Friday, March 23, 2007

Finding The Best Elliptical Trainers

Purchasing a premium rated elliptical trainer is a greatinvestment into your fitness lifestyle. It goes without sayingthat you should also invest time researching for a trainer withthe features you desire and that is reliable. Price may or maynot be an indicator of quality when it comes to ellipticaltrainers. It really pays to shop around for the best qaulityand price.The fastest way to begin your research is by reading as manyreviews as you can on each model that provides the featuresthat you are interested in. You can find these online and inthe various fitness magazines at your local gym or Y. It alsopays dividends to talk to professional trainers as they willknow what machines provide the best workout and have the bestfeatures. Another person you might want to talk to is thefitness equipment repairman. Every time I see one at our localY I make a point in making contact with him. He will certainlyknow what the most reliable elliptical trainers are because hefixes the problem or poor quality trainers on a regular basis.Quality elliptical trainers always have a wide range offeatures. A comfortable stride length that has the width toallow you to keep balanced on the trainer will go a long way inmaking your workouts safe and comfortable. Ergonomically placedhandlebars to allow a comfortable upper body workout is a realplus. Wide comfortable pedals are also important as they mayallow you to slightly change your foot placement for yourmaximum comfort and safety. Electronics with good fitnessroutines built in allows you to increase your exercise levelsas you become more fit. They also keep you from getting bored,which is a major concern with any fitness program. Good heartmonitoring is always required when doing any kind of intensivecardio exercise.Physically testing the elliptical is the most important part ofyour selection process. Ideally you will have the opportunity totest several different trainers at the local gym or Y. Thisallows you to try the elliptical trainer more than once andalso to talk to other people using the ellipticals. However ifyou do not have a local fitness center available then youshould go to your local dealer and take the model you areinterested in for a test ride. Most dealers will endeavor toaccommodate you. You may have to go to several dealers to testthe full range of models available. This is time well spent.If you do not do your homework you will purchase a machine thatmost likely does not fit you or meet your needs. This usuallymeans that you will stop using it, which means you have alsostopped exercising. If the machine is of poor quality you willbecome good friends with the fitness equipment repairman. Itisn't just the cost it is also the down time that interruptsyour workout routine. Do not buy a machine online or from acatalog without testing it first. You will almost always youwill be dissatisfied with your purchase.Quality elliptical trainers are one of the very best pieces ofexercise equipment on the market. If you have done the researchand testing you will most likely find and purchase a qualityelliptical trainer that will help you achieve your fitnessgoals.About The Author: James Kesel, MS. Premium Rated EllipticalTrainers http://www.elliptical-trainer-information.com

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Cheap Exercise Equipment

One of the best ways to get a hold of some usable home gymequipment is to check out yard sales. Of course many peoplewould overlook this option but if you look you are able to findsome great equipment at a great price.It is all too common for someone to get new exercise equipmentfor Christmas or as a New Year's resolution only to use it onceor twice and let it collect dust in the corner until they gettired of looking at it and sell it. You may also run intosomeone who is upgrading their equipment.You can usually see big exercise equipment from the streetbefore you even get out of your car making it very easy to spotout in a yard sale. When you see something that looks promisingdon't be afraid to ask any questions. In fact the morequestions you ask the better idea you will have of the type ofshape the equipment is in.You want to ask the seller when they bought it and how oftenthey used it. Also ask them if they cleaned it or had toperform any maintenance on it. If they didn't use it very oftenask they how long it has been sitting there in their home idle,and where it has been stores. These are all important questionsthat will tell you how the quality of the equipment is and if itis even worth the super discount price.After you have asked questions, or even prior to talking to theowners you need to look the equipment over closely and make sureit is functional as well. You want to look closely and make surethere aren't any missing pieces that go to the equipment such asmissing screws or safety pieces.See how well oiled the equipment is and be sure to ask if theystill have the original manual that came with it. This manualwill give you a great idea as to what the machine looked likewhen the sellers' first purchased it.The manual is useful in many ways as it will tell you how touse the machine as well as the basic care and maintenance thatis required. If you find missing or damages pieces then don'tbe afraid to ask for a discount. People are usually trying toget rid of the equipment and are more than willing to give itto you at a steal.When you are checking out local yard sales looking for exerciseequipment then one thing to keep in mind is the prices you willaccept. Try to familiarize your self with some equipment oreven use your cell phone and call someone to check online forthe price of the exact machine you found brand new. Knowing howmuch the original price was will help you determine how much youshould be willing to fork over for a used piece of equipment.About The Author: Article provided by Sven Ullmann, who runshttp://www.deservedhealth.com - a site dedicated to differenthealth related topics. Interestedhttp://www.deservedhealth.com/how-to-find-good-cheap-exercise-equipment?

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Hide And Seek: Are You Ingesting Foods Rich In Calcium Or Not?

Weak bones and brittle teeth.Perhaps if not given utmost care,it might develop to osteoporosis or complete destruction ofteeth. You will prevent further damage to your bones and teeth if youwill only be well informed of the foods that might help youmaintain good bones and teeth. One way is to ingest foods richin calcium. Calcium is needed by the body due to the following reasons: . During pregnancy, it helps proper formation of bones andteeth of the baby. . With proper calcium intake, it keeps your muscles to functionwell. . It prevents or aids possible emergence of blood clotting. . Nerve impulses are transmitted properly with the help ofcalcium. The above-mentioned benefit of calcium promotes a healthy wellbeing. To achieve a fit and nourishing diet, you need to bewell knowledgeable of the foods that will help you obtain yourgoal. Foods rich in calcium are one of those. Foods rich in calcium can be classified into two groups. Thefirst group is under the dairy products category. Milk and milk products are major sources of dairy products. Youare aware that a woman has the capability to produce milk, whichis highly nutritious for her newborn infant. Furthermore, adultscan obtain milk from secretion of female animals such as goats,cows, sheep and other farm animals. You can consume thesecreted milk of female farm animals. Another option to have sufficient supply of milk is throughingesting milk products. Cheese and butter are good milkproducts. Other essential milk products are the following: . Yogurt . Ice cream . Nonfat, condensed and evaporated milk Non-dairy products are the second group category for foods richin calcium. However, not all non-dairy products can give yousignificant amount of calcium that your body needs. Somenoteworthy non-dairy products are: . Spinach . Broccoli . Sardines . Salmon . Tofu Ready-to-eat items such as pizza, instant oatmeal, macaroni andcheese, breads and cereals also contain calcium. Indeed if you eat foods rich in calcium it is most likely thatyou will obtain good bones and teeth as well as healthywell-being. On the other hand, too much calcium intake can alsocause harm. Henceforth, it is recommended that you updateyourself with the suggested servings of food before you indulgeinto it. It is best to consult a nutritionist or dieticianregarding this matter.About The Author: This content is provided by Low Jeremy. Itmay be used only in its entirety with all links included. Formore information on calcium, please visithttp://calcium.articlekeep.com

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Exercise and metabolic rate

While physical exercise causes the body to burn calories, it also helps to increase the resting metabolic rate (RMR).159 In addition it would compensate for the decrease in RMR caused by calorie-reduced diets mentioned above. Contrary to popular belief, strict dieting (very low calorie diets), and vigorous exercising are not good solutions either. These are short-term, temporary methods of weight loss that cause physical and mental stress, and may pose serious health risks. More importantly, participation in adequate nutrition and exercise programs, which are geared for gradual weight loss, is more effective and less stressful in the long run.