The home fitness equipment market is one of the fastest growing as people realize the importance of being fit. Unfortunately many would be fitness enthusiasts make the mistake of buying the wrong type of equipment because they haven’t thought about what they require; this is not only a waste but often people give up on the idea of using it completely. It is easy to get caught up in the moment when you see it advertised on the television but these adverts do not have time to tell the whole truth. Sit down and think about what it is you are hoping to achieve before you take out your credit card.

Ask yourself why it is you actually want the home fitness equipment because it should suit really your interests and needs; if you have other outside physical activities then hopefully the equipment will help you train for these. If it is your first time buying a piece of equipment like this it would be best if you found somewhere local, at your gym perhaps, where it would be possible to try it out first hand; if you know how to use it you will automatically feel at home and it will not be wasted. Always remember that the cost of an item of fitness equipment is no guarantee it will be used so think about this before you hand over your credit card; if this were the case there wouldn’t be so many ads in the classified section of the paper each week! It is easy to buy budget equipment and expect it to perform like more expensive apparatus but if you intend to use it a great deal, it may be false economy to do this.

The price may be low but remember the quality may be poor, alternatively, it may be expensive but then the quality is superior; try choosing cheaper alternatives but do not sacrifice the quality of the equipment. You will often find someone who has bought some apparatus but never used it and can be bought at a knockdown price; in this case their loss is your gain. However, if you prefer to have new home fitness equipment with a guarantee then start your search with ex-demonstration stock used in stores or older models that may be sold for less. A small detail which should not be overlooked is the location of the apparatus which should have permanent home once it is set up.

Of course this is not really a problem if you have already decided that you are kitting your garage out as a home gymnasium. Some apparatus comes with a health warning so you would be wise to have a physical examination before you buy, especially if there are hereditary medical problems in the family. The importance of trying out the equipment first cannot be underestimated because you may find it not only difficult, but painful to use. One way to get around this is to join a fitness centre and get used to using certain pieces of apparatus first; this can be a viable alternative to actually spending money on personal home fitness equipment. Fitness equipment should be bought with careful consideration, do not buy on impulse and always ask the opinion of a professional gym instructor before you buy something.

Hello Friends! Welcome to my twice-weekly article, Organic Fitness. My name is Trini Ortega and I’m the owner of my brainchild, http://www.organic-fitness.com.

I’m honestly just an ordinary guy who one day decided he was tired of being ordinary. I knew I had the skills to step it up, to become stronger and healthier than I was. I just had to get some real knowledge and use it.

Like many of you, I tried strength training the only way I knew how: Lifting weights. Oddly enough, though I had wrestled in high school and learned many bodyweight exercises through that, I never realized how much better than lifting weights those bodyweight exercises could be. When the only training I did was lifting weights, I found my daily trek to the gym to be a grudge. Sure, I was getting stronger, but my body was as stiff and sore as ever. I just wasn’t strong, flexible, and quick. I didn’t have that much stamina.

A couple of years ago, I started studying that “bodyweight calisthenics” program again. People were getting famous for doing this stuff, and I wanted to know what it was. I started doing some of these exercises, then I took some kung fu classes, then I got a breakdancing DVD and started practicing off of that, I combed sites on the net and videos on youtube that showed bodyweight exercises, and I found so many different ones from kung fu, yoga, aerobics videos, websites, I mean when you start looking for them, the information is everywhere!

 So I also started studying natural foods, because I know, deep in my heart, this is the way we are supposed to eat. Folks, let me tell you something: If you are downing bars that look like they’re junky but the shiny wrapper says they are healthy for you, you’re buying into a loaf of baloney. Only when you eat naturally, does your body experience true health.

So with my research, I decided I wanted to be a part of the bodyweight revolution and the natural foods explosion. And that’s when Organic-Fitness.com was born.

Now, when you hear from me, I’ll be bringing you information about exercising and eating in just the right way, and I promise that if you listen to me, and learn from me with an open heart and open mind, I will make you so much stronger and so much healthier than you are today.

For your homework assignment tonight (didn’t know this was coming, did you? Ha!), I want you to do three things:

First, stand in the mirror, naked and alone, and study your body. Don’t hate it, don’t think anything negative about it at all. Just look at it for what it is. Now, imagine what would happen if you put on 10 pounds of strong muscle, and lost 10 pounds of fat (or 20 pounds, or even 30. Be realistic). All you’re doing is trading 10 pounds of fat for 10 pounds of muscle. Imagine how much stronger, livelier, and confident you would be. Imagine the looks and praise you would get. Keep this image of New You in your mind constantly.

Your second homework assignment is, in fact, your first exercise routine. All I want you to do is do Ten good pushups (Good Pushup = Body stiff and straight, butt slightly raised, not lowered, push all the way up and slowly drop all the way to the floor, breathe in deeply as you push up, breathe out fully as you drop down), Ten good freesquats (Good Freesquat = Your feet are about 9 inches apart, cross your arms, drop slowly all the way down, spring up [briskly, but not too quickly] to full extension, exhale on the way down, inhale on the way up), and 20 ab crunches (Good ab crunch: lie on your back. Bring your knees up so that your thighs are perpendicular to the floor. Squeeze hard so that your upper body barely moves, but your abs are getting an insane crunch. Unsqueeze slowly. Feel the burn! Really work your abs, now). In the following months, we are going to take these very well-known and basic bodyweight exercises to much more advanced levels, so be sure to start practicing these basics now.

