Fitness is something that many Americans find to be very important.  It is a million dollar industry and people are constantly looking for ways to improve themselves.  They are joining gyms, trying fad diets and buying the latest and greatest exercise equipment.

For many people, joining the gym and purchasing a variety of equipment is not always possible.  The cost of these items discourages a lot of people from committing themselves to getting in shape.

One thing that is often cost effective for people is finding a good used treadmill.  Many times, people will purchase a new treadmill with the best of intentions to get in shape.  But after a few rounds on the machine, they give up and move on to something else.  The large treadmill is then left to collect dust and take up space.  Because of this, people are usually quite willing to sell their equipment at a very discounted cost.

To find a used treadmill, there are a few key places to search.  You can find a lot of these online, but you want to make sure that you are searching for equipment that is in your local area.  Websites like ebay will have used treadmills for sale, but if you have to pay for shipping, you will spend more than you should.  Search by location and select items that are available for local pickup.

Another place that you can find used treadmills would be craigslist.  Here, it seems like most products are listed to sell quickly and the costs are quite reasonable.  Again, search in your local area.

With any used product, it is important to closely inspect the equipment before purchasing.  Treadmills are quite simple, so there are only a few things to look at.  The motor should sound steady and be able to speed up and slow down without any difficulty.  If the unit has computer displays and items such as heart rate monitors, these should be tested to make sure that all functions are working.

Before you commit to purchasing one, you should read reviews on the internet to see if there are any product recalls and if other users have had good success with the particular model.

Finally, when you go to pick up your treadmill, appropriate transportation is necessary to take the equipment back to your house.  When they are new, they usually come in one or several flat boxes that can fit into most cars.  Once they are set up, they will not fit into your average sedan.  A large van or pickup truck will need to be used to get it home.

Soon, you will be exercising at home on your very own treadmill.

If you are someone that enjoys using exercise equipment at home, you know how costly some of the home machines can be to purchase new. Having a good quality treadmill can help you stay in peak shape, but there may be times when a part no longer operates the way it should. While these machines are made to be long lasting and durable, they are not created to last forever. Rather than spend hundreds of dollars to purchase another treadmill, it could be more cost effective to look for a Treadmill repair service.

There are some companies, such as the Treadmill Doctor, that specialize in repairing and servicing most models of treadmills. Some types of items that often need to be replaced can include the walking belt and drive belts. The material used for these belts can begin to wear over time, because they are used so frequently. These are parts that can be replaced by a professional service so your machine will be ready to use again. If the particular design you own for a treadmill is the electric style, the machine could potentially experience some motor problems.

The companies that specialize in working with these types of exercise machines also have the knowledge and skill to repair or replace any motor parts. This is a huge benefit, because an electric treadmill can be quite expensive. Depending on the particular design of your machine, you may be able to purchase and replace some of the parts yourself. For models that use a console, you could easily remove the console portion by disconnecting the appropriate wires and unscrewing the entire section. To add your new console, you simply reverse the procedure. This can save you some time and money in needing to have someone else do the repair.

For more intricate parts, such as motors, incline wheels and brakes, you might be better off using a professional service. In addition to the various companies that offer Treadmill repair services and parts, you can also purchase machine parts directly from the manufacturer of a treadmill. You should have a parts list included in the informational package that came with the product when you bought it. You also have the option of returning the product to any of the manufacturer’s service centers to have it serviced and repaired. This may be a good option if your particular machine is still under warranty.

Using an efficiently operating treadmill is a great way to get an all over cardiovascular workout. It is nice to know there are Treadmill repair companies available if you ever have the need to use them.

A base line treadmill has a starting cost of around four hundred dollars. As you desire, extra features will increase the cost and performance of you treadmill. Reading through treadmill reviews can help you to discern what machine will best suit your needs and fitness goals. Regardless of the machine you end up with, if you do the necessary research you can find a treadmill that is perfect for you.

The Proform 6.0 ZT is your standard treadmill. It is not slated with dozens of extra features and you can purchase it for the intro cost of four hundred dollars. The treadmill reviews on this product state that it is moderately difficult to assemble out of the package and runs quite loudly with many clicks and ticks. It has a top speed of ten miles per hour and makes a perfect first running machine for those who are not yet committed to a higher price.

