These days many sports and bicycling enthusiasts are opting for recumbent cycles over upright ones, and with good reason. While upright bikes may offer more of an actual workout on the legs, recumbent cycles have less pressure on the back and entire upper body since sitting back puts less pressure on this area.

But no matter how good they are for you and your workout, there seems to be far too many recumbent cycles on the market today making your choice a seemingly impossible one! How to choose and what to look for?

First you need to be aware of your fitness levels and what you're looking for in a bike. Most recumbent cycles are very adjustable but still respond to a rider's height and weight. Women especially may want to choose options that are meant specifically for them, as trying to use a bike that's too large for your frame may mean that you are constantly reaching for the pedals and handles; simply moving the seat forward or up and down may only mean that you're bending your legs unnaturally, resulting in an uncomfortable ride or workout.

Your level of fitness also comes into play when choosing between recumbent cycles; different leg muscles are worked at various levels when cycling and much of this depends on your posture while riding. The longer the pedal base, the more you're working your entire lower and upper leg muscles and a shorter pedal base means the upper thigh muscles are being worked much harder than the lower leg muscles.

With a recumbent bike you are sitting in a position facing front so you will not get the neck strain so common with normal bikes. You are sitting in a seat with back support, not balancing on a little wedge of hard plastic which means no more chafing in those tender spots. Your weight is not resting on your arms, so you eliminate all the strain and pain from your hands, wrists, arms and shoulders.

Men should be especially careful about using a standard upright bike because the narrow seat puts a lot of pressure on the prostate gland. With a recumbent bike your legs also don't have as much stress and strain when they are out in front of you rather than pedaling underneath your body the way you do with an upright bike.

While you might immediately be thinking that you want to work these underdeveloped muscles, be sure that you're going to dedicate yourself to such a workout. Choosing from recumbent cycles that are difficult for you to use will only mean that you'll be more likely to give up on your workout or ride and let the bike gather dust.

Your budget is also going to be a factor when choosing between recumbent cycles. There's no end to the many gadgets and features you can pick from with the various models, but of course you don't want to overspend either. A very basic model without all the "bells and whistles" can still provide an enjoyable workout or ride, so don't be taken in by all the recumbent cycles that have fancy gadgets and programs you're never going to use. Instead, try out a few in the store or at your local gym and find what feels best for you, and then choose according to how much you can realistically spend.

David Cowley has created numerous articles on Home Exercise Equipment. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to Home Exercise Equipment. Visit Home Exercise Equipment

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It has become the answer for many people in this busy world, to go to the gym to get in better shape. Gym memberships allow you to keep your body fresh, healthy and fit. Making time to work out at the gym also can increase your energy levels. While working out is great idea, not everyone has the time. So how can a busy person with full schedule manage to stay in shape?

The best alternative can be a home gym exercise equipment purchase. After setting up gym equipment at home, you can save time and work out at your convenience. No more driving to the gym, lugging around extra clothes and membership cards.

The are many types of effective home gym exercise equipment to choose from. Consulting with an expert at the sporting goods store or a personal trainer is a good place to start. One can also browse the online user reviews.

Working out at home isn't just for experts. Beginners can also benefit, and there is home gym exercise equipment specifically denied to make your workout productive. These machines also help you to maintain proper posture to avoid injuries. There are also multi-station pieces available in the market which will in turn allow you to perform numerous exercises - one after another.

You can do exercises for your legs, arms, thighs and abs through a multi-station gym. The use of pulley or a sliding bar system allows the machine to changes its position as you require. These pulleys have increment of about five to ten pounds in weight to adjust the intensity of your workout.

The most important consideration in buying home gym exercise equipment is to select a long-lasting, well-built unit. Any breakage has the potential to lead to serious injury. Be sure it has an aluminum or steel support cover. This makes it strong enough to gradually bear your weight while you are exercising.

Katie Appleby is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about home gym exercise equipment, please visit Fast Fitness Today for current articles and discussions.

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Before I get into the three specifics on how to lose weight with treadmill walking, let's take a step back. The science behind weight loss is very simple: you have to burn more calories than you consume. In addition, the more intense your workouts are the more calories you will burn.

