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Developing a fitness routine is an essential element to the long-term success of any weight loss program. Like most people, I can think of 100 other things I'd rather do than work out. But - if you want to be fit and have plenty of energy, getting in shape is a must! I prefer working out at home versus going to a gym so I invested in several pieces of fitness equipment for myself. The treadmill is my favorite piece of equipment by far. I also purchased a set of 2 lb, 5 lb, and 10 lb dumbbells for use during strength training. I highly recommend incorporating some type of weight lifting/ strength training into your fitness routine – you’ll be amazed by the results you see in just a few weeks. Need more convincing… According to the National Academy of Sciences “it is important to understand the difference between weight loss and fat loss. Weight loss typically involves the loss of fat, water and muscle. A dieter can lose weight without losing much fat. Ideally, overweight people should seek to lose fat and preserve muscle, since muscle burns more calories than fat. Generally, the more muscle mass one has, the higher one's metabolism is, resulting in more calories being burned, even at rest." To get you started, I've included a writeup on the different fitness equipment products that helped me lose close to 60 pounds and get in shape. Items range from top of the line home gyms to vitamins so you'll find something to meet your needs regardless of your budget.
FITNESS EQUIPMENT Home Gyms/Treadmills BOWFLEX
Bowflex has established a reputation as America’s Favorite Home Gym. Their products have helped thousands of people achieve amazing results. One of the latest and greatest offerings from Bowflex is called Bowflex Revolution. I live in a complex that has the Revolution in its fitness center and use it all the time. I recently came across an in depth review of The Bowflex Revolution that I agree with completely. Its included below for your convenience. Bottom line - I highly recommend the Bowflex Revolution however, its pricey.
The first thing that you notice with the Revolution is that it does not have the same appearance as other Bowflex machines. It is built more as a bench with a number of options coming off the bench. In other words, it is longer versus the previous models which I would describe as taller. It also looks sportier and to me that gives you an energy boost right off the bat. It also looks cleaner and like it utilizes better materials than previous models. That is not a knock on previous models, but more a praise of the quality of the Revolution. The quality may be evident in not only the materials, but also in the 10 year guarantee on basically everything.
The machine- in keeping with Bowflex tradition- is flexible when it comes to size. You will need a decent amount of space, nonetheless. The machine measures a little over six feet in height, nine feet in length, and is slightly over five feet wide. A pretty good footprint, but you are able to narrow down that footprint by folding various parts of the machine. The folded footprint is 55" by 37". A little bit easier to store and easily folded up for storage.
A few other notes about the machine that I think deserve mentioning. For one, the machine is very quiet. I am not going to say that you could use it beside someone who is sleeping and not wake them up, but if they are a heavy sleeper you could probably do so. Secondly, I used to notice a black dust that would come off of previous machines (Usually under hinges and areas that rub together.), but have not noticed this with the Revolution. A plus if you want to use over carpet areas. Thirdly, the machine is very smooth. There are no jerky movements or chafing actions. I find this as a huge positive as this usually means you have a better constructed machine.
How about the workouts? Well, there are more than you possibly do in the period of a week. All in all, there are more than 100 exercise options. The exercises can be performed with up to 220 pounds of resistance. You can order an extra resistance plate that adds 80 pounds, but it runs around $100. An upgrade will also get you to 600 pounds for leg workouts. For a vast majority of the population, these weight amounts are more than enough than they will ever need. I should add that you are also able to perform workouts for every part of your body with this machine.
The technology behind the machine was developed after studying an astronaut training technique. Huh? Well, astronauts typically lose 20% of their muscle mass when in space. So NASA developed a resistance training routine in order to combat the muscle loss. Bowflex has taken the technology and applied it to the Revolution. The technology uses resistance plates that appear like traditional weight plates. I far from a technology guru, but the technology is pretty cool when you think about it and how it has been applied.
