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Have you decided to purchase a piece of home workout equipment? There are a lot of choices available today on the market for home gym equipment. The key is to find the right piece of equipment for you and your workout needs. The elliptical machine is quickly gaining popularity both in and out of the gym. The elliptical machine is an excellent choice for home equipment, especially if you do not want the traditional treadmill or exercise bike.

Why An Elliptical Machine?

Elliptical machines came onto the scene a few years ago and they have been gaining in popularity ever since. There are a few reasons why elliptical machines are a good choice for your exercise needs. Ellipticals offer a weight resistant workout which is important because, weight resistant workouts burn calories faster and more efficiently. Also, with a weight resistant workout, you are building bone density which is particularly important for men or women who are at risk for osteoporosis.

How Will I Burn Calories Faster?

Elliptical trainers involve both the arms and the legs making it a crosstrainer, in a smooth and natural motion. Because you are utilizing both your arms and your legs you are involving more muscle groups than with other machines, therefore you are optimizing your energy expenditure. In today’s busy world everyone is limited on time, so why not optimize your exercise time? Studies have shown that because elliptical machines are optimizing energy expenditure, the average person will burn more calories.

What About My Joints?

One of the reasons that elliptical trainers are so popular is because they provide an excellent aerobic workout with minimal stress on your joints. Traditional cardiovascular workout machines such as treadmills or stepper machines cause an impact on the joints because your feet leave the machine and come down, thereby causing stress on your joints.

With an elliptical trainer there is no need to remove your feet from the foot pads so there will be little stress on your knees, ankles, hips and back. Because of the fact that the elliptical machine is a low/no impact machine it is a perfect choice for people who are suffering from or are recovering from any joint problems such as knees, ankle, hip or back. Often people with joint problems feel that they have to give up on exercise, but no more with an elliptical.

How Do I Choose An Elliptical Trainer?

Now that you have decided to choose an elliptical machine for your home gym you will be faced with many different machines and many different brands, and it can be very overwhelming when you are trying to choose the best machine for you.

You definitely need to look for a machine that has quality craftsmanship, and is sturdy. You will want one that will be able to stand up to a tough workout, no matter what pace you want to workout at.

Most elliptical machines will come standard with an on board computer. The computer will usually come preset with a number of different work-out programs. It is best to look for an elliptical trainer that has a number of different programs preset into the computer. Depending on your workout goals, you will want a computer that offers a weight loss program, interval programs and a good variety of other programs.

Some of the higher end models come with on board computers where you can actually download more workout programs from your home computer. These models of course are quite a bit more expensive and you probably do not need this function if you are just starting out.

It is also important to look for a machine that operates smoothly and quietly. If your cross trainer operates smoothly you will be able to hear the television or radio easier. Also a smooth machine is typically run with magnetic resistance instead of belts. Machines run on belts typically will require more maintenance.

You may be interested in an elliptical trainer that folds away for storage purposes. Many people look into ellipticals that store well because they want to use them when they need them and put them away in a closet when not in use.

What Brands Are Available?

There are a lot of very good brands of elliptical crosstrainers on the market today, some of the most popular brands available are:

* Precor
* Healthrider
* Preform
* Nordictrack
* Schwinn
* Smooth

Which Elliptical Trainer Is The Best?

The best way to determine which elliptical machine is the best fit for you is by making a list of al of the features that you are looking for in a trainer. You should also set a price limit for yourself, as some of these machines can cost a few thousand dollars. Once you find the perfect combination of features and price you will have a machine that is perfect for you.

© 2005 http://www.best-elliptical-trainers.com

About the Author
Kevin Brown is successful author and publisher of many informative websites including http://www.best-elliptical-trainers.com. His websites offer tips and advice on a wide array of topics including elliptical machines, rowing machines, elliptical reviews, and more.

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Taking those first few steps towards establishing a Fitness Lifestyle can very well be intimidating, especially if the decision is made to sign-up for a gym membership. In fact, deciding on even using a gym can be a double-edged sword of sorts. On one hand, there are many of us who feel that we’ll become more motivated towards exercising regularly if we do sign-up for a gym membership. After all, you’re now investing more money into your health so you certainly don’t want to just throw that money away. Additionally, there are typically many more people working out at the gym than anywhere else, so you’ll probably be more likely to get caught up in the ambience and energy of others exercising as well. However, on the other hand, because there can be so many people working out at the gym, you may feel intimidated beginning those first steps towards getting back in condition in front of others. When you stop to consider all of the pros and cons with signing up for a gym membership, you may find that making this decision was a more daunting task than you first thought.

Fortunately, there are many gyms and fitness facilities available now to accommodate virtually every factor and consideration involved in your own decision making process. From the large fitness clubs such as Bally’s and 24-Hour Fitness to the local YMCA or university health centers, and from the private one-on-one training studios to even mobile Personal Training trailers, chances are excellent that a gym can be found to match your own personal preferences. What’s important to keep in mind is that every gym and fitness facility has it’s own unique personality and subsequently, there’s a gym to match your own unique personality as well. Therefore, with a little gym shopping savvy and factors that we’ll providing you for consideration, you’ll be on your way towards locating a gym that’s a perfect match for you!

