Derek Burke, Dubai-based sales director at premium fitness equipment supplier Precor, explains the revenue generating opportunities presented by secondary spend.

Crucial to the success of any hotel fitness facility is treating it as a separate profit centre, but maximising the revenue it generates can be a challenging task, especially in the current global economic downturn.

With all businesses in the Middle East striving to work more efficiently and maintain robust profit margins in a tough marketplace, developing secondary revenue streams can be key to a gym’s profitability.

The theory is a simple one. Once you’ve attracted a customer to your business, utilising every opportunity to encourage them to spend more can have a dramatic impact on your bottom line.

What’s more, enticing customers to get more out of their visit — whether this be via a trip to the spa or restaurant, a personal training session or purchasing a supplement to increase muscle gain — offers them tangible benefits that will keep them coming back.

Shout about it
Increased yield from your customers, be they hotel guests or pre-paid members, can stem from a number of avenues. Don’t be afraid to shout about additional services and add-ons.

Living and working in the region, I know first-hand that a pool and gym are now de rigueur in Middle Eastern hotels, with even mid-market and budget chains realising they’re a modern market expectation.

And hotel guests accustomed to such facilities won’t be put off by cross-selling. In fact, they’ll expect nothing less than to be told about the complimentary services that complete your wellness offering and further enhance their experience.

Perhaps the most obvious and cost-effective link is with the hotel spa. The vast majority of Middle Eastern hotels now offer spa facilities and encouraging guests to follow their workout with a sports massage for example, will be a seamless step for them, yet it doesn’t incur additional spend on buying in stock or recruiting extra staff.

The same applies to promoting other areas of your business, such as the restaurant — ‘post-workout’ specials on the lunch menu or a range of freshly-made fruit juices and smoothies can be all it takes to lure your gym goers to spend money on food and beverage.

Personal training is another tried and tested revenue generator, which links intrinsically with your fitness offering.

Already well established in the UAE, one-on-one training sessions are an increasingly popular way for hoteliers to challenge and motivate guests and members.

From a revenue point of view, bespoke training programmes mean results, and results mean retention. And in a region where hotel gyms are very often unmanned, it also provides a point of contact between staff and customers, and so the opportunity to personally up-sell other profit centres.

Don’t be afraid to promote seemingly diverse areas of your business, as well. I recently saw a flyer in a Dubai hotel gym promoting the meeting and conference services. As a result, I mentioned it to my local events manager who went on to arrange a conference there. Simple, yet effective.

Make the most of merchandise.

The opportunities for cross-selling are endless; from protein and whey supplements that aid strength training to isotonic drinks that improve hydration, tracking gadgets such as pedometers and watches, to breathable sports attire.

It’s much easier to sell add-on products if they provide a direct benefit to someone’s training, especially if these items are understood by the customer to be essential — for example, if a personal trainer explains how a supplement will complement weight loss or a specific watch can help monitor energy expenditure.

They all generate extra income for your business, but with the additional benefit of improving the results your customers gets from training in your facility, therefore enhancing their overall experience.

Merchandise may involve small risks in terms of investment in stock, but if you know your gym goers and tailor products to them, the resulting secondary spend can and will push up annual turnover.

Retail needs to be as effectively thought out and managed as the gym itself, taking into consideration key factors such as customer demographic. For example, if your hotel and gym caters to high-end clients, selling top-of-the-range training watches may be appropriate.

But if your guests have a lower level of disposable income, it makes sense to offer products at a more fitting price point. The mark up may be less, but the overall sales figures are likely to be higher.

Strike a balance
Generating multiple profit centres involves one crucial activity — selling. Staff need to be trained in sales and customer service in order to recommend the right product for each customer, without being too forceful and putting them off.

Ensure all gym staff know the products and recommendations inside out and, if possible, encourage front-of-house staff to do an induction in the gym so they fully understand the service and additional offers.

