Weight Loss and Fitness tips for women.
Posts Tagged ‘Weight’
Women’s Weight Loss Tips
March 15th, 2010Lose Weight and Build Muscle with Nordik Trak Home Fitness
February 28th, 2010Nordic Track is the name for home fitness: treadmills, elliptical trainers, steppers and more! For affordable, durable exercise equipment with workout enhancing features, Nordik Trak muscles out the competition. From our Incline Trainer, favorite of fitness star Jillian Michaels, to our Classic Pro Skier and revolutionary strength training machines, whats missing in your home gym?
Tips For Losing Weight With Exercise Machines
February 16th, 2010Many people are looking for a way to lose the weight that they have put on over the years and they just aren’t sure how to go about doing it. Losing weight with exercise machines is a great option because you can change up the workouts so you don’t get bored. Many people quickly get bored with walking running, but losing weight with exercise machines work because you can always change the routines.
Make Weight Loss Possible
Of course, if you have just one weight loss machine you may get bored. This is where a gym membership will come in really handy, as you’ll have access to a wide variety of machines. When you have access to many different machines you will be able to change things up, keep them interesting so you don’t get bored and so you will continue to lose weight.
Losing weight with exercise machines works because you can work different muscles with different machines. Instead of just targeting one part of the body you can target them all. You can not only get a good cardio workout on exercise machines, you can work each individual group of muscles so you lose weight and tone up at the same time. Doing pushups and sit ups will get boring in a hurry, but when you are constantly changing machines you will feel like you are making progress and you may even catch yourself having fun.
Luckily, losing weight with exercise machines is the goal of many different fitness centers that have opened up in the last few years. Many of these centers offer a few different exercise machines and they help you develop a program where you will rotate from one machine to another for a 30 minute period. After 30 minutes you will have used all of the machines, worked all of your muscle groups, burned fat and calories, and then you’ll be on your way. These exercise programs are so fast paced and scheduled that you don’t get board so you can keep hammering away at those pounds, reaching your weight loss goals in less time that you would have ever thought possible.
Losing weight with exercise machines work, but it only works as well as you are willing to work hard. If you are not willing to put any effort into losing weight you could have all of the gym memberships and all of the equipment in the world and you wouldn’t lose an ounce. If you are willing to put some work into it, you will find with the help of the machines that you are able to shed the pounds quite easily and effectively.
Heather thinks the Bowflex Revolution or the Bowflex Tread Climber are great machines to start with. Check them out today!
3 Exercises That Leads to Constant Weight Loss
January 31st, 2010Daily exercise alone is great for burning calories, but if you are not doing it properly it’s going to be a long, slow road to getting the weight loss you desire. Cardiovascular exercises increases your metabolic rate causing the fat burning capacity of your body to increase dramatically.
The truth is, it’s not only about trimming and getting rid of fat, and it should be more on strengthening the abs muscle. Just remember, when we talk about developing the abs, exercises alone aren’t enough. Weight loss exercises have helped many people who failed at lose weight. This article will reveal you the procedure on how to lose weight quickly and the three of the most effective exercises you can do at home.
1. THE LONG ARM CRUNCH
The long arm crunch is a variation of the traditional crunch that works the upper abdominal muscles. This exercise is harder than the traditional crunch and if done properly will provide some great results.
The exercise is done lying on an exercise mat with your back flat against the mat and your legs outstretched with your feet flexed. Then extend your arms above your head while gripping together forming a long arm lever that rests against the mat. Then hold your neck in a straight line with your spine as if resisting bending your neck as the crunch is done.
To perform the crunches effectively make sure to keep your back and heels pressed against the mat while completing the crunch. Raise your shoulder blades and arms off the mat to come up into a basic crunch using your upper abdominals.
Take a deep breath in the resting position before you start the crunch and exhale as you come up into the crunch. Take another deep breath in as your return to the resting position. If you are beginner a set of 12 to 16 repetitions is enough to start with and the number of repetitions can be increased as you become more comfortable with the exercise.
