Copyright (c) 2007 Jess Harley

If the only time you dance is at weddings, you have no idea what you are missing out on. First of all not only is dancing fun, it is also exercise! Think about your moving your feet, your arms, your twisting away and giving yourself a full body workout. Ever noticed how sometimes the day after a wedding, your body is a little sore, especially if you do not workout before hand? Celebrities, who take part in Dancing with The Stars, have reported an increase in weight loss. The most traditional way of getting a good dancing workout is to turn on some music and let yourself go and boogie down. It is also an excellent way to incorporate some bonding time with your kids too if you included them. There are days when Ill turn on the radio and me and my daughter will just dance our feet off.

There might be some of you, who are looking for something a little more structured and instruction. Not to worry there is something for you also. Gyms all around the world are starting to offer dancing classes. Starting off there is Cardio Salsa. This class if offered at The Crunch gyms nationwide or you can look for it on DVD. It is a low impact high intensity workout that combines the hottest Latin dances such as the cha-cha, mambo, samba and more with traditional dance steps such as the grapevine, lunges and arm raises. What women are loving about this workout is that they can take what they learn on the videos or classes and take it to a night club if they want to!

Cardio Capoeira is also becoming another popular dance workout. It was featured briefly on the cool down segments of the hit exercise video Turbo Jam, but has come out on its own as a great workout. In fact for fans of the hit Movie Oceans 12 might remember it being featured as the Night Fox dodges the lasers to get to the goods, or you might remember Catherine Zeta-Jones using a similar dance in the movie Entrapment. Cardio Capoeira is a basically a form of martial arts that is disguised as dancing. It was used to train Brazilian slaves martial arts without letting their captors know. It requires a lot of kicking, spinning and even cartwheels. What makes this workout so powerful especially on your buttocks and quads is the move the ginga which links one movement to the next so you will find yourself doing this often.

Cardio Striptease is another dance workout that is sweeping the nation. There are a number of DVDs out that offer a cardio striptease workout. This routine is part burlesque, part yoga, and part gymnastics. There are no concise steps and the whole point of the routine is to allow you to move freely and beautifully and learn to express yourself. You never have to worry about holding any sort of poses but move from one move to another by using slow moving hip and **** circles. The aim of this workout is to tone the hips, buttocks, thighs calves and abs.

Of course you can always go the more traditional route and sign up for ballroom dancing classes which will still give you a great workout. Which ever one of these you choose, you will burning fat and calories while having a great time. You wont even know you are exercising, thats how much fun you will have.



By: Jess Harley

About the Author:

Schwinn 430 Elliptical Trainer

Buying an elliptical? Elliptical exercise machines used to be simple. Precor introduced the first one back in the 1990s and other fitness brands like NordicTrack, Proform and Schwinn followed with more affordable home versions.

If you’re buying an elliptical today, you’ll notice that you have a lot of options. One of the main options you have is which style or design of elliptical you want.

Elliptical exercise machines offer 3 general designs: Front drive, rear drive and center drive. Which one is best?

Here’s a brief overview of each so you can decide which best suits you:

#1 Rear Drive – As the name states, this design puts the flywheel in the rear – behind the foot pedals. This was the first design originally introduced by Precor. However many brands now produce this design including Nordictrack and Smooth.

Rear drive ellipticals tend to give you a flatter elliptical motion – kind of like a running feel. According to some reports rear drive models also give more inertia behind the user, although I can’t really feel this myself.

#2 Front Drive – This design came later into the marketplace and places the flywheel in front of the foot pedals. This design tends to give you a more climbing or inclined feel to the elliptical motion.

Front drive, like rear drive, is also quite popular among many different brands. Brands that produce machines with this design include Sole and Schwinn.

#3 Center Drive – This is a newer design in the home market. Instead of one large flywheel in front or back, there are 2 smaller flywheels on the side of the user footpedals.

Advantages to this design (besides just looking cool) are that these machines take up less space than the 2 other designs. They also tend to hold the user more upright with the footpedals closer together, which for many people feels more natural.

On the other hand, in my mind at least, 2 smaller flywheels vs 1 means double the objects that can break on my elliptical.

