The Weider PowerMax isn’t expensive and it is easy to use, easy to be stored away in your closet, or even to be carried in your traveling bags. The equipment is simple and the only thing that you need is the weight of your body to create resistance to your workout efforts. From here you can do exercises to build up and sculpt your muscles.

It is without any shadow of doubt the least expensive equipment you can buy to perform gym workouts in your house. Even though it may not look like much, compared to all those gigantic home gym equipments, it is effective and will give you lots of workout hours.

Buy the Weider PowerMax Home Gym now!

Weider PowerMax Specifications

• Max user weight- 300 pounds
• Width- Fits doorjambs 34’’ or smaller
• Exercises- Pull ups, chin ups, dips and sit ups
• Includes- Doorway pull up bar, 2 rotational push up stands and a pair of ab straps

Simple, fun and easy… plus cheap

Working with the Weider PowerMax is much like working with a personal trainer when both of you go through bodyweight exercises. The Weider PowerMax is really like 3 in one, it has three different bodyweight training tools: a doorway pull up bar, two rotational push up stands and a pair of ab straps.

The push up stand works as a bench press, the ab straps serves for leg raises and the doorway pull up bar gives you two types of exercises, if it is placed at the top of the door you can do pull ups and chin ups, and if at the bottom of the door you can go with dips and sit ups.

We will go over them one by one. Starting with the pull up bar. It fits doorjambs with 34’’ or smaller, the pull up bar has to be hanged over the top of the doorjamb on one side, while on the other side the bar will rest against the door frame. Now all you need is to grab the handles and start doing your regular pull ups and chin ups.

Another option is to place the pull up bar near the floor against one side of the door, while you stay on the other, this will allow you to place your feet under the bar and proceed with sit ups or dips. It doesn’t take long to place it and you can have more time for exercises.

Now the ab straps, these work with the pull up bar placed near the top of the door, they are like draped over the bar where you can rest your arms and do some leg raises or knee lifts, works wonders in your abs.

Finally we have the rotating push up handles that work by themselves on the floor, the fact that they can rotate is an ingenious innovation that will allow your arms to move more naturally and take the stress of pull ups from wrists and elbows, focusing the efforts on the arms, chest, back and shoulder muscles.

These 3 simple equipments will help you in your workout and the exercises are a good complement to any other exercises that one may have in a gym. It does not replace some visits to a gym because it can only work the upper body and focus on core strength and overall muscle development. Still, it can be carried with you wherever you go and they are inexpensive, while replacing some exercises that only bigger machines can allow you to do.

Weider PowerMax at a Glance…

Pros:

1. Simple and easy to use
2. Great for upper bodyweight exercises
3. Can be stored away easily and carried along

Cons:

1. May be boring if user lacks motivation
2. There is no way to control resistance

Overall it seems like a good option for users that would like to focus their home based training in the upper body. For beginners it may be boring after a few days and the fact that your bodyweight is used as resistance in the exercises will put away anyone that will have a hard time using the Weider PowerMax.

Buy the Weider PowerMax Home Gym now!

Weider PowerMax Review is a post from: Home Gym Fitness Equipment Reviews

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Abdominal trainers are extremely popular among home gym junkies – they’re also the item of choice for television infomercials, making the purchase of a quality ab machine a very confusing experience. Well, let me try to simplify it for you.

There are definitely some good quality abdominal machines on the market today for reasonable prices. The trick is to filter out the effective machines from those making false promises to make a quick buck. There are some basic things that you can look for in an ab machine that will ensure you’re buying an effective piece of equipment.

1. Motion

If you’re looking at an ab machine that only offers forward flexion, you should probably look elsewhere for the ab trainer that will produce results. You abdominal region is comprised of four major areas that you need to work to have a strong, well developed mid-section; the upper abs, the lower abs, the oblique’s and the intercostals.

In order to target all of these areas you need a machine that offers forward and lateral movement.

2. Adjustability

A quality abdominal trainer will offer at least a couple of adjustment options so you can be sure that it will fit your frame. There is nothing worse than trying to perform a crunch motion on a machine that’s too big for you – you may even risk injuring yourself if you try to train on a machine that isn’t fit to your build.

“Make sure that the ab machine you choose to buy with fits you off the shelf or provides some adjustment options.”

3. Comfort

This goes hand-in-hand with adjustability. More than likely, if you’re buying an ab machine in the first place, it’s because you think regular crunches and traditional abdominal exercises are uncomfortable or ineffective.

So, when you buy a machine, make sure you aren’t going to have the same complaints. If you’re going to be uncomfortable doing an ab workout, you may as well do it for free and stick to crunches.

Otherwise, buy a quality machine that won’t stress your neck and back and that effectively targets the correct muscles.

4. Avoid the Hype

Many infomercials promoting abdominal trainers would have you believe that you can get a six pack in just minutes a day, regardless of what your diet looks like. What!? Okay guys, if you’re buying that statement, it’s time for a little reality check.

