Weight Fitness

Fitness Centers : Access to Thousands of Dollars of Equipment

February 27th, 2010 at 09:39pm Under Weights and Fitness

Do you want to work out regularly but can’t afford to spend thousands of dollars on home gym equipment? Or do you simply prefer working out with and around people who have the same goals and enthusiasm as you do?
If you fit into either of the above scenarios then fitness centers are for you.

Every major city and town is now equipped with at least one fitness center, but most will have dozens of options. Most major cities will even have multiple venues of the same fitness chain so that there is always somewhere close to home for you to attend to complete your exercise and fitness regime.

A fitness center is also known as a gym or a health club. Whilst there can be some differences, most if not all will contain rooms with cardio training equipment and weight equipment. Some will have a pool and spa and others will have sporting facilities like tennis and basketball courts. Many clubs also now offer classes such as aerobics, water aerobics, Pilates, yoga and much more.

Gold’s Gym is by far the most well known gym in the USA, being the old training ground of champions like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Gold’s is now spread all over the United States and provides many facilities for fitness buffs.

A new trend is the women only gym such as Curves which provides a relaxing, motivating environment for women to exercise. There are also several other chains of women only gyms which are highly popular.

Fitness centers like the ones mentioned above hold so many benefits. They are cheaper than buying home gym equipment, they allow you to socialize, you can join in classes and learn something new, you benefit by being able to talk to experts, you can take up personal training or have a personal fitness plan made for you and above all, you can use the huge range of equipment and facilities for just a small monthly fee.

It really is little wonder that fitness centers are seeing their biggest attendance numbers ever and it just continues to grow as more and more people become enthusiastic about exercising in a supportive environment.

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Fitness Gear: Weight Training Equipment

February 24th, 2010 at 08:26pm Under Weights and Fitness

Weight training is a form of fitness that should not just be considered the domain of bodybuilders. Absolutely everyone can benefit from lifting weights and doing resistance training.

If you are a woman and have been afraid to do weights training as you fear bulking up like a man, don’t worry. Women are unable to build muscle like men do and whilst you will find your muscles becoming toned, you will never become ‘manly’ looking without some serious supplementation.

When you are looking at fitness gear and weight training equipment you’ll notice how affordable it is to set up a small home gym area

Some of the items you might consider buying for the home include:

- Dumbbells
- Barbells
- Bench
- Weights machines

Barbells and Dumbbells are highly versatile pieces of equipment. They are also the most affordable strength training items you will buy as compared with weight machines they are very low priced.

You can then buy extra weights for them as you become stronger and feel comfortable lifting more.

Weights machines can range from the cheap up to the very expensive gym-quality models. You will notice a vast difference in the look, feel and movement of the more expensive systems, but usually mid-range option is suitable for home use.

You will find weights machines that focus on particular muscles, or machines that provide an all over body workout. The multi machines can cost anywhere from $1000 right up to $5000 and beyond.

If you just want to tone up without spending a fortune then the best fitness gear for weight training to buy is simply a set of dumbbells with adjustable weights. Your can work your arms and legs with this simple equipment thorough a variety of exercises and workout routines.

The Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbells are a good quality set that are durable. They are not the cheapest dumbbells available but they are well worth paying a little extra for. The Bowflex Dumbbells lets you adjust weights in 2.5 lb increments so it is very easy to gradually increase your strength.

Fitness gear and weight training equipment can transform your body without sending you broke.

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Perfect Pushup – Original

February 21st, 2010 at 07:48pm Under fitness

Developed by a U.S. Navy SEAL, the Perfect Pushup uses the principals of biomechanics and engineering to help you comfortably do effective pushups, without undue strain on your wrists and elbows. It also helps stabilize and strengthen the shoulder joint. The unique rotating handles allow your arms to rotate naturally when you do pushups, which helps speed up results by engaging more muscles in the arms, chest, shoulders, and back. As seen on TV. Includes:

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By Paul 10 comments

Weight Fitness Equipment – Wii Fit: A Fun and Effective Daily Wokout

February 18th, 2010 at 06:59pm Under Fitness Equipment

When talking about weight fitness equipment, no conversation is complete without including my favorite, Nintendo’s Wii Fit.

It stands head and shoulders above every piece of exercise equipment I have ever owned and is a ton of fun too.

Although I am a second degree black belt in GoJu Karate and exercise regularly, I can’t stand going to the gym.  I really hate lifting a heavy piece of metal  over and over or running on a treadmill.  It’s all very boring to me.

Enter the Wii Fit by Nintendo. I LOVE THIS THING!  It’s far more than just a toy or game, the Wii Fit actually delivers a very good workout.

