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Posts Tagged ‘Exercise Equipment’

When choosing which home gym exercise equipment will work best for you, there are many things to keep in mind. One being, what are you looking to get out of if?

Do you want to trim down your waist or bulk up your chest? These are factors to consider before buying equipment. When you know what your goals are, you can then take into consideration other key things like budget and space.

It’s often a good idea to give a machine a “trial run” in a store if you can, that way you know if you will fit the machine, and if it feels comfortable before you spend 10 hours putting it together. Just be ready for the sales people who will swarm you, after all it is their job. Knowing your facts before going into one of these stores is critical or you may get swayed into something you didn’t want. Steer clear of infomercial equipment and gimmicks.

If they promise you will drop 2 pants sizes by the weekend, it’s probably too good to be true. It is also a wise idea to shop around online. Not only can you often find a better price, you can have it delivered.

So now that you have narrowed down your goals, budget, spatial logistics and researched home gyms, you need to look to the future. Will you outgrow this machine in a matter of months or does it have the lasting power to change with your new body? Look into home gyms that offer accessory packages and weight upgrades.

While initially they may seem more expensive, it will save you from purchasing a new gym once you outgrow that small weight stack.

Most importantly, make sure you like the gym you buy. Sure, that sounds pretty straight forward, but if you aren’t completely satisfied with the equipment, you simply won’t use it and have wasted hundreds of dollars. If you have never lifted weights or done strength training before, either find a friend who has a home gym and test it out, or get a trial gym membership to see what equipment you like to use before buying something you hate.

The internet is a great place to do some initial research to see what is available and compare features, benefits and prices between the offerings from the various home gym manufacturers. When you have carried out your research you can then go forward with confidence knowing what you want, what you can afford and which is the best home gym system for you.

The use of exercise and fitness equipment often results in injury because of the high impact associated with using it. There are, however, various types of low impact exercise and fitness equipment available in the market. The three main types of low impact exercise equipment that you might consider buying are elliptical trainers, exercise bikes, and rowing machines. If you have enough space, then you should consider getting one of these low impact exercise machines for your home.

The first and most common low impact exercise and fitness machine is the exercise bike. Exercise bikes come in two forms – the upright form and the recumbent form. The upright form of exercise bike is similar to a normal bicycle in that the rider sits up straight while pedaling. The recumbent form allows the rider to recline while using the machine, thus reducing strain on the back while using the machine. The recumbent bike, while good for endurance training, does not provide a workout of the same intensity as an upright bike can. The standard bike mainly works the leg muscles. Both forms of exercise bike can be fairly affordable, with models available for as little as six hundred dollars.

The rowing machine is another type of low impact exercise and fitness equipment that you may wish to consider. It simulates the action of rowing a boat, helping to improve your cardiovascular health and strengthen the muscles in the upper body. The machine makes use of magnetism, air, hydraulics and water to create four different ways in which you can pull the machine. The rowing machine relies on a spinning fan to create air resistance when you pull on the mechanism. This simulates the actual experience of rowing. While a less expensive model can cost less than two hundred dollars, a more expensive model that is more durable and magnetic-based can cost thousands of dollars. No matter what model you choose to buy, however, you will still find it a fantastic option for exercising.

The last type of low impact exercise and fitness equipment that you might consider is the elliptical trainer. Using this machine involves standing on a pair of pedals and moving them around a wheel, making it resemble a hybrid between a regular treadmill and a stationary bike. Some elliptical trainers also include cross-training bars, allowing users to strengthen their arm muscles as well as their leg muscles. Elliptical trainers use two different types of brakes – friction brakes and magnetic brakes. Friction brakes tend to wear out easily so a machine that uses magnetic brakes would be the better choice. The width of your stride should also affect your choice of machines, as you should look for one that does not place your feet too far apart. A guideline for suitable stride width would be twenty inches. The cost of an elliptical trainer can range from less than five hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.

If you are thinking of buying exercise and fitness equipment, you should consider these three types of low impact exercise and fitness equipment. Low impact exercise equipment is excellent for regular exercise and helps to reduce the strain and injury from using regular high impact exercise equipment.

Quality elliptical trainers that provide a quality workout and have a reliable performance record are generally expensive. In fact we recommend that you consider paying at least $1000.00 and preferably $1200.00 for an elliptical trainer. This generally assures that you will have a good quality elliptical machine. It is the old pay me now or pay me later situation and cost is an indicator of quality when it comes to fitness equipment.

Remanufactured elliptical trainers can be a viable option when considering top end cross trainers. A great example is the Life Fitness CT9500HRR remanufactured cross trainer. This is a top end elliptical trainer that is designed for in home or light commercial use. New list price for this top end elliptical trainer is $4995.00. As you can see this not a cheap piece of fitness equipment, however a good quality remanufactured CT9500HRR sells for about $2999.95. That is a serious savings of about $2000.00 for what we feel is a good elliptical machine.

Buying an elliptical trainer that is this expensive can cause you to have second thoughts but again you get what you pay for. Just head over the local fitness center, gym or YMCA and ask them what they are paying for their equipment and you will quickly understand what a deal this unit is. The Life Fitness CT9500HRR Crosstrainer has been remanufactured by Global Fitness, a Los Angeles-based company that refurbishes and re-sells exercise equipment from the industry’s most trusted names.

