Workout Equipment

The rectus abdominus has an upper and a lower part and need to be trained equally. One of the most productive exercises to train your lower ab muscles would be hanging leg raises and the perfect tool for performing these are the Perfect Pullup Ab Straps.

One disadvantage of hinging leg raises is that you need a lot of strength in you forearms and hands. Most often you have to quit with the exercise because you no longer can hold onto the chin up bar.

With the Perfect Pullup Ab Straps you never have to use your hands again. Instead you hang with your upper arms in two thick padded lining straps that feel comfortable so you are able to fully focus on the muscle contraction in your lower abdominals.

How To Perform Hanging Leg Raises To Exercise Lower Ab

In the starting position you legs are extended. To start the movement you gradually bring your knees to your chest, you hold this position briefly and then you lower you legs in a slow and controlled manner.

The only thing you need to use the Perfect Pullup Ab Straps is a pull up bar. The Ab Straps are specially made for the Perfect Pullup Bar but fit on almost any other pull-up bar.

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This machine is not build for experienced athletes like a bodybuilder but for people who just want to add some strength training to their cardio routines.

Don’t get me wrong you can build a nice muscular body with the Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym trough more then 30 different strength exercises which will train the whole body in an efficient way.

What I liked most about the Bowflex PR1000 was its build in rowing machine. The perfect way to warm up before a high intensity strength workout is 15 to 30 minutes of rowing.

Another neat feature is the Bowflex power rod resistance system. You no longer use free weights but power rods. It feels a little different the first couple of times you use it but the resistance is the same and I was quit sore the next day. The power rods go as low as 5 pounds and as high as 210 pounds.

Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym System is sturdy and well constructed and is capable to let you perform all your regular gym exercises like bench press, shoulder press, pull downs, push down, Seated (Resisted) Abdominal Crunch, leg extension, leg curl and much much more.

Again this home gym is not for people who want to pack on mass they will be better of with the Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym but if you want to firm up your body and want to keep your muscles strong without breaking the bank this is the perfect multi home strength equipment.

Other Features Of The Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym System:

• Multi-use Hand-Grip/Ankle Cuffs designed for more flexibility and performance
• You need a minimum workout area of 100 by 78 inches (254 x 199 cm)
• 300 pound user weight
• Folds for easy storage
• Warranty: 1 year on frame, 5 years on the power rods and 60 days on parts

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With this convenient fitness resistance tube set you always have your gym in a bag. The GoFit Ultimate ProGym offers 3 resistance tubes of 5, 10, and 15 pound tension with which you can make 7 levels of resistance by creating different combinations of the tube strengths.

For those of you who don’t believe in resistance tube training think again because the essence of resistance training is too gradually and progressively overload the muscles so they get stronger.

It does not matter what kind of strength equipment you use. Resistance exercise machines, free weights like dumbbells and barbells, your own body weight or resistance tubing they all overload the muscles.

Fitness resistance tubes are also the most affordable resistance training tools available. They provide a very effective upper- and lower-body workout for beginners and athletes alike and allow you to work in multiple planes of movement.

GoFit Ultimate ProGym also contains two handles, two ankle straps and one door anchor so you can train your whole body. Proper form during your movements is very important that’s why you get a workout manual and a Core Performance workout on DVD led by personal trainer Lynda Leene.

Everything is neatly packed in a nylon carry bag so you can take it were ever you go and always have your home gym in a bag.

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Engage all your core muscles with the Gaiam Pilates Body Sculpting Workout Kit.

Although Joseph Pilates did not invented the fitness ball it has became quite popular within the Pilates community.

The Pilates fitness ball is all about balance. Because the ball moves so easily you constantly have to use your abdominal muscles, hips, oblique and lower back to keep a certain position.  That’s why the Pilates fitness ball is so versatile.

You can do almost any Pilates movement with the ball like the plank, roll over or knee folds. This will really increase the difficulty level and drives the work of the exercises into the core. It can also be used for strenght training in combination with resistance bands.

Gaiam Pilates Body Sculpting Workout Kit includes a high-quality anti-burst Balance Ball and a Pilates ball DVD with certified Pilates instructor Ana Cabán. In this 33 minute Pilates ball DVD she will show you the most effective way to use the 6″ fitness ball with numerous fun to do exercises.

The Gaiam Pilates fitness ball is cheap and offers a safe and impact free way to exercise your core muscles and can be used for all skill levels. On top of that is Gaiam an eco friendly company and a member of Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) which is focused on health and fitness, the environment, personal development, sustainable living, and social justice.

