Archive for April, 2008

Home Gyms - 3 Reasons to Set One Up - Part 2

Here are three more reasons to set up a home gym or at least have basic equipment so you can work out at home if needed. I also include some tips on what equipment is needed to set up a basic home gym.

Save Money:

This is a huge one here. There are no monthly dues with a home gym, unless of course you bought a bunch of equipment on credit!

With a cost of about 40 to $50 a month in dues, you will save a boat load over the course of a year.

With a home gym you don’t pay for all the fancy equipment you don’t use. Why should you pay for the women to have a nice women’s only gym full of useless machines and shiny dumbbells when you can’t even go in there?!

You have use of the equipment you need and that you use. Nothing else to pay for, no hidden fees or add on’s.

Another great thing about not going to fancy gyms with tons of different, and often worthless equipment, is that you can start to appreciate the basics and how well they work at transforming your body.

Privacy:

This is the last reason and on of the most important. Privacy allows you to do what ever you want in YOUR gym! Wear what you want. Listen to what you want. No waiting in line for a piece of equipment. Supersets? No problem. Giant set? No problem!

It is just you and you equipment.

Basics:

Unless you are totally loaded, you won’t have a huge amount of equipment in your home gym. Another restriction is usually space considerations. One thing a home gym forces you to do because of money and space issues, is utilizing basic exercises. Basics are good and beneficial.

If all you have is dumb bells or a barbell set or a bit of both, you can get an incredible workout. So what if you don’t have the fancy stuff a commercial gym has available. Basics have always worked and will continue to do so.

Now a lot of people like going to commercial gyms. Some like to go all the time, others may like to go as a change of pace. Whatever you prefer, having equipment at home to train with is a good idea, at least as an alternative to the gym.

I always work out at home. I like the solitude. There are no distractions. I don’t have a lot of space, maybe a 10 x 10 area in the basement. I have adjustable dumbbells (Bowflex Selecttech) and exercise ball. That’s it. I have access to a community gym that is pretty good. There is a lot of cardio stuff and a good amount of basic machines. I use the cardio equipment a few times a month and maybe go and do some dips and chins once or twice a month or so. The rest of the time I am in the basement working out.

I don’t have much but it certainly does the trick. Do I want more? Some maybe but not much.

A good basic home gym should have the following:

a. Barbell and/ or selectorized dumbbells

b. Adjustable bench or stability ball

c. Jump rope or another form of cardio if you can afford it, such as a treadmill bike etc.

That’s it for a basic home gym. If you have more money you can start to add things like a chin/dip station, kettle bells, medicine balls more weight or better cardio equipment.

If you really have some cash you can get a power rack and a pulley station.

Sticking with the basics always gets the best results.

I hope you have seen the value in a home gym. For busy guys a home gym can cut lots of time out of your workouts in a week, making you more efficient. Get some basics; you will be surprised at what you can achieve with just a barbell and a bench.

Steve Mutziger has been a fitness enthusiast for 15 years. During this time he has experimented with all manner of training systems and diets. He is the owner of http://www.busyguyfatloss.com/ a website dedicated to training and nutition for the average busy guy. Steve has done the work to cut through the hype to bring the best, most effective and efficient training and nutrition methods to his website. He has used these methods to personally lose over 30lbs of fat while exercsising less than 3 hours per week. Check out http:/http://www.busyguyfatloss.com/ for more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Mutziger

Posted on April 18th, 2008 by admin  |  No Comments »

What Do Astronauts And Football Players Have In Common? A Trampoline!

No longer are trampolines considered child’s play! World famous English footballer David Beckham and NASA’s astronauts are among those who regularly use trampolines as part of their comprehensive exercise regimes. Historically, trampolines have also seen action in World War II, having been used as part of the training that pilots and navigators in the US Navy underwent. And of course, trampolines find some sort of place in most people’s childhood memories of playing in the park or the backyard.

So what makes a good trampoline exercise routine? Follow the guidelines below and get the best out of your trampolining hours!

