Monday, January 14, 2008

Benefits Of Exercising Using An Elliptical Machine

The positive results on our body from exercise have been known for a very long time, but not all exercising machines go about giving you these benefits in the same manner. And some machines can actually damage your body if not used properly. Today you have such a wide variety of machines to use at the health club that you may feel a little overwhelmed! However the newest machine, the elliptical trainer appears to be the best choice for many people and the benefits of exercising using an elliptical machine are very substantial.

The Benefits Of An Elliptical

Ease Of Use: First and foremost the elliptical machine was designed to be very easy to use, many of today's machines do not require programming a routine or pushing a bunch of buttons to get the machine working. Most ellipticals you can hop on and start exercising immediately.

Efficient Total Body Workout: Many of today's elliptical machines, from the smaller home models to the large commercial models at the gym all utilize some sort of upper body workout handle. Being able to work the whole body effectively in 20-30 minutes is definitely one of the best benefits of exercising using an elliptical machine. This feature will allow you to get in and out of the gym in quickly.

Easy On The Body: Many people who workout find one of the great benefits of working out using an elliptical machine is that it does not cause any joint or shin pain and discomfort that you can get from machines like the treadmill or lower back pain that some people experience on stationary bikes. In fact many athletes who are rehabilitating and injury do so on the elliptical trainer.

Although this is just a small sample of the benefits of exercising using an elliptical machine they are the ones that people tend to notice right away when they use the machine for the first time. However the only way that you can discover how these machines can benefit you is to go try one out at the gym!

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Wednesday, December 26, 2007

What To Look For In A Treadmill

The main items to look for in choosing a treadmill are the motor, incline motor, the belt and deck size, the belt, controls and displays, heart rate monitor and control, rollers and of course the companies reputation.

Treadmill Motor
A treadmill motor is one of the most significant components to consider when buying a treadmill. It is what drives the treadbelt. Depending on the quality and power, it can make the difference between a smooth running machine and a loud noisy treadmill that struggles to run.When comparing treadmill motors you want to go by the horsepower of the continuous duty, not peak horsepower. Peak horsepower is the maximum horsepower a treadmill can reach. Continuous-duty horsepower is a measure of sustained power during regular use. The continuous motor power is what is consistently delivered during heavy usage, over an extended period of time. It’s like buying a stereo system. They advertise peak power and RMS or continuous power. You can have a thousand watts of peal power and only 15 watts of RMS or continuous power. Not very loud for most of the time. Since peak horsepower is usually significantly higher than a motor's continuous capability, continuous horsepower is a better indicator of which treadmill will accommodate your intended exercise use. Generally speaking, the larger the motor the more powerful it can operate at a continuous rate. Although some quality motors may have a lower continuous duty hp rating, and yet be better.Continuous duty is the standard in comparing horsepower. Unfortunately there is no official standard rating and often treadmill manufacturers will exaggerate the actual continuous duty horsepower. Regardless, the continuous duty horsepower rating will give you some guideline. An indication of the quality of the motor will often be reflected by the extent of the warranty. A 90 day warranty will suggest lack of quality. A warranty of 5 years or more tells you that the motor is built to last, or otherwise the company would go broke having to replace them. As a guide, if you only walk a 2.0 HP continuous duty motor would work, if you are going to jog a 2.5 HP continuous duty would be better and if you are going to run a 3.0HP or larger would be best. If you are over 200 lbs you may want to add .5 hp to the motor level.

Incline Motor
Incline raises the treadmill's running bed for increased resistance. Treadmill incline are like walking or running up hills, making your workout more challenging, in addition to burning more calories and further increasing muscle tone. Power incline offers you automatic adjustment so you can change the incline while you're walking/running to add variety and challenge to your workout; most treadmills offer a powered incline from 0%-10%. Some high-end models go up to 15%. Elevation mechanisms come in many different forms. The most effective and durable elevation assemblies are worm-gear actuator driven electronic elevation motors. Worm-gear electronic elevation systems use a separate, powerful motor to elevate the treadmill while in use. Typical elevation motors will have a thrust value from 400 to 1000 pounds, therefore pushing up the deck without any hesitation while exercising.

Belt/Deck Size
Belts vary in length, depending on whether the unit is geared more for walkers/joggers or runners. Belt widths range from 16" to 22", while lengths vary from about 45" to 62"s. In most cases you want to stay away from 16" belts. They are extremely narrow and offer very little room to move. For walking an 18" belt is adequate, but if you are going to jog or run we suggest a 20" belt. We recommend the following guideline for treadmill belt and deck lengths. For walking 50" - 52" is adequate, depending on your height. If you plan to jog we suggest at least 54". If you are tall or a runner with long strides, you should be looking at a 58"+ belt. Note: Many manufacturers measure the length by the extent of the deck. That is not a true measurement, since part of the deck is covered by plastic shrouds. You want to know the actual length of the belt surface that you can walk or run on.

