Home

Tag: Exercise

  • Simple Home Workouts to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

    Simple Home Workouts to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

    The holidays are over and it’s time to shed that winter fat. You’ve probably resolved to live a healthier, more active life for your New Year’s resolution. If so, you’re probably eyeballing a gym membership or some home workout equipment. Before you make any big purchases, though, take it slow. Check out some of these simple home workouts that don’t require any equipment or gym membership. These are some of the easiest ways to keep those New Year’s resolutions!

    Simple Home Workouts

    Before you Start
    Before you start any of these workouts, here’s a few quick words of advice. Make sure you drink plenty of water and don’t overdo it. You should also stretch thoroughly before any strenuous physical activity. If you’re not very used to working out, make sure you don’t throw yourself in too haphazardly. You don’t get good results if you over-exert yourself! Take two minute breaks between each rep and catch your breath.

    Incline Push-Ups
    Get a surface like a bench or box that is sturdy enough to hold up your body’s weight. Brace your arms in a push-up position against the raised surface. Keep your body as straight as you can from your feet up to your head. Keeping this straight profile lower your body with your arms until it dips beneath your elbows. After a brief pause, return to your neutral position as rapidly as your arms can safely manage.

    If you find this exercise difficult, you can increase the incline. The greater the incline, the easier it will be for you. Likewise, if you find this too easy, you can instead do a traditional push-up, with your hands on the floor. In either event, 12 to 15 repetitions is a good number for a session.

    Side Plank
    Start by lying on the side of your body your non-dominant arm is on. Prop your body up on your elbow and forearm and make sure your arm is right under your shoulder. Place your other hand on your hip and tighten your core. Using your core, raise your hips from the floor and keep your arm locked in place. Keep your core tight and hold there for half a minute. Then, flip over and repeat this process for your other side.

    If you find it difficult to hold this for a full thirty seconds, you can try a modified version of the side plank. The modified version involves the same motions, but instead of holding it for a full thirty seconds you can drop back and then restart the movement. Do this until you get thirty full seconds across whichever number of repetitions you need to do.

    Squats
    Square your shoulders and stand as up as straight as you can. Set your feet a little further out than your shoulder-width and hold your arms out in front of you, parallel to the floor. Flexing your ab muscles, keeping your back straight and arms out, slowly squat by bending your knees and keeping your hips back. Once you get as low as you can, pause briefly before slowly returning to a standing position. Repeat this motion 15 to 20 times for a full session.

    Hip Raise
    While lying on the floor on your back, bend your knees and place your feet flat on the floor. Put your arms out at an angle from your body and face your palms up towards the ceiling. Tighten your core and breath normally as you squeeze your leg muscles and push your hips off the floor. Keep you body in as straight a line as you can while pushing your hips up off the floor. Pause when high in the air for about five seconds and then and then lower back to the floor slowly. 10 reps make for a full set!

    Jogging
    After doing reps of each of the body-weight exercises, you can round out your exercise with a light jog. Make sure you stretch your legs well and get hydrated before heading out. Stay safe when you’re out jogging, watch out for cars and make sure you don’t trespass. Jog for a few miles every morning or every other day and get in the habit of exercising regularly. If you make it a habit, it’s much easier to get up and get your workout in before work!

    If you stick to these easy exercises and make sure you do them consistently then you may find you have better luck with your resolutions. Happy New Year, and we hope your resolutions go well!


  • New Year, New You! Time to Get in Shape: Peleton or Echelon?

    New Year, New You! Time to Get in Shape: Peleton or Echelon?

    Have you been missing the gym? If you’re playing it safe and working out at home, the Echelon or the Peleton spin bike may be for you.

    Owning a spin bike is a great alternative to the gym, and the Echelon offers live spin classes via their app to make your workout exciting and strenuous. Spinning is relatively low impact on your body, but gives a high intensity workout. Here are the pros and cons of owning an Echelon vs. Peleton.

