit just about every major muscle group in the body. Due to the overall exertion involved with bastardos, you should find that you are breathing extremely heavily and sweating after a few minutes. That is how you get a flat stomach!

Stand with your arms by your side and your feet approximately 12 inches apart. Squat down and allow your hands to touch the floor. Thrust your legs out behind you until you are in the press up position. Perform one press up and then pull your legs back in until you are back in the squat position. Finally jump into the air, ensuring your feet leave the ground and with your arms high in the air. That is one repetition. Aim for 20-30 reps per set and 3-5 sets in total.

2) Renegade Dumbbell Rows – Once again this exercise does not directly target the abs, but can help you get a flat stomach. The idea behind this exercise is that you have to stabilize your whole body, which is supported by your feet and one hand at a time.

Assume the press up position with a dumbbell in each hand. Pull the dumbbell in your right hand up to your side chest. If you are new to this exercise, you may experience the shakes while trying to support yourself. As your abs get stronger the exercise should become easier. Return your right hand to the floor and repeat on your left side. Aim for 15 reps each side and again 3-5 sets in total.

3) The Front Squat – There are numerous variations to the squat. You can use both barbells and dumbbells. For this exercise grab a barbell and load with a weight that is approximately 40% – 50% of your heaviest squatting weight.

Now rather than supporting the bar across the back of your shoulders, you will be using your front shoulders. This will incorporate much more use from your abs and obliques in order to stop yourself falling forward. Complete 15-20 reps and 3-5 sets in total.

These 3 exercises performed one after another should take no longer than 20-30 minutes. You will find that you should be breathing and puffing very heavily and possibly sweating a fair amount too. This is more than enough to start the fat burning process and if carried out on a regular basis, you will get a flat stomach!

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5 Simple Tips To Boost Your Memory For Competition Exams

Here are few ultimate tips which one should follow once in life for boosting up Memory For Competition Exams.

1. Set And Achieve Your Goals

It will improve cognitive health. Every time you set a goal and achieve it, you mentally reinforce the notion that you have the power over your life. It makes you feel strong, capable and better prepared for the next challenge. Accomplishments – both performance and self-improvement goals – remind you of the great potential of your mind and your life, and increase your desire to create a better memory.

2. Meditate To Increase Problem Solving Skills

Talk to anyone who practices this regularly, and they will extol the benefits of meditation on improving memory power! Talk to a neuroscientist about meditation, who will explain that it has a profound effect on the mind and the power to transform the physical structure of the brain.

3. Try Hard To Read It Again And Again

This point does not need much of elucidation. We all must have experienced it at every stage of life, yet left it unnoticed. The moment a child comes across the first few lines of his morning prayer he automatically comes up with the rest of it. it is not because he sat down to learn it but because he recites it daily. This was the simplest example to how reading or reciting something regularly can help you memorizing it by heart.

Listen to music or make art to sharpen brain connections. If you aren’t used to playing music, take a seat at the piano or the drumset. If you don’t usually create art, grab that paintbrush or clay. Just do it – doing new creative, artistic things will give you more and better memory power.

4. Learn A New Language To Improve Your Connections

Write to improve your cognitive health; If writing isn’t a regular part of your life, it should be (and I am not talking about business emails). Do something creative or expressive. Start a blog, keep a diary, compose a poem or find a pen pal. Or, write about something in your life – such as how illness has affected your brain and memory.

5. Feed Well Your Brain With Sleep

It improves cognitive function. Insufficient sleep affects mood and performance considerably. Having a well-rested and well-fed brain is the foundation for all these other steps; without that, you may not have the energy for much else.

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Tips on How to Work From Home

The World Wide Web is filled with articles and blogs on how to earn money online. The only problem with most of the available information is that it is a sales pitch designed to convince you to sign up for live webinars, training session or a seminar.

Such articles give making money from home a poor reputation. However, it is possible to learn ways to make extra money without having to sign up for online training sessions. For you to earn money working from home, you need to be hardworking and highly dedicated, as there is no get rich quick schemes to make this happen.

How to Make Extra Money

Find Websites That Pay: Online, many websites are willing to pay you for all kinds of activities from taking surveys, testing products to shopping. Though performing such tasks will not make you a millionaire, they make it possible for you to earn some extra cash.

Freelance Writing: Ghostwriting is a popular way to make money on the internet. Successful freelancers can earn as much as fifty cents to a dollar for each word written, with others earning twice as much as that.

With freelance writing, you need first to build a portfolio and an online resume. It can be a highly profitable venture, only if you are interested in writing.

It is something that requires time and dedication on your part. You should also have a good web presence before you start reaching out to the writing companies. A web presence can be in the form of a blog, or even a well-drafted LinkedIn profile.

Selling Your Items: Ever since online auctions became a thing, the internet sales market has continued to rise with each passing day. There are very many people interested in selling their items online but do not have a clue on where to start, or even what to sell.

So as to transact online, you need to have a PayPal account that you will use for receiving and sending payments. Also, make sure that you take good pictures of the items you want to sell so as to guarantee that they will attract customers with ease.

Honesty is a critical factor when selling used items on the web. You need, to be honest, upfront about each scratch, dent or blemish that the item has so as to reduce issues with the customers. Honesty also helps ensure that you keep your reviews positive at all times.

Blogging: Blogging is a fun way to make money on the internet. It, however, requires persistence, patience and a lot of discipline. You may find yourself having to write new material each day for many months before you can start to see any fruits. It takes time to build your brand, your blog, and your online authority. Once established, you can start to make serious money within no time.