If your gym is unmanned or you’re looking for an additional platform to promote secondary revenue streams, personal viewing screens offer a solution.

They provide the opportunity to create a dedicated hotel channel or bespoke digital signage that appears while TV channels are loading or at the end of a workout, encouraging guests to follow their gym session with a swim and light lunch or cocktails at the restaurant or bar.

Equally effective additional options include point of sale (POS) materials such as posters and leaflets, which should be strategically placed around the entire facility.

For instance, take advantage of the space on changing room lockers and mirrors to place posters advertising personal training sessions. Or consider placing spa treatment menus or healthy restaurant leaflets on the gym’s reception desk.

When positioning your POS think about your guest’s journey through the facility and where they pause; it’s at these points that you’re likely to have a captive audience.

In the same way digital signage is effective because people focus on the screen when working out, placing posters at the water fountain or reception means your audience will be more receptive to your messages.

Hotel gyms that dare to be different will be the ones that benefit from increased secondary revenue and bolster their business through the recession.

Stocking appropriate products and providing links to related services will ensure your customers see the gym as a one-stop-shop for their health and fitness needs.

There’s no doubt that the rewards are there for those willing to invest the time and energy into getting this area of their offering right.

source:http://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/11456-making-the-gym-work-out-for-you/2/

What fitness equipment brand is the best? Precor or Life Fitness? If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me what was better between the two, well, you know the saying. People love asking those who are the know, what brand is their favorite between the empirically recognized Life Fitness and Precor brands, often times, with the intent to showcase their perspective on the matter. Life Fitness produces award winning exercise equipment year after year and has done so for over two decades. Precor has done the same. There are no substantial mechanical or structural superiorities held by one over the other. Stick with the Precor or Life Fitness equipment that you are used to. That is the answer to the question of which brand is better. For those that have never used Precor or Life Fitness exercise equipment, neither brand is better than the other, both are great. Therefore, it comes down to what the user feels more comfortable on. Some people love the fact that Precor cross-trainers have adjustable ramps and some people love the fact that Life Fitness ellipticals have some pretty solid workout programs.

The more technique you have, the less you have top worry about. From an athletic perspective, people who use superior technique, typically prevail over those who do not. Proper technique and form are the most important variables associated with lifting weights. Strength training can become an ergonomic nightmare for those who chose to neglect the fact that one must remain in a safe, sturdy and balanced position, at all times when using free weight equipment.

The classic line, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog” is as applicable to weight training, as it is to fighting. Inferior size and natural ability can be overcome by one who emphasizes technique and body positioning above all else. Practice through numerous sets and repetitions is only beneficial for those who do so with the correct bio-mechanics. For example, the annual hot dog eating championship, as seen on ESPN, always has a skinny winner, while the fat contestants stare in awe, as some 5’7, 138 pound, skinny as a rail 22 year old, crushes his competition and hoists the trophy for a contest that is expected to have an obese winner. Professional body builders use ergonomically sound, bio-mechanically correct form, while exercising. Maintaining balance and proper form while working out helps prevent injuries.

Poor form, although it may not feel painful immediately, can lead to significant discomfort down the road, for those who neglect the importance of exercising the right way. For example, many people like to arch their back when using the bench press. Arching ones back allows for more weight to be lifted and for more repetitions to be completed. Accomplishments are not genuine if one chooses to cut corners through the use of improper form to get there.

One step to making sure that you maintain proper form is to get a personal trainer to help you with your cardio and strength exercises. Nothing beats having a partner with you to push you to your limits while exercising. It is always optimal to have a friend or personal trainer with you while you exercise. Never underestimate the importance of having someone with you while you exercise with fitness equipment. In order to achieve maximum results,make sure you have an extra set of eyes and ears with you when you go to your health club or home gym.

