Can you answer danielle27c’s question about Treadmill?:

We are researching, and ultimately going to buy a home gym (new or used). We have narrowed it down to 3 companies; Life Fitness, Precor, or Body Solid. We don’t want to spend $1500 on a new one, and realize that most people buy these and use them for a few months at most, so buying one on ebay or whatnot is not an issue. Just want to know what other people think if they’ve tried any of these. All and any feedback is appreciated.

Proform Cardio Crosstrainer

Can you answer NONAME’s question about Treadmill?:

I am planning to start a home gym, what are some good workout weight benches that is worth its price and works well?

Elliptical Cardio Cross Trainer

Buying a home gym? A home gym can help you build muscle, produce an attractive body, rev up a sluggish metabolism and shave years off your age.

If you choose wisely, you’ll have all the tools you need to accomplish these goals (and more). But not everyone knows where to start or how to get the most from a home gym.

When clients ask me about buying a home gym, here are 5 things I tell them to get the most from their purchase:

1) Buy a Well Rounded Piece of Equipment:

Unless you have hundreds of square feet in your home to dedicate to multiple pieces of equipment, you should look for a home gym that covers all the major exercises (including the ones you don’t like), such as chest, back, abs, legs (hamstrings & quadriceps), shoulders, biceps and triceps.

2) Buy A Home Gym That Is Stable:

There’s a saying, “You get what you pay for.” Most of the inexpensive home gyms you buy from a local department store have very narrow bases, so they tend to rock when you use them. Stay away from home gyms that do not have a good stable base.

For a basic rule of thumb, look at home gyms that are more “square” or “as high as they are wide”. As an example, you won’t want a home gym that 10ft high x 2 ft wide x 2 ft deep, unless you are going to anchor it to a concrete floor.

3) Put Your Gym In A Place You’ll Actually Use It

If you leave your home gym in a room you normally don’t go into to, odds are high that you aren’t going to use it.

The more inviting the room where you place your equipment, the more likely you will use it (how many of us really want to work out in a dungeon?).

If there’s only one place you can place your home gym, then work on the room. Maybe add a coat of paint or put up pictures that inspire you.

Add a stereo system or a wall mounted television. By making the room inviting and inspiring, you’ll ensure that workouts will be enjoyable.

4) Make A Simple & Short Workout Routine

Don’t go using those “Mr. Or Ms. Olympia” home gym workouts. That’s the first big mistake that people make when they first get their equipment.

Instead, start by making a workout that is only 30 to 45 minutes long. Most people can do this and it will build your confidence.

Do this workout 3 to 5 days a week. Remember to work all your muscles (not just the ones you like) for optimum results. It helps to keep a record of your workouts on paper so you can see just how far you’ve come.

If you’re stuck on what to do, don’t worry. Many home gyms come with beginner workouts. But again, don’t go crazy and kill yourself over the first few workouts - start from where you are and build on it. Consistency is key for a killer body.

5) Write Down Your Workout Days On The Calendar

Like any important appointment, make an appointment with your home gym. If you’re really serious about getting in shape, you need to make the effort to put yourself, your body and your health first - especially at the beginning stages.

Experts tell us it takes 3 to 6 weeks before actions become habit. Once you’ve built the habit of working out, it will get easier.

To help you stick to your exercise appointment, get loved ones to encourage you and make you accountable. Once you get past the 8 week mark, you’ll feel (and look) so great you’ll wonder why you didn’t get a home gym sooner.

So those are 5 ways to get the most out of your home gym equipment. If you’re buying a home gym, taking the time to find the right equipment for you will pay huge dividends in the future!



Thanks to Kathryn Oneill for contributing this article to our Treadmill blog:

Best Elliptical Machines

Have you ever looked at an elliptical trainer review? If you have you can see that they cover a great deal of information, usually focusing on key points within their elliptical trainer review. However, sometimes you can read one elliptical trainer review about one elliptical machine, and then later on come across another elliptical trainer review about the same product, yet the two elliptical trainer reviews are completely different.

This may puzzle some people about how the elliptical trainer review of a product can be so different when they are reviewing the same product that another critique is looking at. There are several reasons why elliptical trainer reviews can come out so differently. We will cover these reasons and show you the key elements that help form a proper elliptical trainer review. You may even be surprised as to how elliptical trainer reviews are scored.

One part of a elliptical trainer review is the price. The prices of the actual machine play a big factor into the elliptical trainer review of the machine. The price ranges are categorized into economy buys, mid-priced buys, and then commercial grade elliptical machines. Now an elliptical trainer reviews results only compare the products that fit into these three price ranges.

