Weider fitness equipment has long been popular and reliable, but because it doesn’t carry the hefty price tags that other fitness equipment does many people do not give it a second glance. A lot of the time a cheaper price tag means that the equipment is not all that reliable but that simply is not the case with Weider fitness equipment. In fact, Weider delivers some of the most user friendly and durable fitness equipment on the market today. What is even better is that the average Joe can afford Weider equipment without breaking the bank. With several different models to choose from everyone is sure to find a piece of Weider fitness equipment that will help shape and tone their body just the way they want it.

The affordability of Weider equipment really is fantastic. When many consumers go to their fitness equipment retailer to buy a new equipment they expect to spend in the thousands for quality equipment. If you look into Weider equipment you will find that you can buy the Weider 1200 Weight System for just $200! This can be compared to many other weight systems on the market yet it is much, much less than those systems. This is a system that will hold up over time and offers a limited warranty on parts and wear and tear. It really doesn’t get much better! Of course you can get more than this basic equipment and go for something like the Weider Pro220 Strength Trainer which usually retails for right around $250, which is definitely still in the affordable range. There are a variety of other models that get more expensive as you add on more accessories and such but generally the prices stay well below the $1000 mark.

What is great about all of the Weider fitness equipment is that it is very versatile and will allow you to create your own workout. You can typically work all of your major muscle groups and you can switch from one exercise to the other relatively easily, which is a bonus. Instead of spending all of your workout time preparing for the next exercise you can literally glide from one routine to another drastically reducing the time of your workout when compared to some other fitness machinery. Workout time and ease of use should always be considered when you are going to buy fitness equipment and Weider products come through on both accounts.

If you are interested in buying Weider equipment you may be wondering where you can buy it because many retailers do not carry it. You can generally find a retailer in your local area that will allow you to see and even try their Weider models so you can determine which is right for you. When you find the one that seems to meet your needs you will have every confidence that it will help you reach your fitness goals when you bring it home. If you do not have a retailer in your local area do not give up on getting the Weider fitness equipment that you are interested in. You can get the equipment directly from Weider or you can order it online from a variety of retailers. When you buy online you will have to pay shipping, but because most of the Weider fitness equipment is relatively affordable the shipping expenses probably won’t break the bank.

Weider fitness equipment has been around for quite some time and generally it is known to be very reliable. A lot of professional gyms use Weider equipment, which speaks volumes as gym equipment is used constantly and is expected to hold up under the stress. You will typically find that Weider fitness equipment is a great investment and a worthwhile part of your home gym. You will find that you can use the equipment for a variety of routines and even as your body changes and your fitness level demands more or less of certain exercises the equipment will still fit your needs and improve your body and fitness level. Weider fitness equipment really is timeless and can be used by people of all fitness levels, simply choose the model that best fits your needs.

Exercising is not just about keeping you fit and building muscles, it is also about working up a sweat and losing weight. That's why many exercise machine manufacturers have made a killing with so many gyms popping up all over the country. One exercise machine that is very affordable, compact enough to fit in a moderately sized house, and delivers great fitness results is the exercise bike, otherwise known as the stationary bike.

Many people choose to buy an exercise bike because it is not big and very easy to store. Exercise bikes take up very little space, unlike other types of exercise such as jogging and dancing which need much more space. Exercise bikes are handy especially when it is inconvenient for you to go the gym.

Exercise bikes help improve fitness and stamina, and allow you to vigorously exercise both your lower body and upper body at the same time. The health benefits of exercise bikes are numerous. Aside from burning calories and losing weight, you can also improve your heart rate, strengthen your leg muscles and maintain your agility.

There are several types of exercise bikes available on the market today designed to meet different fitness and exercise needs. Some models are designed for fitness and stamina training, while other models are designed for stretching out and strengthening muscles.

So before you purchase an exercise bike, you need to first decide on your fitness and training goals.

There are three major types of exercise bikes available: the recumbent, upright, and the indoor cycling bikes.

The seat on a recumbent bike allows riders to recline against a backrest and to extend their legs forward for pedaling. It is great for people suffering from back pain as this sitting posture lessens the stress on the spine. Recumbent bikes provide a great workout to the lower body, and also provide an excellent cardiovascular workout. They are very useful when it comes to physical therapy and endurance training.

