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Paul Rodgers asked:


Cardio exercise machines are excellent for people who are unable to get outside to exercise. Using exercise machines are a great way to condition your body, but natural exercise is the most effective way to lose those extra pounds and inches quickly. These exercise machines are related to cardiovascular and aerobic workouts. The latest exercise machines are so well rounded that they can act as an entire gym in one unit. Because of all their advantages, sales of exercise machines are booming. Also, exercise machines are becoming more adaptable for residential use.

Peeling of pounds and building muscle tone through fitness training are important goals. Staying in shape makes us look and feel better, which is why health clubs and fitness centers are so popular. Many exercise scientists contend that natural training technologies such as free weights and body resistance movements like running uphill are best for achieving higher fitness levels fast. But remember natural exercise helps achieve fitness goals faster because of the extra muscle required to keep the body moving in balance.

Elliptical Exercise Machines

Elliptical exercise machines are becoming more and more popular and sophisticated in their overall design since their introduction in the 90s. The reason for their popularity is the low-impact design and total body workout these machines provide. Elliptical exercise machines provide an incredibly effective fat-burning workout without the pounding and jarring associated with treadmill running. Elliptical machines with built in, programmable computers and heart rate monitors help ensure that you are getting the most out of your cardiovascular workouts.

Elliptical Trainers are designed to provide a total body workout rather than just isolated areas as with other conventional exercise equipment like cycles and rowing machines. You stand with your feet on small, movable platforms (the foot pedals) which move up and down in an elliptical orbit as you pedal on the machine. The movement is smooth and flowing and in the same elliptical pattern that the human foot follows when we walk or run. Some people compare the workout they get on elliptical exercise machines to pedaling on a stationary bike while standing up. Home gym owners of any fitness level appreciate the low impact workouts and cardiovascular benefits of elliptical exercise machines.

Powered Treadmills

The much publicized health benefits of walking, which is a basic exercise, no doubt are contributing to the increased sales of home-use treadmills and other aerobic equipment among the 45-to 65-year old age group. Treadmills are a very popular first choice for individuals seeking to purchase home gym exercise equipment. And for good reason: they provide many of the fitness, cardiovascular, and weight loss benefits of treadmills without the ‘wear and tear’ associated with running. One obvious point that is in favor of treadmills is that it provides a better training experience for a dedicated runner/jogger than an elliptical trainer. As with elliptical trainers, treadmills work the large muscles of the body, allowing for a superior workout. As with home treadmills and home ellipticals, there are specific features that you should look for when purchasing a commercial treadmill or commercial elliptical — primarily the quality of the motor, deck, flywheel, track and control system.

If you feel exercise “machines” are your cup of carbohydrates, give this section a go. Experts agree that weight-bearing activities such as jogging and aerobics are necessary to maintain healthy bone density. To lose fat in your stomach area you need to do aerobic exercises and eat healthy. Fat burning exercises are the slow, aerobic, long duration types of exercise that involve most of the major muscle groups. These fitness machines will give you the slow, aerobic, longduration types of exercise that work best to burn fat.

Bodybuilding Supplements

Are you looking for results from your bodybuilding supplements that you would receive from steroids, without all of the harmful side effects of the drugs. The best way to reform your long, inclined or bursting muscles, to build the body of your desired shape with the help of safe supplements or the weight trimming course is advised. Many guys who workout do take muscle or bodybuilding supplements to help them wih their muscle growth. Bodybuilding supplements may also be used to improve sports performance and improve recovery from events and training.

Rocco Castellano asked:


Now I understand why many of the big health club chains are declaring Chapter 11. Their sale tactics are still in the dark ages and reminiscent of stereotypical used care salesmen. A friend of mine asked me to help her out with her workout because she felt she needed to amp it up for the marathon she’s running. She has been a member of a popular “Gym” chain for a couple of years which has now changed its name in order to serve a more diverse population.