The Proform PFTL98908 has a price tag that is more of a commitment at eight hundred dollars. The treadmill reviews for this product are similar to the basic Proform. It is reported to be difficult to assemble with hard to follow instructions. However, it runs quietly and has a number of extra features. It has speakers for an mp3 player, workout programs, track incline, and a faster track speed for more intense workouts.

For the wholly devoted exercise enthusiast the Nordic Track T7 Si is at the top of the line. This treadmill is equipped with a high quality speaker system with an input for your mp3 player. The iFit workout program helps you to customize a workout plan that will engage you in your weight loss goals and help you maintain the increases. It includes all of the features you would expect for the price tag of eleven hundred dollars: a high speed running program, a whisper quiet motor and sturdy construction components. The only con listed in the reviews was that it runs a bit shaky at the higher speeds.

Once you decide what your fitness goals are and you have narrowed down the search for the treadmill of your choice you can make the purchase with peace of mind. A base unit will be best for users who do not expect to run more than twice a week or only plan to use it for walking. If you plan on running daily, it will be in your best interest to purchase a higher priced machine with higher track speeds. And remember, it will not take long before you are saving money compared to monthly gym membership fees.

Useful reading:
Used treadmills
Discount treadmills
Electric treadmill

Treadmills have become the number one choice of home exercise.  Joggers and runners can train for hills, intervals, tempo and long distance from the comfort of their own homes. Training is easier to stick with, when you’re watching a favorite TV show or an old classic movie in your own home.

An electric treadmill is an expensive, complex piece of equipment. Their well worth the money if you buy quality equipment and stick to your daily or weekly workout as intended. Combined qualities make for a great electric treadmill.

Width and the lengths of belts have been expanding to handle the natural side-to-side movements and long strides of runners. Twenty inches in width is becoming the norm. Look for equipment that is a minimum of 17 or 18 inches wide at the minimum. A machine equipped with a good quality running area should have a length of at least 50 inches. Taller runners would do well to look for 55 to 60 inches in the running area.

Deck construction plays an intricate part in how hard a treadmill is to run on and how well the shock absorption works. The surface should give a little, but not bounce. The deck (also known as a bed) is located beneath the belt and consumers often forget to check this hidden component.

High-quality beds are made with thin laminated wood, which is covered with lubricants that minimize friction between the bed and the deck. This reduces strain to the motor, which in turn, extends the life of your electric treadmill. A smoother coating on the deck reduces friction between the bed and the belt. Good quality treadmills should have reversible decks, so that they can be turned over. Taking good care of the deck can extend the life of your equipment.

You need to make a chose between motor types based on your preferences. Direct-current motors (DC) are the most common used for personal needs in homes. They start up slowly and run fairly quiet in comparison to alternating-current (AC) motors. DC motors will provide more consistent responses to weight, incline and speed demands. They also have less internal parts that would be required to be repaired. AC motors start at a faster speed and are more often used in club treadmills. Either type of motors are perfectly safe for use in home outlets.

Look for motor power of 1.5 horsepower, rated as continuous duty not peak-performance. For quality equipment look for a warranty lasting for three years on parts, one year for labor and home service for one year. Look over the market with some of these tips in mind and you’re sure to find a great electric treadmill.

In this era of consumer choice and high tech equipment, it is easy to spend a fortune on a single item of fitness equipment. However, many of us do not possess the budget or will to spend such a large amount of money on a single piece of equipment, especially if we only intend to use it on an infrequent basis. For this reason, the purchase of discount treadmills is the ideal solution.

There are a wide range of discount treadmills available for purchase. While searching for a treadmill of this kind, ensure that you purchase one with a sturdy running belt, simple user interface and excellent safety functions. This may seem like a daunting task however, it is actually highly achievable.

To begin the search for treadmills of this kind, it is advisable to look through the classified advertisements found in your local newspaper. Alternatively, check out the bulletin board at your nearest library or grocery store.