The seat on an upright bike allows riders to sit astride the saddle. It is so designed to lessen the effort to pedal as riders can use their body weight when pedalling. Cyclists often use upright bikes as a warm up equipment.

Indoor bikes, also called the spinning machine, are the most common exercise bikes offered. Riders can also pedal backwards, allowing them to exercise the back part of the leg muscles that are not exercised during forward pedaling.

Exercise bikes offer a heart pounding yet low-impact workout, while maintaining the ability to go at your own pace. They help you lose the extra pounds and help you get slimmer. They are also very affordable compared to other exercise machines.

There are plenty of joggers who do not believe there is much value in treadmills. But they are wrong because there is a long list of advantages - they offer a safe and regular running surface and they tell you exactly what distance you have covered. A treadmill run is never disrupted by the weather, you can run safely at night and you cannot get attacked or be in an auto wreck.

Therefore treadmill running does have some benefits. However we also need to know what are the disadvantages of this type of running and how can they be overcome. The problems with treadmill running fall into 2 groups: 1. relying on treadmill running may bring problems if you are following a training program. 2. problems that can be overcome if you purchase the right treadmill.

The first problem, the impact treadmill training will have on your overall fitness program, depends on your fitness aim. So if it is purely to become fit then stay there, you will find the treadmill a winner. Running offers a fine cardio workout, and though it is not equally effective on all parts of the body it helps your legs (of course) and your back, chest, stomach and arms. Some folk will want to complement the running with Pilates, swimming, weights or whatever. Another bonus for runners is that it is one of the exercises that works your bones - good for keeping osteoporosis at bay. If running is not yet in your sights, running machines are great for walking on as well.

If your fitness goal is a running race - a fun run, a marathon or a shorter event - then the running machine should only be part of the running you do. For road racing we need to practice on the road so that we become accustomed to the different stresses and strains this causes. Anyone who only runs on a machine will not be comfortable on the road. Yet the treadmill helps in many situations, like if the only time you can train some days is after dark and you do not want to run around at night on your own. If you want to use the treadmill to train for outside running then set the incline feature to 1% - this helps get your striding right for outside conditions.

The rest of the problems we will encounter are to do with buying the wrong kind of machine. Buy a treadmill that is good enough to last for a long time - many people under buy thinking that they can trade up later. The trouble with this tactic is that many of the cheaper models are so bad that you will be quickly discouraged.

You want to buy a product from an experienced running machine company. Do not neglect the motor, but do not simply buy the largest motor your money can buy - 2 HP is plenty if it is quality and bigger motors that come cheaper may have shortcomings like poor cooling systems that lead to failure.

Something else to consider is the size of the belt on the treadmill. Some come up very short which means the area you have to run on is quite tight. Running on short belts is difficult, so go for one with a longer belt. You should also look at the electrics. Look for something that is simple and straightforward to use. And

The treadmill is a great piece of equipment for cardio-vascular exercise and are one of the most popular pieces of exercise equipment to buy. They have eclipsed rowing machines and other in-house exercise equipment as the preferred serious equipment for those passionate about their fitness. Why is this? The following facts explain why treadmills remain the most popular choice for thousands of fitness enthusiasts. Quite simply a treadmill offers more fitness benefits than any other piece of fitness equipment.

Treadmills come in various shapes and sizes with widely varying functions and features, these include LCD display, built-in programs and games, automatic incline, workout programmes and heart-rate monitor.

Below are some of the fitness benefits a treadmill can provide, alongside some interesting facts to bare in mind when shopping for your treadmill:

* the treadmill is the UK’s most popular piece of cardio-vascular equipment treadmills are proven to burn fat, increase weight loss and contribute to improved fitness

* they don’t take up too much space compared to a home-gym

* a great deal cheaper than annual gym membership!

* the running platform is a great deal easier on joints than running on firm ground or pavement

* running and walking has been proven as the most effective activity to firm below the waist

* interactive workouts are provided to build an interest element into exercise session

* can help to build reserves of energy and stamina

* protection from the outside elements, running in the rain can dampen motivation!