With these principles in mind, let's now turn to the three critical things you need to know to reach your weight loss goals by walking on the treadmill. They are...drum roll please...frequency, consistency, and intensity. Let's take a closer look at all three:

Frequency
I hate to tell you this, but an occasional walk on the treadmill is going to do very little for you. It takes considerably more effort to lose weight by walking than other treadmill exercises such as jogging or running. The good news about treadmill walking, however, is that it has the least stress on your knees and joints. Unlike jogging and running where off days are important, you can walk everyday if you want. You should aim to walk at least 5 days per week. Anything less and you will find it very difficult to reach your weight loss goals (assuming you aren't doing any other exercises or strength training).

Consistency
You need to be consistent when it comes to treadmill walking to lose weight. Taking days off or cutting your exercise sessions short will hurt your weight loss efforts. As I've mentioned, walking is the least intense treadmill exercise. If walking is going to be your primary method to lose weight, your workouts need to be consistent day-to-day.

Intensity
If you are obese or just plain out of shape and just beginning an exercise program, then your treadmill walking workouts should not be that intense when starting out. Start your program slowly. Eventually, however, you'll need to increase the intensity of your treadmill walking workouts for maximum weight loss results. This shouldn't be a problem because the more you walk, the more fit you'll become. The more intense your workouts are the more calories you'll burn and the shorter your sessions will have to be.

What is an intense workout? It will vary depending on how fit you are, but generally speaking you should aim to walk on the treadmill for 45 minutes or more during each session. You should also try to keep your heart rate at a minimum of 70% of your maximum heart rate during each session. Again, these guidelines will vary and these are aimed specifically for effective weight loss results. Your sessions can be shorter and your heart rate can be kept in a lower range, but if you do this, it can take longer to reach your goals and you may never reach them if your sessions aren't intense enough.

Treadmill walking to lose weight is definitely possible but it takes frequency, consistency, and intensity. If walking is going to be your primary treadmill exercise for weight loss, keep these three keys in mind. Otherwise, you'll just be wasting your time and effort!

Lose weight with these fun and simple treadmill walking workouts! You'll also find indepth reviews and recomendations of the best treadmills here.

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There is absolutely no end to the options you have when it comes to treadmills these days. From small, compact models that fold up or practically slide under your bed to expensive, fancy models that cost thousands and do everything but exercise for you, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the many models and features they offer and to make the decision as to what will be best for you.

But even with all the other equipment out there, treadmills sill remain the most standard and basic of exercise equipment and one that virtually anyone can use, so regardless of your level of physical fitness you would do well to consider this as an investment in your long-term health. But before you let yourself get overwhelmed with your options or just choose from one of the most expensive of treadmills, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

Your budget is going to go a long way toward making your decision about the various treadmills on the market. There are some that are literally thousands of dollars, but usually they offer options that are well over and above what you need for a good workout and routine. While most treadmills offer preprogrammed settings, there are some that have a ridiculous amount of options in this area. Very rarely does anyone need to have more than just a few preset programs for their running or walking routine; anything else is just overkill.

Some treadmills also offer a lot of display options that many users just don't need. While it's good to keep track of your time, pace, incline, and maybe even your heart rate, some display options are never even used or may be inaccurate. For instance, unless your machine allows you to enter your exact weight, the "calories burned" is probably not going to be accurate as people of different weights burn calories at different rates. The heavier you are, the harder you work when you move so the more calories you burn per minutes. Treadmills that don't measure your incline and speed against your actual body weight are not giving an accurate number of calories burned per minute or per hour.

Before you start your search for exercise treadmill you should decide on the type of treadmill you think would be of the best benefit to you. Take a trip to your local home fitness center and check out the types of machines available. While looking at the equipment be sure to inspect the exercise machines for quality of workmanship and if you are looking at gym equipment in a gymnasium you should look for the normal wear and tare. This information will become vital when considering used a used treadmill.

Remember too that very often used treadmills are just as good as new. Check the belts and run on the machine for a few minutes to see if it drifts to one side or another; this is a sign of uneven wear. Of course, belts for most treadmills can be replaced so keep that in mind as well. Most brands last ten years or more, so just because it's used or pre-owned doesn't mean it should be dismissed. Check used sporting goods stores near you for their selection; this is a great way to save money when it comes to treadmills.

David Cowley has created numerous articles on Home Exercise Equipment. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to Home Exercise Equipment. Visit Home Exercise Equipment

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