Thursday, November 8, 2007

6 Simple Tips To Help You Get A Flat Stomach
By Rebecca Osborn

Maybe you are feeling that you have a flabby stomach or you just want to do a little toning up to get it looking good. Let these tips be your guide.

1. Cut Out Junk Food. Replace potato chips and chocolate with fresh fruit and veg. You will see a world of difference. Watch how many soft drinks you consume. Consider flavored water as an alternative if you must.

2. Begin Aerobic Exercise. This can be anything that brings your heart rate up. Try walking, horse riding, jogging, surfing, whatever suits you best. Work it up to doing it daily at a 30 minute minimum and include 1-2 day(s) rest break each week.

3. Eat Healthier. This includes turkey and skinless chicken, fruits and dark vegetables, and whole wheat breads and grains. They keep you fuller longer than white breads like in cakes, cookies, and sweets.

4. Do Stomach Crunches. To better work the entire abdominal region, vary your exercises: crunches work the upper abdomen; leg raises work the lower abdomen; side bends work the obliques or also known as love handles. While crunches are good for your abdominal muscles, make sure that you have a well rounded weight loss program. Millions of crunches a day will not do you any good if you eat buckets of ice cream everyday!

5. Get Someone To Workout With You. It is so much easier to be inspired when you know there is somebody waiting for you at the gym, or waiting to meet you for a walk.

6. Use An Exercise Ball. If you can, use an exercise ball. Doing crunches on an exercise ball will specifically target your abdominal muscles, while doing them on the floor strengthens mostly hip muscle. Just the act of balancing on the ball alone will help tone abdominal muscles.

Just remember that a flat stomach is harder to attain for some people than others, depending on your base level of fitness. Be patient!

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Osborn
Home Gym Workout Routines
By John Ripper

Creating successful routines for your self can be both easy as well as fun. There is no mystery to the process, and in fact most people over complicate the process; bringing it to a level that introduces unnecessary steps that only act as a barrier to your home gym workout routines rather then help you in your quest for fitness. There are however a few steps that people should take to ensure they stick to these.

The most important thing a person can do to ensure the success of their home gym workout routines is to set a scheduled time that they observe each day that you plan on working out. Adding this element of routine makes it more difficult to “cheat” and skip a workout. Additionally having a scheduled time means that you will be able to avoid scheduling interruptions. Lets face it every on is busy now a days, and it is not uncommon for our schedules to become full without even realizing it; but by having a set scheduled time for your home gym workout routines you will avoid this common pitfall.

Scheduling your home gym workout routines should not only be limited to times, but also dates. How common is it for people to put off a workout till the next day thinking that they only need to do 4 workouts a week, and there are still plenty of days left? Only to then realize that things keep coming up preventing them from getting in all of their weekly home gym workout routines. Preventing this is so incredibly easy that people often over look it. All that is required is for people to “pencil in” their daily home gym workout routines in to whatever schedule keeper they use.

Having a set of workout cloths also helps to get you in the proper exercising mood. When you dress for success (and in this case success is completing your workout) success will find you. More simply, by dressing to work out you put your self in the mindset to successfully complete your home gym workout routines. These cloths do not need to be anything special, just comfortable, and only used for your workout.

Music is another popular addition to any home gym workout routines. Music is generally seen as a motivator, and successfully used by many people to help push themselves farther and faster; reaching those exercise heights, and crossing those troublesome plateaus. Most people choose upbeat tunes, something with a driving beat and a fast rhythm to keep them motivated, however it is really a personal choice and if classical music feels like the proper accompaniment to your home gym workout routines then by all means enjoy your Mozart.

Watching television or reading is generally not recommended as a diversion while doing your home gym workout routines. These are seen as more distracting then music, and rather then pushing you harder in your workout, television and books tend to pull you out of it, causing your heart rate to lower and you to loose focus. Of course if you have to have the television on to be successful in your home gym workout routines then by all means watch it. Having an only partially successful workout is still better then no workout at all, and since you are working out for your own wellbeing then you may as well enjoy your home gym workout routines. Do what it takes, and have fun! This is your special time and you should embrace your home gym workout routines and really make them your own.

John Ripper is a fitness freak. Discover other free workouts you can do from home at Home Gym Workout Routines

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Ripper
Is Elliptical Exercise Superior?
By Georgie Ellington

If you are thinking about working out at home in your own home gym, you may assume that involves buying a treadmill. However, the elliptical trainer is currently competing for a place in the homes of many today, and with good reason.

Basically, if you are trying to find out which piece of workout equipment is better, elliptical or treadmill, you really need to know what it is you want to achieve from your workout. Treadmills are still an excellent way to exercise at home, but ellipticals have some features that expand your range of workout, or help you exercise if you have old injuries or age factors to consider.

Low Impact
Probably the biggest reason people have for choosing an elliptical machine over a treadmill is that it is known for its "low impact" quality. This means that there is less impact on joints, ligaments and muscles when compared to jogging or treadmill exercise, which makes for a safer workout. With a large generation in their forties and fifties who are interested in staying healthy, the need for the low impact style of the elliptical is very popular. Now people who have joint problems or have sustained injuries and never thought they could work out again are getting a second chance to stay in shape.