So if you have a elliptical trainer review for a machine in the economy buys, that has a ‘best buy’ rating with five stars, versus a elliptical trainer review of a machine in commercial grade elliptical machines, with a four star rating, the elliptical machine with the five stars does not mean it is better then the elliptical machine with four stars. All it means is that the five star machines was judged against all of the other elliptical machines within its class to form the results for the elliptical trainer review and rating. This is a major mistake that many consumers make when they read elliptical trainer reviews and look at the ratings.

Each reviewer and expert has certain criteria that they use to rate the machine and use that in their elliptical trainer review. Some experts may value the machines warranty more then they value the machines features when making the final assessments of their elliptical trainer review. Other experts may find more value in the price, and then they do quality of the machine to form a final analysis for their elliptical trainer review. So when you read reviews, you must understand what the values of the reviewer are, because they may judge certain aspects of the machine in a different way then you might.

Another part of elliptical trainer reviews that you want to keep track of is the person doing the review. You want to pay attention to reviewers with unbiased opinions who write legitimate elliptical trainer reviews, and are not just sources that try to make money form writing a good review for a company to boost their products image. You also need to know that even the best manufacturers who are known for quality and great products do have products that are not so great. This is the purpose for elliptical trainer reviews and is the reason why you cannot always judge a product by its manufacturer.

By understanding how an elliptical trainer review works and how different outcomes of the same product can occur, you can now understand how to look at reviews differently. Remember that there are trusted sources that write reliable elliptical trainer reviews. Do n to fall for a review from a company that may be just writing a review for their own personal gain.



Thanks to Uchenna Ani-Okoye for contributing this article to our Treadmill blog:

How to Make Money Online

Home gyms are becoming increasingly popular as new technology emerges and home gyms are able to have state of the art equipment you once could only find in an expensive gym. For not that much money, a person could stock a home gym with all the necessary equipment to get in shape and then some. Home gyms come without all the distractions of a commercial gym and the best part is that you never have to wait for a particular piece of workout equipment. In your home gym, you’re first in line for everything.

Save Your Money

A commercial gym can cost a lot of money and, let’s face it, most people who sign up for commercial gyms rarely use the memberships they pay their hard earned money for. Sure, they may go in the beginning, they may go a lot, but eventually, like most people, their enthusiasm for working out fades and they quit going altogether. Yet they keep paying the monthly dues. It’s like they’re throwing away their money.

With a home gym, you pay the initial cost for the equipment and then you pay nothing else. You get to work out when you want and you don’t have to worry about any commutes. With your home gym, you’re already there.

Enjoying A Good Home Gym Workout

Who wouldn’t rather enjoy a good home gym workout rather than trek all the way to the gym and sweat in front of a bunch of other people. Well some people may like the socializing or may even see it as a pool for possible dates. But for those who would prefer to save the time and just do it at home, the home gym workout is optimal. How can one accomplish this successfully, though? This article covers the many different ways in which one can get a home gym workout that matches or surpasses any gym trip.

Upper Body

Many people, mainly women, don’t really get into the great benefits of a good upper body workout. But this workout is just as vital as any other to keep the body in tip-top shape. And not only is it healthy, it doesn’t hurt the body’s appearance much! It is easy to get a good upper body home gym workout. Some simple ideas do not even include free weights. For instance, why not try some good old-fashioned push-ups. Not only do these treat the arms and chest just right, but they add in the extra benefit of a cardiovascular effect. Working on triceps? How about arm bends on the couch? That’ll burn! What about those shoulders? Some simple shrugs, with or without some type of weight, will do the job.

Lower Body

The lower half of the body is easy enough to get in to shape with a home gym workout. Try a series of squats with variations of leg width apart. Adding in some calf presses is easy to incorporate with a simple lift here and there. Another idea for the home gym workout lower body component is trying a bunch of lunges across the living room. After a while, those things will really tighten the legs and glutes up! Sticking with it and trying your hardest with each rep will really show results.

Cardiovascular

Even the heart-beating benefits from a cardiovascular exercise can be complete in a home gym workout. In addition to simply keeping the heart going with an ongoing strengthening set, an exerciser can try many of the old standbys. For instance, jumping jacks have always been a heart-healthy way to get the body moving. Or what about keeping a jump rope around the house? Maybe even a hula hoop? These are fun ways to experience benefits from a home gym workout.



Thanks to Eddie Lamb for contributing this article to our Treadmill blog:

Best Treadmill Workout