Plus these ellipticals are not as easy to find as the other 2 models. NordicTrack makes a few. But the most popular brand that used to make them – Ironman – wouldn’t be a great choice since their parent company – Keys Fitness – declared bankruptcy.

So which one is the best design?

Well it really depends on you. For example if you have a small workout space you may want a center drive elliptical (or you could also just opt for a folding front drive elliptical). If you prefer a flatter feeling, running type motion, you may want a rear drive machine.

However keep in mind that design isn’t the only thing that contributes to a smooth, stable elliptical. Other features to look at include stride length, user weight capacity, proper ergonomic design and the quality of construction.

Keep these things in mind while searching for your elliptical exercise machine. Take your time and you’re guaranteed to find one you’ll enjoy using for years to come.



By: Vienna Miller

About the Author:

Ironman Ascender CDT Elliptical Trainer

Learn why the jump rope is such a power training tool. People seem to neglect this tool BIG time in their training. Fighters have been using the jump rope for years in their boxing training workouts to shred the fat from their bodies. Now you will to.

Why do so many people neglect the jump rope? I feel people really don’t want to look foolish using this wonderful training tool. Jumping rope takes coordination to use. It seems that many people like the timing. When people begin jumping rope they tend to get frustrated as the rope gets tangled in their feet. I say if you can’t, you must! and you will start to build a beautiful rhythm if you stay with it. That’s the great benefit of using this tool. Your conditioning improves, you burn lots of fat, and your coordination improves like never before. Like the saying goes, Nothing great in life comes easy!

Here is a sample jump rope workout you can use to get started.

Getting Started

You can start out using one or two minute rounds. This will all depend on your current condition. If you’re out of shape start with one minute rounds. If you are an intermediate try using two minute rounds of jumping rope. Rest one minute between rounds. Keep a nice constant brisk pace going. Try performing 2-4 rounds. Again, this all depends on your current condition.

Stay close to the ground while jumping rope. Jumping to high will beat up your joints. Just stay relaxed and build a nice rhythm.

Mixing it up

You can mix up the workout by shuffling your feet while jumping. Move your feet front to back while jumping rope low to the ground. Be patient, as this takes a lot of coordination to do.

Putting it to use

If you can stick with the above guidelines, I guarantee that you will see your waist line shrink. You will gain confidence, along with improved coordination. Try getting this from a stationary bike, stair climber, or elliptical! I can’t emphasize enough, on why this workout makes so much sense to perform! Along with the low cost of the jump rope, it takes little space to perform. You get a great workout in less time. If you do it at home you also save on drive time to the gym.

This is even more reason to go get started!



By: Rob Pilger

About the Author:

Merit 710E Elliptical Trainer

Because all those clever fitness and cycling enthusiasts have been evolving fitness equipment every year, you now can take your favorite bike inside and keep on pedaling through the winter.  But which stationary bike stand is just the right fit for your particular situation?

They’re called either stationary bike stands or stationary bike trainers, but either way they help you setup your bike inside. You’ll find three basic choices when you start to consider a stationary bike stand.

You will find the most advanced, perhaps, are stationary bicycle rollers. With these, you place both your wheels atop a set of rollers. This provides a smooth and natural pedal feel, but it also requires balance and concentration.  Don’t think this is just like going from a stationary bike machine to the same thing on a real bicycle.  This time you have to keep your balance as you pedal.

A step down in complexity but perhaps a step up in rigor is the bike trainer.  Cycling trainers are bike stands which offer resistance to help you get a better workout.  There are three common types of resistance: fluid resistance (the most expensive), air resistance (the least expensive), and magnetic resistance (the most common).  Each has their strengths and weaknesses so I suggest you try them out somewhere to decide what feels best for you personally.

The simplest approach you can take is to just use a basic stationary bike stand.  This basically just lets you setup your bike indoors but doesn’t provide much realism or challenge.  It is, however, the cheapest and easiest to setup.

Whichever method you choose, be sure to try it out in a fitness store or department store before you plunk down your cash.  Different people prefer different setups, and sometimes they’re surprised by what they prefer after they actually try pedaling on one of these stationary bike stands.



By: Terry Doyle

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Schwinn 460 Variable Stride Elliptical Trainer

There is no doubt that exercise is good for everyone. There is simply no other way to stay lean and create the body you have always wanted. The type of exercise you perform will depend on your physical condition, stamina, and health related needs.

