Step Up to Shape With the StairMaster

Want to work your cardio, legs, and butt all at the same time? Now you can with the StairMaster! It's one of the most popular training equipment on the market! The StairMaster comprises two footplates on which the exerciser stands. An internal chain pulls each plate up to the top automatically as you shift your body weight from foot to foot, simulating the motion of climbing stairs.The intensity of a workout on the StairMaster is controlled by a simple push button that allows you to control the speed at which each leg descends with each weight transfer.

The four biggest benefits are its ability to increase your cardiovascular fitness, burn calories, improve muscle conditioning in your legs and buttocks, as well as improve balance. It has also been known to rehabilitate hips and knees after surgery!

The StairMaster is easy to use and you can get all the benefits out of it in as little as three minutes! The best way to use the StairMaster is to not use the handrails, using them will give you a false reading of calories burned. Instead focus all your weight and energy on each step and push yourself up one step at a time. This will maximize your calorie burning!

If you're looking to improve your cardiovascular fitness, improve your muscle conditioning and burn calories, give the StairMaster a try. It's a great workout. Fit4sale offers great prices on used stairmasters you won't find anywhere else. Check them out!

Burn More Calories: Elliptical vs Stairmaster

When you go to a gym, more than likely you have witnesses the wonders of both the Stairmaster and the elliptical trainer. Both pieces of equipment also get favorable reviews from most of the people who use them, as they are both great tools for a good cardio workout. As you know, using the Stairmaster simulates real life experiences as if you were using stairs, while the elliptical simulates running without the harsh pressure on joints and muscles. As far as exercise, both are great at burning calories. However, the Stairmaster will build muscle faster, especially in the calves, thighs, and buttocks areas. Although, this comes at a price as it requires a lot of pressure on your knees and joints whereas the elliptical is free of it. When it comes down to calorie burning, the elliptical wins for sheer performance of cardio workouts. Again however, there will be minimal muscle development in the leg areas as compared to the Stairmaster, but again the elliptical offers more of a workout for less effort. Whichever one you decide to use, you will experience a great workout that helps keep you in shape and your body healthy! Fit4Sale offers many of these great products at discount prices! Check out Fit4Sale Fitness today and start saving on used fitness equipment!

Fitness Improves Children's Academics

According to Sudish Srikanth, a researcher and student from the University of North Texas, fitter children perform better academically. Srikanth presented these findings recently to the American Psychological foundation. The research used tests on 1,211 students from five Texas middle schools. The research accounted for influencing factors like confidence in ability, socioeconomic status, social support, fitness and body composition. The researchers knew from experience that socioeconomic status and confidence would play an important role in test results, but wanted to find out the influence of other factors.

The discoveries made from this study matched what other researchers had found - kids who were fit tended to do better than those who were not fit. The research findings are considered preliminary as they have yet to go through the peer review process. Trent Petrie, PhD, who is director of the Center for Sport Psychology at the University of North Texas says, "Physical fitness is associated with improvements in memory, concentration, organization, and staying on task."

Parents and school officials are urged to take the results of these studies seriously. If academic performance is as closely associated to physical fitness as is being suggested, physical education courses and outdoor activities may be just as important as math and science classes. Used fitness equipment can be purchased for schools during bad weather months so that students can stay fit all year round. Parents should encourage their children to play outdoors more often and participate in team sports activities.

Are You Lifting Enough Weight?

We've wrote before about the importance of strength exercises when it comes to losing weight, getting toned and maintaining a healthy body. Strength and fitness training provides fantastic results through a higher metabolism and more toned muscles, but some people do not push themselves hard enough when it comes to lifting. If you find yourself lifting weights at the gym or at home and you are barely breaking a sweat, you are not doing it correctly. When you lift weights, you should feel a lot of strain on your muscles, otherwise there is no point.

Weight lifting should be difficult but not impossible. You should be pushing your muscles close to the point where they can't lift another ounce. In order to do this with free weights, it's often necessary to get a spotter. A spotter is just someone who can monitor your sets and help you out if you are unable to complete a certain lift. If you don't have a friend with you during your workouts, most people at the gym would be happy to help spot in exchange for your help. If there is simply no one available, it's best to just use strength machines in order to stay safe.

The first time you lift the proper amount will inevitably lead to sore muscles. This is the result of a true strength building workout that involves the tearing of muscles so that they can be built bigger in the body's repair process. Don't worry, this is a good sign, and it's not something that will continue through your future workouts. Make sure to drink plenty of water and eat plenty of protein after a workout to make sure that your body rebuilds the muscles to the best of its ability.