Home Fitness Equipment: Maximize Its Use

It is not surprising that many individuals are now trying to lose weight and shed off extra calories. The previous holidays have put many in a disadvantage now as far as physical look and health are concerned because of the too-hard to resist delicious platters of holiday foods and glasses of caloric drinks.

So for the New Year's resolution, it is more likely that most people are including diet and fitness program in the list. Due to the demand, this means many are enrolling in gym fitness centers while others are making a trip to fitness stores to get home fitness equipment.

To many, choosing to buy home fitness equipment is more enticing than enrolling in a gym center. It is a better choice indeed to many people who have difficulty juggling time between work and workout. It is also most ideal to people who just can't enroll in an exercise program particularly because the local gym center is out of the way or far from the house.

On the other hand, it also has a disadvantage. Just like most people ending up not going to the gym often after signing up due to many inconveniences, having exercise equipment at home for a self-workout regimen poses the same problem. Many acquire expensive equipment only to end up not using it at all. The machine just gets stored and collects dust pile, which is a shame because it should have been more of an advantage to you that's why you bought it in the first place.

To avoid yourself from ending up in the same dilemma, check some pointers below to help maximize your home fitness equipment

Get the right equipment

One reason that leads most people to the situation mentioned above is due to the wrong choice of equipment. Therefore, it is important that you get the right one that answers your needs so that you can maximize its use and thus will be easier for you to achieve your goal of keeping fit all year round.

Your choice can be an elliptical trainer, stationary bike, or any cardio equipment that will not only make your heart healthy but your overall physical as well. Knowing the advantages of each of the equipment available in the market will help you decide which is the most ideal to bring home.

Position the equipment at the right area in your home.

Positioning the equipment at the right location in your home will help maximize its use. Where you position it is a factor as well that affects the frequency of its use. It must be stored where you have enough space to operate and use it, and the right ambiance and temperature so it doesn't get uncomfortable when you are working out.

Some place exercise equipment inside the bedroom especially if it is small enough to be accommodated. This gives them the advantage since they can be easily pulled out and get used at any time of the day. But if you have a number of machines, it is more advised that you have a nice room where you can put them all in and turn it into a mini gym.

And most important of all, have your goal and discipline.

Needless to say, discipline is the best weapon you can use to avoid leaving your equipment collecting dust in the corner. It is also the best passport towards achieving the desired weight and physical fitness.

Discover the Truth About Diets and claim a Free Diet Plan from the Weight Loss Twins

5 Tips to Get a Flat Stomach ... Click Here

Get the Fat Burning Secrets of Models and Body Builders

Basic exercise and training techniques

Effective exercise and training programs follow certain principles that allow it to help people keep fit. It may be known in various terms and is achieved through different means, but the basic principles behind exercise and fitness is always there. Knowing them and applying them in your own fitness regimen can help make it more effective in showing you the results that you need. Exercise Variables How effective are the exercise routine that you follow would depend on certain factors. How you work over certain variables in exercise and fitness will help determine how fast you can lose weight, improve stamina or increase athletic performance. Here are the four exercise variables that you need to consider when trying to develop your own fitness program or regimen.

Exercise Frequency- this refers to how often you exercise. The frequency will allow you to develop an exercise regimen that you can go into for a certain period on, let us say, a weekly basis. If you plan to work out for two days in a week, you can speed up getting results by adding another day of exercise for the week. Exercise Intensity- this refers to the level of physical activity of your exercise program. How hard you push yourself on each exercise session is also a factor in the effectiveness of an exercise and training program. For example, determining between bouts of jogging running and walking on one session would have different results. Doing more running rather than short bouts of walking or jogging would certainly have a different result from walking through each session most of the time.

Type of Exercise- this refers to the type of exercise included in your regimen. There are different types of exercises to choose from with each type being able to build up a certain part of the body better than the other. Knowledge of these types of exercises can help you develop a certain regimen that can be focused on improving target portions of the body. Duration of Exercise- this refers to the time that is spent in doing the exercises. How long you stay in doing each exercise session will ultimately determine how fast or how slow that you get results. It may also be required to determine the duration of the exercise program along with the other exercise variables in order to either avoid injury or improve results.

These exercise and training variables can be used in developing a certain exercise program that would allow better performance as well as results. You may be able to start with using the different exercise variables in a way that you feel comfortable with. Along the way, you can then change any or all of these variables to either increase the efficiency as well as to reach the target results. The variables can also be used ideally just to make the exercise program even more interesting once they start to become too routine.

