After spending a good amount of time this morning on the timeless and ubiquitous Precor EFX 556, I just wanted to jot down some notes. First of all, although the bio-mechanical movements of the EFX 556 are very fluid, gentle and comfortable, the bio-mechanical movements and running motions are unlike my natural running motion. Precor fans like the way the EFX series machines glide, but I don’t think they actually feel like the Precor elliptical’s duplicate their natural running motions? Precor crosstrainers are a family of their own, as their stride length feels like any other I have ever felt. Precor’s 556 crosstrainer feels like it targets my thighs and quads so well. I love it. Its just so simple to use. I love basic stuff that works well. The 556 just has such a simple electronic and structural foundation. It has 20 resistance levels, 6 pre-programmed workout courses, WHICH ARE ALL EASY TO USE, and the angle of the ramp is super easy to adjust. This machine works as well as any elliptical I have ever used from an electronic and mechanical point of view, however, as I said earlier, the stride motion and length do not mimic my natural stride.

After waking up far too early this morning, I decided to go and do my best to work off the pounds of garbage I have consumed since arriving in Las Vegas only two days ago. My poor stomach has had to digest bacon and cheddar fries, double cheeseburgers from Bob’s Big Boy, sour gummy bears from the mini-bar, cups of sugar mixed with coffee and Cheetos. But as the Kings of Cardio always say, after eating going on a junk-food binge, just make sure you get back to work the next day. Work it out. Ok, so where were we? Oh yeah, the fitness center at the Venetian. Well, once I woke up and started my trek towards the gym at the Venetian, I was curious as to what I was going to find. I wondered….will it be super standard with rows of Precor EFX 556 Crosstrainers? Am I going to find over a dozen Life Fitness 95Ti treadmills? Although the two pieces of fitness equipment just mentioned are both classic, I had hoped that the Venetian, being that it is supposed to be a stylish Las Vegas Casino, would actually have some new, fresh fitness equipment, rather than your standard lines of Precor EFX Series Crosstrainers and Life Fitness treadmills.

The first thing I saw when I walked in the gym, was the massive StairMaster 7000 PTs and StairMaster 916 step mills. With the 8 foot high TV on a stand placed in front of each 7000PT and 916, it is no wonder why those stair climbers were the first to catch my eye. It seems as if the StairMaster’s themselves are approximately seven feet tall, so the combination of its size, along with the entertainment screen behind it, make them seem statuesque and monumental when you first walk in the gym. So…so far, so good. The 7000PTs are old, but the 916′s are sweet. For those who are unaware of what the difference between the SM 7000PT and SM 916 is, the 916 is a newer, more cosmetically appealing version of the StairMaster 7000PT stepmill.

The next thing I noticed were these Technogym treadmills. These were some sweeeeeeeet treads! The entire screen was heat censored and there were no physical buttons on screen. What really impressed me about its technology, was the fact that all of its controls were very fast. Life Fitness makes a treadmill that has a similar screen called the Life Fitness 95T Engage and it has a touch screen as well. Let me tell you, the expediency of the electronic reactions on the Technogym were at least five times faster than the LF 95T Engage. Channel surfing on the Technogym is just so quick and easy. One awesome feature held by the Technogym but not 95T Engage is the TV channel guide on the Technogym treamill. It is so easy to scroll through and responds instantly upon touch, making it very user friendly.

Then, the best part of the gym visit came, when I introduced myself to the weight equipment! Woooohhhhoooooooooo! The weight equipment, from the free weights to the multi-station assisted machines, was absolutely first class. Life Fitness Hammer Strength machines were everywhere and they all looked beautiful. Designed with pin-point precision, the weight room is laid out for optimal user comfort. When exercise machines are too close in proximity to one another, user-friction builds, as nobody likes to feel the hot breath and grunts from a stranger working out next to them. Whoever designed this gym at the Venetian knew what they were doing. There must be close to $500,000 worth of fitness equipment in there.

Staying in shape and maintaining a solid figure are bi-products of hard work and practice with fitness equipment. People often over emphasize innate athleticism and ones ability to become good at physical activity. Why do people so often correlate natural athletic ability with ones potential? When it comes to getting in shape, all exercise really is, is practice, practice, practice. If you run on a treadmill or elliptical trainer for 6 hours a day, trust us, not only will you know the piece of fitness equipment like the back of your hand, but you will look like you live in a gym.