Treadbelt
With a treadbelt you want low noise and high performance. You want a minimum 2-ply belt for long wear and sufficient cushioning. Quality treadmills will have belts that are pre-lubricated/waxed to provide minimal maintenance (if any). Expect up to 25,000 miles of service by simply keeping the unit clean (free of dirt). This lubrication/wax system is a special blend of high-pressure synthetic compounds. The design and make-up of a treadbelt is a science onto itself. What is important is you want a belt that will provide extended wear and comfort. Once again, warranties on the belts are an indication. Any warranty less then a year would suggest potential problems in the future. It is important to keep your treadbelt clean. Dirt, dust, dog hair, etc., can get into the machinery and cause problems.

Console Controls and Displays
Computer panel displays are either LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) OR LED (Light Emitting Diode--easier to read because it is brighter). The displays come in all shapes and sizes. In addition, you can find quality treadmills that have ¼ track displays and heart zone readings.Most treadmills have some sort of computer programming, ranging from a simple odometer and speedometer to preprogrammed workouts and storage capabilities. Computer controls can provide feedback such as speed, distance, heart rate, pace, calories burned, laps taken, time elapsed, incline and more (depending on the particular treadmill). Seeing these progress readouts offers motivation to increase intensity and add challenges to your workout. The programs are either pre-set or with more expensive models, they can be programmed specific to the speed and incline challenge you would prefer.

Heart Rate Monitor and Control
There are a variety of heart rate options available on treadmills. The basic is heart rate monitoring, where you hold the siderails to get a read-out of your heart rate. There is also heart rate control, where either through holding the siderails or by with a wireless chest strap, the intensity of your workout is controlled by your heart rate. This allows you to keep your workout within a preset zone. Most treadmills maintain your heart rate zone by adjusting the incline. Although some also have the option of allowing the speed to adjust the rate. The treadmill determines a pre-set maximum target heart rate based upon the users sex, height, weight and age, or the user can adjust it to whatever maximum target workout rate they want. (This should be subject to the user's physical condition and determined after consulting with a physician.)

Rollers
A major component in providing no hesitation walking/running and long treadbelt life is the roller system. In design, there is no substitute for size. Basically the larger the roller the better. That's why commercial treadmills will oversize the roller design with very large diameters.Large treadmill rollers can offer the following advantages: Treadbellts can run with less tension. Less tension results in longer life to both the belt and roller bearings. This is because the larger roller diameter has more area to "grip" the belt (traction) and prevent slippage. Large rollers turn more slowly at all speeds. This obviously reduces bearing wear. For example, treadmills with 2.5" rollers run up to 43% slower then smaller rollers. Small rollers mean small bearings. Large bearings in rollers mean large load capacity, up to 40% more! This adds longer life. Treadbelt doesn't have to bend as sharp as it is forced over larger rollers. Support fibers (polyester) in the belt will last longer by staying cooler and not flexing as much. The more flex, the more heat, especially on a very tight belt (necessary to prevent slippage) with units using small rollers. Larger rollers have more surface mass to absorb treadmill belt heat. Treadbelts can run hot! The cooler they operate, the better. The backing lasts longer, the splice is stronger and the PVC top coat doesn't "migrate" (bleed through) to the deck (causing friction). Better precision bearing alignment is maintained. Because with large roller size, you also get much more strength. Larger axles (bigger bearings) are also stronger to minimize flexing between the mounting points of the roller.

Reputation of the company.
Only purchase from a business that is known for both the quality of their products and their commitment to customer satisfaction. We strongly recommend that you do your research before you buy. It will pay off in the "long run." The most important buyer's guide recommendation. The warranty reflects the quality of a treadmill. A 90 parts and service warranty suggests the machine will not last long. A warranty that covers the parts for a number of years and has a one year service warranty suggest the treadmill is built to last. You can read more about this at http://www.treadmill-ratings-reviews.com/info/tread_features.htm.

Friday, November 30, 2007

How to Chose the Right Equipment For You

You have decided to build a home gym and do not know where to start. There are many methods to finding the right equipment. The best in my mind is to actually try them out. How do you do that?

1. Buy to Try

If your good at returning things that you do not want, I would suggest you try a free trial offer like BowFlex. Try it for the recommended trial period and return it if you cannot seem to stay with it. Most offer 30 to 90 days to try their products. Do not try a product for less that 30 days.

2. Find a friend.

Exercise with a friend and try out his or her equipment.