You are able to choose from Strength Training, Yoga,  Balance, or Aerobics with many exercises for each category.  As you get better, you unlock more exercises and more reps. It keeps you entertained too. I find myself looking forward to each workout and always trying to beat my last score and get the number one spot.

The Hula Hoop workout is my wife Tiffany’s favorite while I enjoy the Island run. When doing the cardio workouts, you actually get a good sweat going.

The strength training will  get you sore if you are not used to exercising. It will definitely provide a challenge when the advanced reps are unlocked.

The yoga program is very good too. You’ll find yourself more flexible and toned with daily use. Your breathing will also be much deeper and rhythmic.

I don’t go a day without using this piece of weight fitness equipment.  It also incorporates  male and female  virtual trainers to help you, an accurate scale and a true fitness log.

You can even create your own avatars, called miis, to represent you. they show up on many of the exercises and balance games.

Set a goal to loose a certain amount of weight and the Wii Fit  will track your  progress and give feedback.

Bottom line is that if you want a way to exercise that you will continue to come back to and that is actually fun, check out the Wii  Fit.

This is one peice of weight fitness equipment that will not be collecting dust in a corner of your room.

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Anatomy for Strength and Fitness Training: An Illustrated Guide to Your Muscles in Action (Paperback)

February 15th, 2010 at 06:46pm Under fitness

Learn how your muscles work before you work your muscles Perfect for beginning and advanced fitness practitioners alike, this is an in-depth look into the most magnificent machine ever created–the human body. Using detailed anatomical illustrations, Anatomy for Strength and Fitness Training provides you visual insight into what happens to this organic machine during exercise–muscles and tendons working in concert to strengthen your body’s building blocks. With a basic know (more…)

By Paul 7 comments

Fitness: Sports That Are Fun and Healthy

February 12th, 2010 at 06:22pm Under fitness

Do you dread the thought of exercising?

For many people visiting the gym is more a chore than a pleasure. It might feel like something you HAVE to do rather than something you WANT to do. If you have that outlook then eventually you may just give up on going to the gym altogether.

Then there are the people who think that you can only become fit by running 5 miles everyday. Not everybody likes to run (I can’t blame you!) and running can also cause you serious injuries.

There are many fitness alternatives and the best ones are those that involve high fitness sports. There are so many sports that are great for a workout and for improving your health and fitness, but you don’t even need to be good at them to benefit.

So what are the very best fitness sports? I’ve compiled a short list of the sports that I believe provide exceptional fitness benefits and I’ve explained why each one is so good.

Swimming
Swimming does amazing things for your upper body. It strengthens your arms, back and shoulders and is a low impact exercise so is great for those with muscle or joint problems.

Tennis
Tennis is an all over body workout. Your arms are busy swinging the racquet whilst your legs are moving non stop. It is no wonder that tennis players are some of the fittest people on the planet.

Ice Skating
Ice skating is not only fun, but it teaches you balance and promotes leg and ankle strength.

Squash
Squash requires quick reflexes and constant movement so is a great cardiovascular activity.

Cycling
Riding a bike will have your legs hurting in minutes when you aren’t used to it, so gradually ease into it. Try riding uphill for extra b

enefits.

Kayaking/Canoeing
Th

ere may be no better upper body exercise than rowing a boat,

which explains the muscles on Olympic kayakers.

Surfing/Bodyboarding
The balance required for these beach sports is astounding, and it’s a great mental exercise too. It also requires all over body

strength to stay standing and to paddle on to a wave.

These are just a small selection of the sports that will significantly improve your fitness whilst allowing you to have fun at the same time!

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Fitness Yoga

February 9th, 2010 at 05:36pm Under fitness

Yoga is an ancient Hindu discipline that, in its purest form aims to help a person achieve tranquility and inner peace. Yoga made its way into Western society and is used as a relaxation technique. It is particularly popular amongst younger people who lead very busy lives and find that yoga allows them to detach from the hustle and bustle whilst helping to clear their mind.

The goal of yoga is to control both your mind and body. In recent years people have put a new spin on yoga to turn it into a fitness routine rather than just a spiritual and relaxation experience. Yoga has the ability to assist in the flexibility and strengthening of your body and it is these attributes that are focused on during fitness yoga routines and classes.

So what are the benefits of fitness yoga?

1. Strength
Yoga is a combination flow movements that have to be held for periods of time. This sort of resistance training is not practiced in any other form.