    Echelon Pros: 

    🙂 It costs less than 1/2 of the price of a Peleton

    🙂 It has 32 levels of resistance

    🙂 It is smaller and weighs less than a Peleton

    🙂 It has 2-sided pedals so that you can switch between a SPD pedal or a shoe with a cage

    🙂 It has a very quiet flywheel

    🙂 The design is sleek and ergonomic

    Echelon Cons: 

    🙁 The flywheel is at the rear of the bike and may be a hazard for small kids

    🙁 It does not come assembled, additional fee is required for assembly

    🙁 Instructors for the live classes aren’t as high caliber versus Peleton

    🙁 It does not have a built in screen

    Peleton Pros:

    🙂 22″HD built-in display for the app

    🙂 App is more user friendly

    🙂 Live classes are more popular vs. Echelon

    🙂 It is delivered and assembled in your home

    🙂 Features a smoother and more advanced resistance system vs. Echelon

    🙂 Pedals are designed for cycling shoes

    Peleton Cons:

    🙁 The price is DOUBLE the price of the Echelon

    🙁 It is slightly heavier vs. Echelon

    🙁 It uses a belt drive system, which can deteriorate over time

    The Bottom line:

    If you can afford it, you’re not going to go wrong with a Peleton. But if you are more price conscious- the Echelon is for you. Both deliver a fantastic workout and you’ll be saving money in the long run versus most gyms.

     


  • Simple Home Workouts to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

    Simple Home Workouts to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

    The holidays are over and it’s time to shed that winter fat. You’ve probably resolved to live a healthier, more active life for your New Year’s resolution. If so, you’re probably eyeballing a gym membership or some home workout equipment. Before you make any big purchases, though, take it slow. Check out some of these simple home workouts that don’t require any equipment or gym membership. These are some of the easiest ways to keep those New Year’s resolutions!

    Simple Home Workouts

    Before you Start
    Before you start any of these workouts, here’s a few quick words of advice. Make sure you drink plenty of water and don’t overdo it. You should also stretch thoroughly before any strenuous physical activity. If you’re not very used to working out, make sure you don’t throw yourself in too haphazardly. You don’t get good results if you over-exert yourself! Take two minute breaks between each rep and catch your breath.

    Incline Push-Ups
    Get a surface like a bench or box that is sturdy enough to hold up your body’s weight. Brace your arms in a push-up position against the raised surface. Keep your body as straight as you can from your feet up to your head. Keeping this straight profile lower your body with your arms until it dips beneath your elbows. After a brief pause, return to your neutral position as rapidly as your arms can safely manage.

    If you find this exercise difficult, you can increase the incline. The greater the incline, the easier it will be for you. Likewise, if you find this too easy, you can instead do a traditional push-up, with your hands on the floor. In either event, 12 to 15 repetitions is a good number for a session.

    Side Plank
    Start by lying on the side of your body your non-dominant arm is on. Prop your body up on your elbow and forearm and make sure your arm is right under your shoulder. Place your other hand on your hip and tighten your core. Using your core, raise your hips from the floor and keep your arm locked in place. Keep your core tight and hold there for half a minute. Then, flip over and repeat this process for your other side.

    If you find it difficult to hold this for a full thirty seconds, you can try a modified version of the side plank. The modified version involves the same motions, but instead of holding it for a full thirty seconds you can drop back and then restart the movement. Do this until you get thirty full seconds across whichever number of repetitions you need to do.

    Squats
    Square your shoulders and stand as up as straight as you can. Set your feet a little further out than your shoulder-width and hold your arms out in front of you, parallel to the floor. Flexing your ab muscles, keeping your back straight and arms out, slowly squat by bending your knees and keeping your hips back. Once you get as low as you can, pause briefly before slowly returning to a standing position. Repeat this motion 15 to 20 times for a full session.

    Hip Raise
    While lying on the floor on your back, bend your knees and place your feet flat on the floor. Put your arms out at an angle from your body and face your palms up towards the ceiling. Tighten your core and breath normally as you squeeze your leg muscles and push your hips off the floor. Keep you body in as straight a line as you can while pushing your hips up off the floor. Pause when high in the air for about five seconds and then and then lower back to the floor slowly. 10 reps make for a full set!