While walking on a treadmill can be beneficial for many people, ellipticals are more effective in creating the walking experience without the impact on the joints. Knees, hips and ankles receive less pressure from ellipticals than when walking on the street or when using a treadmill, providing the exercise needed without the potential for joint damage. Ellipticals are effective for weight loss programs as well as for cardio workouts.

Proper Posture Is Necessary For Using Ellipticals

When working out on ellipticals it is important to maintain a proper posture. You should use the handles, that move the arms along with the legs, to help you remain upright to maintain a straight alignment of the spine. With the moving bars to hold onto, ellipticals are effective at improving upper body mobility.

Standing on the equipment, ellipticals are effective at keeping the back straight throughout the entire program will further prevent joint pain, making them a popular choice among older persons looking to improve their cardiac health. Some plans recommend placing a flat object on the head, such as a book and holding it there while walking to help maintain the proper posture.

Ellipticals Are Effective Only When They Are Used

Through regular use, ellipticals are effective for weight loss, building lower body strength and in providing a cardio-vascular workout for overall general health. Ellipticals can also be used while wearing a weight vest. This will provide more resistance and a tougher workout for your muscles. But the key phrase here is, “through regular use.”

When most people buy gym memberships or home gym equipment they never use them. You need to realize that it takes a lot of hard work to stay fit. To benefit from an elliptical machine you need to be using it at least five days a week for thirty minutes to an hour each session.

Also don’t disregard your diet. Health and fitness are two different things and it is important to realize that in order to fully benefit from using an elliptical machine you need to do it conjunction with a healthy diet that includes mostly organic fruits and vegetables. Good luck on your journey towards health and wellness!



By: Brue Baker

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Schwinn 460 Variable Stride Elliptical Trainer

Are you completely dedicated to your health? Does missing your exercise cause you concern? We have all seen those days when the weather was too bad to even leave the house and a person couldn’t get to their gym or exercise class. Perhaps you find yourself too busy to eat out, rest or exercise on a regular basis. If one or more of these scenarios describe you then a home treadmill may be ideal for you and your busy schedule.

A Home Treadmill Can Provide a Better Life

Exercise is important for everyone. However the majority of people indicate they just cannot find time to get an appropriate amount of physical activity on a regular basis into their life.

One example is stay at home moms. There free time is at a premium. They simply do not have the time to run to the gym and usually they are too exhausted to go out to the gym. Stays at home moms have a full-time job and then some. Their attempts to fit in a regular physical exercise program are often simply another frustrating task that never seems to work out for them.

In reality most women tend to try to maintain all their tasks as wife’s and mothers while also attempting to stay fit. These ladies would love the extra freedom afforded by a home treadmill. One can get all the exercise wanted right inside one’s own home. It is so much easier to work exercise into one’s schedule with one of these. An added bonus is the ability to read and do other things while exercising.

It has been discovered by many women that by regularly using a home treadmill they could maintain their desired body weight and also have higher energy levels. When adding some light weight lifting and other home exercises these benefits were magnified. These women truly appreciated the versatility of a home treadmill and found it an effective, enjoyable, and even presentable in a decorative way in the home.

In addition to all the advantages and benefits of a home treadmill for your health, they are also often found at reasonable prices. Buying a home treadmill might be the start of your home fitness center or a valuable addition to your existing fitness equipment. There are many people who are only interested in a treadmill. In any event this will be a great investment for you and help you to stay in style by being healthy.



By: Jerry Cahill

About the Author:

Merit 710E Elliptical Trainer

In this day and age most of us who want to get fitter, stronger, or lose weight know that in order to achieve our goals we must participate in some type of exercise program. One of the problems is that of choosing what sort of fitness equipment we should be using or buying. There are a number of choices on the market today, including elliptical trainers, rowing machines, exercise bicycles, steppers, weight machines, free weights, cable machines, and so on.

Now you have two choices when it comes to using fitness equipment. First is to purchase a piece of equipment, depending on the quality of what you want, buying can be pretty expensive. The second choice is to become a gym member. This will give you a wider of choice in the types of fitness equipment you can use, but even this option can be expensive.

