Just so you don’t have to scroll back through too many of the blogs on this site to know who I am and what I’m talking about—although if you do scroll back, I think I have some helpful tips—I’m the woman somewhere over fifty years-old, with the husband who had a triple bypass and then after 8 weeks of rehab at the hospital was told he had to keep up with cardiovascular exercise, and all around good eating habits and healthy choices in life. So we joined a gym while we started putting money away to save for one or more of the fitness machines that we use at the gym.

I’ve written about some of those machines, that we’ve tried out at the gym first, and the choice we have each time our membership fees are due to—to keep going to the gym or buy the equipment ourselves. So this blog, today, comes down heavy on the “we need to buy the equipment,” side because although I love the atmosphere at the gym, I just know I will exercise more if I have exercise gear at home – starring at me in the face.

My daughter and her boyfriend came into town for a week, all the way from sunny California. (I’m out here in Ohio.) I thought I’d keep going to the gym while she was here, but it never happened, for several reasons. Who wouldn’t want to go out to tea with your daughter from far away instead of gathering the gym clothes, driving off and spending an hour at a workout, then showering and driving back home? At least 30 minutes total will be spent in the car. Then a few hours there…this is all time I could have spent with her. It seemed the choice was easy. (I offered for her to come to the gym, but that didn’t pan out.)

And I lent them the car for periods of time so she could go visit old friends. I could have asked her to drop me off at the gym, but then she’d have to come back sooner than she was planning, so I didn’t want to do that either. You get the picture: there were plenty of excuses. But If I had just an exercise bike, treadmill, elliptical, or any other fitness machine at my house, I could have worked out for a half hour, and had tea with her, or, while they were away, I could have worked out and showered before they got home. At the end of the day, there are many more daughter coming in town kind of events in life that prevent us from taking the time to drive to the gym to workout.

But here’s the real reason we need to get our own exercise equipment… When I go to the gym, my husband, who NEEDS to exercise (not that I don’t need to, but in a different way), meets me there. I’m his gym, partner. I give him that little extra push to go—to meet me there because if he doesn’t, I’ll know, and I’ll be there all by myself, which he would feel bad about. But because I didn’t go, he found reasons not to also—staying late for something at work, etc. Gyms are good if you have a partner who meets you there every time, to keep you from falling back into old excuses not to exercise. But a home gym, well, that’s so in your face, isn’t it? It says, “You can find a half hour today, can’t you?” So that’s a point for buying an exercise machine. The points are adding up. I’ll try and decide soon and let you all know.

Frequent running on a treadmill can become stressful on your body and even worse, the pressure applied to your joints can build up and cause severe pain. Stair climbers can put an enormous amount of pressure on your joints too. Running outdoors on anything other than grass can cause significant damage to our body, just as climbing stairs, or running on a treadmill can. Elliptical trainers provide similar cardio results as other aerobic exercises such as climbing stairs and running on the treadmill, however, working out on elliptical’s and cross-trainers significantly reduce the pressure one applies to their joints while trying to lose weight. Elliptical trainers allow its users to exercise while putting almost no pressure on their knees whatsoever. Through providing an impact free, cardiovascular workout, with a wide range of resistance levels, millions of Americans use elliptical machines at home and at the gym.

Impact injuries plague athletes around the world daily. Cross-trainers and elliptical machines became popular in the 1990s as the public needed a way to get a total body workout inside their home without having to bang their knees, hips and ankles up. No matter how sophisticated the suspension system on a treadmill is, runners who like to exercise for long periods of time will eventually due damage to their body from an extended amount of time of applying pressure to their joints. Reducing the amount of injuries caused by in home aerobic activity such as running on treadmills and climbing stairs, elliptical trainers entered the market approximately 20 years ago and have become more and more popular since their inception.

Although some elliptical’s only works out the lower body, the majority of elliptical’s and cross-trainers provide their users with total body workouts, making time spent on the elliptical more efficient and effective than time spent on a stair climber or stationary bike. Calories burn at a much faster rate if you exercise your entire body on an elliptical, versus sitting down in a recumbent bike and cycling for several miles. More muscle groups are targeted simultaneously from working out on an elliptical than almost any other piece of fitness equipment.

Cross-trainers (don’t want to use the word elliptical again…) will not only help its users decrease their body fat, build lean muscle and have fun doing it, but exercising on cross-trainers also increases motor fitness skills and balance. Developing stronger motor fitness abilities and improving your balance can both be worked on while using the lower body workout on an elliptical, while not holding on to the upper-arms, rails, or whatever else your cross-trainer has to hold on to. Although it will be difficult at first and you may even fall (be careful, have friend with you), once you get the hang of walking/jogging/running on your trainer without holding onto anything, you will be on your way to better balance and stronger coordination skills.

