The benefits of exercise are well-documented. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case with advertising claims for exercise equipment.Some advertisers claim that their exercise products offer a quick, easy way to shape up, keep fit, and lose weight. The truth is, there’s no such thing as a no-work, no-sweat way to a healthy, toned body. Deriving the benefits of exercise requires doing the work.

Before you jump into the next home fitness fad, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers this advice: Exercise good judgment and evaluate advertising claims for exercise products carefully.

Evaluating Fitness Equipment Claims

Read the performance claims with some skepticism. Beware of anyone that say the equipment can:

provide easy or effortless results or burn excessive calories. The claims may be true for athletes in top physical condition, but not for most people.
Read the rest of this entry »

Looking to make a change and lose some weight? I have reviewed the top diet on the internet and you can go and read over 200 comments people have made about why this diet has worked well for them, as well as some of the problems.

With the diet industry being so huge, it should be no surprise that free online diets are appearing everywhere. What is also not surprising is that they are not all the same. Some can be very useful in helping you to lose weight for genuinely no cost. Others are not exactly what they seem. So here are 3 things you should watch out for when you are looking at free online diets.

The first thing to look out for is hidden payments. Now that may sound stupid since we are talking about free diet plans, but there is a business selling model which may catch you out. It is called ‘forced continuity’ and it works by offering you, something like a free diet plan mailed to you regularly, and the plan itself is free but you have to pay $5 or $10 shipping.

What’s more, when you make the first payment you are in fact then signed up for monthly payments which will continue until you cancel. Believe me this catches a lot of people out, so be aware of making any payments for shipping of a free plan!

The second thing to look out for is whether the basics of the plan concerned are sound. Even with a free plan, you do not want to waste a lot of time on something that will not work for you. In fact it is worse than wasting time. Every time that you try a diet and fail to keep to it or gain the weight back after, subconsciously you become more convinced that you will never be slim. So it is very important to choose something that you can sustain and keep to, the next time you select a weight loss program.

The third thing you should look for is whether you will have any support. Free diets often do not offer any type of support. It is better to choose something where you will be part of a group in your neighborhood or have access to a supportive online forum. This is great for exchanging ideas and experiences, and you will be able to start your own journal there.

It is important to remember that dieting takes a change of mindset, and that is always harder to achieve on your own. It is also great to be able to give something back later, when you have lost a lot of weight yourself and can offer help to others on the same path. That helps to keep you motivated too.

So in brief, you should be checking there is no hidden payment involved, you should judge the fundamental basics of the diet, and you should be looking for a group, forum or message board type community. Those are 3 things that will serve you well when searching for free online diets.

Buying in-home fitness equipment is quite a large investment that can cost you a few hundred dollars. With so many TV advertisements and celebrity endorsements, it can become difficult to decide which piece of fitness equipment is right for you. Everyone claims that their endorsed product works the best. The fact is that no two people are alike, so it’s important to know what to look for before you buy.

First, think about the areas of your body you’d like to tone. For example, if you just want to build stamina and improve the leg muscles, a stationary bike is a good choice. If building strong upper body muscles is more up your alley, think about buying some good weights. Think about the spots of your body you want to work on the most, and then buy the equipment accordingly.

Another very important factor to think about when choosing fitness equipment is how interesting it is to use. It may sound a bit odd, but if you spend several hundred dollars on something, it should be a piece of equipment you plan to use for many years. Think about workouts you’re already doing, and come up with the ones you really enjoy. Then, match the equipment and exercise style with the workouts you already love.

If you like to do something every day, the odds are better that you’ll stick with it. Another factor to consider is how well the product will work. Just because it has a lot of bells and whistles or is very expensive does not mean it will work the way you intended it to. Do some research and find out which pieces out there are truly effective.

Find out if the equipment you’re looking at will adjust to your needs. In other words, does that treadmill you’ve been eyeballing only have one setting, or can you increase the speed and resistance? If the piece is only able to do one thing over and over, eventually your body will adjust and it’s almost as if you’re no longer doing anything.