Whole Body Workout
Even though the elliptical workout is low impact, it doesn't detract from the quality of the results. In fact, some would argue that the results are better than those achieved on the treadmill or with other equipment. The reason for the superior results is because with a lot of elliptical trainers you get a whole body workout. The treadmill is good for certain aspects of your body in the same way that running is, for example your cardiovascular health and burning fat. With elliptical machines, you are combining the movements of biking, skiing and hiking. Therefore, when you exercise on an elliptical with upper body movement capability, you are able to work a greater muscle group into your workout. This means that not only are you increasing your heart rate, but you are also exercising the legs, back, shoulders, arms and chest. They will give you the long duration aerobic workout necessary to burn fat, burning 13 calories a minute. These machines are equipped with different preset exercise programs to make your workout easier, switching around to make your exercise time varied and less boring. Some of them even have a plug in for your iPod to make your workout more enjoyable.

Whether you are a baby boomer, weekend warrior with old injuries or are just looking for a total workout in a short space of time, the elliptical is definitely worth considering.

Visit Georgie's blog The Best Ellipticals for a short and simple lowdown on the best ellipticals to suit every budget. You can also visit Elliptical Live a fast paced site with the current best offers on new, used and refurbished brand name ellipticals for your home gym.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Georgie_Ellington
NordicTrack - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
By Brady Freeman

Pretty much everyone on the planet over the age of 15 has heard of the inimitable NordicTrack Ski Machines. A wildly popular and original machine that has been around forever and continues to hold a small devoted fan base much like Saab or Volvo. If you have ever tried out one of their skiers, you would not forget your first time. I remember the feeling that I was on ice before I wildly grabbed hold of the frame in order to keep myself from achieving a horizontal position on the floor. I have seen people put the skis through walls, dogs and cats start living together, the dawn of the apocalypse... well maybe I am being overly dramatic. It should suffice to say that learning to use one of their skiers is akin to riding a bicycle. It is not the easiest thing to learn but once you learn it, you have it for life. Towards the end of the run of the original NordicTrack company, they branched off into weight trainers, electric treadmills, manual treadmills, and some products that we won't discuss because to do so would border on verbal pornography.

The brand was bought by Icon Fitness after the bankruptcy of the original NordicTrack company in 1998 and they have since moved the lineup into more mainstream sales venues such as Sears. The name holds a certain level of cache and Icon has taken advantage of this to bump up into higher pricing brackets than most of their other brands could attain. Unfortunately, until a few years ago the price was the only thing about these machines that was high. If you had one of the original EXP1000 machines, our sympathies are with you. They had problems with everything from the plastic parts, to electronic grounding problems, to failed consoles. It was not a pretty picture.

We believe the big driver of this changeover has been Johnson. The maker of the Horizon brand has given the large sales venues an alternative and while Johnson was producing higher end machines for the US market and moving down in price point, some of the quality carried over. Not to say Johnson has not had their own missteps, but overall they have been a big reason why everyone has had to step up in quality, including Icon.

Over the past few years though the quality of the NordicTrack machines has increased drastically and has forced all reviewers to re-examine the brand. Icon has created a series that hits right at the sweet spot price points (below $1000, $1500-2000, and sub $3000). Brands that have previously dominated these ranges, especially the higher ones, need to watch out for these new products that could grow to dominate them in their own ballparks. Icon has the best distribution and most efficient manufacturing in the industry, these two facts alone mean that they can deliver far greater value than the competition, and now that they have turned their focus on to higher quality their brands-especially NordicTrack-could put the old guard in a world of hurt.

The consumers need look no further than the new NordicTrack S3000 treadmill to prove this point. The machine retails for roughly $2700 and delivers higher quality than brands like Landice and Lifefitness in this price point. In Ellipticals NordicTrack tends to shoot lower in the price categories and the prices most of its models are between $700 and $1500. These are really strong market prices and along with their quality improvements should put NordicTrack in a dominating position. The only Achilles heel of the brand remains in the area of service. Like many big companies, think of your local cable company, Icon does not have the responsiveness of many of the smaller companies. In the past, it has been a headache dealing with Icon if you had a problem and that fact was exacerbated by the fact that their machines were not made with the quality that they are today. Icon has made a big push to improve in this area so we'll see if the changes have had the desired effect. Time will tell but if they get their act together in service, many companies will go the way of the dodo.

Check out some reviews of the NordicTrack Treadmills and Ellipticals before you take a trip to go buy a new piece of equipment and see what you think. The most important factor in your new treadmill or elliptical is what you think. If it feels good, you will be more likely to use it and that is the most important thing. You can have the best quality machine in the world but it does not do you any good if it is not used regularly.

Brady Freeman is a regular contributor at Treadmill a site providing unbiased Nordictrack treadmill Reviews and Elliptical Reviews

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brady_Freeman
The Pilates Exercise Machine For Shaping Up
By Anthony Lee

The pilates exercise is one of the best methods to acquire improvement for physical strength, flexibility and posture. Aside from that, it can also help maintain back health as it could strengthen the spine. For this certain exercise, a machine that could serve its purpose was invented years ago and it was called as pilates exercise machine.