Pricing on ellipticals and cross-trainers can range from $100 to $10,000.00.

Here is a quick article about the new Life Fitness Optima Series of strength equipment. Enjoy!

SCHILLER PARK, Ill., Aug. 25, 2011 – Keeping the space-conscious trickery in mind, Life Fitness is adding to its renouned line of reduced-footprint strength apparatus with the foreword of the Optima Series Biceps/Triceps and Optima Series Dual Adjustable Pulley.

The effective pattern of the Optima Series strength-training line offers singular and dual-exercise machines, together with benches and racks. Ideal for smaller, budget-conscious facilities, the Optima Series boasts high-functioning, space-saving type with reliable durability. Easy-to-use adjustments and impressive placards with shade concurrent adjustments capacitate exercisers to intuitively use the machines, permitting them to encounter their goals by self-guided workouts.

“There is a marketplace need for apparatus that maximizes a trickery plan with a paltry footprint, but retains all the product functionality and continuance of our premier strength equipment,” mentioned Dan Wille, clamp boss of product and selling for Life Fitness. “These multi-use machines were written to take up reduction space on the building without compromising performance.”

The Optima Series Biceps/Triceps appurtenance targets both muscle groups in a twin product that offers two work-out in a singular hire and boasts the biomechanics and trustworthiness for that the Company is known.

One of the many renouned Life Fitness strength products, the Dual Adjustable Pulley, is existing is to Optima Series with elective touch-screen console. This product allows for multi-dimensional strength training. It employs user-defined paths of suit that emanate an unending accumulation of work-out that erect balance, stability, and power.

These new line extensions come together the total Optima Series line of 21 space-saving single-exercise, dual-exercise and multi-exercise machines, benches and racks. The apparatus is existing in a gold support with a coherent coat, high polish paint finish that adds an additional covering of continuance and protects products from scratches and corrosion. All of the machines underline contoured pads and are offering in 6 not similar upholstery shade options.

For more data on the Life Fitness Optima Series greatfully revisit ww.lifefitness.com or call 800-634-8637.

About Life Fitness
Life Fitness is the universal personality in providing fitness equipment. The firm manufactures and sells strength and cardiovascular apparatus beneath the brand names Life Fitness and Hammer Strength and distributes its apparatus in more than 120 countries. Headquartered outward Chicago, in Schiller Park, Ill., Life Fitness is a section of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC).

SOURCE: http://fitnessequipementvip.com/fitness-equipement/life-fitness-adds-to-its-popular-line-of-space-conscious-strength-equipment/

Maybe I’ve found the fitness machine that’s perfect for me, the recumbent exercise bike. Watching other people work out on it, it looks easy. Too easy? Is it just for old people? I’m not that old. But I do have a back that goes out now and then, and I figured I should try out the recumbent bike, see how it works, for one of those days when my back is tight but I still want to exercise.

I needed to adjust the seat, pull it up, because, as I mentioned in one of my last blogs, I’m short. It always takes time to do these adjustments, and, once again, a home gym will be the answer. Soon. Very soon. Kings of Cardio has a few deals I’m about ready to spring for, as soon as I’ve done enough testing to know exactly what I want. The recumbent bike was comfortable, once I got everything set, and I started out at the easiest setting, to get my bearings. What surprised me was that it wasn’t like sitting in a recliner. In order to cycle, I had to hold my stomach muscles in, which was good. And it wasn’t quite as easy as I thought. Within minutes, I could feel that burn that the upright bike gave me, but my butt wasn’t as sore. I amped it up and rode for twenty minutes, just as I had done on the upright. To be honest, after twenty minutes my butt was a bit numb. Remember, I don’t have much padding. Placing my towel on the seat helped. The seat is almost flat, so the towel stayed. And I’ve heard there are seat covers that will help, too.

I liked it, even better than the upright, and my legs certainly got their exercise. I walked the track after, to cool down, carrying two light weights, two-and-a-half pounders. I realized after my walk, I could have held the weights as I biked, doing curls. I’ll try that next time.

Well, actually, next time I’m going to try the recumbent cross-trainer, which will exercise my arms at the same time. I saw it too late, just as I was leaving the gym. I didn’t even know they made them. But they do. Onwards to better health!