If you take the time to learn proper technique and practice cardiovascular exercises such as running, with strength workouts such as lifting weights, then eventually you will become a master of your body and its appearance. If you are out of shape, lazy, weak and/or slow, the great thing is that you have all the upside in the world and all you need is a treadmill, a home gym, some inspiration and 30 minutes a day. Seriously, that is all it will take if you want to build muscle, lose weight, while looking and feeling lean.

Although most people want to fit in the same jeans they wore in high-school, taking the time and effort in order to do the exercise necessary to look and feel, thin and firm. More people use their home fitness equipment as a coat-hanger than an exercise machine.  If you put in the time on your Precor elliptical cross-trainer, or your Life Fitness 95Ti treadmill, the results will show. Fitness equipment has become more user friendly than ever and the various motivating exercise programs designed by fitness equipment companies such as Life Fitness and Precor, really allow users to go the extra distance while having fun at the same time as going through an intense workout.

If and when you decide to buy home fitness equipment you must make sure that you get maximum value from your treadmill, elliptical or whatever gym equipment you use. Don’t be the guy who lets their Precor 556 elliptical turn into a coat hanger. Clearly, there is no value in that. One should never let their health club quality home fitness equipment turn into dust collecting clothing rack.

Ultimately, the key towards prevents gym equipment from turning into unused wastes of space, is to purchase hi-performance gym equipment. Statistics prove that people who purchase low cost fitness equipment for their home, do not end up using it and fall victim to the fact that their impulse purchase, based off of the attraction of a low price, ended up realizing that their purchase was a complete waste and failure. If you would rather go outside and exercise on a track because you do not have extra money saved up that you can spend on fitness equipment, then that makes perfect sense and it would be difficult to argue that is not a great way to stay in shape. However, if you buy cheap and generic fitness equipment because you do not have cash, that is not better than nothing, in fact, it is a losing proposition. If you plan on buying home fitness equipment such as treadmills, exercise bikes, rowing machines, home gyms and stair climbers, and you do not have at least $1000.00 to spend, that odds that you are going to be able to buy fitness equipment that will last and that you will enjoy using, are slim and none.

With all of that said, the clear answer to anyones question about what they should do to stay in shape, the answer is to make sure you actively exercise on health club quality fitness equipment. There are so many different programs and obstacle courses one can use on cardio fitness equipment such as Precor ellipticals and life fitness treadmills, that working out on durable, well equipped and technologically advanced treadmills and other cardio equipment, is fun and interactive. Having an interactive workout allows users to really follow through on their goals through being able to track their progress. Not only do Life Fitness and Precor treadmills keep great user statistics, but they are also very comfortable on users knees and other joints. This brings us back to the first point which is that unless you purchase gym grade home fitness equipment, you will not get maximum value from your exercise equipment.

***Call 800-990-1108 for reviews, comparisons, pricing, shipping lead times, warranty policies and all other information regarding Precor Fitness Equipment.***

With arms that sway back and forth with its user, along with an adjustable incline ramp, this gym grade Precor crosstrainer is the only commercial Precor elliptical trainer that has both an adjustable incline ramp, as well as moving arms. The commercial Precor 576i is similar to the Precor EFX EFX5.25, Precor EFX 5.31, Precor EFX 5.35 and Precor EFX5.37, however, all of those precor ellipticals are designed for home usage and they do not have the structural integrity or mechanical capacities of a health club quality precor fitness machine. Not only is there a difference between the user weight capacities of commercial vs. non-commercial ellipticals made by Precor, but also, the smooth,  natural glide that you get with all health club quality Precor’s, is not  the same as their residential grade elliptical trainers, which most certainly are not as smooth.

The Precor™ 576i is one of the most sought after elliptical crosstrainers in the world. Its features include an adjustable stride length, an adjustable ramp which ranges from 13-40 degrees, and an upper body workout with reversible arms. Making sure you engage your total body, all four limbs, head to toe, while toning different muscle groups, is essential if you want to maximize results and truly look your absolute best.

