Welcome to fitness equipment: Offers cardio fitness equipment


Friday, September 07, 2007

Body Solid Home Gym - A Comforting Reason For Continuous Use

The most important aspect of equipment that we should look for while choosing it for physical exercising at home would have to be the comfort factor i.e. how comfortable one is while using that machine. One should compare the machine on the parameters of one's physical stature, fitness levels and the ability of the machine to fulfill your goals. Keeping these parameters in mind, the different kinds of Body Solid Home Gym is a unique product which keeps one's initial fitness levels and expected results in mind.

There are many starting problems associated with a home gym workout and one of them easily noticeable is the levels of tiredness one feels as one starts from the initial level. Not used to strenuous use, the muscles ache quite a lot and hence it feels as if its quite a torturous routine. And before the muscles get some rest, one needs to repeat the same set of exercise. Contrary to the kind of machines available in the market, a body solid gym is not only easy to use, it also is adaptable to use for various body sizes. Such is the flexibility of body solid gym that it can be accustomed for the entire family's needs.

The best possible way of attaining a good shape is to have a home gym that one feels like using quite often. That in turn depends on the comfort factor of one's using the machine one has in his home lest it may turn into a piece of furniture used for hanging one's dirty clothes. While this may be the case at one end, on the other side a quality body solid home gym not only provides you the comfort but also the desire and motivation to use it more often.

Body Solid Home Gym- Different Equipments for Different Body Parts

Body Solid home gym caters to all kinds of physical needs by providing different kinds of workout. To increase stamina, treadmills, elliptical and exercise bikes are present, cardio workouts and free weights for complete body which convert body fat into well toned muscles.

One of the important aspects of a home gym workout is Resistance training and Body Solid gym units actually aid increasing stamina of all muscles across body. Many body solid home gym systems aid in providing shape to back and shoulder muscles, increasing strength and look of the muscles.

A body solid gym unit caters to all needs i.e. either one demands of an individual unit for starting to build up your body into a well toned structure of muscles or a complete machine to attain general fitness levels or health. An easy to use unit makes it comfortable for an individual to bring it to more regular use and reap the advantages which one seeks.

How Much Do You Know About Elliptical Cross Trainers?

Is an elliptical trainer for you? Some of these cross trainers are equipped with some awesome aerobic advantages, and are fast rising to the top of the short list of preferred exercise equipment. Take a few minutes to acquaint yourself with some of the options available and some important factors that will effect your workouts.

How Will An Elliptical Cross Trainer Benefit You?

The standard elliptical trainer is a combination of the treadmill, ski machine, and stair climber. All the workout benefits combined from these three fitness machines into one unbelievably low impact exercise machine. While standing on the foot pedals and using the handrails or arm bars for even weight distribution, you stride in an oval (elliptical) motion either forwards or backwards. This motion almost completely mimics walking and running. These arm bars contribute to your upper body workout, thus maximizing your efforts and giving you a total body workout.

What Sets the Elliptical Trainers Apart From the Competition?

For all the runners, elliptical trainers offer the same degree of exercise as running, without the damaging high impact on the joints and bones. No matter whether you qualify on a beginner or an advanced fitness level, this is a tried and true workout for everyone.

These cross trainers use the motions of biking, walking or running, even stairs and take it to an impressive level beyond these separate machines by contributing to a more thorough workout for your entire body all combined in one superior fitness machine. The beauty of it is with vastly decreased impact exercising offered by the elliptical trainer, you feel less tired for longer. Meaning you're able to increase your workouts, eventually resulting in more weight loss.

Elliptical workouts, in their simplicity, contribute to building bone density, lowering the risks of osteoporosis, and stimulate your metabolism , by giving weight resistant workouts. Your metabolism raises from this exercise, resulting in continued calorie burn for some time after an intense workout.

What You Should Know Before You Purchase An Elliptical Cross Trainer

Keep in mind these preferred features for maximizing your elliptical workouts:

Arm Bars - When locked in place, aid in maintaining your balance, however, remember NOT to use them for support! This both impedes your posture as well as minimizing your workout results. The dual motion arm bars, while not absolutely necessary for a workout, do increase the benefits of a thorough cardiovascular workout.

Forward and Reverse Motion - Most elliptical cross trainers sport this feature , which definitely sets them apart from, and above the competition. The damage caused to the knee and ankles from the high impact treadmill and stair climber is not an issue with cross trainers. With the additional benefit of reverse motion, the trainer challenges your body through a variety of workouts.

Varying Levels of Resistance - You may want to opt for the "smart" cross trainers of better quality for the convenience of one-touch adjustments for the various resistance levels. This allows for a more productive workout, by changing the resistance levels at random stages to achieve your target heart rate.

Durability - narrow your choices of cross trainers down by their durability. To qualify as safe, a trainer should not move at all when used in a rigorous workout. Again, the lesser quality machines at lower prices are not built with long term durability in mind. Consider the machines maximum weight capacity, the higher it offers, the more durable it will be. Stride Length - These measurements vary from machines of lesser quality to a better quality trainer. Standard range is 14" - 18". There are longer lengths offered, 18" - 20" which offer more of a workout for your leg muscles, and contribute to a smoother, more rhythmic elliptical movement.