I discussed my friend’s goals, time availability and where she was going to train. I gave her a workout card that I usually give all my clients after they receive a consultation with me. She then proceeded to go workout at “her gym” to workout. She decided to ask one of the trainers at the gym for help since the setup was a little different then at my facility. Amazing but true: all she got was a few weird looks and a comment about not knowing what a “triangle row” was. The trainer also went on to say that he was not familiar with most of the exercises on the workout card… so much for some help. As you would expect, I received a call from my friend and she relayed the story to me, asking if I would accompany her to her next workout. She didn’t feel comfortable and thought she would perform the exercises incorrectly. I scheduled some time and off we went. This is where the bullshit began.

We walked into “her Gym” with my guest pass in hand. I was informed that I needed to fill out a form . . . name, address, age, fitness goals, you get the picture. BANG! Then it happened: “Mr. Castellano you need to meet with someone”. What? Why? I came here to workout with my friend. Are you friggin’ kidding me? Here comes “Smiling Bob”, in his blue dress shirt, looking like he wants to sell me a used car. I have to give it to him, his shirt was pressed to impress. I felt every nerve in my body surge. Before he even started in on his sales pitch rant, I told him to stop and that I was only there because his inadequate staff couldn’t help my friend and that I would just be working out with her this once. He didn’t know what to do but to let me workout.

I’m not completely sure who has influenced this “Used Car Sales” approach but if these clubs know what’s good for them, it needs to stop. I could understand a mild greeting from an assistant manager, manager or sales person to establish a rapport and a “If you have any questions I’d be glad to help” comment and let me be on my merry way. You don’t need to be a sales and marketing genius to know that if you present yourself with a friendly smile, say your name clearly, that’s a good first step in establishing a relationship with your potential customer. I don’t react well when a salesman presents a full court press when I first walk in any door. Something I always try to do is get as much information from the potential customer, present myself in a way that would be positively memorable, let the person experience my workouts, products or websites and then follow up with them in a friendly manner and schedule a time to talk to them about how my products can help them.

If you’re talking at me…I’m not listening. Go sell it somewhere else.

Brad Howard asked:


Rest assured that there are a lot of reasons why you should join a fitness club but there’s only one reason that you’ll even feel marginally reluctant to join a fitness club and it’s called MEMBERSHIP FEES.

Still, don’t let this dissuade you. After all, you can’t expect to reap all the benefits of joining a fitness club for free right?

Fitness Clubs – Helping you Achieve your Fitness Goals

Fitness clubs motivate you. Exercising alone is no fun and even if you are not with an exercise buddy, the atmosphere in fitness clubs alone is often enough to energize you into ‘getting back on track’ with your fitness goals. However, don’t worry that you won’t find your own ‘personal space’ in fitness clubs. Most people, like you, appreciate the ambience but are quick to leave you alone.

Fitness clubs offer savings. There is no doubt that various fitness machines have proven themselves to be extremely effective. However, to buy them all would cost a fortune! This is really one of the main reasons to go for a fitness club membership. Sure, you might pay a steep amount especially if you are going for a well-equipped fitness club, but considering that you get access to numerous equipment, consider it a worthwhile investment to your overall fitness goals.

Fitness clubs give you access to fitness professionals. Fitness centers truly worth their salt are staffed with professional nutritionists, dieticians, fitness consultants and personal trainers. Most of the time, access to these people are included in your membership fee so do take advantage of them!

Fitness clubs offer pleasant pleasures. Great amenities such as saunas, steam rooms, spacious shower and changing rooms, and perhaps a swimming pool are all great ‘perks’ that come with a fitness club membership. So exercise and enjoy!

What to Look for in a Fitness Club

All geared up to join fitness club. Following are a couple of pointers you should consider.

Consider your own fitness goals and what particular type of activity really encourages you. For instance, if you are more into aerobic workouts, join a fitness club that offers aerobics classes and offers a host of aerobic fitness machines. On the other hand, if you’re idea of an overall body workout is swimming ensure that the fitness club has a great swimming pool.

Location, location, location. The best fitness club to join is to the one that you have ready access to. Believe me, if that ‘perfect’ fitness club is all the way across the other side of town, chances are, you will NOT go as often as you should and you would have just wasted money joining it.

