CHILL Winners are Cool with Winning $15,000.00 Family Media Room from H2 Systems Inc.

From left to right: Paul and Melissa Foreman, and Clinton Howell, founder and owner of H2 Systems Inc in Burlington, ON.

By Paul Fitzgerald

Paul and Melisa Foreman of Milton, ON, will soon have a new family media room they’ve always dreamed of in the basement of their home.

You see, H2 Systems Inc., a popular home theatre and home integration company located on Harvester Road in Burlington, ON, just hosted a contest through Chill Magazine (distributed at Beer Store Locations in Ontario). The prize: a custom built basement theatre system that comes equipped with a 110-inch screen, an HD projector, top-of-the-line stadium seating, in wall speakers, and everything else one needs to upgrade their entertainment experience.

Paul and Melisa read about contest and took the chance and entered.

Sure enough, they are now the winners of the $15,000.00 family media room. There were 71,426 people who entered the contest.

They are elated with winning the big prize.

Clinton Howell, founder and owner of H2 Systems Inc., has also met with the couple to go over details for installation. Since the winners are local, Howell and his team are proving custom installation at no charge.

“Congratulations on winning a state-of-the-art family media room,” said Howell as he met the couple. “You will now be more than entertained with all your new gear that takes entertainment to a whole new level.”

The couple and their two children plan to spend lots of time watching their favourite movies, TV shows, sports events, and playing games in their new family media room.

With the cold temps these days, the installation of a new family media room is great for indoor activity and of course family bonding time.

H2Systems Inc. is a household name in Burlington and across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

They are also this year’s recipient of the Business Excellence Award from the Burlington Chamber of Commerce. They will be presented with the award at the Chamber’s Gala Awards event on April 10, 2014.

And the popular home theatre and home integration company recently scooped the Gold Award for $101,000 to $150,000 in Best Technical Design, and the Bronze Award for $100,000 and under in Best Technical Design from CEDIA (The Custom Design & Installation Association). The Burlington company was presented with both awards in Denver, CO and the awards ceremony is considered to be the Oscars for those involved in the home theatre and home integration industry.

H2, which specializes in Home Theatre and Home Integration, is the next generation in the home theatre and home integration. H2 Systems Inc. has also won five CEDIA Electronic Lifestyle Awards in its past four years of operation; two in 2010; two in 2011; and one in 2012.

Break a Sweat, but Don’t Break the Bank: How to create a home gym on a budget

Having a home gym is a great way to workout and beat the cold temps. Chris Boucher, a well-known personal trainer offers his tips on how you can have a home gym. He suggest you can break a sweat without having to break the bank.

By Paul Fitzgerald, Special to the QMI Agency (Story Appears in The Toronto Sun and Daily Observer).

Weather experts have predicted that we are in for a long, cold winter.

And they are right.

Extreme cold temperatures, freezing rain, snow, and icy road conditions are a reality and yet a reminder that us enduring winter is just part of being Canadian.

And it’s no secret that there are lots of homeowners who tend to stay indoors in order to avoid the cold temps and dreary skies.

Watching sports games, movies, reading, texting, gaming, and surfing the internet all have become familiar past times in order to cure the winter woes.

But hunkering down inside is not necessarily a good thing, according to Chris Boucher, a personal trainer who encourages exercise and healthy living year round.

This is the time of year where more people are less active and this means that they may end up putting on unwanted weight which is bad on many levels.

The best thing any homeowner can do is set up a simple home gym that meets their budget and get into an exercise plan so that they can march into spring looking better and feeling good.

“At first glance setting up a home gym may seem daunting,” explains Boucher. “Many people think they don’t have the space or the money. But you would be amazed on what you can do with open spaces in your home and how you can have the right home gym that suits your budget.”

He adds, “Having a home gym is a great way to get physical activity during the winter months and it’s convenient.”

Before you start going out and buying equipment, Boucher suggests that homeowners first seek out ideal spaces in the home, such as the basement, the living room, a spare room, or even the garage.

“If you are just doing exercises or using an exercise mat, then you probably won’t need a lot of space,” says Boucher. “However, if you are going to put in larger equipment, then you will need to pick a bigger and more open area in the house.”

“It’s important that homeowners choose the right equipment that works best for their workout routines,” he adds.

There are many inexpensive tools for working out in your chosen space.

Exercise balls are great and they come in a variety of sizes. Sit-ups, push-ups, planks, and hamstring curls are just a handful of exercises you can use with this low cost tool.

Resistance bands are also effective in getting the right workout. With these you can do leg presses, chest presses, the one arm row, and even tricep extensions.

Another beneficial workout tool is hand-held weights, or dumbbells.  These are used to gain strength and for a home gym all you need are weights ranging between five to 15 pounds, and make for a great and easy workout. With these you can do a variety of exercises that improve and tone your upper body.

Exercise mats are now a big trend, and these are also fairly inexpensive. There are yoga mats and Pilates mats and these workouts are sound for strength, stamina and slimming.

BOSU balls are very effective for toning up the body and improving balance and agility.