  • The first thing to remember is that a trampoline is to be enjoyed in fresh air or in a well-ventilated room if it’s too hot to go outside. Give yourself plenty of space to jump high - you don’t want to bang your head on the ceiling!
  • Don’t push yourself too much when you start off - you might think you’re getting off to a great start but you will only end up sore and tired. Do some gentle warm-up exercises on the trampoline before you begin in earnest.
  • Make sure your body is accustomed to the feel of the trampoline and the bounce of the material beneath your feet before you start your routine properly.
  • Make sure you’re comfortable with the height you jump to. Do not continue if you feel unsure or unsafe.
  • Incorporate your favourite dance music and make your routine fun: plain old jumping won’t keep you hooked for too long!
  • Remember, a trampoline is best used alone - two or more people using it at the same time make the likelihood of accidental falls higher.
  • Buy a trampoline that suits your needs - do some research on the various shapes and materials available, ask your local sports goods dealer for advice and buy only what you feel comfortable using.

Trampolines are a great way to get the entire family to exercise but make sure your trampoline is safe for the kids to use and well-maintained. Watch out for signs of wear and tear that could cause potential accidents. The average trampoline has a life of 2-10 years depending on the quality: the cheapest ones usually only last for 2 or 3 years, while the most durable ones used by professional athletes can last up to ten years.

Though initially considered nothing more than an excellent outlet for children to expend excess energy, trampolines are fast-growing in their popularity as an exercise accessory. Used wisely and well, a good trampoline can provide hours of entertainment and exercise for people of all ages!

MyTrampolines.co.uk is an accredited dealer of REBO trampolines and offers a complete range of trampolines and (safety) accessories in the UK, at lower than retail prices. Focused on high quality materials and a trampoline to suit every budget, My trampolines will surely get you of the ground.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Agriya_Rayzz

Posted on April 18th, 2008 by admin  |  No Comments »

Treadmills vs The Exercise Bike

Many people in this day and age know that the key to a long life is to eat healthy and perform regular exercise. This fact has made gym memberships and home health equipment surge in the last decade. Many people choose the latter due to the fact of ease of use in their own home and not having to deal with gym rats.

There are hundreds of types of exercise equipment on the market, but the most popular are treadmills and exercise bikes. The major problem most people find with at home exercise equipment is overcoming boredom. The only thing that seems to work on boredom on a treadmill is a TV or watching an exercise program.

The same is true on an exercise bike, but some bikes allow you to plug into a TV or video game so that you may visually pedal thru a course. Recumbent bikes allow your hands to be free so that you may use the phone, magazine or book.

Safety on a Treadmill or Bike

If safety is a major concern due to age or injury, obviously the exercise bike is the safest for either. Not only while on a treadmill do you have to worry about a misstep, but also if you have children they can endanger the user or themselves. If a ball or any other item is placed under the deck and belt the treadmill can abruptly stop, or little fingers and hands can be hurt by putting them in places they don’t belong.

With treadmills you also have to remember that you are putting much more stress on your joints. With an upright exercise bike users may stress your back while trying to reach handle bars. Recumbent bikes are said to sometimes improve existing back pain by forcing proper posture and giving you support while exercising. Exercising on a bike compared to a treadmill will reduce joint stress and injury.

Calorie Burn

On average a treadmill will burn more calories per hour than an exercise bike. NordicTrack conducted a study using different types of exercise equipment and they found that all at the same intensity the treadmill and ski machine burned more calories per hour than any other piece of equipment.

If you are interested in losing weight, a treadmill is the way to go! If you are a healthy individual with no joint problems or health problems you can expect to lose about 750 calories per hour on a treadmill compared to 550 calories on a bike. The key to losing weight is thru vigorous activity which a treadmill can allow.

Conclusion

Both exercise bikes and treadmills are wonderful options for anyone interested in losing weight or improving health. The major decision is what you are truly interested in achieving, and if you feel that you will be able to stick with your program long term. Long term success is determined by long term usage, so pick wisely, or even better choose both if your wallet can afford the investment.