* quick and effective workout with little preparation

* no special skills or training required

* exercise can be shared as activity with family and friends

* treadmills hold their resale value very well

* avoid running in front of others!

The list of benefits could be far longer – this all points to a treadmill being a great purchase for those enthusiastic about improving their fitness.

Treadmill reviews are undoubtedly a great way to find out the information you need to know about the treadmill you’re thinking of purchasing. Whatever way you look at it, a treadmill is a fairly hefty expense, so you want to be sure that you don’t waste your hard earned money on the wrong one. Treadmill reviews can be the ideal way to help you sort the 24-carat treadmill from the exercise equipment fool’s gold.

Treadmill reviews, however, should not be substituted for your own judgment, because in all reality, the consumer treadmill reviews you will find simply are the judgments of another person, and personal taste and preferences will come into play. Always remember when searching out and reading any treadmill review that the writer, even if they are a professional in the treadmill and exercise equipment field, will have their own agenda to impart, whether this is a simple preference for a certain type of machine, or even shares an affiliation with a particular treadmill manufacturer.

It might be something as simple as their being a professional runner to your being an amateur keep fit enthusiast, but an individual’s often unspoken preferences will result in differences in the treadmill reviews they produce. This is why it is essential before you hunt down any consumer treadmill reviews that you have a firm idea of what your own treadmill requirements are. While there is no harm in becoming convinced of the right treadmill purchase because of another consumer’s heartfelt review, purchasing a treadmill with a feature that the reviews love is little use if it is not a feature you will use. Always read the treadmill reviews with your own needs in mind, and try not to get carried away by the enthusiasm of another treadmill consumer!

So it is important to remember before reading any treadmill review that what you are about to read is the opinion of one love user – this is why it is important also to read as many treadmill reviews as possible. Sometime the very number of treadmill opinions can be overwhelming, and the comments contained in the reviews can seem as different as night and day. Rather than wondering how two treadmill reviews can be so very different, concentrate on drawing out common features from the reviews you read, and try to relate this once again to your own treadmill needs. Did one reviewer hate the lack of heart rate monitor but admit the treadmill was really quiet? Piece together the common information you find in the reviews to create the picture that will help you – that’s how to get the very best from the treadmill reviews.

Do you dream of having that perfect well-toned body, but you don't have the time or motivation to go to the nearest fitness center? If that's the case, why not consider buying some fitness equipments and converting your house into a gym?

Setting up a gym at your own home is easy to accomplish. No need to buy every fitness equipment you can get your hands on, as you'll spend more than it's necessary and you won't have space at home for all those fitness equipments.

The first thing you should do is find out what fitness equipments you need for your personal gym. Here are some fitness equipment suggestions to get you started:

- Dumbbell set: most come in 5 lbs, 8 lbs, and 12 lbs weight size. Make sure to pick a pair that has rubber handle grip. A good quality dumbbell should be inexpensive, should not roll away when placed down on the floor and should come with its own rack.

- Barbell set: this set often comes included with the dumbbells and also comes in different weight levels. Barbells are a good addition to dumbbells because as you get stronger from lifting dumbbells you want to progress on to lifting the heavier barbells to give your body a different workout. Barbells work various parts of your body such as the upper- and the mid-sections. Barbells can also increase your body stamina.

- Steps: steps are available in different height levels. They provide good aerobics and muscle-strengthening workout.

- Exercise balls. they help improve your balance and you body core strength. Exercise balls are widely used for abdominal workouts. For intermediate users the exercise ball can be used together with a weight bench to workout the stabilizer muscles while doing bench presses. Exercise balls can also be used for pushups, back extensions and lower body exercises.

- Weight lifting glove set: it helps protect your hands during weight training. It helps prevent swollen hands and rough calluses. A solid pair of weight lifting gloves is made from fabric that is comfortable and also allows sweat from the hand to evaporate so that the weights are less likely to slip out of your hands while weight training.

- Ankle weights: they are considered one of the cheaper fitness equipment. Ankle weights are commonly used for body toning and muscular endurance training so as to prevent muscle injury in the lower region.

Selecting proper exercise equipment plays an important role in building the muscles to achieve an amazing physique. In addition, you need to bear in mind the proper exercise routines. The different types of exercises include endurance training, aerobics, strength training, resistance, progressive resistance, etc. You should include endurance training and aerobics in any workout

routine.

