Is your weight getting you down? Are you sick of carrying that extra baggage wrapped around your waist? Too embarassed to go to the gym?
These questions are the bane of a lot of peoples’ lives, because they either don’t exercise! or they don’t do it regularly!
Do You Want To Lose Weight And Look Good?
Looking for the right home exercise equipment can be daunting, with all the options available to us. But it’s not all gloom and doom, you can have that body or fitness you have always wanted, it’s just a matter of doing a litttle research, which I hope this short article can provide you and guide in the right direction.
Quite often, the biggest challenge is what equipment to go for. When purchasing a piece of exercise equipment, your choice should be based
on the fitness level, physical make up and general interests of the user. Before making the plung and spending all your hard earned money,
you should ask yourself a few pertinent questions:
- What is your current fitness level now and what do you hope to gain?
- How much do I want to spend?
- Do you have enough space for the equipment?
- How much time will I spend on this equipment?
- Is this equipment suitable and safe for me to use?
Are You Tired Of Having The Local Gym Extort Large Sums Of Money From You? Why Not Set Up A Home Gym And Save Yourself Hundreds!?
The prices for yearly memberships just seem to be rising higher and quicker than the inflation level every year! a simple solution would be to buy your own equipment and build a gym
in the comfort of your home, that way you can save hundreds on that membership and have a long term investment for the future. Whether you want biceps like Arnie, a six pack like Bruce Lee or legs like Jane Fonda there is a piece of equipment
available for every exercise you can think of, for everyones budget.
With such a wide choice available, knowing what to purchase can be
a little daunting. So after you have asked yourselves the questions I posed earlier, you almost there in finding the perfect accessory
you need to get fit.
Abdominal equipment - Are you embarrassed by the ever expanding tyre wrapped around your waist? Do you want to have a six pack?
with hundreds of choices on the market, finding the right one can seem a tedious task. You dont have to spend alot to get a washboard stomach.
A fitness quest flexaball or a foam roller.
But we warned, you may have to purchase a few belts to keep your trousers from falling down after you lose that unsightly
belly.
Recumbent cycles - Do you feel the strain on your lower back and knees when cycling? Then why not check out the recumbent cycles we
have on offer and add
another piece of equipment to your home gym. Recumbent cycles give more support to the lower back and minimize the stress on the knees
compared with an upright bicycle. Recumbents provide a cardiovascular workout that uses the muscles of the gluteus, quadriceps and
hamstrings.
Treadmills - Fancy going for a run?, but its pouring cats and dogs outside. Not to worry, one of our Treadmills lets you walk, run, up a hill or up a
montain regardless of the time of day or weather without leaving your home. Treadmills are a popular piece of aerobic equipment for home use.
When purchasing a treadmill, be sure to look for the following features, smooth action, solid build, a steady pace, wide belt, safety shut off,
and incline settings. Quality models range from $1500 and up. Th treadmill you
consider should be built to take a substantial load because running on one spot will create alot of downward force.
Elliptical trainers - If you are looking for an effective and thorough indoor workout, than have a look at some of our elliptical
machines. There are many benefits with having ellipticals, one of them is when you use one, you will notice how impact free your workout will be.
With the elliptical machine, there is no impact on the ground, so lower body joints are free from abuse you may get with other workout machines.
At the moment it is the most popular item in health clubs and so going and trying one out would be a good idea, just so get a machine that suits
you.
Step machines - Mainly used for an aerobic workout, but don’t be fooled by its simplicity. There are many exercises you can benefit with
as well as different settings to increase the resistance for harder workouts. Finding a high quality step machine can be expensive, however,
steppers
give an excellent low impact aerobic workout, also strengthening and building the lower body muscles.
Resistance equipment - a good compliment to any home gym. The two most common kinds of weight equipment
are Home Gyms are real value for money, however, they require expert
instruction and supervision for proper use to avoid major injuries. Home gyms or multi-stations are generally safer to use but are more expensive,
and the
price tag often reflects the quality of the machine.
Rowing Machines One of the most complete cardiovascular exercises around has to be rowing. A proper workout on a rowing machine will
tone all of the major muscle groups such as your legs, back and arms.
The beauty of using an indoor rowing machine is first of all it doesn’t involve water.
This rower doesn’t get you wet, there are no early morning trips to get your machine out of the boat shed. No cold changing rooms and gale force
winds for your training session.
There are lots of different machines available on the market. Although they generally fall into 2 categories:
- Water rowers
and..