These features are, once again, some key features to be aware of when purchasing an elliptical cross trainer, including the LCD console, varying routines offered, the warranty available, and the length of the foot pedals.

Now you know the basics of elliptical cross trainers, choose a trainer that maximizes your efforts to better your health.

Curious about how the experts at Consumer Guide and Consumer Reports rated the cross trainers? Take a look at our ratings page concerning the cross trainers.

Thursday, September 06, 2007

Dumbbells - The Best Equipment For Home Gyms

Resistance training or weight lifting has been a popular workout to burn fat and build muscle. The reason is just because it really works. A high intensity and short duration resistance training will burn some calories during the workout and you will burn a lot more during the following hours. A recent study from the prestigious Journal of Applied Physiology showed strength training also doubled post-exercise fat burning.

There are many ways to do resistance training. However, before purchasing any equipment to start resistance training, there are some factors you should keep in mind. If you want to use a barbell with weights, you should find a partner and do the workout with him. Just imagine what will happen when you are lying down on a weight bench pushing hard to get that last repetition and you hit a sticking point, you could be in serious trouble, which can cause a strain or pulled muscle. However, if you insist to use barbells but you don’t have a partner, consider going to gym. There are lots of people there can come to rescue if any troubles occur.

A better alternative for you just might be a set of dumbbells. It is said that dumbbells are the most important piece of equipment for your home gym. It is possible to get a complete body workout with dumbbells alone. They can mimic the actual mechanics of movement in real life applications making dumbbells the superior choice when compared to the machine type of exercise equipment. Besides, they are much safer than using barbells. If you do lose balance, it is much easier to toss aside the dumbbells than it is to toss aside the barbell.

There are numerous exercises you can do using dumbbells and you can do them at home, gym or office; with or without a training partner. Example of exercises that you can do by using dumbbells are front squat, bench press, dumbbell rows, overhead press, shrugs, and others which can work all the muscle groups effectively. You’ll just need a solid surface, enough space, and bench for some exercises.

Dumbbells are not very expensive and may just be one of the best pieces of exercise equipment you own. However, in order to get nice toned body, you will need some discipline as well as maintain a healthy and balance diet.

Top Treadmill Trends And Tips To Save You Money

The quality and features of any treadmill is reflected in its price. There are many competing models of treadmills to choose from, from inexpensive to expensive. With a home treadmill you can still manage to have an effective workout regardless of what the weather is doing outside.

Just a bit of trivia: the word 'treadmill' originally designated a type of mill which was operated by a person treading steps of a wheel to grind grain.

A few of the treadmill models, which have rollers, are powered by the user rather than a motor. For a standard treadmill motor look for HP to be around 2.5HP; this will ensure an easy and smooth action.

A heart rate monitor is a very good, useful feature to look for on a treadmill. The newest models of treadmills come with many extra features that you may or may not need. Most treadmills come with an electronic console that displays workout feedback like speed, distance traveled, the time you've been working out, and calories burned.

A heart rate monitor enables a treadmill to automatically adjust the speed and/or the incline to keep your heart rate within the optimum zone. The adjustable inclines let you vary the steepness of a hill. If you don't have enough room for a bulky exercise machine, might want to consider a folding treadmill; they collapse to allow for easy storage.

One feature that is absolutely necessary to have in a home treadmill is an emergency stop button or a safety key that automatically shuts off the power if you should stumble, trip or fall. One of the key things to remember is that the larger motors tend to run a lot cooler and usually require less repair and maintenance.

If there is a treadmill you've enjoyed using regularly at your local gym or fitness center check to see if there's a home version available in your price range. Noise from the smallest repetitive sound can drive you nuts over a period of time and give you another excuse not to exercise - check out the noise quotient. Did I mention to make sure to check out the warranty fine print - this is important.

Buying fitness equipment on the Internet has grown at a fast pace over the past few years. Be careful not to believe the marketing hype if you're looking for a cheap or inexpensive treadmill; the truth is you will get what you pay for. Note that most manufacturers of commercial treadmills found in gyms and health clubs also produce home versions.

After sales, service is another important issue to think about; find out if they will promptly repair or replace your treadmill if there is a problem. Any treadmill with a belt that causes jerky movements when you walk or run should be avoided. It's important to set a strict budget and stick to it.

You'll want a treadmill with an aluminum or high alloy steel frame that's strong enough to support any heavy runner using it. You might want to bring your water bottle and towel to the treadmill store when you try out their treadmills.

Be considerate, a noisy treadmill can upset other family members or roommates and even your neighbors if you live in a duplex, apartment or condominium. Treadmill manufacturers are competing for your business and price wars are creating major savings for buyers.

Whether you use a treadmill to walk, jog or run, the units are very effective at burning calories, raising the heart rate and developing aerobic capacity. If you have severe problems with your legs, a treadmill may not be the best choice of exercise equipment for you. Walking, whether on or off a treadmill, is one of the best approaches anyone can take toward physical fitness. The lack of wind resistance makes running on a treadmill slightly easier than it would be otherwise on an equal elevation grade outdoors.

Take time to do plenty of research, the same way you would any major purchase and buying a treadmill won't be difficult. Check out treadmill ratings and reviews. A home treadmill is a good investment for anyone who has decided to make a conscious effort to become healthy and fit. No matter what your reasons are for buying a treadmill, be sure to find one that specifically fits your needs.