Your third and final homework assignment is to eat nothing but fruit tomorrow morning. Don’t eat the fake stuff, you know what I mean? No on the donuts, pastries, pop tarts,  enriched bread, and sugar-loaded cereals. Just eat a bunch of fruit when you get up tomorrow morning. Oh, and make a habit of it. Do it every morning. Do it.

Until Next Time, I’m Trini Ortega.

Overview: Offers 24 pieces of exercise/workout equipment. Half of the equipment is cardio and the other half if strength training. Each member goes through all the pieces of equipment at least one time per workout session. The workout sessions vary by the time spent on each piece of equipment. The time spent on the equipment is determined by the club each day and is conveyed to each member via CD that is played during each workout session. There are no weights to change. All the equipment is hydraulic and the club sets the tension for each piece of equipment. In other words, you don’t have to think about the equipment or plan out a fitness strategy… you just go and have fun!

Goals of the Members: Weight loss, body toning, friendship, Doctor’s orders for various health problems which some include depression, osteoporosis, diabetes, rehabilitation, and menopause.

Cost: A visit to the club would be necessary to determine the right program for the individual. However, generally it ranges from $29 - $35 per month with about $60 in up front fees. (Very reasonably priced for anyone on a budget.) You may also be required to sign a one-year contract.

Time Needed: Usually starts at 3 workouts per week, and expands from there. Each workout encompasses 30 minutes per session, with a 5-minute warm up prior to working out and another 5-minute stretch at the end of the session. Some members workout 5 to 6 times a week. A day off between workouts is not necessary with Resistance Training as it is with other exercise programs.

Gender and Age Group: Ladies only. The age group can be from 12 on up.

Motivation: Offers different workout programs on a daily basis, moving equipment around, personal service, and goal setting.

Fitness Strategies: Aerobic, Strength Training, Flexibility

Risk of Injury: There is no risk of injury as long as the member follows instructions. They give each member a very thorough orientation on each piece of equipment and are always watching the members as they exercise.

Nutritional Information: The staff are not certified nutritionists.

Contact Info:
http://www.ladiesworkoutexpress.com
(Find one that is nearest to your home.)
Thanks to Maggie Beesley owner of the Southampton, PA branch.

If you’re looking to get fit and into shape, home gyms may provide the best option if joining a traditional gym isn’t feasible.

A personal gym at home will allow for more flexibility in terms of your workout schedule, and if time is tight and you want to include exercise into the busiest of routines, a gym at home is definitely the way to go.

Unfortunately, many people only think of weight and resistance training based multi-gyms when they’re considering home gym equipment, but the range of home exercise equipment now available extends to: Rowing Machines · treadmills · ab machines · orbital trainers · elliptical trainer, and much, much more.

This means that in addition to improving muscle mass and tone, you can now have a fat burning cardiovascular workout in the comfort of your own home, whenever it suits you best, perhaps even in front of your TV.

Plan your home gym carefully

Think of the type of workout you’d like, the areas of your body and overall fitness you want to work on.

Next, have a look at the space you have to set up your equipment. It could be an area as small as a section of a spare room to an entire basement or garage. These factors will dictate the types of fitness products are best suited to your goals.

At the very minimum you could get a few pairs of dumbbells to do resistance training, an exercise ball to do some great abdominal exercises, and a jump rope to get your cardiovascular or fat burning exercises in.

The next consideration is cost. Only purchase good quality home exercise equipment; the best you can afford for your specific needs. Doing so may be expensive, but it’s a worthwhile investment for both safety, as well as the long term financial benefits associated with less maintenance costs.

I asked my team to compile a few links to help you quickly find the best prices on home gym equipment - here’s a free list of discounted prices.

A normal cost to outfit your home might be compared to a two year traditional gym membership. With this amount of money, it’s vital you choose your fitness products wisely. Only buy from reputable, specialist manufacturers.

Do your homework before you buy.

Take advice about your purchase from fitness experts, health and fitness magazines and website reviews or another relevant consumer based source.

Most home exercise equipment will come with a 30-day money back guarantee, so don’t be afraid to try the equipment that will build your Home Gyms before you commit.

Give them a run for their money to ensure that you invest in the right equipment for you. If they’re not right for you, send them back and continue the hunt for the perfect machine.

Once built, be disciplined and use your home gym regularly and safely.

Keep it well maintained and you’ll see fantastic results in no time at all, all in the comfort and convenience of your own home.

BTW: As you may know much of the information I supply my readers is taken directly from questions that they send to my office. If you would like me to address a specific question in an upcoming newsletter or in one of my teleseminars, simply go to: www.AskChristopherGuerriero.com