1) Mind over Matter

Consistent exercise, and maintaining a healthy, balanced diet, are all fundamental necessities, if one wishes to optimize their health and level of physical fitness. However, people often forget that the everyday battle we fight versus obesity and lethargy, is won upstairs with our brain. Our research, done through interviewing physical fitness trainers and psychologists, is that although the human brain does so many great things, it can also play tricks on our bodies and deter us from exercising at times. For example, you may think that you feel tired or sore, and that your body is better off resting for a couple of days, but in reality, your body is willing and able to exercise, free of overwhelming fatigue and muscle cramping.  You may try and rationalize not working out by convincing yourself that you don’t have the time, energy, or that you will go the next day, so on and so forth. Do not let these sorts of thoughts invade your head; they will get in your way of becoming and staying healthy. Instead, remain confident in yourself and know that you have the ability to look and feel great.

Turn on some loud music if you have to, drink a sports beverage and get your game face on! As long as you frequently remind your body and mind how important exercise is to your daily life, typical thoughts of fatigue and helplessness tend to fade away. Throw caution in the wind. Adrenaline and mental toughness will take over when you let them do their job.  They can take you a long way as long as you remain focused, active and optimistic.

2) Stay Positive

Don’t let a bad workout session keep your spirits down. In terms of cardio training, sometimes while exercising, we just don’t run as fast, or for as long as we normally do. From a strength perspective, we may not be able to lift as many reps as we are used to, or as much weight as we once could, and ultimately we get too furious with ourselves over not performing our best around the clock. One thing that will help you “stay in the groove”, or “in the zone” as they say, will be making sure you do not miss workout sessions. Maintaining a strict fitness routine is essential towards exercise plans.  Having gym equipment at home will make working out on a regular basis a whole lot easier. Keep health club quality home fitness equipment at home, if you don’t have to leave your home to exercise, you will have one less excuse for not making time for the treadmill, elliptical or whatever your favorite piece, or pieces, of fitness equipment are. Make using fitness equipment a part of your everyday life. Push yourself and make it happen. Work out your legs. Press your arms and shoulders. Have a deep desire to look and feel healthy and fit.

Having home gym equipment is essential for most athletes, however when we buy home gym equipment, it becomes the most expensive clothing hanging we have ever bought. Sometimes we  get down on ourselves for not looking like our favorite entertainer and expect to much from the treadmill, or stair stepper that we just bought from an online fitness equipment store. Once again, do not let negative thoughts enter your head, and remember the importance  of staying positive. Not seeing immediate results is a catalyst for frustration, although it shouldn’t be, and we will tell you how to deal with not seeing instantaneous muscle growth. One must always keep in mind that success is a journey and not a destination. You will not become an overnight celebrity and wake up looking like Jennifer Lopez no matter what you do, so stay the course and do not deviate from your game plan. There will be bumps in the road, kick them to the side and keep trekking. The way to deal with what you perceive to be disappointing results, is to go grab some health club quality fitness equipment, and get to work. Find the nearest Precor treadmill and get some miles in. Find a BodyCraft X4 – Four weight stack gym and hit some sets. Do not let sluggishness keep you off of your game and go tear up some home gym gear.

When you do get angry, due to having “One of those Days,” you should take it out at home, on your fitness equipment. Nothing takes stress away like running on a treadmill until you legs are weary, or maxing out on strength exercises, and breaking down your muscles. The point is that staying positive and not letting innocuous things get you down, is essential to staying fit and maintaining a solid exercise routine.

3) Set Realistic Goals

One of the main ingredients in the recipe for success is creating goals for yourself. Setting realistic goals allows you to stay focused on what you are trying to accomplish and tracking your progress becomes fun and exiting. There are several reason for why people love keeping a close eye on their results (physical and statistical) and people can become highly motivated through their stats. For instance, the amount of time spent on a treadmill, or the amount of strides completed on an elliptical, or the amount of stairs climber on a stair climber, are all relevant stats that users can track their progress with. As people surpass their previous marks, they become thrilled with their progress and actually become excited for their next exercise session on their treadmill, home gym, or whatever home fitness equipment they use.