Ok, so back to the workouts. What can you actually do with the Revolution? Pretty much everything. The exercises include the following: Rowing, preacher curls, curls, leg extensions, leg presses, chest and shoulder presses. As I mentioned, there are over 100 exercises, so this is just a short list of the things that I like to try to do when working out. A nice option that makes these exercises even more difficult is the ability to change the angles of the machine to work different parts of your body. In other words, you can move the position of the arm in order to work different parts of your arm with the same exercise. The bottom line with the workouts is that you will feel the burn if you work yourself hard- just like with any other workout. Yes, you truly do get out what you put in when it comes to working out.
The Revolution comes with a pretty good DVD and manual that will teach you how to use the machine and how to get the most out of the machine. I think that most of it is common sense if you have worked with a Bowflex previously. However, it does not hurt to learn how to get the most out of the workouts.
The one negative that I have found with the Bowflex Revolution is that is not cheap. The cost is in the ballpark of $2500.00 when you figure in shipping and handling. I do look at this and think that over the years you will more than get what you pay for. Over a decade you are looking at a cost of roughly $20/month. This is much cheaper than the typical fitness center cost and Bowflex will allow you to finance it for as little as $37/month.
The bottom line with the Bowflex Revolution is that this machine is wonderful. There was a ton of press for the machine and it seems to have more than lived up to all the positives. The machine is a definite upgrade over some pretty good previous models. I think you will be very pleased as long as you do not mind the hit that your wallet will take. Get Free Shipping with the purchase of the Bowflex Revolution™ Home Gym.
Other promotions currently offered by Bowflex: Free Shipping on any Bowflex® Home Gym!
WORKOUT WAREHOUSE by ICON Fitness
ICON Health & Fitness, Inc. is one of the largest manufacturers and marketers of fitness equipment in the world. They offer a vast amount of products including treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes, strength training, steppers, skiers, riders, yoga & pilates, incline trainers and accessories. If you're looking for a one-stop-shop for fitness equipment, this is the store you're looking for. They carry name brand products and their pricing is very competitive. They even have payment plans for some of their more expensive equipment. Workout Warehouse is definitely one of my favorite fitness equipment providers. Click here to learn more.
Aerobic Workouts The Firm The revolutionary FIRM method combines weight training and aerobics in a unique, effective and fun way that maximizes your ability to burn fat and calories, sculpting and shaping your entire body in the process. But The FIRM does more than boost calorie burn, tone muscle and help you develop the body you've always wanted -- it increases energy and builds self-confidence and self-esteem so that you not only look great, you feel great. The FIRM is so effective that you can get and stay in shape without using any additional equipment. By incorporating strength or weight training into your workouts you'll achieve greater body shaping benefits than you will from aerobic activity alone. The FIRM teaches you how to add weights to your workout safely and with proper form in order to achieve optimum results. Keep in mind that weight training does not mean lifting heavy weights! With The FIRM method, you'll learn how to use strength training to shape your entire body so that the end result is the sleek and sculpted body you've always wanted. Here are just a few of the many benefits of The FIRM: Benefits of The FIRM method1. Maximizes metabolism and calorie burn The Firm has a new system called the TransFIRMer. This new 5-in-1 piece of equipment will add variety and brand-new moves to the tried-and-true FIRM foundation! The TransFIRMer was designed with multiple uses in mind and has five different configurations to take each workout to the next level. With brand-new choreography, this system can reshape your entire body, especially targeting the areas most women want to change - the backs of their thighs, hips, abs, and butt! The Firm is the exercise program I used most often during my 54 lb weight loss. If you want to see results quickly, I can't think of a better workout on the market. I recommend the program for those that consider themselves to be at an intermediate fitness level. If you're a beginner, you may find the workouts to be quite a challenge.
Denise Austin's Fit Forever! The Fit Forever! personal fitness program allows you to customize your daily exercise routine by focusing on your own fitness level: beginner, intermediate, or advanced. Daily workout routines cover all the bases — from warming up and cooling down to toning and cardio workouts. And on those busy days when you just can't squeeze in your suggested Fit Forever! exercises, you can substitute a shortened 15-minute workout called Body Blast. After your feel comfortable doing the easier workouts, you can graduate up to some of the more difficult ones. The Fit Forever program also includes a meal plan to help you eat right at every meal and snack. You’ll receive a daily newsletter with food, exercise and motivational tips. I highly recommend Fit Forever for beginners. Click here to learn more.
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