The Evolution of Fitness Equipment According to Tom Platz

If you've ever paid attention to the professional world of bodybuilding there's no doubt you've heard the name Tom Platz. Tom gained an interest in the sport from a young age, and by the end of high school had numerous accomplishments at a competitive level. During the 1980's he was a household name when it came to bodybuilding, frequently showing up on the cover of magazines and during high level competitions. Tom isn't a professional bodybuilder anymore, but he's using his knowledge, experience and connections to the sport to help Fit4Sale with its top of the line new and used fitness equipment.

One of the things Tom Platz likes to mention when he talks about fitness equipment is about how much it has evolved over the years. When he first moved to California in the late 1970's to make it big, Gold's Gym at Venice Beach was the mecca of bodybuilding. Back then there weren't any businesses manufacturing fitness equipment. Everything was custom made and designed to help the lifters at the gym achieve maximum results. Instead of ellipticals and stair climbers there were tons of free weights, squat racks, benches and barbells. As the popularity of bodybuilding rose, however, industry began to see the potential of the fitness market and started to manufacture fitness equipment.

According to Tom, a lot of advancements were made during the following decades, both in cardio and strength equipment. New or used treadmills are now in every gym and provide an excellent way to get a great cardio workout indoors. Some people say ellipticals are even better, as they help mimic a running motion with way less impact. The biggest advancements have probably been made in strength machines. It took a long time to convince the public, especially women, of the importance of strength training, but now there are strength circuits, strength machines and free weights in nearly every gym.

The last few years has seen a drastic improvement in the quality of strength training equipment. Tom says that most older strength machines don't account for the importance of strengthening the core. When lifting with free weights, your body needs to keep the weight you're lifting in balance. This works muscles in your core that aren't normally accessible with older strength machines, as the weights are kept in balance by the machine itself. Thankfully, newer strength machines have accounted for this factor. Exercise experts like Tom know that strengthening the core isn't just important for bodybuilders. It's essential for everyone looking to stay fit and healthy.

Fitness Brands and Value

We all know how important regular exercise is for maintaining our health and ideal body weight, but trying to fit regular exercise into our busy schedules can be difficult. Let's face it, not everyone enjoys going to the gym, especially if they are embarrassed about their bodies and feel uncomfortable exercising or getting changed in front of other people. The good news is - you don't have to work out at a gym. For those of us less inclined to go into public to get a good workout, why not create your very own home gym with reputable fitness brands.

Building your own home gym doesn't need to be a costly endeavor, it just needs to be customized for your own personal needs. If you're looking to shed a few extra pounds, consider cardio equipment like treadmills and exercise bikes. If you want to get that toned / ripped look, you may want to invest in weight lifting equipment like dumbbells or resistance trainers like the Bowflex system. Not all fitness equipment is made the same, so it's important to know the differences between some of the top fitness brands in order to get the equipment you need.

Let's take a look at some of the top fitness brands / manufacturers offered at Fit4Sale:

- Precor - specializes in ellipticals and treadmills, but also offers exercise bikes and strength circuits
- Star Trac - wide range of products including steppers/climbers, exercise bikes, treadmills and strength machines
- Life Fitness - best known for their lifecycle exercise bikes
- Cybex - best known for their cardiovascular and strength training equipment
- Nautilus - well known for their Stairmasters, they also offer tread climber treadmills and cross trainers

Quality Counts When It Comes to Fitness Equipment

Unfortunately, a lot of fitness equipment companies are in the business to make a quick buck at all costs. They don't care customer service, longevity or whether the product they are selling is of quality. They only care about a quick turnaround: getting the buyer to make a purchase and then pushing them out the door. This can have disastrous results for a home or gym owner who is looking for re-manufactured fitness equipment. While many prospective buyers have been given the impression that pre-owned gym equipment is inferior to new equipment, this isn't the reality in every fitness store.

Tom Platz, a retired bodybuilder who is now part of the Fit4Sale development team, knows how important it is for customers to get only the highest quality refurbished fitness equipment possible. He and the rest of the Fit4Sale team know how important it is to have their name attached only to equipment that meets high standards and reliability. That's why the pre-owned ellipticals and strength machines sold through Fit4Sale don't just have a new coat of paint slapped on them before they get shipped out. Each piece of used equipment gets the royal treatment to make sure that every single component is functional and built to last. When you're buying a used piece of fitness equipment you need to know that you're buying a product that has been repaired professionally.

Selecting the Right Home Gym Equipment

While almost everyone today has been educated on the benefits of getting regular exercise, many people don't have the time or money to go to the gym. Most doctors suggest that a person should exercise three to five times a week for about a half an hour to remain happy and healthy. Home gym equipment may be a way for those who are busy or short on funds to get in the exercise they need . But before buying any home gym equipment you must be well-informed, otherwise you may not be able to judge the best quality equipment for you. There are a number of home exercise machines available on the market like free weights, weight training machines, home gyms etc.