And, various kinds of suspension straps can easily be place on a ceiling hook which offers many different kinds of challenging workouts.

Boucher indicates that there are all kinds of shelving units available that are affordable and can be neatly set up in your home gym and which is ideal for storing exercise tools.

“Get creative with your space,” says Boucher. “Your home gym is like a new room – almost like a small but yet important extension for your home.”

For those who are into cardiovascular workouts, skipping rope is another great and affordable investment. Skipping gets your heart moving, and helps with weight loss and improves muscles.

For the real workout fanatics, there is of course is training equipment like treadmills and even indoor bikes. These vary in prices, but go with the one that suits your needs and stick to your budget.

There are non-motorized treadmills and motorized treadmills.

“Before you buy, consider the weight and size of the treadmill, the space you have available for it, and the quality of the equipment,” suggests Boucher.

There are two main types of indoor exercise bikes: recumbent and upright.

When using a recumbent bike you sit in a lounged position with your legs out in front of you. An upright exercise bike is similar to the traditional outdoor bicycle. You can sit upright or stand up while biking and you have the choice of peddling at different speeds.

Those into aerobics will also find the exercise step boards handy, and these can also be used as an exercise bench for push-ups.  

“Having a home gym is a great home improvement project and I encourage all homeowners to have one,” says Boucher.

“A home gym is a great investment and when done your way shows others that you care about your living space and most importantly your health and well-being,” he adds.

Beware Gamers – there’s a solution to posture problems, neck and back pain

By Paul Fitzgerald

X-Box and Playstation fanatics turn to new oral device to combat pain and play longer

The warning labels that come with X-Box and Playstation game guides seems troubling: “You may experience discomfort in your hands, arms, shoulders, neck or other parts of your body when playing video games.”

Then the labels go on to suggest that gamers should not “ignore these warning signs… promptly see a qualified health professional.”

That’s right, playing video games on a regular basis brings on symptoms associated with painful and sometimes permanently disabling injuries or disorders of the nerves, muscles, tendons, blood vessels and other parts of the body. These musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, tenosynovitis, vibration syndromes and other conditions. The same holds true for people who spend too much time on the computer.

It’s no secret that more and more people who are gaming junkies are experiencing posture problems, pain and discomfort of various sorts. While Microsoft, makers of the X-Box, and Sony, inventors of the Playstation, recommend you see a doctor if pain-like symptoms arise, it turns out gamers are instead turning to a new sport orthotic that is alleviating pain and allowing them to play longer and feel better too.

The orthotic, called the New Age Performance Mouthpiece, is a smash hit on the market and is now being sold across Canada, the USA and abroad. Parents are buying them up by the thousands as this new cutting-edge device is proven to help alleviate pain and discomfort, while helping kids have better body form.

Dr. Anil Makkar is a popular neuromuscular dentist and one of the co-inventors of this new technological marvel that is being used by gamers, athletes and recreational enthusiasts alike.

The brainchild of the device has studied jaw alignment techniques extensively at the esteemed Las Vegas Institute (LVI) for Advanced Dentistry. Rutgers University recently released a research paper on proper jaw alignment and concluded it has a definite positive impact on the body and for one’s performance.

This is just what the New Age Performance Mouthpiece does: it aligns one’s jaw in its optimal position. When your jaw is properly aligned, your body is proven to be in better configuration which has many positive benefits. Most of the population has a bite issue, so this new technology is a breakthrough on many levels.

Dr. Makkar states, “There have been a lot of scientific studies on performance mouthpieces and jaw alignment dating back to the 1950s. Several research and scientific papers have clearly stated that when one’s bite is in the correct position, the alignment of your body is also affected in a positive way. Our new device, worn on the lower teeth, will allow everyone to experience immediate results that could help prevent pain and discomfort and make you perform longer and better during all sorts of activities like with gaming and workouts.”

The price of the New Age Performance Mouthpiece is $49.97 and comes in a performance water bottle case. Unscrew the bottom of the case and there is the device ready for use. And today it can be purchased online at newageperformance.com, through various dental offices throughout Canada and the United States as well as out of their head office in Mississauga, ON, Canada.

Parents and kids are chomping on the new invention in a big way.

Melanie Stinson bought each of her sons a device, and she and her kids are more than impressed with the results.

“My two boys, ages 12 and 14, loved their video games, but I was scared to learn that they were getting neck and shoulder pain and I noticed their postures were slagging,” says Stinson. “I heard about the new mouthpiece and we decided to give it a try and sure enough it’s game on for me and my kids. They don’t complain about different kinds of pain and they can spend longer sitting in a proper position with the device placed on their lower teeth.”

Dr. Makkar is overwhelmed with the positive response from parents, kids and all sorts of people who are addicted to their X-Box and Playstation games.

“We have had many sceptics but more and more people are realizing that once you put the device in your mouth, you will immediately notice how the tension leaves the body,” he explains.  “The body’s alignment is more properly in tune, and you notice a huge difference right away. Your neck and face become more relaxed and your body is in much better form.”