It is created to meet a variety of exercise performance and movements. The impressive qualities this machine has are versatility, durability and convenience. It permits anyone to create a combination of exercises based on her choices and preferences. Because of the features this equipment has, monotone experience can be avoided and one can enjoy using it. This is what it's got that no standard exercise machine could offer.

Compared to a standard machine, the pilates exercise machine is more user-friendly and it could allow easier movements. It is also good for home-use because it is fitted for a small space in any room. The compact appearance gives it a neat presentation. It is usually composed a wheeled support, foot bars, arms and legs pulleys and jump slats.

One of the most well-known basic types of the machine is the Reformer and it can be found in almost every pilates studio out there. This type of machine has the features which could allow the exerciser to work out the different groups of muscles in his body. Reformer pilates are classified into two: the spring reformers and the gravity reformers.

Another basic type of the machine is the Cadillac. This resembles a cage but the difference is that it has no bars. Diverse exercises can be allowed as its got extra bars and straps for gripping. The springs make if flexible and one can move freely while performing. The straps can be used for the legs if the exerciser prefers to pull them down opposite the resistance being offered.

The Wunda Chair is also popular among the types of pilates exercise machine. This one looks like a bench but the difference is that it is a bit elevated. The two bars on each side of this machine are attached by springs and it could allow the individual to push on the bars while standing or sitting either on the bench or on the floor.

Aside from these equipments, barrels, exercise balls, as well as rings can also be used for pilates exercises. It is easy to acquire these equipments because they are available in any pilates studios and orders can also be made online or by phone calls. Considering them for a better figure and body fitness would not just enhance the physical condition but the mental awareness as well.
For exercise tips on losing weight, visit http://www.burn-fat-lose-weight.info

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Mini Trampoline - Work Outs In Your Living Room
By Richard Miller

Mini trampoline also offers the same kind of fun workouts that your big backyard trampoline offers; of course you can now work out in front of your television or play stations. Solid aerobic exercises can be also performed instead of just performing regular aerobic exercises as well as other benefits that do not get targeted when just doing aerobics alone letting you shed those extra pounds and make your muscles go stronger than ever.

Mini trampolines also offer you to perform dancing type workouts combined with your regular workouts and a popular type includes jazzercise trampoline workouts. Very stiff and hard core exercises can also be done which involves performing jumps at various heights, twisting and turning body flexibly. Other health bounces, aerobic hop and power jumps are to list a few more.

The benefits of mini trampolines are very much the same as bigger trampolines including fat loss, increased cardiovascular fitness, toning up the balance and bone density with increasing the movement efficiency of lymph which is the most appreciated benefit of trampolining.
Healthy bouncing on your trampolines is very much warming up and gives you enough energy all day long. A mid strengthening jump is aerobic hop which can cause your blood circulation to improve whereas power jumps are more strenuous and are for muscle builders.

In all the physical activities one performs by bouncing on a rebounder, body's force is recycled upwards at the bottom of a rebound bounce instead of being used up, reason being the maximum stretch of mat and springs, hence it can be concluded that rebounder are not less than a Power tool, which keeps you going on and on in your day.

Richard Millerwebmasters@funspot.comTo know more about these Trampolines please visitFunSpot TrampolineOr call us at 1800-241-7134, 706-376-8792

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Miller
Safest Shape for a Rebounder
By Richard Miller

The rectangular shaped trampolines are considered to be the Safest of all the four shapes in trampolines including rectangle, circular, octagon and square. The one which is considered to be the least safe is the circular.

The factor that decides the level of safety is nothing but the physics involved in both designs. In the rectangle trampoline the springs are arranged in a criss-cross style thereby ensuring much controlled and even bounce. And the springs at the center stretch more thereby preventing the jumper by getting thrown off. Only demerit to rectangular one being more expensive to construct and hence to buy as the materials required are much stronger than the other ones.
These are the reasons which make rectangular trampolines suitable for the competitions.

The other shapes including octagon, square and circular can be used for recreational purposes, out of which circular one should be used most carefully being the lest safest one. Again the reason is the physics in design which makes the center of trampoline too soft as the springs point the center which can throw you off the trampoline if you fall away from the center. This would be exacerbated if more than one person is jumping on the trampoline and can cause serious accidents. The only merit of circular trampolines is that they are much cheaper as they charge less to construct and hence to buy.

Other octagonal and 12 sided trampolines are better than circular ones but obviously not as good as rectangular ones are. As in these, springs in the center counterbalance the center and bouncer is less likely to be thrown off the trampoline.

A square trampoline however resembles rectangular ones but there is not much vertical movements on mats. As there is a greater distance of center from springs so it gives the same bounce as the less safe circular ones.

There is an increased risk of collisions when more than one person is using the trampoline simultaneously which is true with every shape.

So, one should carefully follow all the safety precautions while jumping on trampolines to ensure absolute fun with perfect workouts.

Richard Millerwebmasters@funspot.comTo know more about these Trampolines please visitFunSpot TrampolineOr call us at 1800-241-7134, 706-376-8792

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Miller