2. CROSSOVER CRUNCHES
Crossover crunch is another great exercise for the ab muscles. It is recommended that you do the crunch slowly when you do the “crossover” part of the crunch to engage the oblique muscles.
To do this exercise lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor about hip-width apart and gently place your fingertips behind your head. Cross your right leg over your left leg so your right ankle is resting on your left knee. Inhale and Raise your right shoulders up and toward your left knee as high and as far as possible twisting your torso to touch your left elbow to your right knee. Begin exhaling when you pass the sticking point.
At the maximum twist position, hold momentarily and exhale the rest of the air in your lungs. Inhale and return to the startReturn to the starting position and repeat for the desired number of repetitions before switching over to the other side.Raise your crossing shoulder as high as possible when you go into the twisting action to get the best results.
3. The Captain’s Chair: The #1 Best Ab Exercise
The Captain’s Chair is fairly inexpensive equipment made of a metal or wood frame in the shape of an extended chair with no seat, built with a pair of high, padded armrests fitted with small vertical posts or handles. You have to be careful when doing this exercise to keep your lower back stable when dong the exercise. Do not arch your back during this exercise. If you can’t do it correctly, then you shouldn’t do it at all.
The exercise is done while in a standing position. Stand on the chair and grip the handles to stabilize your upper body. Press your back against the pad and slowly lift knees until your thighs are horizontal. Raise your knees until they almost touch your chest. Hold the position is for a few seconds, and then slowly lower your legs until they are in the vertical position again.
Make sure to keep your lower back firmly in place – otherwise you won’t be strengthening your abs. If you don’t feel the tightening and burning in your abs after a few reps you’re probably not doing the exercise properly. Repeat the exercise 10 to 15 times for each set. You can do the exercise while sitting on an ordinary chair if The Captain’s Chair is not available.
Performing some sets for each of the abdominal exercises above on a regular basis in parallel with proper eating habits should lead you to constant weight loss.
The Myth of Daily Exercise: Does daily weight loss exercise successfully lead to long-term weight loss? Click here to find out why most people disagree!
To read more about “amazingly simple to understand and easy to conduct” weight loss exercises visit: http://plansweightloss.com/category/exercises-to-lose-weight.
Lose Weight by Treadmill Walking – Is It Possible?
January 19th, 2010Treadmills and elliptical trainers are the two most popular pieces of cardio exercise equipment both at the gym and in homes. They’re renowned for giving a great cardio workout, and you can’t really go wrong in choosing either one.
But let’s say you prefer the treadmill. Is it possible to lose weight just by walking on this machine? Well, yes, it is possible. But there are a few things you’ll need to know to make sure you’re not wasting your time.
The first mistake many people make when trying to lose weight by treadmill walking is increasing their calories after starting the exercise program. Treadmills will help you to lose weight by allowing your body to use up more calories than you take in. However, walking does not burn as many calories as say, triathlon training or a game of racquetball. Even so, many walkers think they need to use some of the dietary ‘training ads’ intended for participants in more intense sporting activities.
If you decide to ‘fuel’ your walking session by having an energy bar beforehand and a protein shake afterwards, you may be cancelling out the caloric deficit caused by your treadmill workout, and therefore not lose any weight.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not advocating starving yourself. This is counter-productive and will just make your body start holding onto fat because it thinks there’s a famine going on. But eat your regular amount of calories or slightly less, and make it good clean food, not junk, in order to see weight loss from treadmill walking.
Also, in order to lose weight from treadmill walking, you’ll need to exercise hard enough to get into your “fat burning zone”, which is from 60-80 percent of your maximum heart rate. Just strolling easily on the machine will probably accomplish little visible weight loss, unless you can do it for six hours a day. Try and get to a point where you could just barely carry on a conversation. If you can sing, you’re going too slow, and if you can’t talk, you’re going too fast – unless you’re doing interval training.