Endurance training is designed to build staying power and stamina. Treadmills are a type of endurance workouts, which boost metabolism. Bicycling and treadmills are excellent options for people suffering weight problems. Do not forget your diet. Exercise and diet is just the beginning of achieving an amazing physique.

In order to achieve your goal, you must understand equipment, types of workouts, and body type. For instance, if your goal is to build muscle mass you should use progressive resistance training, strength training, endurance and aerobics.

If you plan to build strength in the larger muscle groups without taking into consideration cardiovascular, you will cause the body harm. This is why it is crucial to select the proper equipment. At the same time, you should include endurance, strength training, resistance and aerobics to balance your workouts. Again, do not forget your balanced diet.

Every exercise machine works in slightly different ways. For instance, aerobics supply oxygen to the lungs, which is vital to the body. Aerobic workouts increase the muscle speed, improve the respiration system and increase the heart’s rate of speed. The speed increase will benefit you while performing progressive resistance workouts or strength training.

Strength training builds the muscles strength, yet you will loose more fat from aerobic training. Strength training will also flex the joints, while building body composition. Strength training will augment the total physical condition of the body.

Strength training will augment protein fibers and its function. It will also make the muscles relax through active force, which contracts the muscles, thus marking the muscles force. As a result, the muscles will enlarge. Strength training toils the prime mover muscles, as well as the stabilizer muscles. Strength training also works the antagonistic muscles.

Endurance workouts, which include vigorous treadmill routines, bicycling, running, skating, step and tennis, can help you work toward building the muscles also. If you want stamina, go with endurance workouts together with aerobics and strength training. We need stamina because it is our energy and resistance. Stamina also gives us strength to continue, as well as boosts determination.

If you are lucky enough to own an elliptical trainer then you know the benefits it brings you in both fitness and hopefully enjoyment. I’m assuming that your elliptical trainer workouts are something you look forward to.

However, with elliptical trainer ownership there comes the responsibility of using it in a safe manner and keeping up with its maintenance. This article will take a look at what’s involved with proper elliptical trainer maintenance.

Below is a list of the key points of elliptical trainer maintenance:

1. Start from a solid foundation –- a reliable elliptical trainer starts from when you first assemble it. Regardless whether you do the job yourself or you contract to have the assembly done for you, make sure that the job gets done right.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter and make sure that everything fits together properly and that there is no left over parts or hardware. Sometimes components may not fit properly. If it appears that there is a problem with the parts, then contact the manufacturer for replacement parts. Do not proceed until everything fits together as it should and your elliptical functions without problems.

2. Grease is your friend –- most elliptical trainers come supplied with a small tube of grease and instructions where to apply it. Don’t be stingy with the grease! Apply it liberally. If you run out then don’t be afraid to make a trip to your local hardware store to pick up more.

Grease will break down over time so it may become necessary to reapply it. Sometimes you can get by with spraying some WD40 to squeaky joints on the arm handles and foot rails, but it may be necessary to unbolt these parts and reapply some grease to the attachment bolts.

3. A little protection goes a long way –- spend the little extra to get a rubber floor mat to place under your elliptical trainer. This will both protect the flooring or carpet underneath the elliptical as well as keep dust from the floor from getting into the drive mechanism of your elliptical trainer.

Elliptical trainer covers are about as rare as hen’s teeth, but they are great for keeping moisture and dust off your elliptical. They also deter small children from playing on the elliptical trainer and possibly injuring themselves.

A workable substitute for an elliptical trainer cover is an outdoor grill cover. Just make sure that its dimensions will adequately cover your elliptical trainer.

4. Be alert to signs of trouble -- If you notice strange noises like squeaks and groans from your elliptical trainer or it feels wobbly or otherwise unstable, then investigate immediately.

5. Know when to DIY and when to call in the pros –- many problems that may arise with your elliptical trainer you can probably remedy yourself. Nuts and screws should be periodically checked and tightened if necessary. You can also apply lubrication to squeaky joints. You can also replace worn or snapped bolts yourself. Just be sure to order them from the manufacturer. This is especially true if your elliptical trainer is still under warranty. Always check with the manufacturer before doing any repairs yourself in order to protect your warranty.