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Get in shape with these good looking neoprene hand weights brought to you by Valeo. This respected company is known for delivering products of uncompromising quality and value.

These neoprene dumbbells will give you all the safety and comfort you need during your workouts. They are available in 2, 3, 5, 8 and 10 lb.

You can use the hand weights for strength training to tone your arms, upper body and legs but they are also perfect to use for walking with weights or running with weights. They are also a great addition to your aerobic workouts like the TranFIRMer.

The Valeo neopreme hand weights come in pairs and are easily cleaned with warm, soapy water and soft cloth. You also get an exercise wall chart so you can keep track of your progress in getting the body you desire.

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Check Out Amazon For All Available Neopreme Hand Weights:
Valeo HW2 2-Pound Neoprene Hand Weights
Valeo HW3 3-Pound Neoprene Hand Weights
Valeo HW5 5-Pound Neoprene Hand Weights
Valeo HW8 8-Pound Neoprene Hand Weights
Valeo HW10 10-Pound Neoprene Hand Weights
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Start losing weight by burning fat and lots of calories with this explosive weight loss system. The Firm Transfirmer System is a specially designed piece of step aerobic equipment and can easily be transformed into five different positions.

There are two platforms (6 inch and 8 inch) which you can use individually or be stacked on top of each other this makes the step much higher so you will experience more muscle burn in you tights and buttocks. The top platform can also be stacked at an incline so you can do even more moves.

The Transfirmer can be used for sculpting, aerobics and strength training but is also great for low impact cardio training. It can be useful to buy some dumbbells to get even more out of every Firm workout.

The platforms are very sturdy and do not buckle while exercising and are safe and effective. It does not slip on the floor and it has a non slip surface so you can give it all you got.

The DVD’s combine three routines that merge aerobics, weight training, and cardio to burn fat, sculpt the backs of your thighs, hips, abs, and fanny muscles and boost metabolism.

The Firm Transfirmer DVD’s included are:

• Aerobic Body Shaping Video with instructor Allie DelRio which is the longest with a duration of 55 minutes and combines cardio with strength training to reshape your body and burn fat fast.
• Ultimate Calorie Blaster Video where instructor Stephanie Huckabee leads you through a 45-minute low impact cardio workout which not only help you burn calories but also builds some stamina.
• Supercharged Sculpting Video with instructor Pam Cauthen Meriwether is especially for the days you don’t have much time but want to boost you metabolism. In 30 minutes you can tone your body and burn the fat with easy to follow moves.

The Firm Transfirmer System offers maximum results in a minimum amount of time with a workout that delivers body sculpting, fat-burning results with just one simple piece of exercise equipment.

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Merit Fitness is another branch from Johnson Health Tech. This global organization has a strong focus on designing, engineering and manufacturing superior products for a low price.

All the key components that go into their products come from one of their own facilities with state-of-the-art manufacturing and testing abilities.

So in that sense the Merit Fitness 725T Treadmill offers the highest standards in accuracy and quality for the lowest price. Good to know when you are looking for a cheap foldable incline treadmill to get or to stay in shape in the convenience of your own home.

The Merit Fitness 725T Treadmill is using a 1.25 Hp, continuous duty motor with a 2.25 total horsepower. The motor is producing a smooth continuous power to the belt at all speeds and is very suitable for heavy persons. I also found the motor amazingly quiet.

The speed is easily adjustable while you are walking or running and goes from 1 to 10 Mph. This is the same for the incline which you can raise to a max of 10% when you want to go beyond your limits to reach your desired goal.

Merit Fitness also uses the Aerosoft cushioning system below the belt which isolates your feet and legs from shock while exercising. Running or walking feels comfortable and makes you less tired so you can jog or walk longer periods of time.

This foldable incline treadmill is made to last with its sturdy and solid frame which they back up with a lifetime warranty which you almost never see in treadmills in this price range. It is a folding treadmill so when your are done exercising you can fold it up and move it out of the way.

The console looks nice with the five-window LED display and is easy to read when you exercise. Trough the console you can choose between seven pre-set interval workouts. The hand contact hart rate monitor is located in the handle bars in front of you. The handle bars are very convenient when you try to get your bearings back after an intense phase in your interval training.  At the same time you can see when your hart rate is back to the desired level.

This treadmill machine is a nice piece of exercise equipment. It is cheap and of good quality. I think Merit Fitness build a treadmill winner in this price range.