Discover the Truth About Diets and claim a Free Diet Plan from the Weight Loss Twins

5 Tips to Get a Flat Stomach ... Click Here

Get the Fat Burning Secrets of Models and Body Builders

Home Fitness: How to Choose the Right Exercise Equipment

As easy as it may seem, buying exercise equipment takes a lot of considerations. Let us look at the factors that really matter when making a purchase:

Determine your goal

The entire process of selecting which type of exercise equipment is right for you and how much do you need to spend for it relies on what goals you wish to accomplish along with your current fitness level. So before selecting one or limiting yourself to which treadmill or elliptical trainer is right for you, ask yourself, "What do I want to achieve?" Do you wish to improve your cardiovascular health? Do you want to develop strength? Do you wish to boost your energy? Such questions, when answered right away would lead you to identifying which type of equipment do you really need.

Set your Budget

The second, most important thing you need to determine is how much you are willing to spend on a particular type of home fitness equipment. Different types of exercise equipment have varying costs. A good treadmill costs from $1500 to $3500. An elliptical trainer ranges from $200 to $5000. A stationary bike ranges between $500 and $1000. The old adage, "you get what you pay for" still applies here so make sure that you balance between affordability, features and usability.

Note:
Not because you can use your credit card to purchase a thousand dollar elliptical trainer or a $3000 treadmill means that you can afford it. Study your financial position and know exactly how much you can spend on a certain purchase.

Space

Aside from your goal and budget, the 2 other equally important things to remember when purchasing exercise equipment are: to test the equipment and to measure the size of the equipment. While the former is somewhat automatic, the latter is often overlooked, simply because when you are at the store, it is hard to tell if the equipment will really fit in to your available space. So consider the space needed for the equipment. (This applies whether you have a home gym whole room or just a small space in the living room.)

Shop Around

A wise shopper does not settle in one store. Visit at least 2 stores to compare prices of the same equipment. It also pays to do your research online so that you are armed with the right information about a particular product you are eyeing at. Read product reviews whenever it is available.

Do not be deceived

People will do everything to make a sale. So if you see TV ads saying that you can lose several inches off your waist or lose several pounds after a week, don't fall prey. Yes, they sound too good to be true, and they are. Quick-fix products with "before" and "after" testimonials may be too attractive but remember this: bodies do not change radically after a number of sessions. Because if it does, everyone who desires to have a six-pack abs or who wants to lose pounds upon pounds of weight should be contented right now.

Consider all the cost

Transportation, shipping, installation and other extra charges can pile up easily. So before buying one, make sure that you take note all these charges so that you will be ready for the total amount that you have to pay.

Discover the Truth About Diets and claim a Free Diet Plan from the Weight Loss Twins

5 Tips to Get a Flat Stomach ... Click Here

Get the Fat Burning Secrets of Models and Body Builders

Home Fitness on a Budget

Busy schedule has prompted most to do their fitness routines outside the confines of a commercial fitness center. But that is not the only reason why many do not enroll to a gym anymore. Budget has now become one of the main reasons why for some, it is most practical to exercise at home. Here are some of the things you can do to stay in shape without having to pay for a membership and spend time commuting to your gym.

Hiking

Contrary to what most people think, hiking is not a weekend activity. And not because you carry a backpack that can hold all your survival stuffs means that you have to stay overnight on the trail. Hiking can be a regular exercise routine, which can be done several hours a day on your free day, especially if live near hiking parks and trails. Hiking is free and can burn as much as 550 calories per hour.

Walking. Jogging. Running.

Putting on your rubber shoes and going around the neighborhood may not be as adventuresome as hiking in parks and trails, but you can still get almost the same health benefits and physical fitness. A good hour of walking can burn up to 380 calories. Jogging and running can burn much more than that.

However, the main disadvantage of walking around the neighborhood is you cannot do it all throughout the year. When the weather is bad or if the winter season has begun, you cannot simply go out and run around the neighborhood (this is the reason why treadmill is so popular). Still, it is still better to maximize the warm days by walking or jogging around the neighborhood than just sitting on your couch and do nothing. Plus, it is free.

Home DVDs

Over the past years, home videos have vastly improved creating quality and very useful training techniques that often require little or no equipment. From $10 to $30, you can get professionally made workout DVD regardless of your fitness level. Take note: do not be too concerned of the celebrities that endorse these products. What you should be looking out for is if the instructional video is created by a credible fitness professional.

Use your existing exercise machine.

It is estimated that 80% of exercise equipment bought in the United States is not used after the first year. This stunning figure only equates to one thing: if you are consider buying new exercise equipment, you are more likely to stop using it after some time. And if you have bought one before, you probably still have it somewhere in your house. That leaves us to the question, do your really need to buy a new one? If you already have existing equipment and if it is functioning well, use it again. There's nothing wrong with using old exercise equipment. What is wrong is actually buying a new one knowing that you can still use something.

Buy the basics

Having a treadmill or an elliptical trainer at home is cool but that doesn't mean that you must buy one. Remember that they only simulate activities you can do outdoors so you can always choose to forego buying any one of these if you cannot afford to buy one. Just buy the basics like weights, exercise mat and exercise ball. They all provide various workout techniques but do not cost as much.