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7 Fun And Healthy Benefits Of Regular Exercise

It’s hard to ignore the health benefits of exercise and physical activity. It makes you feel better, for one thing. Other than that, you’ll trim down and look good, too. It doesn’t matter what age, gender or physical activity you have. You can sweat it out and enjoy the benefits of exercise. Exercise can basically improve your life. What are the benefits of exercise?

  1. Weight reduction and management. If you’re overweight, working out can make you lose weight. Or if you’ve finally lost weight, you can maintain your figure through the right exercise program. Physical activity burns calories. If you exercise more intensely, you’ll burn more calories, too. It doesn’t matter if you don’t devote many hours for your physical activity. If you can’t work out at the gym, you can make your physical activity your lifestyle. Doing chores at home can make you sweat and burn calories. So does taking the stairs instead of the elevator. These are simple activities that you can substitute for exercise.
  2. Combat diseases and other health conditions. Exercising boosts the level of HDL or high density lipoprotein in your body while reducing the levels of unhealthy fats. That’s why with regular physical activity, you can ward off heart disease and high-blood pressure. Your blood circulation becomes smooth and in turn decreases your risks for developing cardiovascular disease. Other conditions that can be managed with the help of exercise are type 2 diabetes, stroke, arthritis, metabolic syndrome, some cancers and depression.
  3. Better mood and a positive attitude. Working out in the gym or simply taking a 30-minute walk can give you an emotional lift after a stressful day. Getting physically active stimulates feel-good and happy hormones in your brain. Exercising regularly also makes you feel good about your appearance, consequently improving your confidence and self-esteem.
  4. Boosts energy. You can improve your physical strength and endurance if you work out. You don’t easily get tired when you’re doing household chores or are grocery shopping. Oxygen and nutrients are better delivered to your tissues which result to a more efficient cardiovascular health. Your heart and lungs are in healthier condition, giving you more energy to do your work.
  5. Better and more restful sleep. Exercise can combat sleep problems and disorders. If you have difficulty falling or staying asleep, physical activity will help you get rid of these problems. That is, you’ll fall sleep faster and have deeper sleep. But don’t exercise before bedtime because you’ll be too energized to doze off.
  6. Healthier and improved sex life. You’ll feel and look better if you exercise regularly. What’s more, it makes you more energetic. As a result, you won’t be too tired to enjoy physical intimacy. In fact, you’ll be in better shape which makes you feel good about yourself and improve your sex life. In women, exercise results to enhanced arousal for intimacy, while men are more likely to do away with erectile dysfunction.
  7. A fun and worthwhile hobby. You can spend your time exercising rather than get bored at home. You can relax while you engage in physical activity or enjoy working out in the outdoors. You can foster better relationships with friends and family if you exercise together. You can make friends with other members of your class if you join a dance class or have a fun time with your BFF while hiking trails. The same goes if you join a soccer team. You can always find new ways to be physically and have fun as you reap the health benefits of exercise.

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What Are the Best Tips to Get Certified on "CCT Routing and Switching?"

The “CCT Routing and Switching” qualification is a way of confirming your skills with Cisco networking equipment. This type of equipment is widely used in industry and business. Cisco Certified Technicians have the basic skills to diagnose, repair, restore, and replace Cisco networking and system devices at customer sites. Technicians work with the Cisco Technical Assistance Centre (TAC) to resolve support incidents. Cisco authorized training is available online and can be completed in multiple short sessions, enabling Technicians to stay productive whilst working in the field. Cisco Certified Technician (CCT) certification is available in several technology tracks, so that Cisco Support Technicians can expand their area of expertise across various technologies, such as Data Centres and TelePresence. The first certification to start with is Cisco Certified Technician Routing and Switching (CCT-RS).

The CCT-RS certification (through the 640-692 RSTECH exam) focuses on the skills required for onsite support and maintenance of Cisco routers, switches, and operating environments. Technicians in this area must be able to: identify Cisco router and switch models, accessories, cabling, and interfaces; understand the Cisco IOS software operating modes and identify commonly found software; and be able to use the Cisco Command Line Interface (CLI) to connect and service products. Achieving CCT Routing and Switching certification is considered the best foundation for supporting other Cisco devices and systems, and for going on to qualify for other advanced Cisco certifications.

The first tip is to buy this book:

“CCT Routing and Switching (CCT-RS) Secrets To Acing The Exam and Successful (sic) Finding And Landing Your Next CCT Routing and Switching (CCT-RS) Certified Job” (ISBN 148615980X 9781486159802).

This book costs US$33.82 on Amazon. To prepare for the exam, this book tells you:

• What you need to know about the CCT Routing and Switching (CCT-RS) Certification and exam

• Preparation tips for passing the CCT-RS certification exam, and exams in general

• Taking tests

The book contains several suggestions on how to prepare for an interview. It covers non-technical aspects – how to find a job, write a resume, behaviour in job interviews, etc.

To land the job, it gives you insights on:

• Typical CCT-RS careers

• Finding opportunities – the best places to find them

• Writing unbeatable resumes and cover letters

• Acing the interview

• What to expect from recruiters

Secondly, you should absorb self-study materials available on the Cisco Learning Network:

Cisco has officially available self-study on-line courses that you study in your own time. The CCT-RS one is called “Cisco Certified Technician Supporting Cisco Routing and Switching Network Devices (RSTECH)”. It costs US$299. This buys you a year’s subscription and during the year you can review the six-hour course as often as you want.

These are some Cisco-recommended study supplements. They are not designed to serve as a complete self-study program. You can find “640-692 RSTECH Exam Topics” on the Cisco website: http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/exams/list/rstech.html#~Topics

Look for these in particular:

• Identify Cisco Equipment and Related Hardware

• Describe Cisco IOS Software Operation

• General Networking Knowledge

• Service-related Knowledge

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