Now there can be many reasons that could make it difficult for you to take advantage of either choice. Perhaps you are in a position in your life at the moment where you cannot afford to purchase any fitness equipment or afford to join a gym. You may not have any space at home to use any fitness equipment, or have the time to travel to a gym 3 or 4 times a week. You may feel uncomfortable or not have the confidence at the present time to join a gym. All these reasons will result in one thing, and that is not exercising, and not achieving the vision you may have of yourself for the future.

Now I am going to be brutally honest with you. All those reasons are just excuses not to exercise. You justify not exercising with these excuses and this makes you feel that there is some substance behind why you cannot exercise. The fact is that there is no substance behind these excuses, because when you focus on why you can’t do something your mind will come up with lots of reasons for that point of focus. However if you focus on a regular basis on why you should exercise, your mind will come up with reasons and ways for that as well. You can reach extreme levels of fitness without equipment.

The truth is that we associate great bodies with fitness equipment and we have the perception that fitness without any equipment is not something that can be achieved successfully. This is a million miles away from the truth. You don’t need any fitness equipment to become fitter, stronger, or slimmer. Your own body is one of the best pieces of fitness equipment that you have. You can reach extremely high levels of fitness using nothing but your body.

Take a look at the sport of boxing. It is only over the last few years that boxers have started using weights or weight machines to train. A few years ago 99% of their training consisted of using their own body for their training. Boxers would get up in the early hours and run the streets, not use a treadmill at lunch time. They would spend many hours a week doing push ups, sit ups, chin ups, stretching, shadow boxing, and a whole host of other body weight exercises. Boxers are warriors and they reach warrior status without any equipment. Boxers have the fittest and most durable physiques in sport.

To become a soldier is no mean feat, the training is extremely tough. The bulk of a soldiers training consists of exercising without equipment. They spend hours running over rough terrain carrying equipment and heavy backpacks. They spend months doing circuit training consisting of swimming, push ups, chin ups, sit ups, and various other exercises. Nobody can say that a soldier is not an extremely fit individual.

There is a huge choice of exercises you can use, where your body is the only piece of equipment you will need. Depending on the method of training you use, just 15 minutes a day will give you fitness levels far beyond what you have at the moment. Pick a set of exercises that hit different body parts and make a circuit out of them. Circuit training will improve your strength, fitness, and endurance. Pick your own circuit or use the one below

Free squats (30 seconds) Rest (20 seconds) Push ups (30 seconds) Rest (20seconds) Crunches (30 seconds) Rest (20 seconds) Squat thrusts (30 seconds)

This circuit last just 3 minutes and it will work your body hard. Do as many actions of each exercise in a 30 second period and do not have any more than 20 seconds rest. Try it once and see how you feel. Call this one circuit, and when your fitness improves do another circuit later in the day. There really is no limit to how far you can go on this circuit, the fitter you get the more circuits you keep adding. Just try one to begin with to get used to it and think on that one circuit is just 3 minutes out of your whole day. 3 minutes is not a lot compared to the benefits you will get from that time. Now you know that you are capable of reaching a high level of fitness without equipment.



By: Terry Sandhu

About the Author:

Schwinn 460 Variable Stride Elliptical Trainer

A freestanding pellet stove can be a great way to add heat to your main living spaces while also enjoying the look of a lovely new piece of furniture. Pellet stoves come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and styles, and one that stands on its own can be a great way to add a focal point to your living room, dining room, or even large kitchen. Before you buy a pellet stove like this one, though, you need to know exactly what it takes to install one in your home.

First, check out the specifications on any stoves that you’re looking at to see how much space you need to leave around the stove. Freestanding stoves will do best if they are in a large area, which will allow for more regulation of heat and better circulation throughout the area you need to keep warm. Different stoves will, obviously, have different space needs, and you should be sure you have enough room to safely install your stove.

Second, figure out what you need to have on the floor. Anytime you’re installing a pellet stove, you’ll have to have some sort of protection  on your floor, whether it is tiles set into the floor or a more traditional-looking hearth. Again, the specifications for the floor covering will be different depending on what type of stove you buy and how large it is.