The continuing saga of a newbie at the fitness gym. A friend of mine told me that walking was just as good as using any of the machines at the gym that work your legs, and she seems very smart, and I like walking, so I did some experiments. I walked for fifteen minutes at a good clip, then got on a exercise bike. I think it was a Precor c846 series. It was an upright exercise bike. The walking felt good, gave me good energy, and because I walked standing straight up and holding two 3 pound weights, I felt I had worked a little on my abs and my arms. Could the bike do the same?

I listened to the same music, even, on my Ipod—Bob Marley, to give me the same beat. I had to lower the seat to the lowest level because I’m short, very short I guess, but the bike seat did get low enough for me, which I was worried about. I didn’t set the resistance, just left it at 1. Still after 8 minutes, the burn in my thighs was quite obvious, and very different than the kind of general burn in my legs that I got from just walking. I was obviously using a whole different set of muscles! It wasn’t easy to do 15 minutes, probably because I am very new to this, and I walked first, so my legs were getting quite the workout, but with the music, and the feeling that I was developing –or strengthening—new muscles, I kept at it. And the machine told me how fast I was walking, how far I went, how many calories I burned, which is helpful. So, I did prove my friend wrong. Walking and working on an exercise bike are not the same thing. I need to do both.

Two days from now, when I go back to do my next workout, I’m going to try the same experiment with a recumbent bike. So, why do they call it recumbent? I guess I’ll have to ask.

Okay, so now I really do have to start saving, because I need/want a Precor ELX 556 Elliptical at home, rather than having to go to the gym to use it. The gym isn’t bad, actually it’s fine, with TV’s you can watch and a track and a basketball gymnasium—although there isn’t a pool. And everything seems clean enough. But the stuff I need to take with me there, and keep on me, is crazy. Bottled water, my keys, my cell phone, my reading glasses (I can’t read some of the controls without them), driver’s license, my gym card, my Ipod, a few hard candies, my tissues. . . My pockets are stuffed full. If I were at home, this wouldn’t be a problem.

But I did exercise, and I suppose having a track there is good. It’s a good place to warm up. I did six laps, then headed to the elliptical, and started out easy at level 1, increasing the level every 7 minutes, till I got through level 4 for only 5 minutes, then went back down to 1 to finish off. It felt like a good beginning to my workout, and I could feel that burn people talk about. It told me that I burned 135 calories. Next I used one of the machines that exercised my arms. I will try to remember the name of it to note down next time. I’m a real beginner here, and could only do twenty pounds, 8 reps, three times. (Do I have that jargon right?) Not much, but you have to start somewhere. As I mentioned before, my husband had open heart surgery and needs to keep in shape, so I’m coming along for the ride, and to get into better health myself.

I worked out on the rowing machine next, but only for 15 minutes. I plan to increase that time by two minutes each time I come—which is three times a week. It would be better to have the elliptical at home, and some weights, because I think I’d be able to exercise at least four times a week then.

It must be true that this kind of exercise increases your energy, because I don’t feel tired right now. It’s 8:30 at night and I feel like I can even concentrate better. Maybe this energy is what’s driving me to write something for this blog—to remind me how good it makes me feel. There’s always that moment before heading to the gym that I think I’m too tired or busy, or have something else better to do. That’s why some fitness equipment at home would be great. It would be hard to convince myself it would take too much time just to drive to the gym. There would be fewer excuses and more exercising.

So, my husband had to have a triple bypass—took veins from his legs and chest, cut him open and filled his chest with ice, held his heart in their hands, and made him all better. I tell you the gruesome details because this is certainly an eye opening event, and keeping one’s heart healthy is of utmost importance. He’d had three small heart in his thirties and early forties, (quit smoking after the first one, and began to eat healthy food, and hiked a lot—but that didn’t do enough). Working your heart, and keeping your blood pressure low, are just as important as eating healthy food.

After the surgery they sent him to rehab, which was basically a room with treadmills and exercise bikes—and doctors and nurses who would hook him up to monitors to watch his heart beat, etc. They had him spend twenty-two minutes on the treadmill first, then 25 minutes on the exercise bike. (Each patient had their own regiment) He wasn’t looking forward to this, never having used exercise machines before this. He thought taking long walks was going to be good enough. But, oddly, he grew to relish the workouts, how he could get his heart rate up and lower his blood pressure. Because of the surgery, he’d lost 12 pounds. With the exercise, he wasn’t gaining any of it back, which was good because he had been about 15 pounds overweight.

