Category Archives: Best Gym Solutions

Compact Adjustable Dumbbell Set

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The most important factor for most people when looking for a good home gym purchase is if it is nice and compact.  The majority don’t have a lot of excess room to spare in regards to building a home gym.  Finding items that help you get healthy and don’t take up much room is great, but finding ones that are versatile is a gold mine.

SportBell Adjustable Dumbbell

Adjustable dumbbells take up far less room than purchasing many dumbbells of a set weight.  For starters, there is the fantastic SportBell Adjustable Dumbbell.  What is fantastic about this cheap adjustable dumbbell is that it is lighter and has smaller increments.  If you are planning on using any home workout DVDs or exercising with workouts from a fitness television channel, you are going to need a variety of lighter weights to aid in the workout.  The SportBell Adjustable Dumbbell can weigh anywhere from 1 to 10 pounds using 1 pound increments.  Not only will this save you space and money compared to buying ten pairs of different weights it is earth friendly.  This adjustable dumbbell uses 82% less raw materials in comparison to individual dumbbells.  It is also aesthetically pleasing and comes in a variety of vibrant colors.

Cap Barbell Dumbbell Set

While ten pound adjustable dumbbells can be helpful for lighter fitness oriented exercises, you will require a bit more weight to build muscles.  One of the best compact adjustable dumbbell sets that you will find is the Cap Barbell Dumbbell Set.  It is still quite compact as it comes in a handy plastic carrying case which measures 20 x 9 x 8 (LxWxH).  This pair of adjustable dumbbells can go up to twenty pounds each or you can set one of them as forty pounds.  It is incredibly easy to increase to heavier weights by simply purchasing more weight plates down the line.  The included weight plates can also be used if you ever decide to buy a barbell.

Bowflex Selecttech 552 Dumbbells

For an adjustable weight dumbbell that will stand the test of time, check out the Bowflex Selecttech 552 Dumbbells.  Bowflex is one of the most popular and well respected home fitness brands out there, so you know that you can trust the product.  Each of the two dumbbells has a range of 5 to 52.5 pounds with fifteen different increments throughout.  This small dumbbell will effectively replace fifteen different weights that could be cluttering up your home.  It also has an extended warranty of five years for the weights and two years on the parts, so you can rest assured that you will get your money’s worth from this dumbbell.

X Mark Pair of 50 lb. Adjustable Dumbbells

While most don’t think in an aesthetic way when thinking about their home gym, it doesn’t hurt to have equipment that looks attractive.  Case in point is the X Mark Pair of 50 lb. Adjustable Dumbbells.  They work just as well as other adjustable dumbbells and also use chrome plated steel which looks nicer than a lot of the other weights.  Similarly to Bowflex dumbbells, a simple turn of a knob is all it takes to switch between different weights.  This model also comes with a storage tray to keep the weights in place when not in use and for easy storage.  If 50 pounds is too much for you, there is also the X Mark Pair of 25 lb. Adjustable Dumbbells.

Whatever you are looking for in an adjustable dumbbell, there is one out there for you.  If what you are looking for isn’t featured in these weights, don’t give up your search.  There are hundreds of options available, with a bit more research you will be able to find exactly what you are looking for.  Good luck!

Choosing the Perfect Treadmill for Your Personality

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Treadmills are the most commonly purchased piece of home exercise equipment. Here are  some tips that will help readers make an informed decision as they are finding the treadmill that will work the best for them.

There are many people that understand the benefits of a treadmill.  The machine is pretty self explanatory and it is a great way to make sure that people can get up and run year round without having to deal with the elements outdoors.

The treadmill has stood its ground as many other machines have grown in popularity and then faded away.  Stores know that these pieces of equipment will sell and when you are looking for equipment you want to make sure that you understand which treadmill is the best for you.

First, you want to sit down and thoroughly assess your reasons for buying this treadmill machine.  There are a wide variety of reasons that you can buy a machine and many reasons why a machine will be useful in your home.

You can be using the machine to lose weight or to gain muscle mass, to make sure your cardiovascular system stays healthy or you may even want it for rehabilitation.  Some people walk on treadmills, some people jog and some people run.

The reason that you are purchasing a treadmill may influence the budget that you lay out for your shopping.  Making a list of your expectations, your needs and the goals that you wish to accomplish is a great way to figure out what price range you should be in.

While you are taking the time to figure out how you are going to spend your money you should take the time to shop around.  You want to be aware of the prices that are being advertised so that you can be realistic with your budget.

Instead of starting by looking at machines that are more expensive than you can afford you should start looking below your budget.  You may be able to find a machine that is less than the amount of money you have set aside.

You will only be setting yourself up to be disappointed if you start shopping for your machine by trying out the machines that are too expensive and have luxurious designs.  Start with the bare bones machines and then begin to look at the more expensive machines.