What is interval training? With this type of workout, you would raise the intensity of the walking, say to a jog, for anywhere from 20 seconds to a few minutes, then return to easier walking for about the same amount of time. Continue alternating work and rest periods. By interspersing these hard and easy phases, you can get the same weight loss benefits from a 20 minute workout that it would take 45 minutes to an hour to achieve at a slower pace. That’s because interval workouts cause your body to burn more calories around the clock, rather than just during the workout as with the longer and easier walking sessions. If you do choose to use intervals, then try over time to make the work periods harder, decrease the rest periods, or both, in order to burn even more fat, which is of course what losing weight is all about.
To learn more about using a treadmill, or anything having to do with health and fitness, check out the Health and Fitness Guide at http://www.thehealthandfitnessguide.com
Quick Weight Loss Tips For Using Elliptical Machines
January 17th, 2010For the majority of fitness enthusiasts who use elliptical machines, they just see the equipment as another means of being able to perform cardiovascular exercise. What they don’t realise is the huge potential that ellipticals have for quick weight loss. These machines can have you shedding up to 14lbs in just one month if used correctly along with a good workout plan.
1. The first of my quick weight loss tips for using elliptical machines.
Most elliptical machines on the market which you may use at home or in the gym have dual action foot pedals and handle bars. It is very important that you make use of this, using both arms and legs during your workout. This means the entire body is being used and the heart has to pump faster which ultimately optimises your calorie burn for shedding fat.
2. The second of my quick weight loss tips for using elliptical machines.
Not only should you be performing total body workouts but if you are fortunate to be using elliptical machines with reverse motion, by all means use it. Reverse motion allows you to target muscles that you would not normally use in forward motion. As you are not used to using these muscles you may struggle at first but with the more muscles you are working, the more calories you will burn during a workout.
3. The third of my quick weight loss tips for using elliptical machines.
Just like with running, there are different forms of training that can be performed on elliptical machines to boost calorie burn and weight loss. Interval training has been proven to be a very effective method. . By alternating moderate with high intensity bursts at intervals of 1-2 minutes, you are not only mixing up the workout but your body is also burning stored fat to supply the heart with more energy.
4. The fourth of my quick weight loss tips for using elliptical machines.
Make use of power inclines and resistance settings. Many new elliptical machines come with power inclines. This feature allows you to work the backs of your legs but just like with walking up hills or even up stairs, this is an exercise that will have the body working overtime to burn calories. The greater the resistance the harder the body has to work. Which is why even if you are working at no incline, a higher resistance setting will effectively burn more fat.
I think it is clear from my quick weight loss tips that by fully utilising the features on elliptical machines and really working your complete body during workouts, you have the biggest advantage at burning more calories and shedding unwanted fat. By performing these workouts daily, you can be well on your way to a perfectly toned body.
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Using An Elliptical Trainer To Burn Mega Calories Safely And Lose Weight Fast
January 16th, 2010We all know that if you want to lose weight or tone up you need to exercise. Well, aerobics requires a trip to the local YMCA or gym and can be quite inconvenient not to mention some people do not want to be on display at a crowded gym. running is great, but it has two major downfalls.
One, obviously, is that you probably will not do it in the rain or any extremely adverse weather. The other is that running does cause impact injuries from the constant jarring. An elliptical trainer is the answer. It is the quintessential perfect workout machine and offers the ideal way burn mega calories safely and lose weight fast.
The elliptical trainer was designed to follow the natural leg movement and range of motion while also including your upper body. It is a very low impact machine that will utilize more muscles through a wider range of motion (which makes it far superior to even a treadmill as most do not offer any upper body workout). Exercising on an elliptical machine is aerobic and similar to cross country skiing, but different in that it is akin to cross country skiing up a steep and continuous incline (like a stair climber).
The elliptical machines give a much more intense and more rounded workout that places more emphasis and burn on the hip and thigh areas. It also uses the wider range of motion and resistance which only an elliptical trainer can do in its leg movements further intensifying the workout which the cross country machines can not do.
Generally it is stated by most exercise experts that with these machines the more you weigh the more the calories you will burn. It all depends on your weight, the difficulty setting chosen and proper use and motion.