Some repairs will require a factory-authorized technician. The manufacturer’s customer support department will make this determination when you call for help.

As you can see, the maintenance for an elliptical trainer is somewhere between owning a car and a toaster. It doesn’t require oil changes every 3000 miles and periodic tire rotation, but it needs a little more attention than emptying out the breadcrumbs once a year.

The single most important thing you can do as an elliptical trainer owner is make certain that you educate yourself before making a purchase. Then armed with this knowledge, purchase a high-quality, well-designed elliptical trainer that will provide you with many years of trouble-free use

Perhaps you've heard about the many ways an elliptical training device can help your health. Maybe you've seen a good example of an elliptical trainer on an infomercial and have decided that you need one for yourself. This is a good call. Elliptical training machines are excellent exercise gear. But to get the best elliptical gear for your personal use, it would be good to first look into elliptical reviews.

It would be entirely too easy to say that cyberspace is the first place to look for reliable reviews. But before you wade into the mess of words and pages that makes up the World Wide Web, you need to know how to distinguish between good reviews and bad reviews. There are a couple of pointers to remember when deciding if the elliptical reviews you are browsing through are reliable or not.

First: Be sure you're looking through a reliable review site. Websites that have been around for a while, and have a large content base (meaning, a large number of articles in stock), are generally more reliable than small ones that have only a few articles to show for themselves. Sites like ConsumerSearch.com and Ellipticaltrainers.com are good places to start. For one thing, they both feature up to date information, compiled by professional researchers. These sites not only feature research information, but also the word of experts. In the case of experts who pitch in their two cents when it comes to elliptical trainers, they are usually health and physical training instructors.

Second: Be discriminate. When you're looking through reviews, you can usually spot which articles or comments are simply press releases, and which are informed and intelligent comments made by other experienced users of the specific product you're trying to research about. You can find this out if you notice the same user (or number of users, even!) singing praises about a specific product over and over, in the same sloppy style. This may mean that a certain distributor has employed someone to sing its praises on various review sites. Or! This may simply mean that the product you have your eye on is simply worth your time and attention!

Third: Participate. Should you happen to find an active and reliable site or forum - as in a message board, or mailing list - make an effort to participate in the discussion. Many sites and forums that are sales-oriented try consciously to restrict their posts to specific product-related topics, such as elliptical reviews, so this is fertile ground for useful information. It isn't mandatory at all, but sharing your knowledge in the kinds of exercise gear you've tried before will build your reputation in a community of people who happen to be also interested in exercise equipment.

We all want the path of least resistance, and that is particularly true when it comes to burning calories and losing weight. Elliptical trainers are growing in popularity not only because of the low-impact, upper and lower body workout, but also due to their amount of calories burned in the least amount of time.

Why are more calories burned in less time with an elliptical trainer?

Basically you are exercising more of your body at once. An elliptical trainer works out both your lower and upper body simultaneously. Consequently, you are exercising more muscle groups. With the dual function of an elliptical trainer you exercise the back, triceps, biceps quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes and chest. There is no other machine that offers such extensive exercising.

By exercising more muscle mass you improve fat mobilization, build muscle endurance, burn more calories and fat in less time, and reduce your perceived rate of exertion. Regarding the reduced rate of exertion, many find working out on an elliptical trainer less exhausting. By exercising more muscle groups at once, there is the perception that you get more results with less effort.

It should be noted to gain the full advantage of the upper workout you must apply adequate resistance to the upper body. Many individuals let their lower body do most of the work while letting their arms just go through the motion when holding on to the handlebars. You want to distribute the resistance between your upper and lower body. This is how you ultimately can burn more calories in less time.

In recent studies it was concluded that energy expenditure among overweight subjects was higher on the elliptical trainer than a treadmill or stationary bicycle. For overweight individuals who are initiating a regular exercise program to decrease excess body fat, they will find that elliptical trainers optimize energy expenditure.