For example, take Steve, who doesn’t set goals. Steve goes to the Gym, bounces around from station to station, talks to everyone he can and actually spends more time changing the songs and volume on his iPod, than he does exercising on fitness equipment. Steve’s attitude towards lifting weights and running miles represents an aimless game plan with no structure. At the end of the day, Steve is not getting better, and that is the key objective. Every day you either get better or you get worse, there is no in-between. When you do not set goals, there is no direction to your workout, making it very un-likely for you to stay fit and trim. By not setting goals for himself, Steve has no clue what he is actually trying to accomplish at the gym and his results, or lack there of, reflect his undisciplined approach to exercise and using gym equipment.

Then we have Zack. Zack has set realistic goals for himself and knows exactly what he is going to do from the moment he walks in the gym, until the moment he leaves. Zack’s gym experience will not be filled with social interaction unless the Icarian strength trainer he lifts weights on comes to life and starts yapping. Zack does not stop working out until he finishes every exercise he has written down for that day in his fitness notebook, and takes great pride in every set and every rep of weight lifting along the way. To simplify things for you, Zack bases every exercise in his workout session off of his plan for that day, which is part of an even bigger plan that he has for his health and physique.

For example, Zach will do five sets of five reps on his bench press, or he will do eight sets of three. When he can complete both bench press exercises, clean, without needing his spotter to assist, then Zack will be increasing the weight during his next workout. Having a plan for the amount of reps (5×5 or 8×3) for each and every exercise that you  do (bench press in this case) is the way a winner approaches going to the gym. Winners set goals, stay focused on them, reach them, and set new ones. Winners don’t quit and quitters don’t win.

4) Eat Healthy

“You are what you eat!” Growing up, all of our parents told us this, but we probably didn’t realize they were right until the first time the Dr. told us our blood pressure was 152/95, or that our cholesterol levels were too high. Eating bad food, laced with tons of sugar, fat, sodium, and cholesterol not only messes up our insides as well as our appearance, but they also can make our brain function slower and have direct correlations to sluggishness and indolence. Obesity is a major problem that is bogging down the people and health care system in the United States at unprecedented levels.Since 1960, the levels of obesity in America have progressively increased (Alabama, West Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and South Carolina are the fattest) and the way to curb obesity is simple, exercise. People do not understand that there never has been and that there never will be a quick fix when it comes to weight loss. For those who value diet pills more than gym and home fitness equipment, shame on you and get your priorities straight. There is too much over-thinking and debate over how to get in shape and not be fat, when the formula is not complex…eat right and exercise. There is an abundance of home fitness equipment, exercise gear and grocery stores out there. Make it happen.

We need to eat healthy, nutritious foods that will give us that get-up-and-go attitude, that is so essential towards becoming fit. Our diet determines so much of whom we are. What we eat has an impact on determining how we feel, look and act. Maintaining a healthy diet is a fundamental necessity for mental alertness, strength, endurance, agility and having enough energy to perform at your best, no matter what you are doing.

Improve your heart and health by eating right. For quick and healthy recipes, diet and nutrition tips, and new regarding food and health, please contact us toll-free at 800-900-1108 for a free one-on-one conversation with one of our fitness experts who are versed in health and fitness and can guide you towards success. Optimizing your approach towards fitness and health can only be a good thing.

5) Get a Workout Partner

According to our research, people who regularly exercise with a friend or trainer are 27% more likely to work out on a consistent basis (at least 30 minutes a day / 5 times per week) than people who train without a partner. The main benefit of having a partner is that people tend to perform at a higher level when they perceive they are in a competiton. If you workout with a close friend of yours, and you have always been around the same level of athleticism and strength as he or she, chances are you will do your absolute best to stay on par with, or if you’re on your game, one up your friend! Having a workout partner that you know is going to be on time and ready to exercise will keep you motivated at times when you are making excuses and wanting to take a day off.