Brady Freeman is a regular contributor at Treadmill Doctor.com. Providing treadmill reviews, elliptical reviews and repair parts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brady_Freeman

Posted on April 18th, 2008 by admin  |  No Comments »

Treadmill Warranties - What They Tell You About The Exercise Equipment

If you are in the market for a treadmill, of course you will want to look at the motor, stability, weight limit, and other special features and compare them to other models. Cost will also be an important factor when deciding which model to purchase. However, one area that you should not overlook when making your comparisons is the treadmill warranty.

Reading treadmill warranties will give you a lot of information about the machine. Most importantly, it will tell you plainly if the exercise equipment is worth purchasing. How? Look at the length of coverage on the fitness equipment. If a treadmill comes with a short warranty, the chances are favorable that it will break down, or need repairs shortly after the warranty is up. That is why the manufacturer doesn’t put a longer time period on the warranty. If the manufacturer doesn’t have enough confidence in its product to ensure it for more than a few months or a year, why should you have confidence in it?

Knowing what to look for in a treadmill warranty can make your shopping experience fairly easy. Bypassing exercise equipment that has short warranties allows you to eliminate the cheap machines from the high quality ones. For instance, if you come across treadmills that have lifetime warranties, you can be certain that these machines are made to last. Manufacturers that offer lifetime coverage are standing behind their products. This should reassure you that your money will be spent wisely.

Another thing that you should keep in mind when comparing treadmill warranties is what exactly the warranty covers. Yes, part replacement is a necessary part of a good warranty, but are you required to replace the parts yourself? Would you know how? Look for treadmill warranties that not only have part replacement, but in-home servicing as well. In-home servicing means someone who is educated on servicing treadmills will come out to your home and actually replace the part for you.

Yes, knowing what unique bells and whistles a treadmill comes with is important information when choosing among different makes and models. However, understanding the treadmill warranty policy for the models you are considering can be equally as important. First of all, it tells you a lot about the manufacturer’s confidence in the machine. Second, knowing what the warranty covers and doesn’t cover can help you decide which one to purchase.

If you want to be sure that you are investing your money wisely in exercise equipment that will give you the best workout and peace of mind long-term, simply look at the treadmill warranty. It is one of the best indicators whether the fitness equipment will break down and bring you and your workout program to a grinding halt, or if it will meet your needs long-term.

Be sure to read the complete buying guide to finding the best rated treadmills here. You’ll discover what to look for in the main components and extra features of the treadmill and you’ll learn why the treadmill warranty is such an important indicator of quality for any piece of exercise equipment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcus_Sailor

Posted on April 18th, 2008 by admin  |  No Comments »

Folding Treadmills - Space Saving and Less Expensive

There are many electronics, gadgets and exercise equipment available and consumers are buying as many as they afford. The problem becomes apparent when there is little to no room left to move around your home. Companies have long ago realized that this problem exists and they are constantly creating new items that are small and compact. This is one reason that many have bought themselves treadmills that can fold up and roll away to create more space.

A folding treadmill is a much better option than a treadmill that just sits in the corner. Even if you have a special room like a basement set up for exercising, you can always use more room and space. These treadmills can be made to lie flat so that they can be rolled under a bed, leaned against a wall or put into a small closet.

Besides the advantages of space, you also have to look at the features that come on a treadmill that can fold. If the treadmill will not allow you to get a good workout, it can eventually become a clothes hanger if you find that you do not want to use it.

If for instance, you will be using the treadmill daily or a few times a week and you plan to move it every time, check the weight factor. If it is too bulky and heavy, it will eventually become a problem and it can be dangerous if you attempt to fold and move it when you are too tired to hold it up.

When you want to buy a treadmill that can fold and hide away, there are two kinds to take into consideration. One is the manual folding treadmill and the other is an assisted folding treadmill.