Look for equipment that works well for you, and can adjust to your fitness needs. As you increase difficulty levels, you are also increasing the muscle mass, lung capacity, and other benefits of following a physical fitness program with the help of equipment. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that the investment you make today will be worth it for many years to come.

Many people have a vision of what the word fitness means. With so many advertisements and promises of a physically fit body, it can become difficult to determine and define what fitness is. It’s definitely a multi-million dollar per year industry, but sadly many Americans don’t know what it means to truly be fit.

Different people have different definitions and limitations on what fitness means. For example, a long distance or marathon runner might define it as having a strong lung capacity and good leg muscles. A bodybuilder or a weight lifter may say that fitness is in how many pounds one can bench press, or the amount of muscle mass one has. The reality is that fitness is determined by each individual person’s definition of what fitness truly is for them and their needs.

True physical fitness is the ability to have endurance, strength, flexibility, and stamina all in one. It also includes speed and balance. While no one will be perfect in all of these areas, just being able to maintain them all at a reasonable level is sufficient to be deemed physically fit.

Some athletes excel in certain areas, while they might fall back on others. But they should be able to at least perform all skill sets in a minimal way without too much difficulty. This is the real definition of someone who is fit. The ability to perform all of these physical tasks in a way that a person can go from one thing to another without any problems is considered fit.

For the “average Joe,” physical fitness might not be as easy as it sounds. It takes hard work and determination to get someone’s stamina, speed, and muscle capacity up to par. Training on a daily, if not weekly basis can help tone someone’s body and get it trained into a working machine that will be able to run, jump, throw, and stretch much further than ever before. Come up with a plan and a program that will be easy to perform, and then expect to increase the difficulty as time goes by.

If you don’t notice a change within the first few months, your fitness plan may need to be revised. With time and patience, anyone can be fit and healthy. You do not have to be an Olympic swimmer or a famous football player to be physically fit and able to perform physically challenging tasks. Training the body to work harder and smarter is something anyone can do, and the rewards are amazing.

Every diet pill ad I’ve ever seen has marketed the product as being the revolutionary solution to all my dieting woes. Some diet pill ads even claim to cause you to lose weight in your sleep. I would love to just take a pill before bed and be able to slide easily into my “skinny jeans” in the morning, and I’ll bet you would too.

When I started looking into how diet pills work, I noticed that not only are there tons of them on the market, but so many of them work in different ways to effect weight loss. Some pills are meant to decrease appetite while others change the way the body processes food.

With the weight loss industry amassing several billion dollars a year in sales, it’s clear that most of us are searching for the winning edge to stay in shape and we’re willing to spend money to get it. In fact, the cost of a single bottle of diet pills in the U.S. Can be as much as 100 dollars.

One of the most common types of diet pills is the appetite suppressant. They work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain, which in turn affects appetite. There has been some controversy surrounding appetite suppressants and phenylpropanolamine and ephedrine were at one time banned from dietary supplements.

Appetite suppressants do seem to reduce appetite but there are sometimes negative side effects. One of the most common side effects is sensations like you might get from taking a stimulant drug. Pulmonary hypertension and heart valve damage have also been reported.

Such negative news makes finding a safe, effective diet pill seem like a scary venture. Those of us who are very overweight often have the option of seeking medical assistance in our weight loss journey.

If you have a BMI of 30 or higher, or if you have a BMI of 27 or higher and obesity-related health problems, your doctor may offer a prescription diet pill such as Meridia or Xenical. These two medications have been FDA approved for long term use to combat obesity.

Diet pills like Xenical are fat absorption blockers. Prescription strength fat blockers keep the body from absorbing about 30% of consumed fat. An over-the-counter version, called Alli, works at about half the strength of Xenical.

I am pleased to report that both of these products have proven to be successful in aiding weight loss. Unfortunately, users of fat absorption blockers can also expect some side effects. The most common side effect is gastro-intestinal problems, including involuntary stool leakage.

While many diet pills seem very promising, the truth is that most of them require diet modification and exercise from the user, and all of them have side effects. A lot of diet pill takers have gotten excellent results from appetite suppressants, fat blockers, metabolism boosters, or herbal supplements along with healthy eating and moderate exercise.