Your routine will also feel like it goes by much faster when you have a partner to talk to and discuss different exercises and bounce ways to stay slim off of each other. A fun, upbeat atmosphere is created when you have someone to train with and that makes time go by much faster. When picking a partner, try and chose one that encourages you and is motivated by you. He or she should also have an open mind to try new exercises to keep your routines fresh and positive. Last but not least, your training partner should be GOAL ORIENTED, and determined to get better every day. Always remember, everyday you either get better or you get worse and there is no in-between.

6) Stretch Regularly

The importance of being flexible is overlooked by many runners and weight lifters. Countless injuries are prevented every second due to people who take the time to stretch out their arms, legs and other muscles, in order to properly warm up before exercising. One of the great things about stretching is that anybody can do it and you don’t need any exercise equipment to do so. You can stretch anytime, anywhere! We recommend that you try and stretch your body and its muscles for at least 5 minutes when you wake up in the morning and 10 minutes before you go to bed for the night. Stretching allows your body to heal quicker after running and lifting. It is silly to spend so much time running and lifting but neglect stretching to the point that you can’t squeeze in 10 minutes a day to stretch. For remaining loose and warm, along with preventing muscle cramps, stretching is the number one thing you can do. If you do not stretch properly, you are leaving yourself more vulnerable to soreness, muscle cramping and will your body will not heal as fast as it would if you stretched properly.

Stretching is of significant importance when it comes to preventing injuries too. An athlete who does what he or she is supposed to in regards to making sure they get their stretches and calisthenics in regularly, is less likely to pull muscles and have spasms than those who do not take the amount of time necessary to stretch out their bodies. Eliminate muscle tears, back spasms and cramping through proper stretching and calisthenics.

7.) Make Protein and Water Your Friends

Constantly refueling yourself with water and protein will drastically improve how fast your body recovers after working out. Try not to drink so sugar filled sodas, juices and even “sports beverages” that add weight; these same drinks that give you an instant boost, will make you tired later in the day and feeling more lethargic than you did when you consumed the drink. People commonly think since there is no fat in these great tasting beverages that they are not that bad for you. Nothing could be further from the truth. The reality is sugar filled drinks will interfere and get in the way of achieving your goals pertaining to health and fitness. When looking at the ingredients on

Protein is crucial for repairing and rebuilding broken down muscles after they have been stressed through physical activity. Your body uses protein to build muscle. When you lift weights, you break down your muscles and protein is needed to rebuild. The immediate implementation of increased water and protein intakes will do wonders for your health and ability to remain fresh and energized during prolonged physical activity

The Life Fitness 95Xi is one of the most used elliptical machines ever manufactured. You can find this awesome, gym quality elliptical trainer, at almost any health club in the nation. Typically, this Life Fitness elliptical would be a rare find in someones home. For the most part, people have lighter and more portable fitness equipment in their home, whereas gyms must have heavy-duty, long lasting exercise gear.

In order for fitness equipment to be “club quality”, there are several features that it most possess. First of all, the fitness equipment must be safe and effective. If exercise equipment is not safe and effective, then there is no reason to use it. Next, the fitness equipment, whether it is a treadmill or elliptical, must be have the mechanical capacity necessary in order to operate for more than 8 hours a day. There is not a piece of fitness equipment on this planet that is not commercially rated, that would remain durable, through all day usage.

The topic today is going to be the different ways to get in shape through using various pieces of exercise equipment. People tend to get stuck inside the box and let their workouts become dull and mundane over time and once exercises become more like a chore than anything else, the mind becomes disinterested and the body becomes disengaged. Daily exercise is like most things that are good for you. Not fun. Running miles on your favorite Precor will be fantastic for your health, however it will be the furthest thing from fun. However, there is a way to have some fun when you lift on your treadmill home fitness equipment, or lift weights on your home gym and that is by keeping detailed statistics of your exercise sessions. By tracking your workout and carefully watching the amount of miles you are running and the amount of time it is taking you, it becomes easy to set goals for yourself  when you exercise.  When you set goals, using your home fitness equipment becomes fun because you are so curious each and every day as to whether or not you are going to surpass your previous highs.