With an elliptical trainer many people have the tendency to use it wrongly and not get the optimum results. Just go to any gym with elliptical machines and watch the people using them. Many tend to bounce way too much and use their body weight to ride down each side. This is incorrect.
The goal is to try and hold your hips as stationary as possible instead of letting them bounce all over the place. By holding the hips in place you take in a much greater range of motion and greatly intensify the workout and it now becomes a mega calorie burning machine and an ultimate method for fast weight loss.
Proper motion on an elliptical trainer is akin to isometric exercises. Try and hold your motion so that your legs and arms do all the work and movement and that your hips stay parallel without bobbing up and down. If you bob up and down, its like riding a bike where the only exercise you get is on the down stroke and if you stand up and use your body weight it becomes almost effortless. The same is true for the elliptical training machine.
Now try this on the elliptical trainer and let your legs and arms go through their fuller range of motion while your core stays stationary. This will be hard to do at first, but you will burn 10 times the calories of someone not doing this and greatly increase your metabolism over time. You can also make it even harder by using the arm attachments like an isometric exercise by pushing and pulling on them at the same time. This goes to show that going fast does not necessarily mean you are getting the most from your workout.
Going slow while using the kinesthetics of the elliptical trainer while also using isometrics to further pump your muscles will give the optimum results and help you lose weight faster than ever. If you do not believe me on this, just try it and you will be a believer! If its too hard, do not be afraid to lessen the tension or difficulty level and work your way up.
The best part of working out on an elliptical trainer, besides the great caloric burn and intense workouts (when used correctly) is that it is very low and almost non existent impact. You can also roll the machine in front of a TV and watch the news, a movie, or even reality TV. This will help take your mind off the workout (just do not forget to hold your hips level throughout the workout and use isometrics with your arms to up the resistance and workout intensity like never before).
When used properly, the elliptical trainer is difficult to beat for its wide range of motion, mega caloric burn, weight loss properties, low to moderate cost (a good home unit can be had for under $500) and convenience.
For the rest of this and many more great articles on similar, helpful topics, please be sure to visit – TCA peel – Skin care blog – lose weight.
10 Elliptical Trainer Weight Loss Tips – The Ultimate Fat-Burning Solution?
January 10th, 2010The elliptical trainer fat-burning phenomenon gained ground when workout arms and crossramp technology were added to humdrum muscle mentoring machines. Since then these weight loss wonders have been practicing pound-melting motivation in homes all over the world. Why exactly is the elliptical trainer so well-known as a diet buddy, and what are the ten secrets behind its calorie burning cardio workout success?
1. Total Body Workout In The Comfort Of Your Living Room
Imagine having a punishing stair climber, treadmill and exercise bike rolled into one, and you will form an idea as to the benefits built into an elliptical trainer. Generally speaking, elliptical machines give some of the best cardio workouts. With their upper body handlebars, they combine hiking, cross country skiing and biking to work every muscle group in your legs, chest, arms and shoulders. By having one of these machines in your living room, you can tap into its benefits at any time.
2. Low Impact Workout Leads To Less Pain, More Gain
The innovative engineering behind top-rated elliptical trainers ensures that your feet move in a natural, elliptical ‘walking’ motion. The best ellipticals have designs that virtually guarantee a totally fluid movement. The whole concept behind these home gym machines is that the jolting and jarring action of jogging is replaced with a low impact action. Once you get used to the motion, you won’t feel like replacing it with anything else. You will get all the weight bearing exercise you need, without any of the joint injuries.
3. Elliptical Trainer Experts Get Creative With CrossRamp Technology
As if an elliptical machine isn’t effective enough, experienced engineers began to add crossramp technology to these training devices. This innovation gives the added calorie crunching benefit of a changed elliptical path. This small, yet powerful factor brings different muscles into play and adds to the efficiency of your workout. This additional feature definitely has an impact on weight loss.
4. Powerful Programs Add To Pound-Melting Propensity
Elliptical cross trainer weight loss sessions come with scientifically developed programs that add spice to your workouts. By changing intensity levels and program combinations, you add interest and rev up your metabolism. The devices can come primed with up to 20 programs and resistance levels, putting your weight loss goals within easy reach. Some of the latest ranges even include the voice of a personal trainer, adding additional guidance and motivation to the package.