Rehab lasted two months, and then summer came on and he thought he could get away with just walking now, around a nearby lake. But this summer was really hot, and the walks became fewer, and we joined a gym. The machines there are the same as at the hospital, and the same as on this website. Strong, high-tech machines that can monitor pulse rates and calories burned and distance, etc. My husband showed me how they work, and now I’m going, too. I worry about the winter, and if we’ll get it together to go to the gym, so we’re beginning to save for an exercise bike and a treadmill. Well, actually, I’m enjoying the rowing machine best, because it seems to really give my core muscles a workout, too.

I’m over fifty (that’s all I’m going to say) and I get tired often. I’ve always heard that this kind of workout gets your energy up, and it’s true. So I’m blogging at this site, just to become familiar with other people’s workouts, and hoping to become familiar with all the exercise machines here, so when we buy one, we can get exactly what we need

Did you know that Indoor Rowing is a sport? If you didn’t don’t feel bad, 94% of the people we surveyed did not know that indoor rowing was a professional sport either. At the end of the day, most people do not think of using a rowing machine when their brain thinks about exercise. Not too long ago, the common denominator held by most fitness equipment enthusiasts was the fact that they all had a rowing machine at home, that they could count on whenever they got the urge to workout. Underneath the bed. In the closet. Upstairs in the attic. Somewhere in your home there used to be a rowing machine. What happened between then and now? After all, rowing machines still provide an excellent total body workout and they are one of a few exercise machines that truly let the user focus on building strength and getting an intense cardio workout in at the same time.

Treadmills are fantastic, but we certainly do not get a good strength workout in while we run on them. While elliptical machines give us an upper body workout, in my opinion, rowing machines do a far better job in shaping and sculpting our upper body than cross-trainers do. Stair steppers just work the lower half of our body. Exercise bikes are the same as stair steppers in the sense that they only give you a cardio workout. Rowing machines give the user TOTAL BODY WORKOUT. So why in the world have we fell out of love with them? They are still the most financially friendly pieces of gym equipment we can have in our home. Well part of the answer is, people used to love buying rowing machines because they were the affordable and easy to store form of home fitness equipment. Stair steppers were only seen at gyms. Treadmills were big, bulky, and expensive. Elliptical machines and cross-trainers were not born yet. But since then, treadmills have developed to the point at which we can now store them (folding treadmills) with the same efficiency we folded our rowing machines with 20 years ago. Elliptical machines are not as easy to store as treadmills, exercise bikes and rowers, but they have captivated the public to the point at which we do not really care that the best cross-trainers are super expensive and take up a ton of room. With all of the hoopla surrounding the new cyborg looking elliptical machines and treadmills that run up to 20mph, rowers have been moved to the back of our consciousnesses.

Several rowing machines still hover at the top of the food chain when discussing the worlds top fitness machines. For example, the Concept2 rower has posted great sales figures and boasted awesome consumer reviews for the last several years. With a ticket price of $900 and an easy to store frame, there is no wonder why the Concept2 has been such a hit with the public. LifeCore Fitness has manufactured an awesome rower of their own with the LifeCore R100. It has an XL LCD, green & blue lit display, providing users with all the digital feedback they need such as calories burned, heart rate and time left.

Rowing machines are still some of the most effective, efficient, economic and energizing ways to get fit at home.

Protect your body from the stresses that build up over time at work. You promise your boss that you will due your job efficiently, but what do you promise your body? There is nothing worse than letting your health go to shit while you sit back and watch your belly grow because you don’t leave the shop mindset anymore. Try some exciting new ways of living. Promise your body that you will give it the attention and care that it needs. Promise your knees, hips and ankles that you will purchase a treadmill with gym quality shock absorption system that will not let your joints suffer. Make a deal with your heart that you will buy a treadmill (or another piece of cardio equipment such as an exercise bike, rowing machine, stair stepper) with an accurate heart rate monitoring system so you can be knowledgable at all times throughout your workout as to how high or low your pulse is. Your body counts on you. Don’t let it down. You do summersaults and back flips through flaming hoops for your boss and co-workers. Do the same for yourself. Make sure you do whatever is necessary in order for you to stay physically fit (and mentally stable of course).

Countless hours of intense mental activity add up and create stresses that our body does not like. You can’t jkust sit back and expect your body to do the work for you.

If you let your body suck up Vodka and cranberry chaser while scarfing down bar food, you better not have to perform later that day. When we exercise, it is really important not to bog down our bodies with heavy food that is sure to slow our workouts down to a snails pace. For those of you who exercise in the morning, I think that a quick protein shake and an apple/orange/plum or peach, should give you enough nutrition and energy to make it through your fitness session in the morning. Get up and go. There is no need for a steak and eggs at 7am everyday….wake up, eat an apple, make a protein shake and get going!!!