Discount second hand treadmills are unlikely to come with warranty. For this reason it is essential to thoroughly inspect a discount treadmill for any obvious flaws before making a purchase. Although the majority of those selling second hand treadmills will supply you with a genuine, faultless product, it is important to exercise some caution before handing over your cash. When it comes to the purchase of a treadmill, do not let your enthusiasm cloud your judgement.

Great deals on treadmills can also be found online. A range of treadmill manufacturers offer outstanding discounts on treadmills through online stores. Online stores often sell older treadmill models at affordable prices. This is especially true when the latest versions of the treadmills are released onto the market. It is therefore advisable to research all the latest treadmill releases in order to know which manufacturers may be selling off their older treadmill models at discount prices.

Discount treadmills are only of great value if they provide you with all the functions you require and the machine is in good condition. For this reason, it is essential to construct a list of all your requirements before you begin shopping for discount treadmills. When you take the time to consider all you wish for in a treadmill, you will prevent yourself from purchasing one which does not meet your needs on impulse. While saving money on a piece of fitness equipment of this kind is pleasing, it is essential to ensure that you are in recipient of all that you require and that you therefore purchase a treadmill you cannot help but love and feel the will to use time and time again.

Trail running is a discipline that is growing faster and faster. More and more people realize how great it is to run in the nature. Trail running means you are not dependent on roads and civilization. You can practise it practically everywhere.

Trail running can be done on flatland as well as in the mountains. In the woods or on open fields. It can be done everywhere.

To be able to practise it safely you need trail running shoes. There are several different brands on the market today and on the top is New Balance trail running shoes.

The New Balance trail running shoes are stable, have exactly the right amount of damping for trail running, and the look great. New Balance has invested a lot of money in research and this is all incorporated in the new New Balance trail running shoes.

New Balance trail running shoes for women are also a big success. They make sure that also women can run comfortly and safely on trails.

Since trail running is winning more and more practisioners, shoes for trail running is becoming more and more important. The shoes makes sure that you can run safe on uneven ground. They also have a different damping as normal street shoes, since the underground has more damping in itself as normal asphalt has.

New Balance Trail Running Shoes are the right choice if you want a pair of shoes that are especially built for trail running.

Finally, Garmin has now with the new Garmin Forerunner 405 succeded in putting their outstanding GPS technology into a nice looking sport watch. This watch, or GPS, is sleek enough to be worn while exercising as well as at work.

The Garmin Forerunner 405 sends your training data wirelessly to your computer and it has a touch bezel which makes the usage of this watch a lot easier as with its predecessors. There is no need to fumble with any buttons any more.

Like the Garmin Forerunner 205 or 305 this new Forerunner measures distance, speed, time, calories burned and heart rate. It has a highly sensitive GPS receiver which makes it possible to use it on trails in the wood or in the city where skyscrapers normally are a problem for GPS watches.

Interesting for runners is that it has an optional foot pod. That makes sure, that even when the sattelite reception is very bad, you won’t loose any valuable data. It also makes it possible to use it indoors, still measuring distance and speed.

The Forerunner 405 is available with or without a heart rate monitor and in two different colors.

All of Garmin’s new fitness devices (Garmin 405, Edge 605 and 705 and Forerunner 50 heart rate monitor) interface wirelessly with devices compatible with the “ANT + Sport” protocol. This includes devices from other manufacturers as well.

The Garmin 405 will automatically transfer your training data to your computer when the Forerunner is in range. Wireless.

For cyclists there is an optional speed and cadence bike sensor to measure how fast and how far you are going on the bike.

As of today, this is probably the most complete training watch there is.

Losing weight is one of the toughest endeavors of life. It requires rigorous discipline, will lpower and an understanding of what’s actually going on inside your body. If you really want to lose weight, you need to take the guess work out of your fitness regime with Polar F11 heart rate monitor. Though Polar has many heart rate monitors like Polar S725X, Polar F4 and many more, Polar F11 is the best amongst all Polar products.