    Jogging
    After doing reps of each of the body-weight exercises, you can round out your exercise with a light jog. Make sure you stretch your legs well and get hydrated before heading out. Stay safe when you’re out jogging, watch out for cars and make sure you don’t trespass. Jog for a few miles every morning or every other day and get in the habit of exercising regularly. If you make it a habit, it’s much easier to get up and get your workout in before work!

    If you stick to these easy exercises and make sure you do them consistently then you may find you have better luck with your resolutions. Happy New Year, and we hope your resolutions go well!


  • Peloton VS Mirror – What’s the Real Cost of Getting in Shape at Home?

    Peloton VS Mirror – What’s the Real Cost of Getting in Shape at Home?

    Who loves going to a gym to get a sweat on- raise your hand. Who would rather work out from the comfort of their home with an extensive library of ever-expanding workouts- raise your hand… I thought so.

    In the last couple of years, the popularity of at-home connected workout devices has expanded exponentially. Right now, there are two different forms of workout dominating the space. We’ve done the research and broken down the benefits and downsides of each.

    Work Out is What Matters

    The popularity of class-based workouts has grown steadily over the years. Whether it’s cycling or body-weight based workout, the concept is the same. Use only a small amount of tools, add a motivating instructor and get your heart rate up. This has been the formula for decades. Except now, you have access to all of these things at home.

    Peloton, an at-home workout bike, claims that they currently have over 500,000 users using the bike or app. It features a Wi-Fi–enabled, 22-inch touchscreen tablet that streams live and on-demand classes and allows the rider to compete with other participants for a strenuous cardio workout.

    A hard ride on the Peloton can burn between 400 and 600 calories in a single hour-long ride. Over time, you’ll also increase your VO2 max by leaps and bounds. This is important for athletes because it’s a measure of how well your body is utilizing oxygen.

    Mirror offers a variety of workouts from numerous expert trainers. You have a wealth of information reflected back to you throughout your workout. Have an Apple watch? You can pair it to the Mirror to show how your current heart rate compares to your target heart rate. The fact that it’s a mirror is also something that reviewers consistently mention as one of their favorite attributes. You get a live view of how your form compares to that of your trainer. One of the biggest features that sets it apart is its personalization. You have the option of listing any injuries that you have and the mirror will show you alternative forms of the workout to the side of the screen.

    Cost to Own

    The Peloton bike requires a small amount of assembly, but don’t worry the price of the Peloton includes delivery and assembly by their team. Peloton also requires you to subscribe to their $39 a month archive of unlimited online classes. The first-year cost to own of a Peloton bike is roughly $3,000 and $500 every year after that.

    The mirror appears to be an easier option for setup. However, Mirror strongly advises you use their professional wall mount installation services which cost a flat $250 (including shipping.) Combine that with a required minimum $39 a month subscription and you’re looking at a minimum first-year cost of approximately $1,963 plus $500 every year after that.

    These first-year costs are estimates based on the bare-bones packages of both these at-home devices. However, both encourage purchasing additional goodies to take advantage of their full catalog of courses.

    Whichever device you chose, the ultimate determiner oh whether you reach your goal is dedication. They both provide excellent heart pumping workouts that are guaranteed to transform your physique.


  • Best Ellipticals for Home Use: Getting Cardio from Home

    Best Ellipticals for Home Use: Getting Cardio from Home

    When it comes to a lifestyle of health and fitness, many people don’t know where to start. Isn’t it difficult living a healthy lifestyle? Not with the right equipment, it isn’t! Today we’re looking at ellipticals for home use.

    What better way to get your cardio in daily than using an elliptical in your own home? Let’s get into it.

    Best Ellipticals for Home Use

    Sole Fitness E35

    The Sole Fitness E35 elliptical machine is a great pick for any home gym or workout room. For those looking to workout with high-quality, well-made exercise equipment, this is one of the best options on the market. Well-made is an understatement, too: this equipment can hold a person up to 375 pounds.