The second you put the device into your mouth, you release the tension through the face, the neck, and the shoulders, and it allows the body to align properly, and when it aligns properly the body just functions better.  The device allows you to gain access to improved strength and flexibility you already have but something is getting in the way of.

Robert Charlton, a business owner from Mississauga, ON with a background in marketing and promotions, and extensive experience in the health and fitness industries, originally approached Dr. Anil Makkar about developing the mouthpiece together, and says the New Age Performance Mouthpiece is taking the world by storm.

“We first set out to introduce our new appliance to athletes and recreational types,” says Charlton. “Turns out, one thing led to another and parents and their kids want solutions to short and long term pain associated with playing video games, and our device fits the bill.”

Charlton adds, “Jaw alignment is as important for everyone as it has so many benefits for the body. If you are a gamer and have pain and discomfort, pop in our invention in your mouth and you will immediately notice a positive difference.”

Home Theatre for the Holidays: Key things to consider when blendinghome electronics with décor

 

By Paul Fitzgerald, Special to the QMI Agency

 

A well designed family room with a home entertainment system will add value to your home,your lifestyle and décor.

 

While many may assume that having a home theatre system in the home might be ugly and unaffordable, well think again, according to Clinton Howell.

 

All homeowners need to do to get the best bang for their buck is understand what they are looking for and they, along with family and friends, will be more than entertained, says the popular home theatre expert.

 

Simply put, great solutions can be designed and you don’t need to live beyond your means.

 

Having a family room with a home theatre system is a great way to entertain, especially at this time of year where homeowners are hosting family and friends during the Holiday Season. As well, home theatre systems prove to bring families closer together. Spending time watching movies and enjoying entertainment creates a bonding experience in so many ways.

 

A home theatre system can easily be created in the living room or basement.

 

“Your space defines everything,” says Howell. “Once you identify where you want your home theatre to go, then just simply work from there,” adds the owner of H2 Systems Inc. in Burlington, ON

 

There are four pillars in creating the ideal home theatre system in an open space room: video, audio, furniture and décor.

 

The first is identifying the kind of HDTV you need and this is done based on the size of area you are working with.

 

“If you have a very large room, well then I would consider going with 60” to 80” TV, and if it’s a smaller area then go with a 40” to 55” TV,” says Howell. “Think of the TV and its placement as a work of art in terms of what size will have the right scale and work well with your space; there are plenty of options on the market that will fit your budget,” says the founder and owner of H2 Systems Inc.

 

HDTVs of all sizes can be wall mounted or placed on various kinds of shelving units, and these are fairly inexpensive.

 

On the audio side, there are many choices when it comes to picking the right speakers in order to get the best in sound. Believe it or not, you don’t need to go out and spend thousands of dollars on speakers and related gear. You would be amazed on deals out there for audio and you really don’t need to break the bank.  “Some less obvious, but very effective ideas for sound include recessed in-wall speakers which are paintable and putting the surround sound speakers in the ceiling.  Subwoofers can be hidden behind couches or other furniture and wireless speakers areanother possibility” he says.

 

For HDTV and audio, “there are plenty of ways to hide the wiring, such as fishing them inside walls and removing and reinstalling baseboards or shoe molding,” he says. “Many people don’t realize that RF remote controls work through walls and allow you to put equipment in another room, closet or basement which keeps the look of your family room clean and uncluttered.”  

 

When it comes to furniture the choices are endless, really. “Open space rooms with home theatre systems can be complimented with couches, small cushioned chairs, and even bean bags for seating,” he says. “The seating should be laid out for socializing as well as being focused on the main source of entertainment in your room: the TV.”

 

On the décor side, there is plenty that can be done without spending a wad of money. Paint your room with dark, rich colours. This helps of course with the quality of viewing on your HDTV.

 

Howell says enhancing the décor is a fun and innovative process and great examples to be inspired by can easily and cheaply be gathered by searching online for the style you are looking for and then clicking the images tab in your browser.

 

“Go ahead, add architectural details,” he says. “Try moldings and pillars that are decorative and which can be purchased at various places.”

 

Take things one step further and add in new lighting. Installing sconces on the wall adds for additional lighting and brings out that cozy feeling for when watching movies, TV shows or sporting events during the evening. Installing dimmers is also a great trick for fading out the lights before movie time.

 

As well, pick the right kind of drapery or blinds that blend in well with the room. Thicker drapes and blinds also helps keep sound in the room and more defined.  Carpets and area rugs will greatly improve the sound quality and acoustics of your space.

 

There are also motorized picture lift mechanisms that can be installed. With the click of yourremote control, your art slides up and your HDTV is exposed and ready for use, making it a real wow factor.  “Affordable luxury options for your space and can be achieved for less money than you think and far less than a custom wall unit which looks quite dated these days.”

 

“In all, follow your space and your budget when building a home theatre system in an open space family area,” says Howell. “There are many choices out there, so take your time, shop around and build for your needs.” 

 

He adds, “This is a very popular time of the year to install a home theatre system in a family area as this is the season to entertain. As well, having an open space room with a home theatre system looks impressive and shows you have made an investment in your home.”