5. Monitor Your Mileage
With the high level electronics in state-of-the-art elliptical trainers, you will know exactly how much time your workout is taking, what the benefit in terms of calories burned is, and how far your stationary travels have taken you.
6. Distractions Dash Boredom
The quiet, stable action of an elliptical trainer is such that you can indulge in a variety of activities while exercising. You can catch up on your favorite soapie, chat to a friend over the telephone, get some jazzy music going to keep you company, listen to a radio, or read. No more zonking out on the couch – the box becomes much less detrimental if you watch while on the move…
7. Pace-Maintaining Phenomenon
One of the main benefits of the best elliptical trainers is the fact that the action is so smooth and fluid, that your relative perceived exertion rate is lowered. This means that you will be burning calories while not feeling as if you are working that hard. This factor enables you to keep going for a longer period.
8. Work Less For More
Trainers and reviews rave about the efficiency of these devices. You will get more from a session on an elliptical trainer, than from equal time on a treadmill for example. The result of this productivity is that where you may need a thirty minute treadmill workout to burn a certain amount of calories, twenty minutes on an elliptical machine is likely to produce the same results. Do the math and see what you can save time-wise in a year! Or, alternatively, exercise for the longer period on the elliptical trainer and reach your goal weight that much sooner! Either way you win big time.
9. Reverse To Move Forward
Look for elliptical trainers that come with the added advantage of a reverse motion. With this backpedaling extra, you are able to change direction and employ other muscles for added aerobic and muscle building benefits. This gear change also helps to keep things interesting!
10. Zest From Being In The Zone
Features such as heart rate monitors and the feedback from them, combine forces to keep you within your targeted cardio zone for efficient fat-burning. Just grab the handgrip sensors and get all the feedback you need for a productive training session. You will soon be filled with vitality and energy.
A quality elliptical machine should be stable and totally smooth during use. Test any elliptical trainer thoroughly for durability, robustness and a fluid action. Who knows, you may just add these qualities to your own repertoire with regular use of the elliptical trainer!
Lots of useful fitness and fat burn info is published at Activity-Sports-Fitness.com. ‘How do I get great abs’ is by far the most frequently asked question! If you want to avoid a common abs mistake and uncover the six pack underneath your belly fat, download the popular free report, the Great Abs Mistake.
Precor Elliptical Trainer – Five Fat – Burning Weight Loss Wonders From Precor
December 30th, 2009Precor Elliptical Trainers offer themselves as superb cellulite smoothers and centimeter trimmers in the weight loss wars of both men and women. Add their cross training capabilities, and you accelerate fat-burning markedly. The Precor Fitness Equipment company comes with a solid reputation and is reckoned as one of the giants in the home gym equipment arena. Their expertise clearly shows in the quality of the Precor Elliptical Trainer line and technology.
1. Precor EFX 5.17i Elliptical Trainer – Entry-Level Enthusiasm
If you want to target all those lumpy bits on your quads and glutes, cement a friendship with a Precor Elliptical Trainer 5.17i. Studies have shown that Precor Elliptical Cross Trainers are more efficient in the fat-burning department than exercise bikes, stair steppers and treadmills. The Precor EFX 5.17i Elliptical Trainer offers 4 built-in programs, as well as 20 easily adjustable resistance levels.
The ergonomically correct handlebars and 19″ stride length of the EFX 5.17i Precor Elliptical Trainer allows you to find a position that is perfect for your build. In addition, the unique Precor CrossRamp technology changes the angle of the ramp to give you a more productive workout. This feature isolates the muscles in the quads, glutes and calves, giving superb results.
The creatively designed console with intuitive keystroke sequencing provides a wealth of easily accessible feedback on large LED’s.
This is an entry-level elliptical machine. Rather spend a bit more and get gratifying results.