    While this is a home elliptical, it’s got build quality and features comparable to that of a piece of gym equipment. The best part about the E35 is that it’s comparatively inexpensive when you put it next to Sole Fitness’ other ellipticals. Take the E95, for instance. The E35 is much less expensive than its big cousin, but it offers mostly the same suite of great features for exercise.

    Nautilus E616

    This particular elliptical, from well-regarded manufacturer Nautilus, is a bit of a budget option compared to the other machines on this list. The E616 is a well-made machine, if not quite as sturdy or shiny as some competitors. The Nautilus sports many different levels of resistance using magnets and offers a smooth range of movement.

    It feels nice to use this machine, which has a great range of movement. On the downside, the machine only has 11 incline settings, making the types of exercises you can do here somewhat limited. That said, for those on a budget, this is some of the best bang for your buck when it comes to an elliptical.

    Nordic Track C 7.5

    The Nordic Track C 7.5 is another wonderful option for a home elliptical. This is another budget-level entry from a respected manufacturer. It makes the list because the features on display here are more than worth the introductory-level price.

    For those looking to get into home exercise, the Nordic Track is a great place to start. 22 digitally-set resistance levels make it a versatile machine, and it has a reasonable 20-inch stride. The 26 preset programs for exercise help you get started with your home workout routine. This is a respectable machine for those looking to get started working out from home.

  • Best Gym Memberships to Get Healthy in 2019

    Best Gym Memberships to Get Healthy in 2019

    One of the most common New Year resolutions that people make is that they’re going to join a gym and begin to live a healthier lifestyle. This is an admirable goal, though not one that many people stick with in the long term. Determination is hard to come by! If you’re serious about getting healthy in 2019, though, this article is for you. Let’s talk about some of the best gym memberships to help you get into better shape this year!

    Best Gym Memberships

    Equinox Fitness Club

    Our first entry is on the list because it’s just so very upscale and fancy. If you get a membership with Equinox, you can expect nothing but the finest of equipment and amenities. If you enjoy the finer things in life and have a bit of money to spend on a gym membership, Equinox is for you. Equinox not only sports incredibly high-quality equipment for workouts, they also have great amenities for members.

    Deep, in-depth personal training is a huge draw for members of Equinox. Having the personal touch of a trainer to help you hit your fitness goals is that extra step a lot of folks need to stick with their new plan of getting fit. If no one is holding you responsible, it’s easy to slip up. With a personal trainer, however, you not only get structure and guidance, but someone to hold you accountable to your ongoing fitness plan.

    Group classes, such as dance-style workouts, are also a popular aspect of Equinox’s high-scale experience. The community aspect of a gym is often overlooked but having that extra layer of togetherness can make fitness that much more fun. It’s one thing to work out by yourself and just feel tired and sore. When you’re working out with a group, though, it’s much more fun!

    Finally, following your workout, you can use Equinox’s top-tier spa area. This will help you to relax and recover from a tough workout, allowing you to recharge and go back out into the world reenergized. If this sounds like the place for you, though, be ready to spend a bit of money. The membership starts around $200 per month.

    Crunch Fitness

    If you’re looking for positivity and community, Crunch Fitness is a popular choice for many people. For one thing, they’ve got membership options that start as low as $10 per month, meaning they’ve got something to fit every budget. Beyond that, they’ve also got a great community that is always dedicated to putting positivity and result first. Their workout area is tailored to be judgment-free, and the trainers do a great job of engaging members.

    Motivation is one of the biggest hurdles newcomers to working out have to overcome. Often, it’s easy to feel discouraged, especially early in your fitness journey. However, the trainers at Crunch Fitness really care about keeping you engaged and motivated. It’s important that you hit your fitness goals. Heck, you wouldn’t have joined a gym if it wasn’t important to you! The trainers are more than happy to remind you of this while they help you hit your goals.

    Group classes are a big focus of Crunch. Cultivating a community based on togetherness and workout positivity is a big part of this gym’s culture. It makes it feel like everyone is working together to hit their goals! If you want a comfortable and welcoming gym where you can get fit while making new friends, Crunch is the right place for you!