Thirdly, you’ll have to figure out how to install vents for your freestanding pellet stove. Depending on where you need to install your stove, you will probably have to knock a few holes in your walls or ceilings, which could be more or less complicated, depending on the area around the stove. Before you buy a stove, figure out how large of a vent it will need, and plan out where you will install the vent in your walls or ceiling.

Finally, you’ll have to find a place to install your pellet stove nearby to an electrical outlet, since it will need electricity to run properly. Setting your stove up right in front of an outlet might be the best option so that you will have less cords to deal with. If you can’t put the stove right in front of an outlet, you should consider how you will hide the cords that will trail along the floor, for the sake of both safety and appearances.

 

 



By: C Brown

About the Author:

Schwinn 430 Elliptical Trainer

Treadmills provide excellent aerobic or cardio workouts, and they’re incredibly easy to use. Walking on a treadmill is safe for practically everyone, and the best treadmills allow you to intensify your workouts as your fitness level improves. If you choose the right treadmill, you can look forward to owning a piece of home fitness equipment you’ll enjoy using for years to come.

Although there are very low cost treadmills available on the market today, the best investment will take quality into account. Features and capabilities are important, but a cheap treadmill with lots of bells and whistles that breaks down in just a few months will be a huge source of disappointment and frustration, to say the least.

If you want your treadmill to last long-term, you’ll want to avoid the cheapest brand on the market. Yet it isn’t necessary to spend a fortune to own a quality treadmill. Body Break offers durable, quality motorized treadmills at reasonable prices, and you can choose the right features for your use.

All of Body Break’s treadmills are designed to operate smoothly and with as little maintenance as possible. There are three Body Break treadmills that offer varying levels of features, and all are foldable to save space when they’re not in use.

The 161-0645 folding treadmill from Body Break is ideal for beginners or anyone who doesn’t expect to use a treadmill for intensive workouts. It has a 1.5 hp motor, 10 position power incline and a 16″ W x 50″ L striding surface. The LCD monitor displays speed, time, distance, calories burned, incline, pulse, plus it includes a scan feature.

Body Break’s 1612741 foldable motorized treadmill is ideal for more intensive workouts and greater variety. It has a 2.25 hp motor and a 10 position adjustable incline and larger striding surface of 18″ W x 50″ L. This treadmill features two incline programs and two speed programs, plus one combined speed and incline program. The LED monitor displays pulse rate, incline, time, speed, calories burned and distance.

The 1611635 folding motorized treadmill from Body Break offers more features and slightly more power. It has 11 programs, a 3 hp motor and additional LED monitor displays including laps and racetrack. This treadmill features a motorized power folding system, as well and a 20″ W x 55″ L striding deck. 

If you chose to invest in a Body Break treadmill, you can select the right level of features for your lifestyle and fitness goals. This is a great way to avoid overspending on features you won’t use. You can own a quality treadmill at an affordable price by opting for the Body Break brand.

 

 



By: C Brown

About the Author:

Ironman Ascender CDT Elliptical Trainer

Losing weight isn’t just about changing what you eat but how you live and that includes adding or increasing the amount of exercise you do. There is also the option for the type of exercise you do. You don’t have to run to the gym and pick up a set of weights then spend an hour pumping iron in order to lose weight. Actually, you want exercise options that get your heart pumping and your entire body moving. Walking is a great weight loss exercise, skating, jogging, and biking are as well. Swimming is great too for working out the entire body. It also is a low impact exercise so you if have injuries or are medically restricted swimming may be an option for you as a weight loss exercise.

Exercises such as Yoga, and the martial arts, even dance can help you to lose weight. If you don’t have time for these things consider using your house work as a way of getting more exercise in. Add washing windows, or sweeping every day, vacuuming every day as well can provide a great way to get in some exercise while doing everyday chores you have to do anyway.

If you pay someone to do your lawn for you consider taking time off from paying them to take care of it yourself for a while. You would be amazed how much exercise you can get mowing your lawn. Taking a few extra minutes to park farther away from locations so you can get extra walking in can really help out as well. Consider if you have the time the mall walk. Many malls open their doors early to allow walkers to enjoy exercise while under air and in a covered building. Depending on the mall this can be a daily thing or just on certain days.



By: Karina Amerson

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Schwinn 418 Elliptical Trainer