Friendly and reliable fitness club staff. Although one of the main factors to join a fitness club is the range of fitness equipment they offer, it is important that they have professional staff that are accessible to you all the time. For instance, some fitness clubs claim that they have in-house trainers and consultants but many customers are never able to ‘consult’ with them. If you are a novice with fitness equipment or are just starting out on your fitness goals, this point should be big consideration with you.

Mike Morrical asked:


Baby Boomers often ask:

What can I do to re-gain the muscle fitness of my youth that I am now losing as I grow older?

There is a popular common day belief: “Regular aerobic exercise is all that you need to stay young.”  In reality an on-going effort in your exercise routine to build and maintain muscle tone is necessary to maintain a youthful body.   Weight training combined with aerobic exercise on a regular basis, along with a healthy diet will help you speed up your metabolism as you build more youthful muscle.   The end result is that you will maintain a healthy weight and achieve optimum health. 

The American College of Sports Medicine now recommends weight training for every adult.  The earlier you start weight training the more muscles you’ll keep as you grow older!  Building a home gym and choosing the right home fitness products for weight training will help you stay on track in achieving your fitness goals.  The key is to start at first with lighter weights and more repetitions to burn fat and tone up problem areas.  You can always work your way up to heavier weights to build more muscle mass, as you increase your work out time and this will help reduce the risk of injuries. 

For home use try lighter weights such as dumbbells, barbells and doorway chin-up bars which vary in price but are very affordable.  You can also add some additional fitness products to your home gym such as a weight bench, an incline board for weight training and an elliptical machine for your aerobic portion of your workout routine which will be non-stressful to your joints but heart healthy.

If your workout becomes too laborious or routine, I would encourage you to work-out a different set of muscles each day by setting up different stations in your home gym by using various fitness products and exercise equipment to give you more variety in your work-out routine.  Also working out with a friend or partner and playing some high energy music helps motivate and keeps you working out at longer intervals.

Your muscles are your primary calorie burners!   Keeping  your muscles active over the years by using effective weight training fitness products will not only reduce excess pounds but will help you regain that youthful muscular toned appearance as you grow older.

Steve Johnson asked:


Are you thinking about starting a fitness program to improve your overall health and shed a few extra pounds? Good for you! Here are some excellent tips for getting started with your fitness program.

Starting a fitness program is the best thing you can do for your overall health and as soon as you have your Doctor’s okay you can get right into all that physical activity which can help reduce chronic disease as well as improve your balance and your coordination.

Start by assessing your current fitness level. You probably have at least a rough idea of just how fit you are. You need a baseline to start with so your fitness scores can be compared for gain. You should record your pulse rate before and after you complete your mile walk, how long it takes you to walk that mile, how many pushups you did at one time, your body’s mass index or BMI, and the circumference of your waist. Once you have this information recorded your fitness program is ready to go.

Next you need to design your own personal fitness program. Start by determining your fitness goals so what it is you want to accomplish – lose weight, improve your cardio function, or perhaps run a marathon. Think about what it is you like or dislike when it comes to exercise and activities. Plan to start light and then build as your ability gets better. That’s the best way to avoid injury and do remember to spice it up a bit so that your workouts have lot of variety so you won’t get bored.

Now you need to assemble any exercise equipment you have purchased for your fitness program. Perhaps you purchased one of those all in one machines, or maybe it was just a treadmill. At any rate you will want to get it all assembled so that you can start your workouts and be on your way to a healthier you.

Once you are ready to get started you will need to start slow and gradually be build up. Make sure your warm up is adequate so that everything becomes easy. Depending on where you are will depend on what type of exercises you incorporate into your workout and for how long you workout will be. That’s what your personal fitness program is all about.

It’s best to break things up if you need to. Remember shorter more frequent sessions also work very well and it is much easier to fit 10 minutes of exercise into your busy day than it is 30 minutes. That 10 minutes means 3 short and quick sessions. It’s that easy to get your fitness program into your busy day.

Try to be creative with your workouts because you are much more likely to stay at it when your program is interesting and not boring. It’s hard to stay enthusiastic about the same exercises in your fitness program when you have to do them day in and day out.