Approximately thirty  years ago, after the engineering of a stationary rowing machine by David Smith in his basement, Precor, which is one of todays most respected,  popular and successful fitness equipment brands was birthed. Spawning from David Smith’s development of an ergonomically correct and user-friendly rowing machine in 1980, Precor has turned into one of the international leaders in the branding, design, production and marketing of exercise equipment. No more than 3 years after David finished the design of the rowing machine in his basement, Mr. Smith was joined by the bright, progressive thinking opportunist Bill Potts. Potts brought his knowledge of electronic programmability to the table and sought out to integrate unique programming, as well as  statistical user-feedback, into the exercise equipment Smith was designing. Potts believed that allowing people to monitor their stats such as speed, time, distance and other readouts, would increase the popularity of their workout equipment.  He was before his time as evidenced by his approach to incorporating fun and exciting workouts as well as statistical feedback. Various exercise programs and custom workouts features are one of the main variables leading to the overall increase in popularity and usage of fitness equipment. Potts got it. He figured it out before his peers.

Ultimately, making the exercise equipment more user-interactive, intrigued people because they could monitor their results in real-time. Knowing how fast or long you have to exercise in order to surpass your previous records can be highly motivating and the potential popularity interactive workout programs had begun to see its rise due largely to the efforts of Precor. By 1985, several more additions had been made to the once one man band, and Precor expanded to carrying treadmills, exercise bikes and rowing machines.

National recognition is necessary in order to be the fitness equipment industry. In other words, if a brand is not used at the major health clubs and gyms, then it clearly is not top-of-the-line machinery. By 1990, Precor entered the health club scene, with a series of commercial treadmills, built to withstand all day wear and tear, by gym members of all sizes. There is a major difference in the structural integrity and mechanical capacities between gym quality and residential exercise equipment. Whereas a solid home treadmill can be used at most up to four hours a day, a treadmill that is commercially rated for gym usage, can be used for up to four times as much as non-commercial grade fitness gear. Precor realized that their commercial line of treadmills must have the size, speed and strength in order to compete with the other leading brands in the fitness equipment industry and developed high-powered, heavy-duty, gym grade treadmills.

The year of 1995 was a breakthrough year for Precor, as they invented the first elliptical cross-trainer and put it on the map in the form of their Precor EFX 544 cross-trainer. The Precor EFX 544 was designed with an adjustable cross-ramp and fixed arms. The adjustable incline ramp makes it easy for users to work out different muscle groups in their lower body through the simple adjustment of the angle on the incline ramp. The EFX 544 was so popular that Precor decided to continue their production of elliptical cross-trainers for usage in health clubs and homes. One of the first additions to the Precor line of elliptical cross-trainers was a cross-trainer with moving upper body arms.

After already having the cardiovascular fitness industry  in the palm, through the acquisition of Pacific Fitness in 1998, Precor made giant strides towards building a successful line of strength equipment. A result of this merger was the extremely popular Precor Stretch Trainer, that is a favorite of fitness trainers and gym patrons. Precor fitness equipment was dominating the market through Precor’s dedication to developing a large variety of exercise equipment.

In 1999, Premark International, which was parent company of the Precor brand at the time, was bought out by International Tool Works. Soon after ITW acquired Precor, popularity for Precor increased, as their equipment become more affordable and focused on consumer needs. With a bigger bankroll and more steam built up, Precor was acquired by Amer Sports in 2002 as part of a 180 million dollar deal. Amer Sports coming into the picture resulted in Precor changing their primary goals. After years of revolving around industrial products, Precor’s new aim was to become an international distributor of a wider range of fitness equipment and sporting goods.

