Friday, January 28, 2011

Slim Down Fast By Maximizing Your Equipment

More people nowadays are struggling to lose weight in light of the rising health awareness. This may translate into healthier diets and increased physical movement. Of course, it is important to remember that losing weight does not have to depend on having complicated machines or expensive club memberships. All you need to know is to maximize whatever equipment you have on hand, and you can enjoy exercising while saving money. There are machines that almost anybody can buy. Once you understand how these machines can help you lose weight, and how to make them meet their full potential, you will be more than happy to make them your loyal companions.
The first is the stationary bike. It does not move like an ordinary bicycle. While staying in place, it does not require much space but delivers a heavy sweating session. It comes with different settings and tension levels, allowing you to simulate mountain biking if you tighten the gears. You will sweat greatly in this mode. On the other hand, lighter settings make it feasible for older or weaker users. You can maximize the effects of these exercise bikes by alternating a regular pace with bursts of high-intensity pedaling. The speed bursts interspersed with regular pace means you get a heightened heart rate while building endurance for longer exercise.

The second equipment to consider is the stepper. This contraption is simple in that all it requires is a person to step on its pedals like climbing the stairs. However, the stepper is very much easier to use than the stair master, making it more recommended for amateurs. Some have straps for arm movements, making the stepper a catch-all for whole body workouts. A timer and meter that records the steps you take are attached to the contraption. Others even count the steps and convert them into an estimated distance, letting you imagine where you might have reached if walked in a straight distance. You can maximize your heart rate by jumping off the stepper for some jumping jacks and back again.

Lastly, the treadmill is also an advisable simple equipment. The difference between a stepper and a treadmill is that you can actually run on a treadmill. If you prefer walking, try to incorporate short bursts of running. Just be careful to adjust the speed according to your capability, because if the machine outworks you, it can cause serious falls. There are manual-type treadmills that do not have a mechanism to move other than your own walking. These are much more affordable for the beginning user.

Once you master these three basic equipment, you can well be on your way to that slimmer body without needing any other facility. You can see that maximizing the use of your simple equipment will deliver results close to that which you get from a gym membership.

Over at the FitnessArmory.com, you can let our expert advice on fitness and equipment reviews help you create the perfect home gym but without all the huge costs. We have the exclusive reviews on all your favorite brands and models to help you get in shape, get healthy and look great. Recent product reviews include: Stamina 55-1610 E1000 Elliptical Trainer, Stamina 55-2065 Elite Elliptical Stepper, Stamina 1205 Precision Rower, Stamina 55-1539 Therapy Inversion Table. We invite you to stop by or drop us a line if you have any questions or need help with your fitness equipment selections.