Eventually, you should be able to find something that fits in your price range and will be useful to you in your home.  This can be accomplished if you first take the time to understand what is realistic to expect.

While you are taking the time to understand how you are going to choose a specific machine you want to make sure that you will use all of the features on the machine.  There are many people that buy a machine that has many bells and whistles and they know they will not use them all.

The thing about having all of these extra amenities is you will be paying for them.  Take the time to understand exactly what you need on a treadmill and do not pay for things that you do not need on the machine.

When you know that you are going to be using the machine frequently you should make sure you have one that is at least good quality. It is important that the machine will last you a long time and that it can take the frequent exercise you participate in.

Some people have a hard time deciding between quality and a low price. Although you should stay within your budget you have to make sure that you understand how you are going to go about finding a machine that will last you for many years.

Reading reviews and talking with manly salespeople may help you make the best decision for you and your family.  When you are shopping you should also consider the warranty that is offered with the treadmill that you want to purchase.

After you bring the machine home you want to make sure that you also understand how you are going to deal with returning it if I you do not like it.  There are a lot of people that return their treadmill once it comes into their home.

It can be a hassle, but if you know that you want to return your treadmill you have to make sure that you call the company promptly.  After you call the company you should follow heir instructions exactly.

You can find a machine that is well worth your money and your time.  Make sure that you do your research before you start to shop and you take your time shopping so that your decisions is well informed and well worth it in the long run.

What Are Some Must-Have Pieces of Equipment for a Home Gym?

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Working out at home has a number of advantages of working out in a gym. The main reason people generally like to workout at home is because it saves them a lot of money. Gym memberships are not cheap and although you get access to a number of different machines, you don’t really need them and you probably don’t even use most of what you see in a typical gym. You can get a highly effective workout with a few simple, inexpensive pieces of equipment.

  • Dumbbells or Hand Weights. You can find dumbbells just about anywhere. You don’t have to visit a specialty exercise equipment store to find them and they are very inexpensive. If you’re looking for a heavier set – say over 25# – then you may need to visit a sports equipment store. Dumbbells should definitely be at the top of your home gym equipment list because they can be used to complete hundreds of different strength training exercises. Strength training exercises will build muscle and help your body burn more fat. If you don’t want to spend the money on dumbbells or hand weights right now, you can substitute soup cans or water jugs.  A great space saver is an adjustable dumbbell.  A pair of adjustable dumbbells will take up about 75% less space than a collection of set weight dumbbells.
  • One Cardio Machine. I’m not a big fan of running outdoors. If you’re like me, you can still get some great cardiovascular exercise by investing in a cardio machine. You might choose a treadmill, elliptical or recumbent bike. Just choose something you think you’ll get the most use out of. If you’re looking for cheap home gym equipment you can visit second-hand stores, garage sales or ask friends or family members if they have something they aren’t using – chances are you’ll find something fairly cheap. You don’t have to buy exercise equipment brand new!
  • Jump Rope. Jump ropes are very handy to have because you can get a great cardio workout using them. You could jump rope as a warm-up or as your cardiovascular workout for the day. It’s easy to change up the intensity to keep things interesting and you’ll be making your heart stronger too.

All things realized, you can furnish your own home gym at a fraction of the cost of a monthly gym membership. You don’t have to start with everything and it doesn’t have to be fancy. Just start slowly if you need to and build up your equipment as your budget allows.

Lifting With Bowflex Dumbbells

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Dumbbells are the most common fitness equipment; it is an important component of fitness gyms just like butter is to bread. The bowflex dumbbells 1090 is the top of the line brand of dumbbells and it is exceptional because it saves an immense amount of space in your workout area or home gym. You do not need a rack with a lot of weights because the Bowflex dumbbells are just two handle grips that attach to a base with plates that are adjustable at the end of the grip. You can simply adjust the knobs at the end of the Bowflex dumbbells to change the weight from five pounds to over 150 pounds on each dumbbell. The bowflex dumbbells 552 replaces 15 sets of weights and you only need to use the knobs to adjust the weights.

I have rated below the dumbbells on its different aspects with a scale of 1 to 5. A score of 5 means that it is great and at the end I will judge it whether to Pump It or Dump It:

I gave a rating of 4 for its price. This is relative and I think that this would probably deserve a higher score. Unfortunately, I saw bowflex dumbbells for sale at a store that sells sporting goods and the signs were vague because it said you can buy the BowflexSelectTech 2 in 1 Stand for $160 and the dumbbells for $400. I had to get some help and I found out that it was really $400 and it made me hesitant to take out my credit card. You can get used Bowflex dumbbells online that costs around $200 to $300. The risk you take is on the condition of the dumbbells and the wear and tear to the equipment.

I have mentioned the relativity of the price before and I believe that it is worth it if you consider the money and time that it would cost to buy a complete rack of weights.