Folding Shock Assisted Treadmills

An assisted treadmill will usually do the work for you. With the press of a button, the folding treadmill will begin to squeeze into a compact shape so that you can afford any extra strain on your back and body. Even light treadmills can be heavy if the user is small or tired after a workout. To get this extra help however, you may find that these assisted folding treadmills may cost more than the manual ones.

Manual Folding Treadmills

A regular folding treadmill will need you to manually pull out pins, squeeze parts or push and pull in certain areas to get it to bend the way that you want it. You will generally need to lift some parts to get it fold, before you can begin moving it to another area or room. Many of these manual equipments will come with locks and tabs to keep the machine in place so that it does not unfold and hurt the consumer. Although they may cost more, an assisted treadmill may be necessary if you are not able to comfortably fold and move a regular machine that needs you to be more physical than you are able to be.

The difference between the treadmills is convenience and price. Some also may have features that you need, so you should shop carefully and go over what you will need before you make a purchase.

For a review of the Top Rated folding treadmills visit Folding treadmills Top Rated Folding Treadmills by Consumers for consumers. Reviews and ratings by experts and consumers like you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anthony_Shelton

Posted on April 18th, 2008 by admin  |  No Comments »

Treadmills Versus Elliptical Machines - Find Out Which Is Best For You

Are you considering adding either a treadmill or an elliptical machine to your home gym? Do you find yourself unable to come to a decision in the battle of treadmills versus elliptical machines?

In this article we will take a closer look at the benefits and drawbacks of both of these home exercise choices. We will detail the benefits that treadmills offer. We will take a look at the type of person that would gain the most from a treadmill.

Likewise, we will examine the elliptical machine. We will explore its good points and bad points. We will take a look at who would benefit most from using an elliptical machine. And we will compare the two exercise machines further to help you make your choice based upon what you are looking for in exercise equipment.

A good quality treadmill offers you many benefits. A good treadmill will let you get your walking or jogging done no matter what the weather is like outdoors. From the comfort of your home you will be able to get a challenging cardiovascular workout whenever it is convenient to you.

You will be able to adjust your pace to the level that suits your current fitness level. As your fitness improves you can increase the pace of your workouts. Some models even have features that let you increase or decrease the angle of incline during your workout. Some treadmills include heart rate monitors. If you simply want to burn a few calories with a challenging cardiovascular workout a good treadmill may be just right for you.

Elliptical machines get your upper body involved. Because of the back and forth motion of the handle bars, you get your upper body and core more involved in each workout.

Elliptical trainers have a more natural foot motion that results in lower impact to your joints. A quality elliptical trainer will include all of the extra features such as the computer generated workouts that you get with top treadmills.

If you want to exercise your whole body during your cardiovascular sessions or are concerned about your joints, an elliptical machine may be ideal for you. One other important benefit of the elliptical trainer is that you can burn more calories per workout session. It is claimed that you can burn as much as twice the number of calories on an elliptical trainer that you would burn on a treadmill in the same amount of time.

After taking a closer look at the benefits of treadmills versus elliptical machines, it appears we have a clear winner. If you are looking for the exercise machine that gives you a full body workout, burns the most calories, and places the least amount of stress on your joints, the choice is clear.

A good elliptical trainer is clearly the best choice for all except those that are unable to take full advantage of an elliptical trainers benefits due to age or poor health. If your age or health conditions limit your physical abilities a treadmill may be the right choice for you.

Hopefully this article has helped highlight the differences between a treadmill workout and an elliptical machine workout. We have taken a brief look at the advantages of each. We have tried to show which exercise machine is best for the different requirement you have.

In the battle of treadmills versus elliptical machines, the final decision rests with you. Find the machine that best matches your exercise goals and abilities and you will have a piece of home exercise equipment that will contribute to your good health and fitness for years to come.