2. Precor EFX 5.19 Elliptical Trainer – Motion Without Commotion
Precor Elliptical Trainers are designed to mimic natural movement. This aspect, together with the ergonomically synchronized handlebars ensure that you exercise in the correct position to limit the possibility of injury. The 5.19 EFX Precor Elliptical Trainer doesn’t come with the Precor CrossRamp design. It’s 20 degree fixed ramp does however offer both forward and reverse motion, an aspect that is highly beneficial as it succeeds in getting other muscle groups into play.
The Precor EFX 5.19 Elliptical Trainer features a weight loss workout, a hill climb program, a manual option, as well as an optional heart rate program. The stride length is an acceptable 19″.
Again, it may be wise to opt for one of the higher level Precor EFX Elliptical Trainers if you want to make the most of your workout sessions.
3. Precor EFX 5.21i Elliptical Trainer – Value And Verve In One Elliptical Package
EFX 5.21i Precor Elliptical Trainer reviews praise this model as one of the top rated elliptical trainers on the market. Its package includes high quality, reliable components, a low noise level, and one of the smoothest elliptical motions around. In addition, the Precor EFX 5.21i Elliptical Trainer sports a warranty windfall that causes other manufacturers to blush.
With 6 built-in programs and 20 resistance levels, your workouts on the Precor EFX 5.21i Elliptical Trainer remains varied and challenging. There is a specialized program to hone in on glutes. With Smart Rate technology you have instant access to details about your heart rate, enabling you to plan your workouts accordingly. CrossRamp engineering gives you the option to change the elliptical angle between 13 and 30 degrees – your groaning glutes will give you an indication of how effective these adjustments are.
User comfort is taken care of with a handy accessory holder that is integrated into the console. This has room for water bottles, a music player, your copy of Muscle And Fitness mag, and more.
4. Precor EFX 5.33 Elliptical Trainer – Fixed Ramp Fat-Burning
Unfortunately the 5.33 EFX Precor Elliptical Trainer doesn’t include the raved about Precor CrossRamp technology. This elliptical machine has a 20 degree fixed ramp. The ergonomic handlebars are at your service for a total body workout. This trainer sports 14 programs, covering the whole spectrum from weight loss to hill climbing, cross training, fitness tests and heart rate workouts. Rev up the challenge by adjusting the resistance level. The stride length is a comfortable 19″.
The Touch Heart Rate Monitor with handgrip sensors keeps you within your target training zone, for maximized fat-burning. This is one instance where backpedalling gets you somewhere fast! By using this feature, you target new muscle groups for increased efficiency.
5. Precor EFX 5.23 Elliptical Trainer – The Bucks Stop Here
Although the EFX 5.23 Elliptical Trainer is the top-rated Precore Elliptical Machine, reviews label it as somewhat less effective than the EFX 5.21i Precor model. The Touch-Sensitive Console features user-friendly intuitive keystroke sequencing. The large LED’s display a continuous stream of useful feedback with clear graphics for easy interpretation. The data covers workout time, calories burned and strides taken. A Touch Heart Rate Monitor with handgrip sensors is standard equipment.
The 14 built-in programs were designed to combat boredom. You can target any aspect of your fitness goals, concentrating on weight loss, glutes, hills, fitness testing, or cardio conditioning.
This machine sports Precor CrossRamp technology, adjusting between 13 and 40 degrees. You will soon see a new set of legs in the mirror and it won’t be nearly such a struggle to get into that skin-tight pair of jeans…
Precor Elliptical Trainers are engineered to have such a smooth action, that you don’t even realize how intense your workout is. This principle allows you to maintain your pace for a much longer period, with a resultant increase in weight loss, fat-burning and strength building. The extensive warranty offered on every Precor Elliptical Trainer adds to peace of mind.
Best-Gym-Equipment.com: Get the FREE Fat-Burning Secrets Series, and read the Precor Elliptical CrossTrainer article at Best-Gym-Equipment.com – by Rika Susan of Article-Alert.com, where she shows you how your day job can become something of the past. Copyright of this article: 2006 Rika Susan. This article may be reprinted if the resource box and hyperlinks are left intact.