2. Flexibility
The range of motions that you do in yoga are unmatched by other exercises. Your flexibility will improve over time as some of the positions can be rather difficult (and best attempted after you gain some experience)

3. Balance
Most exercises focus on just a few core muscle groups or parts of the body whereas yoga encompasses your entire body (inside and out) and as such is one of the most all round forms of exercise you can do.

4. Breathing
Yoga teaches you how to breathe evenly and it lets you practice in a concentrated manner, unlike many other exercise forms in which it can be hard to concentrate on correct breathing techniques.

Fitness yoga is a great way to gain more flexibility and strength and is a welcome change from the regular exercise you might do. Always consult an expert or buy a fitness yoga DVD before starting so that you can learn the correct form for each exercise.

Most health and fitness clubs now hold yoga classes as this discipline becomes increasingly popular amongst people who are just starting to realize is multiple benefits.

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The Chuck Norris Total Fitness Gym

February 6th, 2010 at 05:09pm Under Fitness Equipment

The Chuck Norris Total Fitness Gym line of products is made up of three different home gym sets. Each piece of equipment provides multiple workouts at varying levels from very easy right up to the more strenuous. The current line up of home fitness gyms in the Chuck Norris line:

Total Gym XLS
Total Gym 3000
Total Gym 2000

We’ll go over each one below.

Total Gym 2000
This is the basic gym unit that has a weight capacity of 250lb.
It contains over 40 exercise possibilities so you can work almost all of your muscle groups. There are no add on accessories for this particular gym however it is a great system for an all over workout. If you are just starting out or don’t require extremely heavy weights then the Total Gym 2000 is perfect for you.
RRP: $599.40

Total Gym 3000
With a capacity of 300lb this is the middle range gym that packs some punch. There are over 60 exercises to do and it features a partial comfort system, new pulley and cable system, chrome upper rails and steel handles. It’s a nice looking gym that does what it aims to do: provide a comfortable, effective platform for strength training almost all muscle groups.
RRP: $849.00

Total Gym XLS
This is the top of the line Chuck Norris Total Fitness Gym. It has a weight capacity of 400lb. The comfort system has been upgraded compared with previous models and you can really tell the difference. It is comfortable without being overly luxurious (which takes away from your workouts). The cable and pulley system is also all new and is very stable.

You can do over 80 exercises with the Total Gym XLS and it is suitable for advanced users and those wanting to get the most out of their home fitness workouts. There is even a bonus Pilates kit, squat stand and wing attachment.  RRP: $1448.05

The Chuck Norris Total Fitness Gym family consist of high quality equipment that is suitable for all levels of fitness in the home. The prices are reasonable and the number of exercises that can be completed on even the basic model is quite astounding. You will not be left disappointed in any of these three gym models.

Now you can take a full 30 day in home trial for only $1.

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Exercise Fitness Basics

February 3rd, 2010 at 03:07pm Under fitness

We all know that exercise and fitness is vital for good health, but how much do you know about the basics?
The more you know the better you can become at using exercise and fitness to improve your health, resistance to disease and even lengthen your life expectancy.

There are several parts to physical fitness. These include:

- Cardiovascular fitness
- Muscular strength
- Muscular endurance
- Flexibility

These 4 fitness basics should all be concentrated on as part of your overall health plan. Let’s look at them in some more detail.

Cardiovascular Fitness
This sort of fitness is all about the ability for your body to deliver oxygen to your muscles, plus the quality of your heart and lung functions.

Muscular Strength
Muscle strength is about how much force your muscle can exert in short bursts. This is achieved through weight lifting.

Muscular Endurance
How well your muscles and entire body can sustain continual force is a measure of muscular endurance.

Flexibility
Moving your joints and muscles through their full motion range measures your flexibility. One of the most common flexibility tests is the simple ‘touch your toes’ examination.

Fat vs. Muscle
Refining your muscle to fat ratio is the goal of a fitness plan. Lean muscle mass is built through continual exercise and strength training and whilst you require some fat mass it should not be overwhelming factor. Certain types of exercise will assist you to decrease body fat, whilst others will help you to build muscle mass.

Warming Up
Your workout schedule should always consist of warm up exercises for at least 5 minutes. There are various ways to warm up including walking, slow jogging, stretching, arm rotations and other low intensity movements that stimulate muscle use without straining.

You should aim to do exercises from each of the 4 groups above on a weekly basis. Flexibility can be achieved through yoga exercises or even during warm ups. Muscular endurance can consist of sit-ups and pull-ups. Muscle strength exercises concern weight lifting and your cardiovascular fitness will be made up of running, aerobics and other continuous exercises.

These exercise fitness work out basics apply to every single person, whether you are someone wanting to lose weight or a person who plays professional sports.

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