Find out more about treadmills versus elliptical machines at http://home-exercise-equipment.blogspot.com/ where you will

find information on this subject and other home exercise equipment choices.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chip_Westley

Posted on April 18th, 2008 by admin  |  No Comments »

Bowflex Revolution - From Outer Space to Your Living Room, The Advantages of Zero Gravity Technology

For those who have frequented workout gyms, the name ‘Nautilus’ will be a familiar one. Their machines are a common component of most modern gyms, and have been since their introduction in the early ’80s. Bowflex is the home gym component of Nautilus, and the latest entrant into this market is the Bowflex Revolution, a compact and relatively lightweight fitness machine designed as an all-in-one machine for home use.

What makes the Bowflex Revolution unique is the new patented Spiraflex technology, originally designed for use in space, where traditional weight resistance doesn’t work. Most Nautilus machines rely on heavy adjustable weight plates, which are fine for a commercial gym with plenty of space and a dedicated spot for the machine to sit. Home gyms, however, need to be more versatile, since the machines are often moved from place to place, and the mass of weight would be too much for both your back and your floors.

The first idea to get past this limitation was the Power Rod system of earlier Bowflex models. This is a plastic rod of varying thickness that the user would bend through a pulley on the machine to provide resistance. A great idea for home, since the rods are lightweight. However, the machines require a fair bit of space to set up, since the rods, when bending, need room to move.

The new Spiraflex technology moves past even this limitation by introducing a system of plates. Looking very much like standard weight plates, the Bowflex Revolution’s resistance comes from a coiled elastic band inside the plate, which is under constant tension. By pulling on the bands via a line and handgrip, the muscles must exert a force to uncoil the band.

One of the added bonuses of this technology is that the motion is considered linear, and not progressive, as it is with the Power Rods. What this means is that the tension is constant, and the muscles must work equally hard throughout the whole range of motion. Whereas with the Power Rods, the tension is most intense when the rod is completely bent, and gradually eases as the rod straightens. The advantage of this is that negative motion - the movement of the muscle back to the original position - is considered an excellent part of the workout, one that is often neglected. Many free weight users allow the weights to ‘fall’ on their way back to form, thus letting gravity assist in the movement. With the Spiraflex technology the tension does not ease until the band is completely coiled again.

The other big advantage of Spiraflex technology is that the plates are very light, while still providing an equivalent workout to moving big weights. Free weight enthusiasts will be familiar with the action of loading up weight plates on the bar, which can sometimes be a bit of a workout itself. With Spiraflex your muscles get a chance to rest between exercises, since the weight of the plates is negligible when swapping sizes. Also, the overall weight of the machine is considerably lighter, since you don’t actually have to have an equivalent real weight to provide the same amount of tension. This is great for a home gym where you might need to push the machine out of the way, or perhaps it is set up on a second floor where it wouldn’t be a great idea to have hundreds of pounds of weight putting constant pressure on the floor joists.

The Bowflex Revolution represents the latest step in the ongoing evolution of Nautilus home gyms. Its clever design makes it a versatile unit that will make it easier to realise your fitness goals in your own personalized space.

For more information on Bowflex or The Bowflex Revolution, please visit: http://www.HomeSportsGear.com

Brent Craig is a writer/researcher and an avid Bowflex user.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brent_Craig

Posted on April 18th, 2008 by admin  |  No Comments »

A Treadmill with Sole

Around a month ago, I suddenly noticed that I needed a treadmill. In the past, I was an extremely active individual. This was largely due to the type of work that I did. Now, I am in a sedentary work environment, and spend a good portion of my day sitting in front of a glowing screen. I get home at 7:15, and am ready to eat. I could work out instead, but who wants to turn down a meal? My apartment complex has a gym, but I never get around to using it, largely because of the following line of reasoning:

  1. I’m tired when I get home from work. Yeah, it’s that simple. Some days the distance from my car to the top of my stairs seems never- ending. I just want to my laptop on the couch and zone out for an hour-or-three.
  2. It’s a long way from my apartment to the clubhouse. I am unabashedly lazy on this point. It is a long way. I just don’t feel like getting dressed in workout clothes, walking down there, and working out next to the 6′3″ ex-Navy SEAL. Sorry. This might seem ironic, or counterintuitive, but that is just the way it is.
  3. My gym is really small. This is the kicker. I despise going all the way down to the gym, only to find out that I will either have to wait for the equipment, or walk all the way back to my apartment. You can’t get onto the cardio equipment at my clubhouse before 9:30pm. Who wants to walk down there that late at night to exercise. I TIVO’d “The Office”. I want to watch “The Office”, not listen to 90’s metal.