Presented here then is a brief summary of several factors for you to consider when shopping for the gym that’s right for you:

1) Location

Typically, you’re better off when your gym is near to your home or work. The greater the distance that you’ll have to travel to exercise, then the greater the chance that you may find an excuse not to. At the same time, don’t let location be your sole determining factor, as it’s important that you don’t join a gym that you dislike simply because it’s nearby.

2) Management Attitude

When you walk into your gym, I strongly believe that you should never feel like only a dollar sign or a second-class citizen. Look for honesty, sincerity, politeness, and above all, respect. The vast majority of gyms that I have stepped foot into are operated by managers and staff members that genuinely enjoy their jobs and genuinely enjoy assisting their clients. However, if you feel like a gym is not interested in your needs at all, then you may wish to keep looking.

3) Hours

How does your own personal schedule fit in with the gym’s? If conducting early-bird workouts is your best option, then at what time does your gym open up? What if you can only workout late at night? Is your gym a 24-hour gym? Is it open 7 days a week?

4) Price

This factor is actually most people’s first consideration when searching for a gym. As this issue can be largely affected by your own personal taste and budget, I would simply propose the following points to consider. First, look at the entire package before you just consider the cost. Being the cheapest gym around does not necessarily make it the best fit for you. You do sometimes get what you pay for. Secondly, be mindful of the contracts you sign. There are fitness chains that have been notorious for absolutely locking you into a long-term contract and then making it nearly impossible to cancel should you decide to withdraw at a later date. If you are not convinced that you’re going to stick with regularly working out at a gym, you may then prefer to sign a short-term contract instead even if it costs more per month.

5) Sanitation

For me, this is a direct reflection on management. Bathrooms, showers, pools, saunas, tanning beds, and the gym equipment should be cleaned on a regular basis. Granted, while club members are working out, no gym will ever be 100% perfect, but as long as a club still places an emphasis on proper hygienic practices, then it demonstrates responsibility and concern for their members.

6) Client Volume

If you’re just beginning a gym membership for the first time and feel a bit insecure about working out for the first time, you may (or may not) prefer a smaller gym or even a personal training studio. Also, the best gym in the world for you may still be the wrong fit if you’re going to have to regularly wait in line to exercise on a piece of equipment. A crowded gym can result in irritable attitudes and inefficient workouts. Your best bet may be to locate a fitness facility with the proper combination of number of members and number of equipment that will allow you to maintain a steady workout.

7) Environment

Do you prefer an “Iron Dungeon” with a perpetual cloud of hand chalk and chorus of loud yells and grunts? Or do you prefer a club that feels more like a Singles joint where the clients seem more concerned with meeting the members of the opposite gender? Just like the design of the gym’s building, a gym’s environment can come in all versions as well. If you feel uncomfortable upon your initial walk-through, you may wish to continue looking at other gyms and fitness facilities nearby. When you sign up for a gym membership, it’s vitally important that you sign up at one that you feel comfortable at and enjoy the atmosphere because if you don’t, then there’s a good chance that you won’t succeed in regularly working out there.

There are still many additional factors not listed here you may wish to consider before selecting the gym of your choice such as amenities, the equipment itself, and the clientele. Just be sure to give yourself a little bit of time to shop around and determine which choice is best for you based on your needs and tastes. I truly believe that signing up for a gym membership is an outstanding investment on your physical and emotional health and is well worth the time and money spent to locate the one that’s the best match for you. Most gyms and fitness facilities today are ran by professionals in their field who enjoy their jobs and there is a good chance that this high level of enthusiasm will only energize you further.

So shop around, it’s well worth the effort!

About The Author

Nathan Boyd is author of the highly rated ebook, “The Fitness Lifestyle” and the current Director of Pro Fitness of Texas. Nathan encourages everyone in their pursuit of becoming physically fit and maintaining it for a lifetime. All questions and comments are always welcomed!

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weightloss@weightloss-cookies.com

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To become stronger and faster, athletes use a technique called interval training, in which they exercise very intensely, rest and then alternate intense bursts of exercise and rest until their muscles start to feel heavy. You can apply this principle to your own exercise program, but the rest period between intervals is not the same for every sport.

Rest periods are different for runners and weightlifters. Runners run intervals as fast as they can and recover enough to run the same fast pace several times. Research shows that runners need very short recoveries between intervals, usually only about 30 seconds. So a runner may run a quarter mile 12 times, averaging 1 minute, with a 110-yard slow jog between each. However, weight lifters need much longer recoveries between hard sets, at least two and a half minutes.

Runners become short of breath and feel a burning in their muscles when lactic acid starts to accumulate in muscles. It takes only a few seconds for a trained athlete to recover from hard running and clear lactic acid, so runners usually need short 30 second recoveries between each hard run. On the other hand, weight lifters feel a burning caused by a tearing of the muscle fibers and it can take a much longer time for their pain to disappear so they can lift very heavy weights again.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com

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