We recently had the opportunity to test the CT9500HRR remanufacture cross trainer that was purchase by a condo association for use by its members. We had previously used the CT9500HR that was in relatively new condition and thus were familiar with its operation. We also interviewed the manager of the condo association to find out if there were any problems with the remanufactured Life Fitness CT9500HRR. The association had purchased it just two months earlier and had only one minor problem when setting up the elliptical cross trainer. The self generating power system and wheels were especially appreciated features.

Each of our four testers spent an hour on the Life Fitness CT9500HRR. Two of our testers have more than 500 hours on elliptical trainers and are very picky when it comes to performance and features. One of our testers is a large martial artist and weight lifter and is immediate comment was on how sturdy the machine felt to him. Two of the testers thought the console should have been larger or laid out better. One feature we all would have liked to see on a high end cross trainer is the ability to change the incline and thus the stride length. This gives the user a more complete lower body workout. Never the less we all thought the Life Fitness CT9500HRR performed flawlessly.

Warranties are a concern whenever you purchase any piece of fitness equipment. Remanufactured elliptical trainers by Global fitness have a standard 6 month parts and labor warranty and a one year warranty on the motor. The company also has a 30 day return policy without any restocking fee.

If you are serious about acquiring a quality elliptical trainer for your home or office you may want to look at a remanufactured elliptical machine. As always you should do your home work and check out the customer reviews for each elliptical trainer you are considering. We also suggest that you take the machine for a test ride whenever possible. This can be accomplished by visiting your local fitness equipment dealer or fitness center and spending 30 minutes on the each model. Make sure the elliptical machine fits your body and workout style before you take out your credit card. Remember and elliptical trainer is a great way to stay in shape but only if you use it on a regular basis. That means your elliptical trainer has to be reliable and maintenance free.

The most structured place for you to exercise is a gym, or any kind of fitness center. These establishments provide you with all the tools and resources you need to exercise and reach your full physical potential. In order for you to absorb the benefits a gym has to offer, you have to sign up for one. Many gyms offer great introductory rates and deals, and their regular prices are very reasonable as well. In reality, all gyms are very similar, and most people sign up for the gym that is within the closest proximity to them.

Why join a gym when you can just get some home gym equipment and work out at home? For many people, this is a perfect situation for them, as they do not need the environment of a gym to be motivated and exercise properly. Working out at home certainly has its advantages, such as the fact that you do not need to leave your house and you can exercise whenever you want, even at night. However, most people’s home gyms do not have all the things that a traditional gym has, so many fitness enthusiasts find that exercising sometimes at home and other times at the gym works perfectly.

Besides the vast array of exercise equipment, a gym also has personal trainers and people who can give you tips on how to work out better. Even if you work out very vigorously, if you are doing it the wrong way, you will lose out on a lot of potential gain. Gym representatives know the science of fitness and can tell you what routine to follow, as well as specific ways to work out. These tips are invaluable and should be taken advantage of.

A gym is a naturally motivating place. Seeing all your fellow humans pushing themselves to the limit around you further encourages you to do well. It is up to each of us as individuals to reach our full potentials, both physically and mentally, so that this world can be as grand as possible. Joining a gym can help this lofty goal be achieved; after all, we can only do our part as individuals, and no more.

Not all of us have the time or inclination to make regular trips to the gym – however, all is not lost as these days there is a range of fitness equipment that can be purchased for the home. The array of choice out can be quite baffling for the novice, which in turn is off-putting. It is, though, possible to delve into this sector and make sense of it – not only that but some pieces of equipment can be bought at really cost effective prices. So it’s well worth getting to understand what’s on the market, and shopping around before you buy

There’s actually a huge market for second hand fitness equipment. Many people purchase running machines etc. in a fit of enthusiasm but then their appetite for exercise quickly wanes and the equipment sits around taking up space and reminding them of their failed bid to exercise. This equipment is often as good as new (because it’s pretty much unused) but available at really attractive prices. Online portals such as eBay are where most of these machines end up being sold, but it’s also worth looking at local newspapers and even notice boards in supermarkets and community centres.

If you only use one or two pieces of equipment at the gym then buying those machines for yourself can actually represent a saving over time as you no longer have to pay monthly fees for the gym, and don’t have the inconvenience of having to actually go there. So rather than buying rickety home machines it may be worthwhile to invest in commercial equipment. Next time you are at the gym, check out the name of the manufacturer – the logo should appear prominently on the equipment – and then go to their website, and either enquire directly or contact one of their dealers.

As with any major purchase it’s important to figure out how you are going to finance it. Make sure that you don’t pay too much for the equipment itself, obviously. If you are not going to pay for it upfront then it is also worth shopping around for financing too.

To summarise those three tips

1) Don’t automatically buy new kit, there are some second hand bargains to be snapped up

2) Consider buying commercial equipment, it can save money in the long run

3) Don’t forget to build the cost of financing into the equation

In today’s difficult economy everyone is wanting to save as much as they can and still be able to buy the things they want without having to spend a fortune.