Make sure that you are listening to your body. Shortness of breath, dizziness, or nausea means you need to take a break from your fitness program immediately. If you have pain in an area reduce the amount of exercise for a bit to give it a change to heal.

It is very important to monitor your progress because otherwise you have no way of knowing if your fitness program is working for you. You also don’t know when you should make things easier or harder.

Now that you’ve created your own personal fitness program you have no excuse to get busy.

Mike Deibler asked:


Personal Training has become a popular service today.  You can easily find a trainer to help you reach your fitness goals all over the place.  You will see trainers working with gym members, teaching outside at beaches and parks, or you can even have a trainer visit you at your home to work.  You can get great results from any of these methods.  The main concern is that you have a certified trainer that is keeping you motivated.  On top of all of these places to work with a trainer, private studios are popping up more and more.  Are these better than other places to train?

While anywhere you can train with a certified personal trainer will be beneficial, working at a private studio can have the most appeal.  First we can look at the type of trainers that you will find at a gym and a studio.  Let me start by explain there are many great trainers that work at gyms and will be very successful.  However, many gyms will hire trainers by walking the floor and finding members that look the part.  They have these members pass their own certification and put them out on the floor to start training others.  The main problem with this is even though they are probably in great shape and know a little bit about fitness, they mostly know about training themselves.  They probably do not have much experience working with special populations/conditions such as diabetics, hypertension, low back pain, and arthritis.  If you see a trainer that is constantly training each client he or she has with the same routine for each of them, they may be guilty of this. 

Even if the trainer has a certification and some experience the club will not do very much to enhance their education.  Their main concern is that the trainer is selling personal training packages and supplements.  They spend most of the time teaching the trainer how to be a better salesperson, not a better fitness professional.  As long as their sales numbers are up it does not matter if they are a good trainer or not.  Those are the ones who will be promoted to managers to teach others how to sell, not how to train. 

Most studios want to pride themselves in having the best personal trainers in their respective areas.  In order to do this trainers that are hired are interviewed and tested to make sure they are representative of the facility.  Most trainers that work at a studio do view fitness as a career and not as a part time job.  These individuals will take their job seriously and constantly strive to learn more and do a better job.  When you meet with your trainer you should hear them mention that they attend different conferences and events to show you that they are trying to improve their service for you. 

A higher level of trainer is only one benefit of working in a training studio.  If you have ever tried working out at a club in January at around 6pm you will understand my next point.  Gyms get crowded.  Imagine you could kick everyone out of the gym and have the whole place to yourself with maybe one or two others working out at the same time.  This essentially is what a studio can offer.  You will not have all the equipment that a gym would, but you will have what you need as well as a trainer showing you new exercises you never thought existed.  Not only is this convenient for you but your trainer will be able to help you better.  A trainer at a gym might write up a great workout for you but then find out all the equipment that he or she was going to use is being occupied.  Now they have to think on the fly and put together another program that was not really what they wanted to do. 

Along with the crowd come the distractions.  This can be very frustrating.  You are trying to work with your trainer and someone keeps asking him or her questions during your paid session.  This puts the trainer in a very awkward position.  They want to help the person but they do not want to neglect you.  Or you see a friend and they want to talk to you.  Now you trainer is getting frustrated because you are wasting some of your workout time.  With less people around you can do much more in a smaller amount of time. 

I am obviously biased since I work out of a studio.  I have worked in many different locations.  I worked at the big health club, in home, and outside with clients.  You can find great trainers in all different locations.  If you are looking for a trainer who has a career in fitness not just a part time job you might want to check out some local studios.  Often times they are the same rates as health clubs except you won’t have membership fees.  Check it out for yourself and see the difference.  Most studios will offer a free session to test it out.  Why not take advantage of it?  If you like your gym better you can always go back.  I promise though, once you’ve workout in a studio you will not want to go back.

Zach Hunt asked:


How To Find A Quality Fitness Trainer

Regardless of your fitness goals, you can benefit from a local Spokane fitness trainer. For those who need to lose a few extra pounds to those who need to physically transform their entire body, a fitness trainer can assist you in reaching your unique goals.