    Blink Fitness

    With memberships from $15 to $30 per month, Blink’s got a little something for everyone! While Blink doesn’t offer group classes, members of a certain tier and up are allowed to bring a guest with them an unlimited number of times. This is a great option for workout buddies! If you’ve made a resolution with another person, like a significant other or best friend, and want to be able to work out with them without both of you getting memberships, this is the option you should go with.

    Blink’s interiors are upscale, bright and optimistic. While it’s not the highest-tech gym around, it’s got everything you need for a good workout! The space is clean, well-lit and welcoming, and the staff is friendly and helpful. One-on-one sessions with personal trainers are available for those looking for a more hands-on approach to their workout, too!

    In all, the biggest thing you need to start your fitness journey is to get with a program and stick with it. There’s nothing standing between you and your goals except for you! Get out there and kick some butt!

  • Simple Home Workouts to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

    Simple Home Workouts to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

    The holidays are over and it’s time to shed that winter fat. You’ve probably resolved to live a healthier, more active life for your New Year’s resolution. If so, you’re probably eyeballing a gym membership or some home workout equipment. Before you make any big purchases, though, take it slow. Check out some of these simple home workouts that don’t require any equipment or gym membership. These are some of the easiest ways to keep those New Year’s resolutions!

    Simple Home Workouts

    Before you Start

    Before you start any of these workouts, here’s a few quick words of advice. Make sure you drink plenty of water and don’t overdo it. You should also stretch thoroughly before any strenuous physical activity. If you’re not very used to working out, make sure you don’t throw yourself in too haphazardly. You don’t get good results if you over-exert yourself! Take two minute breaks between each rep and catch your breath.

    Incline Push-Ups

    Get a surface like a bench or box that is sturdy enough to hold up your body’s weight. Brace your arms in a push-up position against the raised surface. Keep your body as straight as you can from your feet up to your head. Keeping this straight profile lower your body with your arms until it dips beneath your elbows. After a brief pause, return to your neutral position as rapidly as your arms can safely manage.

    If you find this exercise difficult, you can increase the incline. The greater the incline, the easier it will be for you. Likewise, if you find this too easy, you can instead do a traditional push-up, with your hands on the floor. In either event, 12 to 15 repetitions is a good number for a session.

    Side Plank

    Start by lying on the side of your body your non-dominant arm is on. Prop your body up on your elbow and forearm and make sure your arm is right under your shoulder. Place your other hand on your hip and tighten your core. Using your core, raise your hips from the floor and keep your arm locked in place. Keep your core tight and hold there for half a minute. Then, flip over and repeat this process for your other side.

    If you find it difficult to hold this for a full thirty seconds, you can try a modified version of the side plank. The modified version involves the same motions, but instead of holding it for a full thirty seconds you can drop back and then restart the movement. Do this until you get thirty full seconds across whichever number of repetitions you need to do.

    Squats

    Square your shoulders and stand as up as straight as you can. Set your feet a little further out than your shoulder-width and hold your arms out in front of you, parallel to the floor. Flexing your ab muscles, keeping your back straight and arms out, slowly squat by bending your knees and keeping your hips back. Once you get as low as you can, pause briefly before slowly returning to a standing position. Repeat this motion 15 to 20 times for a full session.

    Hip Raise

    While lying on the floor on your back, bend your knees and place your feet flat on the floor. Put your arms out at an angle from your body and face your palms up towards the ceiling. Tighten your core and breath normally as you squeeze your leg muscles and push your hips off the floor. Keep you body in as straight a line as you can while pushing your hips up off the floor. Pause when high in the air for about five seconds and then and then lower back to the floor slowly. 10 reps make for a full set!

    Jogging

    After doing reps of each of the body-weight exercises, you can round out your exercise with a light jog. Make sure you stretch your legs well and get hydrated before heading out. Stay safe when you’re out jogging, watch out for cars and make sure you don’t trespass. Jog for a few miles every morning or every other day and get in the habit of exercising regularly. If you make it a habit, it’s much easier to get up and get your workout in before work!

    If you stick to these easy exercises and make sure you do them consistently then you may find you have better luck with your resolutions. Happy New Year, and we hope your resolutions go well!