3. Join a Gym

Find a gym that offers a trial membership or a month to month membership. You can work with the staff or a personal trainer and learn how the equipment. You can also learn an exercise program and find the right equipment for you.

Whatever method you use the important thing is to exercise.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Treadmill Exercise - Give Treadmills A Second LookBy

Many people actually under rate treadmill exercise. This is sad, especially since so many people are actually lacking when it comes to getting the proper amount of exercise each day. The following are a few reasons that they are a great way to help people get themselves back into great shape once again.
There are many who take them for granted, since it is one of the oldest types of exercise equipment out there. It is simple and easy to use and there are not a whole lot of interesting features that some other types of equipment happen to have. Since there are not many gadgets to worry about, you do not have to worry about the treadmills breaking down. Now, you won't have to miss your workout because of equipment problems.
Exercise can be boring for many people, which is why so many people never stick to their exercise routine. This is not the fault of the them, but the fault is actually with the person using the treadmill. Even though a task may be repetitive, it does not mean that it has to be a boring task. If you think that using a treadmill to workout is boring, then you will need to come up with some great ways to get rid of the boredom. Perhaps put the machine in a place that allows you to look out the window at a beautiful view. Or, you may want to turn on the TV and watch your favorite show or listen to some upbeat music. You can also add some other stimuli to your treadmill exercise to make the time go by more quickly. Both visual stimulation and music are great ways to do so.
Some people feel that they do not have the room for a treadmill, but that no longer has to be a problem. There are a variety of treadmills available today that will fold up and slide into a small space for storage. Even if you have a small home or apartment, you can find the place to easily store your treadmill. You will be able to open up them for use, and then you can easily fold it back up and store it again.
They offer many benefits, you can build endurance by using a treadmill and it provides a great cardiovascular workout for you too. You will also build up your leg and stomach muscles with this type of a workout. The prices of these are reasonable, and with this simple piece of exercise equipment, you will get great workout sessions over and over again. So, take another look at treadmill exercise and what it has to offer you. More than likely you will realize that even if you have not been exercising for some time, exercises will be something that you can easily do.
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Home Gyms Make Fitness Endeavors Convenient

After you make the decision to do your fitness training in your house, you must next determine the best type of gym for your house that will best suit your needs. Unfortunately, because there are so many choices in home gyms, so often people end up just utterly confused and they never actually get their home fitness center established.
To make the most of home gyms, you will need to consider a number of things:
1) First and foremost, where in your house will you place the equipment? 2) What kind of workout flow will you be able to have in the space you have available? 3) What are the primary things you want from your gym in the house? 4) Will you be the only one using it, or will it be used by other members of the family? 5) If used by others, what are their fitness goals and how do they mesh with yours? 6) What is the best brand of house equipment? 7) And finally, will you be able to afford what you want?
These are just a few of the many things you will want to take into consideration when looking for exercise gear for your house.
Before making the selection of which machines to use in home gyms, people need to first start out by having an idea about the kinds of activities and exercises they most want to engage in. Knowing this, along with specifics about fitness goals, will help to assure that the equipment chosen will best support those goals and activities.
Probably the biggest trap that people fall into regarding home gyms, is that they go ahead and purchase equipment that is of a good quality and expensive, but they never follow though with their fitness and exercise plans.
One of the reasons that perfectly good exercise gear for the house becomes nothing more than a dust collector or a new place to hang clothes is because people discover they do not enjoy their home fitness exercise routines. This is why you should thoroughly test the equipment that you are considering, before investing a lot of money in a gym system for your house.
The bottom line with home gyms is that it does not matter how wonderful the claims are about how easy, effortless or intense a gym exercise workout can be. The fact of the matter is, no matter how much money you spend on your home exercise equipment, it will do nothing for you it you do not use it. Because of this fact, it is better to get a piece of equipment that you know you will use, rather than a high-tech wonder machine that will never cause you to break a sweat.
With that said, if you are determined to make good use of whatever gym equipment you decide to buy, then it is also a good idea to purchase the best quality equipment that you can afford. A common mistake people make is simply buying the cheapest version of some highly marketed piece of equipment that they can find. Often the low-end equipment wears out or breaks down quickly, or, even worse, it does not provide proper support and comfort for you to be able to exercise effectively.
The good news is that there are plenty of equipment styles for home gyms in all price ranges. If you can afford a top-of-the-line piece of home exercise equipment, then go for that if you are confident it will be utilized.
If your budget is tight, a good way to go is to shop for used exercise equipment. Often you can find good home fitness equipment that has hardly been used, except for strenuous dust collecting, at a fraction of the original price.
A whole world of information about finding the right home gyms eagerly awaits you from Mike Selvon portal. We appreciate your feedback at our home gym fitness equipment blog.
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