I’m still looking for that magic cure.

The average U.S. family and their employers paid an extra $1,017 in health care premiums last year to compensate for the uninsured, according to a study to be released Thursday by an advocacy group for health care consumers.

Families USA, which supports expanded health care coverage, found that about 37% of health care costs for people without insurance — or a total of $42.7 billion — went unpaid last year. That cost eventually was shifted to the insured through higher premiums, according to the group.

“I don’t think anybody has any idea about how much they are paying because of the need to cover the health care costs of the uninsured,” said Ron Pollack, the group’s executive director. “This is a hidden tax on all insurance premiums, whether it is paid by business for their work or by families when they purchase their own coverage.” Read the rest of this entry »

Health magazine has these quick tips to help you get motivated to run a race. I know that it has been a goal of mine to run a 10k for a long time but pushing through that tough training and having my body heal between workouts is the tough part.

Need help in the motivation department? Sign up for a 5K or 10K. Suddenly, your exercise routine becomes “training” and every workout has a purpose. Plus, your competitive spirit is bound to keep you fired up and help you push past what you thought was impossible. Here’s how to ace the race.

Find your ideal race. If you usually do 1- to 2-mile runs, try a 5K (just over 3 miles). If you can comfortably do 3 to 4 miles, go for a 10K (a little more than 6 miles). Find a race online at Active.com or by checking with a local running store (expect to pay around $25 to enter). Leave plenty of time to train; 8 to 10 weeks is ideal. Then tell everyone about it—better yet, ask them to join you. Read the rest of this entry »

Itching to shed those postbaby pounds?

Dr. Karen Nordahl, cofounder of Fit to Deliver International, suggests cutting yourself some slack.

“It took nine months to put it on; give yourself at least nine months to take it off,” she says.

To make the most of that time, focusing on fun activities will definitely be more effective. So, to aid the bulging battle, here are a few mommy workout ideas with a little extra spice.

WII

It’s amazing how much more enjoyable a workout can be when it comes in video-game form. Moms on the pregnancy and parenting site TheBump.com are all about Wii Fit workouts. “Love the Hula Hoop and boxing,” says one mom on the message boards. The Wii won’t give you all the exercise you need, but it can be a fun supplement that concentrates on your core. Get your husband to join in – he might just lose a little “baby fat” of his own. Read the rest of this entry »

Unless you have been living under a huge rock for a long time, you simply cannot deny the fact that elliptical trainers are the latest craze among fitness freaks. Apart from exercise bikes and treadmills, elliptical trainers offer you the most complete workout you could get at your home. Unlike other fitness equipments, elliptical trainers put very little strain on your body. In fact, they are so easy on body that if you watch a movie while exercising, you won’t even feel like you are exercising.

There are various types of elliptical trainers available in the market. You would want one which is decently built and affordable for your pocket. Yes, I know it is not an easy task, what with numerous brands trying hard to grab your attention with their flashy promises. Elliptical trainers come at several different price tags, ranging from $1,400 to $6,000, and are manufactured by several brands some of which are Life Fitness, Precor, Quantum Fitness, SportsArt Fitness, etc. So which is the best choice for you? Well that is exactly what I am going to discuss in the following article.

If you have never used an elliptical trainer, I would suggest that you join your local gym and try out the fitness equipments there at first. Once you get a hang of them, it would be easy for you to decide whether elliptical trainers are good for you or not. The next thing you need to do is to know the amount of calories you are required to burn on a daily basis; this is something you can learn from a doctor or nutritionist.

As a matter of fact, a decent elliptical trainer can help you burn as many as 750 calories or more per hour. So, if you want to burn 1,500 calories per day, you don’t need to workout for more than two hours.

When buying a home-based fitness equipment, one thing you should keep in mind is the amount of space available in your room for installing it. Treadmills usually take a lot of space unless you go for the portable versions which have limited functionalities. In contrast, elliptical trainers are very compact in size and as such, are great if you live in little condos or apartments like many others.