With all of the success and momentum that Precor had built open over the last 2 decades was great, but they still did not have a dominant and consumer friendly line of strength equipment. That all changed in 2004 when Precor established an Icarian line of strength equipment. Icarian strength equipment can be found anywhere from private home gyms to large health club franchises. The line of strength equipment itself has all home gym products ranging from bench presses, to multi-station and plate loaded home gyms, to weight racks and other strength training machines.

A very popular feature on the Precor cardio line of fitness equipment originated in 2004 as well. The cardio theater feature on Precor cardiovascular equipment, came as a result of their relationship with an entertainment technology firm, ClubCom. For example, if you are familiar with the Precor 956i Treadmill, it can be purchased with a cardio theatre attached to the display console. Having an entertainment center to use when you exercise has proven to allow some people to workout up to 75% more than they did  on the same treadmill, without the Precor cardio theater. The year of 2006 also marked the year that Precor introduced its Experience Series line and the Cardio Theater was an option for all Experience Series treadmills and elliptical cross-trainers. After gaining the support of consumers across the U.S., the Cardio Theater went on to win awards at the annual international product design competition, hosted by Business Week.

Around this time is when Precor struck a deal with the Hilton Family, that would make Precor gym equipment the main supplier of Hilton hotels such as the Double Tree, Embassy Suites and The Hilton.  Catapulting Precor into the mainstream, the mainstream commercial deal between Precor and Hilton Hotels, cemented Precor’s status as a premier brand in fitness equipment. Consequently, the Precor brand name grew, as a result of people who stayed at the Hilton, calling to buy Precor fitness equipment for their home, after liking the Precor cross-trainer, treadmill, or bike they used at the Hilton.

A great majority of health clubs and gyms have Precor elliptical cross-trainers, treadmills, stretch trainers, exercise bikes and strength machines. Ultimately, the litmus test for whether or not fitness equipment is solid, is whether or not the fitness equipment in question can be found at health clubs and commercial gym facilities. In 2005 & 2006, Precor won the award for “Top Supplier”, from Golds Gym and Anytime Fitness. Since Precor fitness equipment can be found across the United States at almost every major health club, it can therefore be concluded that Precor represents the upper echelon of fitness equipment.

Customer Testimonial

I just wanted to express how happy I am about my new Precor EFX 546. In order to fill the monstrous void in my life, I decided to get off my butt and build myself a home gym. The last thing I wanted to happen was for me to get inferior fitness equipment and then use it as an excuse to not exercise. I believed that with really solid  home fitness equipment, I would have no excuse not to workout on a daily basis. For those of you who are unfamiliar with exercise equipment and which companies have the best reputation, I was in your shoes once too, and after lots of research and hard work, it became apparent to me that Precor fitness equipment was the most popular brand after surveying my friends and family (and some randoms) . Precor fitness equipment is the most popular and well respected fitness equipment company today. Their line of award winning crosstrainers, as well as their health club quality treadmills, exercise bikes and other cardiovascular pieces of fitness equipment, is recognized by gym owners and other fitness experts, as the most structurally sound and mechanically correct, exercise equipment on the globe. In order to fully understand the true quality of Precor gym and home fitness equipment, I recommend that you go to a local gym, or fitness equipment store and try out either a Precor treadmill, Precor elliptical, or exercise bike. Once you have experienced the smooth and sturdy performance of Precor fitness equipment, it will be much easier for you to understand how and why precor exercise gear is superior. Other awesome fitness equipment companies include Life Fitness, Star Trac and that is about it. There is no reason to over-think things when buying exercise equipment for your home. All you need to do in order to make sure you are not getting ripped off, is to make sure the company name on your home fitness equipment has a good reputation in the fitness equipment community. Precor has that, and I have been happy!

*Precor history facts from Precor.com