- Air rowers
The water rower, which contrary to its namesake, do not end up in you getting wet after a vigorous workout. The machines are very beautifully
designed and use enclosed water and paddles for resistance as opposed to air. These rowers tend to be quieter than air rowers and are just as
much works of art as they are exercise machines.
The air rower comes in many different varieties but the concept 2 is commonly accepted to be one of the best,
if not the best. They are engineering masterpieces and are all calibrated to the same standard. So, if you do a certain time on a concept 2 rower,
you can rest assured that, that time will be replicated exactly on another concept 2 machine. This is the reason why the world indoor rowing
championships use the concept 2.
The bottom line is this: All of these items are good choice if they are equipment that you will actually use. Real thought, consideration and
research needs to be done in order to purchase exactly what you need. Remember, you are the only one who knows what you need but with a little helpful
advise you can build yourself an excellent gym and achieve the results you have always dreamed of.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kalwant Rana is A Freelance Writer For 1st-For-Exercise-Equipment.com. You Can Find Lots Of Useful Information About All Kinds Of Exercise Equipment, Including Treadmills And Elliptical Machines.
Home treadmills are becoming a common feature in many homes. Prices can be as low as $399 it is no surprise that many people decide to purchase one. It provides a great form of exercise, you don’t have to pay monthly fees for a gym or have to work out in front of vein bodybuilders.
However when buying a treadmill the prices can range from $399 up to thousands of dollars. So what is the difference between a treadmill that costs a few hundred or one that costs a few thousand? This articles aims to answer some of the questions you may have before buying a treadmill and give you the confidence to go out and know what you are buying.
Horsepower
One of the main factors in buying a treadmill is what horsepower to go for. “Horsepower” is applied to two different ratings–”peak duty rating” and “continuous duty rating.” The peak duty rating is advertised on a treadmill tag. The continuous duty rating is stamped directly on the motor and is the rating that determines its quality and duration.
In general, the larger and heavier the motor is, the cooler it will run and the longer it will last. Penn State Sports Medicine Newsletter recommends purchasing a machine with at least 1.5 continuous duty horsepower–higher if you weigh more than 185 pounds or plan to run on the treadmill. (But be sure to check the voltage. Some treadmills with heavy motors are 220, which won’t work in most homes.) A brief guideline of what horsepower to aim for is below.
Your workout Your workout Recommended horsepower
<180 lbs Walking/light jogging 1.5 + hp (1.25 minimum)
Up to 220 lbs Walking/light jogging 2.0 hp
Above 220 lbs Walking/light jogging 2.5 hp
Any weight Speed training 2.5 hp
Construction.
The thickness of the walking deck and the size of the walking track should also be high on your list of priorities. The thickness of the deck affects the comfort of the legs and feet with prolonged use. Choose a treadmill that has a deck thickness of at least 3/4 inch, or one inch if you plan to do both walking and jogging.
The walking track needs enough length (at least 48 inches) and width (at least 17 inches) for you to walk comfortably without stepping off the track. If you plan to run on your new treadmill, you may want a longer track. Test it while you are in the store.
The “buzz” feature these days is definitely shock absorption. To provide effective cushioning for the legs, feet and back, the treadmill’s suspension must be directly under the walking deck. (Some treadmills may have “shock absorbers” on the legs of the treadmill so you can see the frame bounce while you are walking. This is not effective shock absorption!) The padding can be made of foam or rubber. Foam is softer and more compressible than rubber, but requires more time to return to its original thickness after impact. Rubber instantly recovers to full thickness and is better able to maintain its energy absorption level. Again, test the machine yourself.
Extras.
These are less important features of a treadmill and really only depend one what your budget is. The less expensive treadmills have the basics: speed, distance, incline, time and calories. The more expensive treadmills also have a range of special preset exercise programs that automatically alter speed and incline, varying high-intensity effort with lower-intensity effort. Some treadmills even measure your heart rate!
Service and Warranties
Ask the dealer about delivery and setup. Sometimes this is included in the price–and other times, it’s not. Also, check out the service and warranty policies.
The minimum warranty on a fairly good treadmill is 90 days parts and service. The better treadmills will carry a three-year warranty on the motor and two years on the drive train. As for who will be responsible for servicing a treadmill when it has problems–the store you purchased it from. So if the store offers a good guarantee, chances are the machine won’t need servicing very often!
If you choose a quality electric treadmill, it will last for years and provide great versatility for your cardiovascular program. Find a good specialty equipment store in your area that can help you find the treadmill you need.
Article written by James Smythe
Find out some the latest information on treadmills at JustTreadmill.com
http://www.justtreadmill.com
Exercise is Not a Four Letter Word
It’s obvious that the word ‘exercise’ has more than four letters, but many of us will agree it sounds like a four-letter word.