If you want to burn fat then there are two options. You can either jog for every 10 minutes and then check your pulse rate to see if you are meeting your optimum heart rate. However, that will slow down your heart rate every time you stop. Hence, the next best method is to monitor your heart rate using Polar F11 heart rate monitor.
Though there are a variety of heart rate monitors in the market, Polar F11 has a number of features which make it one of the best heart rate monitors around. Here are some of the features of Polar F11 heart rate monitor:

1) Size and resolution: The Polar F11 heart rate monitor has a great and clear resolution. The screen is large hence you don’t need to squint to see the figures. A mere glance at the monitor will tell you your heart rate.

2) Accuracy: Polar F11 heart rate monitor is completely accurate and dependable. The accuracy and dependability of this heart rate monitor will ensure that you meet your weight loss and work out goals with optimum efficiency and accuracy.

3) Strength and Durability: As I’m sure you’ll agree, a heart rate monitor would be of little use to you if it weren’t durable enough to withstand the elements. After all, while some will only use it when the go walking, others want to use their even when scaling mountains.

4) Comfort: You don’t need a heart rate monitor which is not comfortable on your wrist and keeps troubling or distracting you, do you? Polar F11 is so light that you may even forget that it’s on your wrist.

5) Guidance System: Unique to the Polar F11 is a personal guidance system known as, “Polar Keep U Fit”. Essentially, this system helps you track your progress as you start closing in on your fitness goals.

6) Calories: In addition to measuring your heart rate, the Polar F11 has a built-in function for calculating the amount of calories being used, either on a per session basis, or over a period of multiple sessions.

7) Water resistance: Polar F11 has a water resistance feature which up to 100 feet.

No Interference: The Wear Link Code which is essentially a soft fabric transmitter prevents the heart rate monitor from picking up interference from other monitors and etc, should you be in a crowded area such as a gym.

9) Polar F11 has a two years warranty from the manufacturer as well.

Suggested reading:
Garmin Forerunner 405
Polar RS800CX Review
Polar RS400CX Review
Polar F11 Women’s Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Blue Glow, New Design)

At least here in Germany, the sport of triathlon is growing quite fast. More and more people want to get involved in it and this is also seen on the competitions. By some competitions, it is today very difficult getting a starting slot. Frankfurt Ironman is one of those. The last years, it was almost impossible to get a slot. For 3 years ago all starting slots were sold in about one week. Last year it took only 12 hours.

Triathlon training

What is the reason that makes triathlon such a popular sport? Here is a list of some of the advantages of triathlon:

Test your limits
In triathlon you have an excellent opportunity to test your limits. There are races for up to 10 times the Ironman distance.
You can decide to do a triathlon as fast as possible or if you like to, you can decide to do an ultra event as the Ironman and just try to finish it. Or, of course, you can try to qualify for the Ironman World Championship – Ironman Hawaii.

Allround training
Due to the fact that triathlon consists of three disciplines, your body will get a thorough training. Swimming, cycling and running train the whole body. Another good thing about doing several disciplines is that you can train a lot without increased risk for injury. Professional triathletes train as much as 40 hours per week. That would be impossible for runners or cyclists.

Variation
Also due to the fact that triathlon consists of three disciplines, you automatically enjoy variation. If you on one day don’t like running, you can always cycle or swim. If the weather is too bad for a bike tour, you can go to the nearest indoor pool and swim. Other sports talk about cross training. Triathlon is cross training.

If you want a sport that really can challenge you, try triathlon!

The Polar RS400sd is the perfect heart rate monitor for runners that want to improve their perfomance through the use of science in their training.

The Polar RS400 has one of the largest displays on the market. It also can measure your running speed and distance to help you with your training.

The Polar RS400sd heart rate monitor measures heart rate, running speed, and distance. Of course it also calculates other things like calories burned, time in different heart rate zones and much more.

Here are some of the function of this heart rate monitor:

Batteries
Polar has finally made sure it is possible for you to change the batteries in this heart rate monitor. You don’t have to go to a watch store to have it done any more.

Polar OwnOptimizer
This is a function that only Polar heart rate monitors have. It makes it possible to monitor if you are over training or under training. The heart rate variability is used to calculate the index of the current training load.

