Using Monitoring Equipment to Track Your Fitness

Fitness is not necessarily just a means to an end; it can be a goal in itself. Exercise can be about reaching the furthest physical limits that your body can take. In order to track just how far you've gone, some kind of monitoring equipment needs to be used. For people looking to reach the limits in running, walking or jogging a pedometer can accurately measure the distance traveled during each workout session. Pedometers are light weight and can be worn on the person during exercise. Many pedometers offer the option of long term tracking by being able to import information into a computer where spreadsheets and graphs can be analyzed for highly detailed tracking purposes.

People looking to track their weight loss and fat loss goals have a variety of different options to track their progress. Obviously, people can use a scale to track their weight, but keeping tabs on fat loss is a bit more tricky. There are certain scales out there that attempt to guess fat percentage by doing calculations on weight and height, but truly accurate calculations can only be performed by a water tank tests or skinfold calipers. Body fat calipers can digitally measure your fat percentage and then import the information into a computer, allowing you to keep very detailed and useful information for your weight loss journey. Instructions for using calipers should be read very carefully in order to get an accurate reading.

The Advantages of a Strength Circuit

Exercising is an important part of losing belly fat but how you exercise can make a big difference in your results. Circuit training is a form of strength training that emphasizes continuous movement from exercise to exercise with minimal break in between. Strength circuits can be a big initial investment, but, if you don’t use circuit training you’ll find that losing stomach fat is a difficult battle. Research has shown that circuit training is more effective at burning calories than traditional workouts. Circuit training keeps your heart rate constantly elevated, which is very similar to interval training. This type of training burns more calories than other types of traditional exercise.

So what’s an example of strength circuit training? You do one exercise for 60 seconds and then you move to another with a 10 second rest in between for a total of 10 moves. Once all 10 moves are done you take a 60 second break and that’s the end of one circuit. Then you repeat all 10 moves again and  you’re done. If you feel the need to extend your workout then add an additional circuit. You should purchase a strength circuit machine that has all of the lifts you need to use during a short workout. A good strength circuit should help you work out all muscle groups.

The reason that strength training works for losing weight and belly fat is that ncreasing your muscles means you burn more calories. Using a strength circuit or any other type of strength building machine helps you build and maintain muscle and therefore burn more calories throughout the day. A lot of people seem to think that cardio exercise is all you need to lose the fat, but they ignore the highly effective method of building muscle mass. We know that strength circuits can be rather expensive, so we offer a variety of more affordable used strength circuits to help you get in shape.

Some Information about Stairmills and Steppers

Steppers and climbers are well known to be one of the most difficult exercise machines in the gym. Just like climbing stairs, exercising on a stairmill primarily uses the muscles in the leg and is a continuous upward motion against gravity. Many people who exercise have concerns about steppers, believing that they limit the amount of muscles used, leading to bulging muscles in the legs but little other benefit. It is true the steppers and stairmills mainly work the muscles in the leg, but these muscles are the largest and most used in the body; working them out provides huge benefits.

Steppers and climbers have a double pronged effect. The primary use of a stepper is for cardiovascular exercise. Continuously climbing up an endless staircase drastically increases blood flow because the leg muscles need a constant and rich source of oxygen from the heart and lungs. At the same time, these muscles tear and then rebuild themselves to create more muscle fibers, increasing muscle mass. Using a stepper or climber is unlikely to build as much leg muscle as doing strength building exercises like squats, so there is no real need to worry about getting giant bulging legs like a body builder.

What Is Body Weight Training?

It seems like gyms full of cardio machines and strength equipment are more popular than ever, but there are lots of people who absolutely hate going to the gym. Body weight training may be a great solution for people who want to get in shape but don't have the money to buy expensive machines or don't want to go to the gym on a consistent basis. Body weight training is simple. It's the process of getting exercise with the help of little more than gravity and your own body. The force of the earth is a constant presence on the human body, and it can be used in a way to create resistances that have very similar properties to machines and weights.

There are many different forms of body weight training, both cardio and strength building. If you've ever watched an aerobics video or seen an aerobics class in the gym you are probably familiar with steps. Steps  are merely a small elevated surface that allows individuals certain aerobic actions during their workout. Steps are very popular both because of their simplicity and their affordable costs. One of the oldest pieces of body weight training equipment is the jump rope or speed rope. Used by both elementary school children and professional boxers alike, jump ropes provide a high intensity convenient workout for a very affordable price.

Buying the Top Brands of Fitness Equipment

We all seem to have our favorite brands when it comes to purchasing things at the store. We only like to buy certain cereals, certain ice cream or even certain brands of plastic bags. The same phenomenon often occurs in the fitness world as well. Certain manufacturers of fitness equipment just speak quality, and when it comes to a large purchase like a treadmill or pre-owned elliptical, a recognizable brand brings a sense of reassurance to the purchase. Whether it be a rowing machine or full strength machine, there is usually a top name brand at the head of the pack.

When it comes to new and used ellipticals and cross trainers, Precor is a name that stands out.  Fit4Sale has over 20 used or new elliptical trainers from Precor that can help fit the fitness goals of everyone. Precors trainers range from efficient and affordable to full featured trainers that are good for novice users and elite athletes alike.

One of the biggest names in strength machines is Powertec. They sell strength equipment that ranges from compact leg sleds to to a full power rack that allows for full motion squats and many other strength building exercises. Explore our collection of strength equipment to find out which machine is right for you and your muscle building goals. We have over a dozen Powertec strength machines to choose from.

It's Never Too Late to Get in Shape

It is never too late to get into shape! No matter what circumstances you find yourself in and at what age, you always have the ability to pump up those muscles and work that heartbeat. Of course, the older you are the more important it becomes to ask your medical professional what kind of exercises you can do to get yourself into shape.Many of the common complaints associated with the aging process: joint stiffness, weight gain, fatigue and loss of bone mass, among others - can be prevented by adopting a regular plan of physical fitness. Keeping your muscles conditioned and your heart strong and efficient can offset these minor complaints and may help reduce your risk of more serious conditions.

As we age, we tend to lose muscle mass and bone mass, which lead to stiffness all over the body. To make muscles and bones grow, you need to work them against a slowly increasing resistance. Any type of weightlifting with free weights or strength machines, and even push-ups are considered muscle building exercises. Also, as we get older the muscle around the heart deteriorates and fat accumulates. To prevent this, aerobic exercises are needed to keep your heart working to keep it in shape. Combating aerobic exercise is easy, all you have to do is walk. Walking has been proven to be one of the best aerobic exercises with the least amount of strain on your body. If you can't walk outside, buying a used treadmill can get you the exercise you need in the comfort of you own home.