That Extra Edge

While the aspect of motivation is not the most effective or important benefit of your Spokane Fitness Trainer, it is a very important one to say the least. Lacking motivation is a major issue that people seem to have when trying to reach their fitness goals.

They learn that the road to reach their individual goals is much harder than they originally anticipated. Your personal trainer can provide that extra motivation that you need to reach your fitness goals. All people will not require the extra motivation from their personal Spokane trainer but the extra boost will help.

The Ultimate Benefit Of A Fitness Trainer

The Fitness Trainer can assist you in managing your fitness plan. The trainer can help you plan every aspect of your workout, from the foods that you eat to the various types of exercises that you do. Since everyone is not an expert on fitness, it is nice to have someone who can show you tips on how you can get the most out of your workout sessions. Your personal trainer is there from day one, which means you have someone focused on you and your routine..even if you aren’t.

The fitness trainer will design your fitness routine, so you won’t need to concentrate on an exercise plan – all you have to do is workout. This is extremely helpful for those with hectic schedules as they will not be forced to keep up with every detail of their personal fitness plan.

Exercise Efficiency

Your fitness trainer will make sure that your exercise sessions are as efficient as possible. Many people exercise with the goal of reaching better health but fail to do so as they are doing the wrong types of exercise. For example, someone trying to build their leg muscle may be participating in exercises that do little or nothing to improve the amount of muscle in their legs. Improving the area(s) of your body that you wish to improve is part of what a personal trainer will teach you.

Dieting Success: The Ultimate Secret To Rapid Results

A personal fitness trainer will show you the types of foods that you need to eat to reach your desired level of fitness. For most workout plans, a normal diet will not offer results which is why it’s important to have a fitness trainer design a diet especially for you. Your trainer has the knowledge of all the foods and nutrients that are vital to your exercise regimen along with the foods that you should avoid.

Reach Your Fitness Goals Permanently

If you are a Spokane resident and are wishing to reach your fitness goals, you should speak with your local fitness trainer today. Your fitness trainer will provide you with the building blocks that will build the road to reach better health if you take the opportunity to enlist their fitness services.

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


Picture yourself with a strong, slim, beautiful body. Now, imagine you got that way by having fun and meeting new people when most everything is closed. Think of yourself as healthy and strong, free from illness, and full of energy and enthusiasm.

Does this sound like an impossible dream? Well, it isn’t.

Those images may be a dream, but they are possible. How? Through a regular program of exercise at a 24 Hour Fitness Centers.

24 Hour Fitness Centers offer opportunities for all of these possibilities. That’s how they became the biggest private fitness chain in the world.

Every day, at any time of day, millions of people use 24 Hour Fitness Centers to get a beautiful, healthy body and enjoy life more.

The time flexibility and variety of high-quality equipment and classes at 24 Hour Fitness Center has made it a home away from home for all types of people all over the world.

You’ll find people with busy productive lives who know how important it is to make time for that daily exercise routine or specialty fitness class, even if it’s in the middle of the night.

Group fitness class schedules are flexible and convenient. The wide variety of exercise equipment is plentiful and available. The professional staff is helpful and supportive. 24 Hour Fitness Centers play a vital role in giving people richer, healthier lives and positive and enthusiastic outlooks.

24 Hour Fitness Center’s instructors believe their work does a lot more than keeping people fit and healthy. They’ll tell you that people who take classes or receive personal instruction develop greater self-confidence and determination. As their appearance and abilities improve, they become more vital participants in life generally.

The professionals at 24 Hour Fitness Center are dedicated to helping their clients build a strong fit body, excellent health, and a well-balanced lifestyle. They know that commitment and persistence are key components of a healthy lifestyle, and they understand that fancy equipment alone can’t inspire those qualities. The offer personal individual support and motivation to all their customers.

And as many of us have experienced, a little success goes a long way. As muscles become more firm, as agility and flexibility improve, and as customers begin to feel better generally, their motivation and commitment to regular exercise increases. Instructors stress the fact that they’ll get a beautiful body and good health in direct proportion to the amount of effort they invest in their exercise program.

The quality of the equipment and facility, the convenience and flexibility of operating hours and practices, and personal professional support have made 24 Hour Fitness Center the most popular provider for fitness enthusiasts worldwide.

Whether they’re members for life or working on a short-term improvement plan, experienced fitness buffs or nervous beginners, 24 Hour Fitness Center customers know they’ll get high quality and dependable service when they make 24 Hour Fitness Center their home away from home.

Next time you go shopping for a gym or health center, check out 24 Hour Fitness Center. You’ll be glad you did!

Karen Gates asked:


Everything is high tech these days. So why not go electronic with dieting and exercise too? It’s the new hip way to reach your health and fitness goals.

Originally, online dieting was designed to let you customize a weight loss plan to your own pace. Fitness equipment, low fat cookbooks, dietary supplements and vitamins, you’ve seen them all and more but if they aren’t used together in a perfectly balanced routine you may not ever see any results. Fitness gurus caught on and started providing systems that keep track of all the many aspects of dieting and more importantly what results you personally will see from using them.

The prices for these memberships are low compared to most other methods of dieting. And if you’ve already spent a lot of money on fitness equipment, gym memberships, and other costly products, it will only help you maximize their use.

Fitness franchises have even gotten in on it, offering fitness club software or online memberships to help you keep track of your goals and stay motivated without any extra billing. Bally fitness has one of these sites that provides its clients with meal and exercise plans as well as personal support for members of their gym. If you can see that you’re getting results, after all, they know you’ll keep paying those monthly membership fees. And it probably will be more worth it to you as well.

Here’s why. Imagine counting every calorie in the food you eat, then keeping track of those you burn in your exercise routine. Do you really have time for that? Instead you can login to your online membership site each morning and check your personalized menu. If you follow that menu you’ll know that you’re only taking in calories or carbohydrates that won’t hinder your fitness goals. Many membership sites also include daily exercise programs, so you know when to work on cardio, strength training or take a day of rest.

Add to that online support from a personal trainer, dietician or other health expert that most sites include in the price of membership and you’ve got a great resource to keep yourself on track. And isn’t that the hardest part of dieting anywayjust doing it?

Tony asked:


Exercise and fitness are becoming one of the best ways for staying younger and healthier. The compact exercise machine gives you the flexibility you need for your exercise program in the comfort of your home. You need not worry about leaving home in any weather condition and lose weight or just stay in shape. 

A portable exercise bicycle is just the piece of equipment for workout at home. There are several models to choose from, and you can get all the features you need for a reasonable price. You can use the exercise bikes to workout both your lower and upper body; also can be used for aerobic exercise and toning as well as for rehabilitation.

Proper usage of fitness equipment burns excess calories and maintains the overall physical well being of a person. Moreover, it improves the resistance and stamina of the body. There are both commercial and residential (home) fitness equipment designed to suit all budgets. Some of the most popular fitness equipment on the market includes treadmills, elliptical trainers, exercise cycles, rowing machines, home gyms, stair-climbing machine and exercise riders.

Home gym provides flexibility and convenience of working out in the comfort of your own home. One of the best benefits of having own fitness equipment, in addition to saving time and convenience, is that you can exercise in the privacy and comfort of your own home. 

Working out from the comfort of your house allows you to be in control of your environment, where you can listen to your choice of music or your favorite television show. Ultimately, this will result in you working out more often and will help to make the attainment of your fitness goals much easier.

The best way to ensure you make the right choice is to have a plan for finding the equipment that best suits your needs. Here are some tips on the same.

Determine your fitness goals. Decide if you are looking to build strength and muscle mass, or just loose weight and firm up, as this will help you to narrow down the types of equipment you should consider. 

Assess your experience. Specialty dealers help you assess your goals and experience, and recommend the types of home fitness equipment that will best fit your fitness needs. 

Determine the space where you wish to put your equipment. 

Determine your equipment needs. 

With a good plan, you`ll better be able to find the equipment you need – at the price you can afford. So if you don`t feel like hanging out at the gym, maybe want to watch TV while you workout, just get yours one too from the number of compact exercise bikes available in the market today!