A piece of home gym equipment should have:

1. An adjustable bench for sitting or reclining
2. Stacked metal weights with pin selection for load
3. Pull down bars mainly for the lat pull down back exercise
4. Press bars for pushing and pulling, for shoulders, arms and back
5. Leg extension system for quadriceps muscles of the thigh
6. Leg curl system for exercising the hamstrings at back of the thigh
7. Seated cable row system for back and arms exercise.

Our philosophy at Fit4Sale is to put our customers first, which means we pay close attention to our customers needs. Fit4sale takes pride in providing personalized customer service for meeting your budget, from club design and placement of fitness equipment to a personal home gym setup. We have been consulting fitness equipment for over 14 years in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, South America and just about everywhere else people want to get in shape. We even have professional fitness experts like former bodybuilder Tom Platz to help ensure that we only sell quality refurbished fitness equipment and make quality connections with our customers.

How Used Fitness Equipment Can Maximize Your Results

It's natural for people to wish to stay fit and look better. Exercising increases the metabolism of the body and enhances energy levels throughout the day. Used Fitness equipment assists in achieving fitness goals and there are a lot of different types of fitness equipment on the market. Most people have a favorite piece of equipment that they feel comfortable with that they think they can use for a long period of time.

If you're not that familiar with the different types of fitness equipment available, take a look at our quick list of exercise machines that you may want to purchase for your home.

Ellipticals or Cross Trainers - These machines provide a low impact motion that mimics natural running. Whether you are purchasing a new or used elliptical, you should find a machine that has the features and stride level that fits with your comfort. Ellipticals are one of the fastest growing types of machine in the market.

Treadmills - Pretty much everyone knows what a treadmill is. These machines come with a variety of features and can be used for everything from slow walking to full out speed running. Quality construction is very important for a treadmill as use produces a lot of impact.

Strength Machines - These pieces of fitness equipment are for people looking to gain a little bit of muscle mass as well as losing body fat. Muscle mass increases your metabolism and adds to general fitness, so it's a great way to help your weight loss.

Home Treadmills and Convenience

Gone are the days that people have to regularly visit the gym to get a serious workout. Since exercise machines have become relatively cheaper and accessible for public sale, treadmills have been one of the most popular options. A few minutes on the treadmill saves one from the hassle and time of going to the gym. Having a home treadmill can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars on a gym membership, fitness trainer fees, and other health monitoring gadgets.

Unlike going to the gym where one has to pay a personal trainer, the latest treadmill models are equipped with built-in workout trainer programs that enable the user to choose which workout program works best for them. One may want to start slow and then gradually increase intensity and speed over time. There are also workout guides for those who want to lose weight or for those who just want to keep in shape. In addition, instead of buying separate gadgets that keep track of several vital statistics such as heart rate and burned calories, modern treadmills do this by themselves. These gadgets, when bought separately already cost a lot. The makers of home treadmills make it a point for the user to conveniently monitor how the unit and their chosen program have helped them reached their goals.

Among these advantages of having home treadmills, it ultimately gives one the workout they need and achieve their desired results at the convenience and comfort of their own home. One can listen to music, read a book, watch TV, and even play Wii while doing their routine treadmill walk. Some treadmills are made to be lightweight and fold-able, unlike those in the gym, to be easily carried and to minimize storage space. Used treadmills can be much cheaper than new ones and can last just as long.

Rubber Resistance Bands Aren't Just for the Office

Rubber is a simple but amazing material. It's used all across the world for huge industrial applications, transportation, office supplies and now even physical fitness. The concept of using rubber as a workout device is simple. Rubber has a natural inert state, but when it is stretched creates a great amount of resistance and potential energy. Working against this energy is similar to lifting a weight against gravity; it helps build muscles and get you into better shape.

Rubber resistance fitness accessories have a few different applications. You can go bare bones and get a pack of rubber resistance bands that are really nothing more than a pack of giant rubber bands. You can be creative and use these for arm workout, leg exercises and a variety of other strength building motions. Other more high tech products like the Braided Xertube provide several different levels of resistance and have handles for greater comfort and flexibility. They also claim to use higher quality materials that will make the bands last much longer than usual.

Using Music for Workout Motivation

Whether you work out on an elliptical, treadmill or rowing machine, things can get boring during the course of your 30 minute plus exercise routine. When things get boring we tend to quit, and when we quit we start to fail the fitness goals we've worked so hard to try and accomplish. The only thing more frustrating than toughing out a boring workout is knowing how good it would have felt if we actually finished it. There is really no need for a workout to be boring or frustrating, so we should use as many tools as possible to help us get through it.

Most corporate gyms now have televisions mounted above the cardio workout area so that patrons can watch television or movies while they workout in order to stem the boredom. This is great if you have a gym membership, but if you've decided to purchase a new or used exercise machine for your home, mounting a TV in the right position may not be a viable option. Thankfully, portable devices have become so cheap that listening to music or even watching a television show on small portable electronics is easy and affordable.

Choosing the right kind of music for a workout can be essential to staying motivated. Make a playlist of artists and songs that make you feel good and full of energy. Sad or atmospheric music works for some, but not everyone. Some people even like to fill their playlist with comedy or podcasts, even audio books. What you pick doesn't really matter as long as it keeps your legs pumping on the exercise bike.