With that pitiful line of reasoning, I was able to convince my lovely wife that I needed a treadmill. It was not hard to sway her, as she had recently tried to sign us up for a gym membership(at a place that is even farther away from our apartment), to the tune of 800-and-some-odd dollars. A few bucks more for a treadmill was not out of the question. Since we managed to come to an agreement on actually purchasing some equipment, we then turned to what we wanted in a treadmill.

The spec list went something like this:

  1. It has to be a folding treadmill. Since our lavish apartment lifestyle gave us the bare minimum of space to work with, we decided on this as our primary decider.
  2. It has to be quiet. My parents bought a treadmill some time ago, and it was one of the noisiest machines I had ever heard. We did not want to have to purchase a separate speaker system just to watch some television while exercising.
  3. It has to be of high quality. We were planning on putting out some reasonable cash for this thing. We wanted a strong motor, a good warranty, and a sturdy deck to walk/run on. That was it.

Armed with this information, we set out for the marketplace of all quality information: Google. There was the usual marketing-speak from the treadmill companies, affiliate programs, and fake customer praise, but nothing of any substance. Finally, in exasperation, I went to the Consumer Reports and paid out the $30 necessary to gain access to their reviews. Their “Best Buy” was the Bowflex 7 Series, which is actually made by Nautilus.

I generally trust Consumer Reports implicitly, but I wanted to check out the field a little more before settling on the Bowflex. CR is a great organization, but they don’t test every single model, every single time. I decided to see what other treadmills were going head-to-head with the 7 series. When I hunted around a little, I found two other treadmills that it was consistently paired with: The Smooth 6.25 and the Sole F80.

All of them promised what I was looking for: A large, folding deck, a quiet treadbelt, and a good warranty. They each had powerful motors, along with really good cushioning. What was a guy to do? Originally, I had the idea of paring them down by price, but there really wasn’t that much difference there, either. The Smooth 6.25 came in at just under $1400. The Sole and Bowflex were just south of $1500. Eventually, I just started eliminating them by reputation. I did not find many people who had bought the Smooth treadmill. With a lack of any actual owners providing feedback, this treadmill couldn’t help but slowly drop in my esteem. While their website was highly attractive, the machine itself was cosmetically ugly, save the console, which boasted some really attractive, blue LED’s.

Finding the home of Sole Fitness was a little harder, as they barely place in the top 10 of any search results for their own name. They did have some impressive things to say about their product, and it’s purpose. It seems that Sole’s folding treadmills, of which the F80 is a member, were designed for frequent use in hotels. Even more impressive was the prestigious hotel who has deployed them chain wide: Hilton. If a multi-billion dollar enterprise like Hilton was putting all their chips on a single brand, then it was quite possible I should. I still wasn’t completely convinced, but the Sole was rising in my estimation, even as Smooth’s treadmill fell.

What about the Bowflex? Here’s where the story turns. I found plenty of people who were willing to testify about the quality of the 7 series machine, but it seemed like the company was a bit ashamed about this particular treadmill. They didn’t bother to give it a listing on their main website, and their parent company, Nautilus, didn’t show it listed on theirs, either. Then, I began running through negative remarks on their product. The complaints were all the same: Poor customer service. As anyone can tell you, it doesn’t matter whether or not they offer the lifetime warranty. The only thing that matters is how difficult they make it to place a claim on that warranty. Their were horror stories of wrong parts, miscommunication, and general incompetence scattered throughout these complaints. That, coupled with the trouble of actually finding it on Bowflex’s website, killed the 7 series for me. These people didn’t want me to find their product, and they certainly didn’t want me to buy it.

