Exercise – Tips for Maintaining Sound Cardiovascular Fitness

Cardiovascular activity, referred to simply as “cardio,” should be as much a part of your body-sculpting efforts as hitting the gym and “pumping iron”. The one muscle group that seems to get missed when in a good weight-lifting workout – is your body’s most important muscle, and often as you’re pumping the iron, you should also be pumping your heart.

The 30 minutes per day that you should reserve for cardio work should always entail exercises that are enjoyable, manageable, and of course, safe. So if you’re ready to get sweaty, here are a few wise choices:

Running: Running is a fantastic way to get into shape and improve your cardiovascular fitness! Here in Phoenix, running through the park or neighborhood isn’t always possible. It’s just too hot outside to think about it! And, even when the weather is more conducive to outdoor running, running can be hard on your joints. Yet, the treadmill, because of its smooth rubbery conveyor belt, is a lot more merciful on your joints. It doesn’t wear and tear your body the way running on the tarred street will. There is no pounding-like effect. And, you get to avoid the smell of car exhaust as well!

Ellipticals: These “sweat machines” are an excellent method of losing weight and shedding body fat. And, unlike traditional “steppers”, Elliptical machines work both your upper body as well as your legs, so you end up with a full body workout while you improve your cardiovascular health!

Stationary Bikes: Looking for a low-impact workout? Try a stationary bike! They’re an effective way to raise your heart level, and they also cause far less strain on the knees and back than other methods of cardio. Plus, they are excellent for toning up the quadriceps. And, if leaning over a bike seems like too much work for your back, there are also “recumbent” bikes available that let you sit in an upright position for your workouts!

Swimming: Swimming is an excellent cardiovascular activity, as it is considered a total body exercise, as swimming hits the various muscles in the body. The water provides an excellent form of resistance that will get your heart pumping in no time. The benefits for the heart and lungs are endless.As for the down side? There’s only one. Not everybody has a swimming pool!

Fitness - The Best Way To Buy Exercise Equipment

by Bob Lachniet
President - Fitness 4 Home Superstore

So, whether your purchasing home exercise equipment for the first time, or your looking to add to the equipment you already have for your home gym, there’s always that problem of trying to figure out where to start. The best way to ensure you make the right purchase, is to have a plan for finding the equipment that best suits your needs – and we have some suggestions on how best to do that.

1. Determine your fitness goals. Like to run? Want to build muscle? Determine if you are looking to build strength and muscle mass, or just loose weight and firm up, as this will help you to narrow down the types of equipment you should consider.

2. Assess your experience. If you’ve been a regular exerciser in the past, that helps. If you’re not that experienced, you might be a bit confused as to what type of equipment you’re most comfortable with. This is where a specialty dealer has a significant advantage over the “big box” stores. Specialty dealers like Fitness 4 Home Superstore can help you assess your goals and experience, and recommend the types of home fitness equipment that will best fit your fitness needs.

3. Determine where you would put your equipment, and how much room you have for it. Make sure that what your planning on purchasing will fit the space you have - and for help determining if the equipment your looking at will fit, Fitness 4 Home Superstore can help!

4. Determine your equipment needs. Once you know what you want to accomplish, your comfort level and dedication for an exercise program, and where you’d put it – now you can think about the equipment you’d want. Remember one thing, though. Whether it’s a treadmill, cross trainer / elliptical, exercise bicycle, or home gym – keep your choices focused on what you really need to make exercise a healthy, permanent habit!

Once you have an idea of what you want before you go shopping, you’re less likely to make a premature decision. Plus, when you’re ready to shop, you’re best served by considering a specialty dealer rather than a big-box store. For more information on why, click here.

With a solid purchasing plan, you’ll be better prepared to find those sales & bargains that can help you find the equipment you need – at the price you can afford!!

Exercise Equipment - Your First Step

So...you're thinking of purchasing fitness equipment. When choosing equipment, you should choose the type of equipment that matches what you like to do. For example, if you like cycling, you should choose a stationary exercise bicycle. Likewise, if you like to run, consider a treadmill. Sound overly simplistic...and obvious? Well, the surprising thing is that many people forget the simple rule of "buy what you like".

What if you're not sure what you like? Then, you should try out a few different types of equipment to see what you would like best. If you don't currently have a gym membership, many local gyms offer a free 2 week pass to let you try out their facilities - take advantage of this, and sample different types of equipment to see what works best for you.

The next thing you should look at when searching for exercise equipment is its quality/price balance. Think about the fact that you might want to use your equipment on a daily basis, or other members of your family might use it, so a decisive factor in choosing a equipment is making sure it’s made by a professional sports company and that you get a good warranty on it. Quality equipment can last for years of non-stop usage, while other poorly built ones can break apart after only a few weeks or months. Of course price is a big issue, but it’s best to dig a little deeper in your pocket than buy something cheap that will either cause you injuries or pains, or something that will break down after only a few uses. Remember the saying “you get what you pay for” fits perfectly.

Once you know what you want, then go shopping! And, if you have questions, visit one of Phoenix's three Fitness 4 Home Superstore locations, and let our team help you find what works best for your fitness needs!