Indeed, many people feel so negatively about exercise, experts often advise using the term ‘physical activity’ instead.
No matter what you call it, moving your body is critical to feeling and staying well. And to achieve and maintain healthy weights, it’s key. The sticking point generally comes when we try to do it. (Regardless what Nike says, there’s a bit more to it sometimes than just doing it.)
So here’s Green Mountain’s take on how to keep going when you just don’t want to do it.
- Focus on feeling good. That may mean rethinking your goals. If they are to lose weight above all else, you might find yourself facing some serious motivational challenges as you pass through the normal peaks and valleys of everyday energy. To find more motivation, refocus your goals to feeling great, having energy to do the things you want, and staying healthy. You’ll likely find your weight moving to a healthier place, too. Read about Green Mountain’s top ten reasons to exercise.
- Choose to move in ways you enjoy. It’s really, really hard to do something we don’t like doing. So when it comes to exercise, find things that are fun! Yes, they do exist. This may mean you need to change your definition of exercise. Or call it physical activity instead. See our list of Top Ten Reasons to Exercise.
- Forget doing it perfectly - just move. We’re talking about those recommendations that say we need to get so many minutes a day at such and such intensity in order to get the full benefit. It’s certainly good to have a goal, but remember: something is better than nothing. If you’re squeezed for time, do something in the time you have. Learn tips by reading our Top Ten Reasons To Exercise.
©2004 Green Mountain at Fox Run, Ludlow, Vermont. This information is the property of Green Mountain at Fox Run.
Marsha J. Hudnall, MS, RD, CD is director of health communications and senior nutritionist at Green Mountain at Fox Run, an all-womens healthy weight loss program. For over 33 years, Green Mountain at Fox Run has developed and refined a life-changing weight loss retreat through lifestyle change, exclusively for women. A proven professional team offers time-tested strategies for helping women to put more balance into their eating, health and lives. To learn more about our weight loss spa - health retreat, visit us at: http://www.fitwoman.com
Home gym and interior design is becoming a topic that is being discussed today more than ever. It used to be the case that a home gym was just some barbells, dumbbells, a rusty weight bench and maybe an exercise bike that looked like it was just taking up space inside your house. Today, however, with more and more emphasis on fitness and exercise, while having less time to do it, people are placing more attention to the design of their home gyms.
Designing a home gym to make it appear inviting makes it easier for you to workout at home. Not many people enjoy working out in a “dungeon”-like environment (such as a home gym located in a poorly lit, unfinished basement). An attractive looking home workout room filled with quality equipment that you will use can be easily accomplished with the following tips:
Select High Quality Home Exercise Equipment
The last thing you want in your home gym is a nice looking interior design with a piece of machinery that looked like it came out of the automotive junk yard. Select the best home gym equipment you can afford. Not only will this look nice, but chances are the gym equipment will last a lot longer than a cheaper variety.
Arranging Exercise Equipment
Construct a floor plan in order to visualize where your home gym and other exercise equipment will be located. With multiple exercise machines, it’s best to arrange the tallest and largest home exercise equipment along the walls, and the smallest shorter gym equipment in the middle. This maximizes the use of space in your exercise room as well as improves the appearance of your home gym. If you look at most health clubs, this is how their commercial gym equipment is arranged.
Add Colors to the Walls of Your Workout Room
A boring, egg-shell white color for the walls of your home gym will make it feel like a room in a hospital. Paint the walls with an eye appealing color to make the room more inviting.
Hang Up Pictures in Your Home Gym
Adding pictures and posters in your home gym will not only make the room resemble some of the designs of a health club, but with the right picture, it can act as a motivation tool as well.
The easiest way to gather ideas for designing your home gym is just simply to visit your local health club. Most of the time they offer a free trial or a tour, and what you can do is make notes of how they designed their fitness facility. Bring a notebook with you, and jot down anything that looks appealing to you that you could use for your own home gym. Take note of the colors of the walls, the positioning of the equipment, and the flooring of the gym. Also, look for pictures that are displayed on the walls. Theses are often designed to motivate members to workout.
Overall, with a sound plan and careful consideration of what equipment is needed and where to place them, you can design a home gym room that not only looks attractive, but is functional as well. Designing a home gym to make it appear more attractive may actually make you want to exercise more often too!
About the Author
John Phung is a certified personal trainer and writer for http://www.homegymsonline.info, your online resource for home gym equipment, “As Seen On TV” exercise equipment, and more.