Interval Training

If you are out to burn the most calories in the least amount of time, you want to either use an interval training program, or simulate it through manual programming. Interval training is becoming popular not only on elliptical trainers, but also through fitness classes. As the name suggests, interval training is alternating between high intensity exercises and cool down periods. You burn an intense amount of calories for a limited period, recover, and do it again. Interval training is proven to be more effective in burning calories than a sustained level of exertion.

So next time you are at the health club or a fitness store give an elliptical trainer a spin. Whether your desire is to burn calories, lose weight or just get into shape, the combined upper and lower body workout of an elliptical trainer is your best solution.

More and more people are turning health conscious these days. They are recognizing the benefits of exercising regularly.

But many a times it is just not possible to join a health club and follow a regular routine of exercise. Factors like gym timing and distance makes the person reluctant to join any such gymnasium or health club. An all purpose treadmill plays a crucial role in commencing your exercising routine at a comfort of home in such situations.

So if you are a health freak and finding it difficult to join a health club because of your busy work life, buying a treadmill is the best bet for you to stay healthy.

Now, buying a treadmill is an expensive proposition which should not be entered into lightly. Getting a treadmill which is cheap, durable and compatible with your body is almost as taxing as figuring your taxes at the end of the year.

There are many ways to narrow down your search for buying a perfect treadmill. The best way to do so is by reading online ratings and reviews given by experts as well as common people on different brands and range of treadmills. You can read the ratings and reviews on the official websites of treadmill manufacturers as well. On most of these sites, the price of the treadmill is also mentioned for your comfort.

But herein comes the most taxing part– finding the machine which is compatible with your body.

Most of the time, this can be done in a commercial gym where you can use some of the machines to find out which is more compatible with your body. If you are buying your first fitness machine you should not go to the one with many features but should go to the one which is more durable in the long run.

The one with quite a lot of features will be more expensive on your wallet and you may not even use all the features. If you can't check out the machines in the gym then walk into a showroom and start testing some of the models there. The testing time for each of the machines should be more than twenty five minutes as anything less will not give you an accurate result.

After testing the machines you will have a definite idea about the machine you are going to buy. This brings us to the money part of the deal. It always helps to check out the maintenance and repair costs that will be incurred in the long term.

Here the guarantee plays an important part. If the company only guarantees the product for 90 days instead of 180 days or a year then chances are that the product will breakdown after 90 days. Along with the guarantee, buying a treadmill also depends largely on your body structure and what kind of exercise you will be doing on it. It is particularly dependent on what injuries you have and how you deal with it. A treadmill that incorporates all this is the right one for you.

After all an informed opinion can help in making the right decision in the long run and will leave you with a happy feeling of not only buying the right stuff but saving some money too.

If you are into fitness then you must know what is ablounge is about but if not then this article will be a a great start. Ablounge is one of the hottest fitness items to hit the market in recent years. This innovative product helps the user work out his abdominal muscles while providing comfort and support to his body. The ablounge has grown in popularity since its release because of the excellent results experienced by its users.

This amazing fitness equipment will provide the user a more comfortable workout and as result the users will more likely to workout on regular basis. Beside the comfort, ablough will give you a great result if you workout correctly. When a person works out on the floor he or she has no support for the back. It is very easy to injure the back while engaged in abdominal exercises. One risk lies in the possibility of overextending while in motion. Another is the user can pull or even tear muscles. With the ablounger support the user's entire back. This is crucial for anyone who suffers from any type of back pain. The person using the ablounge rests his or her back on the exercise equipment. The whole range of motion is supported by the device while the user can completes the activity routines. Many users never achieve the results that they want simply because they give up too soon and the main reason is the exercise activity was so uncomfortable. Even worse some users have to give up because they might hurt themself and unable to carry out the routine. Ablounge yields great results because the person working out the muscles to their fullest capacity, proper form and adequate range of motion.

Sit ups are still the most effective abdominal exercise without an ab equipment. However, how many people have you seen with a great ab-section by just doing this exercise? Not too many, even thought sit-up is still one of the most effective, it's also one of the most uncomfortable to do. They also pose a risk of injury and there is also the risk of working out for nothing if they are not done properly. There are many options for anyone who wants to exercise the abdominal area. However, few offer targeted, quick results and a complete comfortable workout. Adding the ablounger to your abdominal workout routine can help you maximize your workout and see excellent results in relatively little time.