Discover the Truth About Diets and claim a Free Diet Plan from the Weight Loss Twins

5 Tips to Get a Flat Stomach ... Click Here

Get the Fat Burning Secrets of Models and Body Builders

Home Fitness Guides To Keep You Focused

It is common scenario for people to never complete a diet program they initially took with the goal of trimming up after calories and fats were collected from a bad lifestyle. Similarly, it is common for people to start using home fitness equipment and then leaving the machine up collecting dust at the corner because they have forgotten it.

Why not all people can stick to what they primarily embarked upon to improve their physical and health aspect? First, it is because of the lack of discipline. Second, focus was directed elsewhere maybe due to boredom, lack of determination and goal. And third, the lack of proper diet and fitness program

Discover the Truth About Diets and claim a Free Diet Plan from the Weight Loss Twins

5 Tips to Get a Flat Stomach ... Click Here

Get the Fat Burning Secrets of Models and Body Builders

Home Fitness: Exercise Equipment Choices

There are several considerations when buying exercise equipment and the biggest challenge is perhaps choosing the one that matches your budget, space and fitness level. But regardless of these factors, you are most likely to land on any of the following exercise equipment:

Treadmill is a popular piece of gym equipment that has become the primary choice of anyone who wants to maintain an exercise routine at home. It lets you walk, jog or run anytime of the day, any month of the year – regardless of season and weather condition. A good treadmill costs at about $1500 but it can go as much as $3500, depending on the brand and features. When selecting one, focus on the load capacity, wide belt, incline settings, safety shutoff, smooth action and solid construction.

Elliptical Trainer is a no-impact exercise machine that simulates running and walking without causing excessive pressure on the joints thus decreasing the risk of impact injuries. The machine can be set from low- to high-intensity work out that is suited for all fitness levels. Today, elliptical trainers are the most popular piece of gym equipment. Price ranges from $500 to as much as $4000. Try out different brands when buying one.

Rowing Machines are excellent for those who want a total body workout. Requires little space, the rowing machine simulates the body movement of watercraft rowing targeting both the upper and the lower body muscle groups. Proper posture is required to avoid back strain.

Cross Country Ski Machines provide a full body workout, targeting both the upper and the lower body muscle groups. However, this type of machine is hard to master. So before buying one, make sure that you try it out first and see if it is really for you. People who use a cross country are often the best experienced exercisers with sufficient skills, who want a challenging workout.

Step Machines or steppers are low impact exercise machines that improve cardiovascular fitness and build and strengthen lower body muscles. A good step machine can be very expensive. Choose the right one or consider other alternatives if your budget does not fit.

Stationary Bike is composed of pedals, a paddle and some kind of handle similar to a real bike but used as exercise equipment rather than a means of transportation. A stationary bike is good for new exercisers or for those who like to have a no-impact cardiovascular workout. A quality stationary bike costs between $500 and $1000.

Recumbent Machines are like stationary bikes but with the rider sitting in an inclined position. The main advantage of a recumbent machine over a stationary bike is it provides better lower back support, thus minimizing the stress on the knees. A recumbent machine has the same aerobic effect with that of a stationary bike and targeting the muscles of the quadriceps, hamstrings and gluteus.

Resistance equipment is often known as either free weights or multi-stations or home gyms. Both have pros and cons and purchasing either of the two requires major thinking. Free weights are reasonably priced and require less space but they also require greater supervision and instruction as they are more likely to cause injury. Multi-stations on the other hand are more convenient to use but takes up a lot of space and the price depends on the quality of the machine. Take your pick.

Discover the Truth About Diets and claim a Free Diet Plan from the Weight Loss Twins

5 Tips to Get a Flat Stomach ... Click Here

Get the Fat Burning Secrets of Models and Body Builders

Before Buying Home Fitness Equipment

Going to the gym and participating in a regular exercise activity is a great way to stay fit and healthy. However, in some situations, a regular commute to the gym is not convenient. And since staying fit and healthy has always been your desire, you may already have considered building a gym at home. But before shopping for home fitness equipment, ask your self, "Are you ready to invest on such things?"

Money has always been a significant factor when building your own home gym. A good treadmill can cost up to $3000 and buying one can really put some pressure to your financial standing. So as outrageous as it may sound, you need know if you can afford it or not. (Do not forget to include all the added cost like shipping and installation.)

For some, buying expensive equipment will oblige them to use it. While the cost can be a motivating factor to stay fit, this doesn't happen in real life. In fact, it is estimated that 80% of home fitness equipment is not used after the first year

Discover the Truth About Diets and claim a Free Diet Plan from the Weight Loss Twins

5 Tips to Get a Flat Stomach ... Click Here

Get the Fat Burning Secrets of Models and Body Builders