Interactive Workout

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From several years ago until today, working out means that you have to pack a change of clothes and go to the gym. In the gym, a personal trainer will guide you on what to do or map out a workout regimen for you to follow. New developments in technology, however, seem to point a new direction for our fitness program. With Kinect Exercise, a new method of doing our workout is introduced.

Kinect Sensor

So, what is Kinect? It is a technology developed by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360 game console. It allows users to play games without using any input device such as a joystick or a control pad. Kinect rather reads hand movements and voice command and converts it into movements on the monitor. Without the restriction of wires and lines, the game simply becomes an extension of the body.

Kinect is composed of peripheral sensors that detect movements then feeds it into the console. It has the capability of reading facial features or voice to tag its user. Other features include internet connectivity using Windows Live Messenger to chat with other Xbox users. By November 2010, there are already 2.5 Million Kinect games sold worldwide.

Kinect Workout Games were developed principally for body fitness. Game

Your Shape Fitness Evolved

titles include Kinect Sports, Your Shape: Fitness Evolved and even Dance Central for those who prefer dance exercises.

With Kinect, you do not have to go the gym for your regular workout. All you have to do is plug in the game and you can sweat it out in your home. It even provides real-time feedback so that you can monitor the progress of your workout or change your pace accordingly. Kinect is also able to monitor your movement through its tracking pivot sensor so no matter how rigorous your exercise is you are kept within its periphery. With Kinect, you get to save on gym membership and the travel from home to gym.

Try one now and experience a new way of keeping yourself physically fit. It may not serve you meals yet but at least it doesn’t complain.

The Best Home Exercise Gym Item!

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Of all the equipment I have used over the years, there is one that I always go back to for its versatility, cost and effectiveness.  The Resistance Band!  For many people, it is one of the best gym solutions.

Lately, I have been doing a lot of traveling for work and to visit family members who live in other states.  When on the road, I am not always sure of when or where I will be able to get a good workout in.  Certain hotels have fitness centers, but they are unreliable and usually not very good.  I prefer to bring my personal home exercise gym with me instead.  It’s small and light, so it fits into my carry on bag.

Resistance bands are sold in different levels of elasticity, but I would recommend just getting one medium resistance band to get you started.  Don’t get me wrong, having several different elasticities is fantastic, but not required.  I just have one and it suits me just fine.

Most bands will come with a door attachment for easy use.  Clip in onto your bedroom door and you have got dozens of different exercises you can easily do to shape and tone all major muscle groups.  You can make the exercise more difficult by standing farther away from where the resistance band is attached.  The further it has to stretch for you to complete your rep, the harder it is going to be for you.

You don’t have to use it just at home either.  Keep it in your backpack next time you go for a jog in the park.  Once your warmed up and your heart is pumping, wrap your resistance band around a tree and enjoy a phenomenal workout in the fresh air.

In my hotel room during business trips, I attach it to the bathroom door and do a full body exercise while watching an in-room movie and waiting for my room service to arrive.  If you are constantly on the go and have barely any time for a workout, this is a great product for you.

While resistance bands are wonderful for getting you toned, you are going to need different home gym exercise equipment to get bigger muscles.  But don’t worry, I’ve got that covered for you as well.

Back Stretcher and Ab Trainer

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The Back Stretcher and Ab Trainer is a fitness device that is designed for use in one’s home, and it has become increasingly popular over the past few years. This product is manufactured by Brookstone, and the goal of this device is to increase the spine’s flexibility while at the same time tightening the person’s core muscles. It is not difficult to use, and it is handy and compact enough to be placed in any home. The device is also reasonably priced. The Back Stretcher and Ab Trainer offers a support focused chair which features foam rollers placed in a row that travel up the spine, and the device provides a comfortable headrest, as well. These features mean that a person can complete an exercise routine without anxiety over possible neck strain or back injuries. These types of injuries occur frequently with other types of fitness equipment. The Back Stretcher and Ab Trainer is an ideal item for those who suffer from sore or stiff backs, including people whose work requires them to lift, or to remain sedentary at an uncomfortable desk all day. It is light and easy to put together and move, and it can be modified to accommodate any height.

All one has to do to reap the benefits from this item is to sit on the device and lean backward. The Back Stretcher and Ab Trainer goes to work immediately to begin stretching the spine. This stretching results in the opening of the spaces which get tight and cramped throughout the course of one’s daily activities. The device works out one’s core abdominal muscles, as well, which results in more lumbar support for one’s back. The benefits of utilizing this machine is spine and neck support.

Anyone considering adding exercise equipment to their home may wish to consider an ab exerciser or back stretcher, as they are beneficial for almost anyone.