Make sure that the equipment you buying gives you a smooth and warm feeling when you workout with it. Elliptical trainers are known to put minimal stress on your body, so much so that you won’t even feel like you are exercising.

As for prices, I have found that in general you can get stuff cheaper from an online store than your local store; this is as much true for fitness equipments as other things. Before you buy a fitness equipment, it is probably a good idea to compare the prices of an online store with that of your local store.

On the other hand, if you wish to try out a model before buying it, then the local fitness store would be your ideal destination. You can try out the equipment for a few days until you get a feel of it. Once you are satisfied with the functionalities of the equipment, you can easily buy it from an online store at a bargain price.

If you are going to buy a second-hand or used equipment, then you should definitely head over to sports equipment stores. A lot of these stores sell quality fitness equipments at rock bottom prices. Even though these equipments carry the “used” tag, you have nothing to worry. As a matter of fact, more than half of those who buy exercise equipments never use it at all; as such, you can safely buy one without any worries.

In the end, you will want to get a quality elliptical trainer even if it comes with a decent price tag. Sacrificing quality for the sake of price is not a very good idea, especially when it comes to fitness equipments. Remember that when you are investing in fitness equipments, you are essentially investing in the health and well being of your body. Investing in elliptical trainers is probably one of the best things you could do for your health.

If you thought you could never buy a high quality elliptical trainer, there is good news for you. There are many people who cannot afford a brand new elliptical trainer, and so, an array of fitness equipment manufacturers have come up with remanufactured, refurbished and used models of elliptical trainers to serve these people. If these terms confuse you, read on to find out the difference between the three models. You would then find it easier to decide on which one to pick up for yourself.

Health clubs are probably the most frequent buyers of refurbished and remanufactured fitness equipments, whether they are elliptical trainers or treadmills. And why not – after all, these are refurbished models of advanced level of equipments.

If you are out to buy an advanced level of equipment and find the $3k price tag a bit too high for your pocket, you could save big by purchasing its refurbished or remanufactured version. To give you an idea, if you buy a refurbished version of a $3000 elliptical trainer, you could easily get it at a cheap $2,000 or even less.

It is important to keep in mind that the words “refurbished”, “remanufactured” and “used” are NOT synonyms; rather, they mean different things. Unless you know how to differentiate between the three models, you might end up getting a raw deal. At the end of the day, you would need to do as much research for a refurbished treadmill as you would before buying a brand new model; after all, you won’t want to invest in a cr*p equipment that barely lasts a few months.

1. Remanufactured elliptical trainers: When an elliptical trainer becomes more than two years old, it is usually taken back to its original manufacturer for repair and maintenance. Once there, it is “remanufactured” or rebuilt by adding new spare parts, coating and other stuff, thereby making it as good as a brand new machine. In my opinion, if you are going to buy a second-hand elliptical trainer, purchasing a remanufactured equipment would probably be your bet, because they are being rebuilt by the original equipment manufacturer instead of private individuals.

Do note that remanufactured fitness equipments usually come with a very short warranty period. Be sure to check the warranty details about the elliptical trainer you are going to invest in.

2. Refurbished elliptical trainers: Unlike remanufactured ellipticals which are almost always rebuilt by the original manufactured and then offered for sale at a deep discount, refurbished ellipticals can either be rebuilt by the manufacturing company or individual fitness equipment dealers. As such, the process of maintenance is not as rigorous and thorough as the remanufactured models. Overall, this is the second best choice you have in the area of used elliptical trainers.

On the plus side, if the equipment is rebuilt by a fitness equipment dealer, it would usually come with a longer warranty than the equipments remanufactured by the manufacturing company.

3. Used elliptical trainers: Just in case you don’t know, half of those who buy fitness equipments never actually use them, and eventually sell them after a few years. There is another group of people who sell a fitness equipment that has become old and useless.

More often than not, you won’t get any warranty with a used elliptical trainer, meaning that if you get stuck with post-purchase problems, you would be basically on your own with no one to indemnify you. This is probably the riskiest transaction for a customer and you should consider this option only as a last resort.