More Features Of The Merit Fitness 725T Treadmill:

• Five quick interval keys for instant adjustments
• Four preset programs containing manual, intervals, rolling hills, and weight loss
• Weight capacity of 250 pounds
• A Running area of 18 x 45 inches
• Two cup holders

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I think every man seeks to get a strong and well defined upper body. The gyms are stuffed with sweating and puffing people all trying to pump up those muscles with a width range of exercise equipment but this is not for everyone.

That’s why there are many alternatives for you people who just want to stay at home but don’t want to buy a whole home gym. One of the better options is the Perfect Pullup Bar.

With the Perfect Pullup you are able to strengthen your upper body and core like never before. Because it offers adjustable and rotating swing arms you can use three different hand positions. Not only are you able to do chin ups and pull ups together it also enables you to a wide range of totally new exercises.

Another benefit of the rotating handles is that you can engage more muscles while reducing joint strain. It also makes a difficult exercise as pull up accessible for beginners because they allow you to start at a standing position to perform a pull up or chin up.

The Perfect Pullup is easy to install and fits in any door frame that is 27″ - 36″ wide. It can be easily removed when not in use and you can even close the door while the Perfect Pullup is installed.

To make sure you use the Perfect Pullup correctly you get 24 Navy SEAL fitness routines adjusted for beginners and advanced athletes together with Perfect Pullup Instructional Chart and Installation Guide.

Other Features Of The Perfect Pullup:

• Adjustable Pullup Bar
• Rubber grips
• Can handle a weight of 300 pounds but depends on the condition of the door frame.

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While on a big fitness expo last week I discovered the Horizon EX-57 elliptical trainer. In the beginning I had my reservations because it only cost $549 but after a good tryout and looking at all the specs I must say I was very pleased with it.

First of all Horizon Fitness is a trusted brand name and is part of Johnson Health which is one of the biggest and oldest manufactures of exercise equipment. They managed to integrate the main parts that make up a good elliptical.

The Horizon Elliptical Trainer - EX-57 uses a fairly heavy flywheel. This is important because the heavier the flywheel the smoother and more efficient the motion of the elliptical.

Another great feature which you normally only find on commercial ellipticals is the magnetic brake resistance. This allows a consistent motion and makes the elliptical more durable. Then we have the stride length which is a full 18 inch.

These components give the Horizon EX-57 elliptical trainer a smooth, long and comfortable motion which I believe is special in an elliptical in this price range.

The pivoting foot plates have no slip footpads and are close to each other to mimic the normal moving of your foot. They also offer rear access and a nice low step-on height for easy entry and exit.

The console operation consist of a quick start in which you can change the resistance level. You can choose between 8 electronic resistance levels. Then you have the goal programming, these allow you to exercise to the goal of your choice, either time, number of calories or a certain distance, while allowing you to choose the terrain.

The Horizon EX-57 elliptical trainer has a relatively small footprint and uses sealed bearing so it is free of maintenance. It has a lifetime warranty on the frame and 20 years on the brake system and 1 year on electronics, parts and labor.

So if you are looking for a cheap elliptical machine I would say you can’t go wrong with the Horizon EX-57 elliptical trainer.

More Features Of The Horizon Elliptical Trainer - EX-57:

• Front drive frame design
• Non-backlit LCD display
• Heavy-duty 14.3-pound flywheel
• Weight capacity of 275 pounds
• Measures 29 x 67 x 55 inches

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A lot of injuries like sprain ankles, back pain or hip injuries are often not caused trough training or doing daily activities. Most sprains and strains have to do with core balance.

That’s why its so important for athletes and non athletes to train and strengthen the core muscles. The GoFit Core Fitness Strength Training Board is the perfect tool to accomplish this.

This disk is specially designed for different core and other stability exercises. It is partially inflated with an air hole to add or remove air so you can tune it to your needs.

The GoFit core board is small and portable is so versatile. The disk can be used for your regular workouts, pilates, yoga or to train your core muscles and increase balance and stability.

You also can use the core board to sit on in your chair at home or in the office to offer some hip and core movement while sitting so you stay aware of good posture.

The core training DVD provides a selection of exercises you can perform to train your abdominals, back and pelvis so you keep the perfect alignment for what ever it is you are doing. This way you will reduce injuries, improve posture and tone your body.

More Features Of The GoFit Core Fitness Strength Training Board:

• Easily adjustable with standard ball pump and needle
• Made of strong plastic
• Measures 13 inches in diameter
• Weights only 2.9 pounds

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