So great was the change, that the Smooth 6.25 actually jumped back in the running for a few minutes. Thankfully, it didn’t stay there long, as reports of great customer service from the Sole Fitness reps eventually pulled me back. The one review that sticks out in my mind the most, was a guy that had actually made a mistake in hooking the display up. Sole sent him a new display, even though he made the error. Pretty sweet.

Our minds were made up. We ordered the treadmill through Amazon, and received it in a little over 7 days. It is far better than expected, so let me run through the positive experiences we have had with this gem, and a few words of caution as well.

  1. It’s heavy/solid. Hope you’ve been hitting the gym before it shows up. This thing weighs in at just under 260 lbs. We were unfortunate enough to carry this up the flight of stairs in our apartment. Pray that this is going on the first floor, or get at least three people to help you move it. I’m not kidding. Once in place, you have no doubt that this thing is well constructed. It goes together using a minimum of bolts and screws. Any tools you need are thoughtfully included, and completely adequate.
  2. The documentation is poor in places. Some of the assembly diagrams for this thing are pretty obscure. It’ll probably take you a few minutes to figure out where things go when attaching the screws along the base. They really should include close-ups of this particular part. Other than that, it’s a breeze to assemble. You’ll still want to have another person present to give you a hand with the display console. It’s weight and size would easily snap the wire harnesses attached if you dropped it.
  3. It has a ton of really well thought-out features. From fans that provide just enough air, to hydraulic decks and built-in, powered speakers for my mp3 player, there’s always something to get excited about. It also includes a wireless heart/pulse monitor that seems to be very rugged, although I don’t personally care to use it.
  4. The pre-defined programs are only so-so. I like workout programs, as they break the monotony of straight-forward, single-speed workouts. Variable incline settings are what I like most, so it came as a bit of a shock that I could not adjust the Max incline for that workout. They have provided for my complaint with a fairly easy to program “User” setting. There are, in fact, two of them. Once there, I can program my own workout with a minimum of fuss, and anxiety. Seriously, it’s not bad at all.
  5. It’s quiet. I haven’t had to turn up the TV even once, even with it running at 6 or 7 mph. It’s extremely quiet. A warning: When we first received it, we thought we had received a defective belt, because there was loud flopping noise each time the belt seam passed over the rollers. We didn’t call support right away, because we thought the belt needed to be worked in. Sure enough, the noise took care of itself in less than 24 hours.
  6. The warranty is incredible. It has a lifetime warranty on the deck and motor, umpteen years on other parts, and 2 years of labor. I don’t anticipate needing any of this, excluding a new belt, for the life of my treadmill. It’s nice to know they are backing me up if I need it, though.

So there you go. I found a treadmill that met and exceeded all of my expectations. It’s quiet, reliable, and my wife and I love using it.

Should you buy a Sole F80? If you do your due diligence, you will find many other people recommending this product, not just me. It’s a quality product, backed up by a quality company. If you find that you can’t wait to get one after reading this article, and you don’t mind paying a little more for convenience, head down to your local Dick’s Sporting Goods to try one out.

Sorry to cut this short… but my treadmill is staring at me, and I feel the urge to go work out.

Kurt Hartman is a happy consumer who wants to force his opinion on you.
They let him do this at his job regularly, so you will forgive him for falling into bad habits. Incidentally, they sell giant tires, something wholly unrelated to the health and fitness field. He prays you won’t devalue his opinion because of this.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kurt_Hartman

Posted on April 18th, 2008 by admin  |  No Comments »

Proform Elliptical Machine Review

Icon health and fitness is the largest fitness company in America and Europe combined. Proform is a product of Icon that is primarily sold at large fitness outlets and big box stores like Sears and Sams Club.

Icon is also big on bells and whistles; a perfect example is their iFit technology an interactive program that controls your workouts with various challenges. Icon elliptical trainers typically range between $300 and $1,000. They also make ellipticals for several other companies.

The Proform Elliptical Trainer made by Icon is the one device that you will use repeatedly, building a consistent training routine to truly achieve your workout goals. The Proform Elliptical Machine provides the greatest results within the shortest time period to shape your body the way you would like it to be.

Working out on other exercising machines may sometimes strain your joints and cause discomfort, but with this machine the design makes exercising easy and comfortable. The ProForm elliptical machine has a built-in fan in the console to help you keep cool. This will help you exercise longer and get fit faster. Being fit means that you will have more energy and feel fewer effects from stress. Physical fitness ensures that you have a better lifestyle all around.

Keep motivated by using the Proform Elliptical Trainers LCD screen which informs you of your progress. The Proforms LCD console provides feedback of speed, time, distance, and calories burned and this helps to keeps you on schedule with your fitness goals.

ProForm Elliptical Trainers come with a warranty of ninety days for service, and an additional ninety days for parts, as well as an option of an extended warranty.

Other models like the ProForm elliptical 675 model comes with many laudable features that are but options in other brands, like its built-in cooling system, EKG Grip Pulse sensors to give you heart rate readings as you exercise, and an LCD display panel that shows your progress in terms of time, calories burned, heart rate and distance.

This model is also upgradeable, if you want to go for the 14 inch stride length for that smooth and quiet movement. Getting a Proform elliptical trainer ensures that you get the best features for a lesser price. Other competitors of the Proform elliptical trainer include the Reebok and the Healthrider.

ProForm elliptical trainers are aimed at the home users that are in to casual exercise and these machines are typically priced below the $1000 mark. Proform ellipticals are engineered for getting fast results and the built in workout programs and other features help you achieve your goals; although regular fitness enthusiasts may prefer to look into other models and brands of elliptical machines.

You cannot go wrong investing in a ProForm Elliptical Cross Trainer Machine as they have been one of the most popular pieces of exercise equipment in the fitness industry over the past decade.

Elliptical Machines and all things related to Elliptical Trainers such as makes, models, prices, features, ratings and reviews to help make an informed choice when buying an elliptical trainer can be found at http://www.elliptical-machines-101.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Allan_Henry

Posted on April 18th, 2008 by admin  |  No Comments »

Why Choose An Exercise Bike?

Exercise cycles are fun way of getting an energetic workout. Getting fit and losing weight whilst watching for favourite programs is now a reality. Modern exercise bicycles provide more features, are easier to use and quieter than older styles. From the fittest athlete to the raw beginner, the exercise bike is an great piece of exercise equipment.

Exercise bike are popular for people looking for an all over workout without filling the house with gym equipment. Exercise bikes are really simple to use, using a recumbent exercise bike in particular is dead easy and with regular use will give excellent results equal to those of a stair climber.

Exercise bikes are available in many shapes and sizes with a huge range or features with a prices to suit everyone. Any exercise bike can give a variation to the workout level, by changing the resistance of the pedals.

Why choose a recumbent bike.

The recumbent bike is very comfy, because of their seating position they have a larger more padded seat than an upright bike. For a raw beginner the recumbent bike is a great place to start, if you are used to conventional riding then the posture of a recumbent may be a little weird.

People who have lead a sedentary lifestyle, and or have a bad back or bad knees say will find a recumbent bike easy to use. One of the advantages of the recumbent exercise bike is they make you sit with good posture. Which is a particular advantage to people with bad backs, you might find them easier to use.

For improving your stamina, burning fat and general health the recumbent bicycle is superb. Recumbent bikes also are great for your inner thighs.

If you just leave the exercise in the corner and use it as a coat stand then it will you no good at all, use it on a regular basis and it’ll improve your fitness levels. Without a regular exercise routine, it is impossible to have a healthy lifestyle. There are a multitude of exercise cycles available that it’s simple to be left wondering which is best. There is a wide range of prices for exercise cycles ranging from the inexpensive at around $100 to the professional style bike as used in gym for many thousand.

For free exercise bike workouts go to http://www.theexercisebikesite.com there are free workouts and hints and tips to get you started.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_R_Jones

Posted on April 18th, 2008 by admin  |  No Comments »