Polar Running Index
This is a function only available in the new Polar RS series. The Running Index takes into account your running speed in comparison to your heart rate. Through reviewing your Running Index over a period of time you can see your increase in performance and fitness.

Polar OwnIndex
Polar has found out that resting heart rate tests can calculate your approximate VO2 max. They have done a lot of tests on different persons to validate and design this test. The Polar rs400sd includes a possibility to view the fitness trend graphically.

Polar OwnZone
Polar OwnZone is a function that let’s you calculate your own training zone intensities automatically. The training zone will generally be about 65 – 85 % of Max HR.

Polar OwnCal
This is the well known calorie expenditure calculation that almost all Polar heart rate monitors have.

Difference to RS800
The main differences to the RS800 are stride length, running cadence and altimeter. These functions are all found in the rs800 but not in the rs400.

Suggested post:
Garmin Forerunner 405

Are you serious about running or about your Ironman training?
The Polar RS800CX will help you plan, monitor and analyse everything about your training. It is one of the most hightech hrms there is today. It helps you train at the right intensity. You can choose between heart rate or running speed as measurement of intensity.

The RS800 CX measures heart rate, running speed, cadence, distance and average stride length. Of course it also calculates other things like calories burned, time in different heart rate zones and much more.
It also gives you the possibility to check your fitness level through some tests. The tests should be taken at rest. I have tried the fitness tests myself many times, and I have also compared them to fitness tests done in the laboratory. The tests done with the RS800CX are very exact in comparison to the lab-tests. Error rate of a few percent only.

Another interesting function of the RS800CX is that it can tell you if you are resting enough. It will tell you if you should increase or decrease your training or if it’s already optimal.

Suggested reading:
Garmin Forerunner 405
Polar RS800CX Run Heart Rate Monitor Watch with S3 Stride Sensor W.I.N.D.
Polar RS800CX Multi Sport Heart Rate Monitor Watch with G3 GPS Sensor W.I.N.D.

Tight hips is a very common problem today. This results in back pain and other problems. Practising yoga can help you make your hips more flexible.

Yoga today is a very good web site, showing a lot of different yoga postures and they also have done a video about hip openers. I really recommend taking a look at this video and I even more recommend doing the postures. This will guaranteed give you a better position on the bike and will also help you with your running technique.

Today I will show you 7 standing yoga postures (asanas) that help runners, cyclists and triathletes to stretch their leg muscles.

If you are doing a lot of running or cycling, it is also probable that you have stiff legs. This stiffness in the legs, ranging from the foot up to the gluteus maximus, can be the cause of different problems as for instance the iliotibial band syndrome. Other problems that can arise from stiff leg muscles are back problems. Please refer to my post about iliotibial band problems for more information about that specific problem.

If you haven’t got any yoga experience or if you have just started with yoga, these asanas are a great start for getting more flexible leg muscles.
I have chosen to write the english name as well as the sanskrit name to make it easier for you to find videos or pictures of the postures on the web. I recommend looking at youtube for instructions on how to do the bends.

When your legs are more flexible, they can perform with less resistance. It will be possible to run or cycle more efficient. It will also help you to avoid overuse injuries as iliotibial band syndrome.
I have noticed that when I started doing yoga or stretching, I didn’t get any knee pains anymore. At first I was very stiff and couldn’t really get into the postures without it hurting a bit, but after a few weeks I noticed big improvements. Just take it easy with the postures. Don’t overdo it. Let it take it’s time. You will gain flexibility and when you do it carefully, you won’t get injured during the training.

The postures (asanas) that I suggest for the beginning are the following seven:

1. Standing forward bend (Uttanasana): This is an excellent pose to extend your hamstrings. It will stretch your gluteus maximus, medius and minimus as well as your spinal muscles too. Precaution is to be made by people with back injury. These people should approach this bend very cautiously. It is important to let gravity do the work, don’t push your body into the pose. If your hamstrings are very tight, bend your knees. That will make the stretch better.

2. Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I): Warrior I is a very good posture to stretch you hip flexors, which is a weak point in many runners and cyclists. It increases flexibility in the hips, back and front groins.

3. Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II): As in Warrior I this posture stretches the hip joints and opens the groins and it also stretches the inner thigh muscles.

4. Side Angle Pose (Parsvakonasana): This is a good following pose of Warrior II. It stretches the back side of the legs and opens the groin. At the same time it also stretches the upper body.

5. Triangle Pose (Trikonasana): This is a follow up of the Warrior I pose. Works the side body and the hips.

6. Intense side stretch (Parsvottanasana): This is another very good stretch for your hamstrings and it will also increase the flexibility in your gluteus maximus. This posture is more intense in the hamstrings than the standing forward bend.

7. Wide stance forward bend (Prasarita Padottanasana): This posture is sometimes also called wide-legged forward fold and is related to the standing forward bend. The difference is that the feet are wide apart in this posture. This posture is also a very good stretch for your hamstring and the gluteus maximus.

In every of these 7 postures remain for five deep breaths in position. If you do these poses regularly they will give you much more flexibility in your legs and they will open your groin and hips. I recommend doing them at least 3 times a week. When you have done them for about 2 months we can go to the next level.

If you get more interested in yoga and want to learn more poses, please read my review of The athlete’s guide to yoga or have a look at the books and dvds I have collected for you.

The Athlete’s Guide to Yoga – A Personalized Practice for Strength, Flexibility, and Focus featuring Sage Rountree Endurance Films, 120 min, 2008

This is the companion DVD to the excellent book The Athlete’s Guide to Yoga by Sage Rountree. Sage Rountree is an endurance athlete, racing triathlons up to half-Ironman, and a registered yoga teacher. In this DVD she presents 20 different yoga sequences which will help you becoming a better triathlete.

With the DVD you have the possibility to choose from three preset sequences — Strength, Flexibility and Focus, or you can develop a customized routine selecting up to 12 of the following sequences:

• Centering
• The breath in space
• The breath in time
• Six moves of the spine
• Half salutations and lunges
• Standing balance flow
• Arm balance
• Sun salutations
• Moon salutations
• Lunge series
• Static core work
• Dynamic core work
• Shoulder strap series
• Camel pose
• IT band flow
• Pigeon pose flow
• Hamstring strap series
• Restorative poses
• Corpse pose
• Closing

All postures, asanas, are demonstrated at three levels of intensity. The explanations are straightforward with enough detail to ensure that you can perform the asanas safely at home.
The DVD also has a section for the frequent problem areas of endurance athletes. These are:

Building core strength, Stretching the shoulders, Opening the hips and Encouraging recovery.

The target group for this DVD is athletes, including triathletes, that want to increase their strength and flexibility to reduce chance of injury and recover faster. Above all it’s well suited for athletes that have no possibility joining a yoga class. Since the postures are very well explained, this is a good start even for beginners of yoga. And of course it can also be used by athletes merely wanting to discover some new stretching routines.

The DVD is very well made and offers a good start in the world of yoga. It is especially well suited for endurance athletes and also has suggestions for solving some of the frequent problems in endurance athletes, e.g. the IT band problem. For those people, especially interesting is the sequence Opening the hips.

If you want more information about the postures in this DVD and about yoga in general, I sincerely recommend buying the companion book The Athlete’s Guide to Yoga.

The DVD and the book can also be bought here:

Iliotibial band syndrome, or Iliotibial band friction syndrome as it is also called, is one of the most frequent overuse knee problems in athletes. Especially runners and cyclists suffer from this problem.
In my earlier post knee pain it band syndrome treatment prevention I described what ITBS is, how to treat it and how to prevent it. In 8 yoga poses for removing or preventing knee pain it band I showed some Yoga postures that work good if you are suffering from Iliotibial band syndrome.
In this post I direct you to a few products that can help you to recover and prevent IT band problems. I hope to be able to help you with these posts and those product directions. If you have any other suggestions or information, please tell me and I will include this information in the blog as well.

Here is a list of some books that I find useful for getting more information about ITBS. There are also some books that help preventing it.

DVD:

Other products: