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Recession Proof Your Workout: Beg, Borrow, and Deal

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:00:50 -0700

Despite Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's claim that the recession is over, most Americans aren't buying it. I'm not sure what you think of Bernanke's outlook, but the last two years of economic downturn have taught me a lesson in frugality I won't be forgetting anytime soon.

My husband bought a new bike recently - new to him anyway. After visiting nine different bike stores and confronting the truth that he could not afford to put thousands of dollars toward a bicycle, I directed him to Craigslist. Not only did he find the bike of his dreams, he ended up having a few to choose from. Within a week of looking he found a barely used 2008 Cannondale for $650, a bike he saw at a store a week earlier for $1,250.

I've used Craigslist quite a bit but never for pricier items because it seemed to risky to me. After this experience I'll be turning there when I'm on the market for something new. A quick look on the site yesterday showed hundreds of barely used elliptical machines, stationary bikes, and treadmills averaging around $200; that's at least an 80 percent discount off retail prices and has me seriously considering buying a piece of equipment for my home.

Have any of you had good experiences using Craigslist to find fitness equipment?

I Want One: Skorcher

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0700

If working out at home is more your speed than hitting the gym, then you may want to add this piece of exercise equipment to your collection. Called the Skorcher, it was designed by a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. This machine claims to deliver you "the world's best butt exercise," known as the thrust. It can also be used for dozens of other exercises that work every muscle in your body, but targets your glutes, thighs, and abs. Check out the video below to see some examples.

I know you want to find out how much one of these bad boys costs so read more.

There are actually three different models: the Skorcher ($399), Skorcher Xtreme ($799) and the Skorcher Pro ($1,199). Some fitness trainers believe a Skorcher isn't necessary because many of the same exercises can be done without this piece of equipment. Other trainers love it because the Skorcher makes many exercises more challenging, and they feel the extra challenge is worth the investment. In my opinion, anything that helps make strength training exercises easier means you'll be motivated to do them more often. Iif you love working out on machines, this could be your new favorite thing. I would like to experiment with one, how about you?

Click the images below to see what other exercises a Skorcher can be used for.

View 7 Photos ›

Recession Proof Your Workout: DIY Home Exercise Equipment

FitSugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:30:00 -0700

The economy is on almost everyone's minds these days, but it's important that despite the tough times, we keep ahead of our health. If you're trying to cut back on your costs, you can easily transform a few items at home into your exercise equipment. The Mayo Clinic had a few good ideas as to how. They are:

Canned goods. Many canned goods can serve double duty as hand weights.
Milk or water jugs. Fill empty milk or water jugs with water or sand and secure the tops with duct tape. To adjust the weights as your fitness level changes, simply add more water or sand. If you wonder how much weight you're lifting, simply weigh the jug on your household scale.
Step stools. A low, sturdy step stool can become exercise equipment if you use it for step training - an aerobic exercise resembling stair climbing.

I've got a few ideas of my own to add to the list so read more.

Water bottles. Just like canned goods, water bottles make a great supplement for hand weights (and they won't damage your floor if you drop them). Need to beef it up? Detergent bottles do the trick too.
Chairs. Use a sturdy chair to do tricep dips and inclined push-ups. Have someone spot you to make sure the chair does not flip over.
Walls. Use your walls for push-ups (hands against the wall), stretching, and wall sits.
Stairs. Even if you only have a few stairs in your house, you can use them to climb - up and down.

If this sounds like something you could do, then be sure to check out this 10-minute workout that anyone can do at home.

Source

Smart Ways to Pump Up Your Home Gym: Part II

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:00:00 -0700

Buying fitness equipment is not always the easiest task. Finding the right piece for your home gym often means heading into unchartered territory. Everyday Health offers some great tips on making smart fitness buys. (In case you missed it, here's part I.) Here are highlights:

Look for well-built equipment. A sturdy frame, smooth running parts, sufficient horsepower (if motorized), and a comfortable feel are all key elements. Also, ask the dealer about warranties, return policies, repair records, and service costs.

Make sure you understand the full cost of the equipment. Read the fine print to see if items such as shipping and handling, sales tax, and set-up fees are included.

Look for features that you'll really use. Fancy add-ons such as computer-programmed displays are nice to have, but they can inflate the bottom line. However, you may feel some extras are worthwhile - for instance, if knowing how many calories you're burning will act as a motivator or if features such as a reading rack, water bottle holder, or seat and tension adjusters will make your workout more appealing.

There's more great tips so read more.

Learn how to use your equipment properly. From stair machines to stability balls, exercise equipment can be dangerous if used incorrectly. It's a good idea to consult a qualified fitness professional to learn how to use any new equipment you purchase. Many dealers offer a complimentary training session when you buy a large piece of equipment.

Be careful when buying large equipment secondhand. It is cheaper, but warranties aren't likely to apply, and usually you cannot return the equipment. If you buy from a gym, the equipment is more likely to be heavy-duty. However, it's also more likely to have seen heavy use.

Do you have any buying tips of your own? Share them below.
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Which Do You Use More: A Gym Ball or Exercise Band?

FitSugar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:30:00 -0800

When you workout, do you have a favorite prop? Both physio balls and exercise bands are great for strength training and adding variety to your workouts, but I want to
know . . .

Source

Get in Gear: The Perfect Pushup

FitSugar — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 02:00:00 -0700

Push-ups are an awesome exercise you can do to tone your upper body, and the best part - you can do them anywhere. Many women I know complain that push ups bother their wrists though, so here's a cool gadget that may help.

It's called the Perfect Pushup ($39.95). It's basically 2 handles on 8" bases that swivel, which allows you to rotate your arms naturally, just as you would do if you were throwing a punch or lifting a dumb bell. The base is rubberized on the bottom, which provides stability, and the handles provide a comfortable place to grip. Since the base is slightly elevated, it'll allow you to get a deeper push up than you could if you just used the floor.

I love that the handles rotate, so you can adjust the angles for your arms. This will enable you to reduce strain on certain areas, and you can also work different muscles in your chest, arms and upper back. This may be a great addition to your home gym.

Fit's Tips: You can also use the Perfect Pushup handles to do yoga, if Up Dog or Down Dog bothers your wrists.

How Would You Spend $1000 on Your Health???

FitSugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 07:30:00 -0700

Source

Today is your lucky day. Someone just walked up and handed you $1000 - the catch though is that you have to spend it on your health. So I want to know...

Play it Again Sports

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 17:45:00 -0800

In a recent poll, many of you told me that you'd rather use a treadmill at home rather than the gym. The problem is, many of you also said that you can't afford to get one for your home. So where's the middle ground?

How about getting a used treadmill? One place you may want to try is Play It Again Sports. Yup, the store is still around -- Remember the massive marketing push they had in the early 90's? Play It Again Sports has a range of treadmill models from light walking to light commercial units. Play It Again Sports has many name brand model treadmills and they also sell a lot of other fitness equipment that you may be interested in adding to your home gym. Being that the stores are resale, each location will have a wide range of stuff so check out the store locater to find a Play It Again Sports near you.

Can You Trust Your Cardio Machine?

FitSugar — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 04:00:00 -0800

The question has been posed as to whether or not we can trust the calorie display on cardio machines.

This is an interesting question because you may have already noticed that you can use an elliptical one day and a different elliptical (different brand) another day and burn a totally different calorie amount even though you did the same amount of work.

Basically you should use the calorie readout as a guideline but not as the end-all-be-all of how many calories you burned. The displays on cardio machines are notorious for being inaccurate and some machines are known to bump up the calorie readout by almost 25%. The problem is that the machines do not consider factors in individual fitness levels and the specificity of the exercise and also they are not usually re-calibrated after hitting the gym floor.

To get the most accurate calorie readout try these tips:

Enter a body weight that is lower than your actual weight.
Add an extra few minutes to your work out.

Interested in more tips? Then read more

When using machines with handles, don't let the handles support your body weight for you -- they are there to help with balance only.
Use a heart rate monitor that you have programmed for your personal stats -- it will give you the most accurate readout.
Don't focus on the calories the machine shows you're burning. Instead, focus on being consistent and increasing your intensity, that way you'll be more successful at maintaining a regular exercise routine.

Fit's Tip: If two machines show the same calories burned, but one workout seems way easier than the other, you've probably burned fewer calories than the one that felt harder.