Precor™ has several commercial cross-trainers including the EFX 544, EFX 546, EFX 556 and EFX 576. Similar names sound confusing so let us break down the differences for you. The Precor EFX 556 crosstrainer has swinging arms and an incline ramp that is set in place, so that the angle can not be adjusted. The Precor EFX 544 crosstrainer & EFX 546 cross-trainer both have adjustable incline ramps, however, neither of them have the upper body capabilities and moving arms, like the EFX 576i has.

The Precor EFX 576i cross-trainer is the only commercial Precor elliptical that has both an adjustable incline ramp, as well as upper body arms that move back and forth with the user as they exercise. Having the ability to adjust the degree of difficulty of the incline ramp, through changing up the percentage of elevation through its power incline ramp, while providing an upper body workout too, is what makes people lose more weight and build their stamina better on this piece of gym equipment, than any other piece of fitness equipment in the world. This award winning elliptical will remain sturdy, safe and secure, even throughout the most intense workouts, so put on your game-face, give it your all, and have some fun.

Precor made the EFX 576i with such great attention to detail, that its durability, structural integrity and mechanical capacities, are all top of the line and second to none. It would be more than difficult to find any qualified fitness trainer, or professional athlete to dispute the fact that this fine piece of exercise equipment does not fall under the category, “The Best of the Best.”

Its display, also known as the computer console, has every user readout imaginable, including calories burned, calories burned per hour, strides per minute, intensity level, time, time remaining, heart rate, target heart rate, percent complete, workout summary and much more. In terms of its aesthetic appeal, the frame is double powder coated, preventing rust. Additionally, you will not need to worry about messy cords and wires running laying around your home, because the Precor EFX 576i is cordless and self-powered!

***Call 800-990-1108 for pricing, information, reviews and shipping lead times for the Precor EFX 556 and all other Precor fitness equipment.***

The Precor EFX 556 elliptical does a phenomenal job assimilating to the natural walking and running motion of its user. Built by one of the worlds most renowned fitness companies, this one of a kind elliptical was designed to give your entire body a head to toe workout, while protecting knees, hips and your body as a whole, from the pains typically associated with running.

These days there are so many different pieces of gym and home fitness equipment, that when talking to a friend or a fitness expert, they most likely are unfamiliar with the exact unit you yourself use at the gym. In other words, when John says to Pete, “I used the CZ 400 Strider at my gym”, Pete will more often than not, have no clue what piece of fitness equipment John is referring to.

That is not the case when one discusses the Precor EFX series 556 cross-trainer. Talk about a hallmark! Can you even think of the elliptical cross-trainer that successfully provided an upper and lower body workout, before the invention of the EFX 556? Of course you can’t…Precor was the first company to ever develop the “Cross-Trainer” and the EFX 556 is its pride and joy. In the literal sense, without exaggerating, Precor created the first gym quality cross-trainers. The Precor EFX 556 model has been so popular with gym members and other fitness experts, that Precor has continued to improve and upgrade the EFX 556 into the EFX 556 V.2, or EFX 556i, or the EEFX 556i Experience series. But, all of the updates and modifications have all been upgrades and changes to the display, user feedback, workout programs and heart rate controls. Precor has not, and they most likely will not, change the original bio-mechanical design that laid the foundation for their elliptical cross-trainers as a whole.

The original “bio-mechanical design” in other words means the way the leg stride feels to the user and the reason it has remained unchanged after all of these years, is because this EFX 556 has done such a fantastic job in replicating the natural smooth, and ergonomically-correct stride of its user.

With its upper body arms, along with multiple workout options and various intensity levels, the Precor EFX 556 makes each workout session new and creative.

In regard to its impermeable steel frame, its structural integrity is comparable to that of a battle ship! That means this cross trainer can be used at top speeds for up to 15 hours per day. Good luck breaking it down.

Through their development of this groundbreaking elliptical, Precor has made themselves one of the most recognized names in the fitness industry today, and that recognition spans across the globe. If you are really serious about losing weight and reducing body fat, then let a Precor elliptical be your weapon against obesity and lethargy.

•Low Joint Impact – Smooth Precor Bio-Mechanics
•20″ Stride
•Moving Arms and Set Ramp
•Smooth and Quiet Electro-Magnetic Resistance
•Rear Drive – One of America’s Favorite Cross-Trainers
•Forward and Reverse Motion: Yes!
•Resistance: 20 Levels
•Ramp: 20 Degrees Set
•Heavy Gauge Steel Frame