Best Exercise to Lose Weight: Starting Your Search

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Getting the feeling that your weight is starting to become quite a problem? Then you might want to start your search for exercise routines as early on as possible in order to avoid health issues later on. Now, when it comes to looking for the best exercise to lose weight, the first thing you’d want to give attention to would be to realize that there’s no such thing as the “perfect weight loss routine.” Each individual will have different factors to deal with which will ultimately affect the results that they get.

Much like considering swimming when you don’t know how to swim or picking up jogging when your joints aren’t really able to handle the impact, the exercise you choose should be able to fill not only the results that you want to get but also your capabilities, age, gender, physical condition and even your comfort level. Do your research based on the factors mentioned above and not on what other people say. Yes, the amount of calories that you burn is an important consideration, but you probably won’t be able to get it if you are either uninterested or are physically unprepared to do the routine properly.

One good exercise that you might want to consider starting off with first would probably be walking because of the well rounded benefits that it offers as well as being easy and suited enough for the factors mentioned above. You can start off slow and then gradually build it up if you feel like you’re ready to handle a little bit more or you can even consider it as your preparatory exercise for something much more challenging later on. If you feel that you really don’t have the time to go outside and do your walking, used treadmills can prove to be just the solution to the problem. There are plenty of them in the market; all you need to do is look for them. Your search for the best exercise to lose weight should not be determined for you by other people. The considerations mentioned above will point you in the right direction so make sure to keep them in mind.

Polar Wrist Pulse Monitor Watches

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While working out at home, you want to make the best out of every moment of your exercise.  Part of that is making sure that your heart rate is in its target range.  To help with that, there are many heart monitors and watches on the market.

Watches with integrated heart rate monitors have become fashionable, but they’re hardly new. They were first devised back in the Seventies by a company named Polar. While Polar now has numerous competitors, they’ve managed to maintain a reputation for high quality, feature-rich watches that are still easy to operate.

A wrist pulse monitor is a fairly simple concept that can transform the quality of an exerciser’s workout by giving precise feedback as to how much effort her she is exert during the session. The watch stores recommended maximum heart rates for each age group. You set your maximum heart rate by entering in your birth date, which tells the watch your age. The next step is telling the watch the intensity level you wish to stay within while training. This intensity level, or aerobic zone, is a percentage of your maximum heart rate. For a high intensity workout, you might decide to stay within 75% and 85% of your maximum heart rate. If you heart rate goes over or under this range, the watch will beep until you’re back in the target range.

Most Polar watches have at least of couple of additional features that set them apart from entry level watches. The Polar F4 is a good example. It not only records your heart rate information for each of your workouts, but connects with your computer in order to upload that information to Polar’s fitness tracking website. You can review your progress over time, and even share your workout information with other Polar watch users.

Another key feature is the use of a coded transmitter. Most HRM watches don’t have the heart sensor on directly on the watch, but receive a wireless transmission from a chest strap. If the chest strap doesn’t use a coded transmitter, there’s a high likelihood that the signal will experience interference from other HRM watch users, especially if you work out in a gym. With a coded transmitter, the information gets sent on its own channel, so that you’ll get consistent heart rate information. If you work out by yourself, you don’t necessarily need this feature, but the computer interfacing is something that nearly all Polar watch owners find useful.

Affordable Home Exercise Gyms

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What inspired me to start working out at home was getting fed up with the cost of my gym and being annoyed by how crowded it was.  I wanted to make a home exercise gym that I could comfortably work out in whenever I wanted.  At first, it is daunting because of the cost of some of the larger and better gym equipment out there.  Your first few purchases have to be affordable and highly effective at the same time.  Here are some of the best gym solutions:

Stamina InStride Plus Electronic Stepper

Cardio machines are often bulky and take up a lot of space at home.  The Electronic Stepper pictured to the left takes up 197 square inches of space!  That’s insanely tiny.  Its inexpensive and is a great start to every home exercise gyms.

Other items to consider at the always useful resistance bands.  You can use a resistance band at home to replicate dozens of exercises that you would normally perform with a dumbbell or barbell.  But if you want to use weights, go for an adjustable dumbbell.  The great thing about using adjustable dumbbells is because it is an investment.  You can always add on to it and it can be used for so many different exercises.  And then the weights can also be used if you get a barbell later on as well.

Weider X-Factor Door Gym

One of the best starter items out there is the Weider X-Factor Door Gym.  It easily attaches to your door and becomes an exercise gym.  Using resistance band technology, it creates a workout for your entire body and takes up barely any space.  It cost equates to about two months of a gym membership.  It will work as an effective workout device while you save up for something that works you a bit more.

Cheap doesn’t always equate to good quality, so be sure to do your research before purchasing anything.  Always remember to start with exercise gym pieces that are versatile and work many muscle groups before purchasing pricier equipment that works only certain muscle groups.  Versatile options are always the best gym solution.  Home exercise gyms aren’t usually built in a day, so take your time to make sure that yours is catered to exactly what you need.