The first thing you should know is that eating a clean diet and doing regular cardiovascular exercise is about 85% of the formula to developing a six pack abdominal region. The other 15% is actual abdominal training. So, any product that claims results without diet or exercise should be avoided.

The next thing you should understand about abdominal trainers is that you don’t need machines at all. You certainly don’t need to invest huge amounts of hard earned money into an ab machine. In fact, your abdominal equipment should probably be the least expensive area of your entire home gym.

If you choose to buy one, it should be to add a little variety to your abdominal routine.

Machines won’t give you any greater benefits than performing bodyweight exercises such as crunches, planks and leg lifts. However, if you’re more inclined to use a machine than you are to do the abovementioned exercises, by all means, get the machine.

In the scheme of muscular development, the core region is the most important area to focus on. Without a strong core (which includes lower back muscles as well), you are more likely to suffer from chronic back pain.

A strong core is also necessary to build the rest of your muscles since there isn’t anything that we do in a day or in a workout that doesn’t require some degree of core strength.

Ab Machine Buying Guide is a post from: Home Gym Fitness Equipment Reviews

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Home fitness equipment is a billion dollar industry with many brands, both American and international, competing for a larger share of the market.

With so many different brands offering many types of fitness equipment from treadmills to elliptical machines, it can be hard for consumers to decipher which brands to trust and which brands to avoid.

As a result I am trying to come up with a database of all the most reputable fitness equipment companies as well as provide a list and brief description of the equipment they offer.

This is by no means an exhaustive list but if you don’t find a description of the company you are looking for on here then please contact me and let me know. I will try my best to research the brand and list it here.

Body Solid Fitness Equipment – Quality is no accident, and Body-Solid proves that. They have worked since 1981 to get people in shape and during this time, they have never sacrificed quality to build the perfect piece of exercise equipment. You can see from the type of steel that they use, right down to the cables and weights that quality is the most important aspect of this company.

Bowflex Fitness Equipment - Since 1986, when Bowflex was introduced, millions of exercisers across the nation have used a machine at home and in their gyms that has helped them to get into shape, lose weight and improve their overall health.

Cybex Fitness Equipment - In 1960 Cybex moved out of the rehabilitation industry and have made their name in the exercise equipment industry. Cybex makes over 175 different machines for the individual to work out at home and for gyms to offer state-of-the-art technology to their customers.

EPIC Fitness Equipment - The EPIC fitness brand was launched by ICON’s commercial fitness group, FreeMotion Fitness, and today, continues to be a brand found in clubs, elite training facilities and premium home gyms worldwide.

FreeMotion Fitness™ is the commercial division of ICON Health & Fitness®. Since 1999, they have placed equipment in more than 2,000 fitness facilities in 40 countries worldwide. They are dedicated to providing superior design, manufacturing and customer care.

Golds Gym Equipment - Now you can bring home muscle-sculpting machines from Gold’s Gym, the body-building authority since 1965. Machine’s like Power Flex harness the power and durability you expect from Gold’s Gym.

Healthrider Fitness Equipment – Healthrider products are based on unique concepts: innovative technology, easy-to-use, low-impact and enjoyable. HealthRider was the machine that made exercising fun and easy, and the original Health Rider machine used every major muscle in the body to achieve the desired fitness goals. Because the machine was easy-to-use, even those who weren’t used to exercising started getting into physical fitness and changed their lives around and lost weight.

Horizon Fitness Equipment - Horizon Fitness provides commercial-quality home exercise equipment. Our complete line of treadmills, elliptical trainers, exercise bikes and functional strength training home gyms is designed to deliver the comfort, control and convenience you need to achieve the goals of your fitness program.

Image Fitness Equipment - Image is known for durable, quality fitness equipment at prices you can afford. Now you don’t have to go to the gym. You can have club-quality and the benefit of exercising in the privacy of your own home.

Landice Treadmills – Landice are world renown for producing high quality treadmills and ellipticals for both commercial and home use. Consistently rated at the top by many leading fitness equipment authorities, Landice make a great addition to any home gym.

Life Fitness Equipment - Offering both cardio and strength equipment, Life Fitness has been providing equipment to gyms and private homes since the 1960s. You’ve probably worked out on a Life Fitness machine at one point or another and know just how easy they are to use and how well they can be customized to each individual user.

Nautilus Fitness Equipment – Nautilus, Inc. is a pure fitness company that provides tools and education necessary to help people achieve a fit and healthy lifestyle. Nautilus manufactures and markets a complete line of innovative fitness products.

Nordic Track Exercise Equipment – With a second wind in the late 1990s, NordicTrack began to expand into more home exercise equipment, including it’s now touted line of treadmills. The same flare for ultimate design and comfort lead the company to sell strength machines, bikes, steppers and much more.

PowerBlock Dumbbells – PowerBlock is one of the best designed free weights, is customizable, expandable, space saving, inexpensive and has the best balance and the longest warranty. If that isn’t enough to convince you to get the PowerBlock, nothing will.

Precor Fitness Equipment - For over 20 years, Precor has been about moving. Moving with purpose, moving with passion and moving beyond limits with it’s range of treadmills, ellipticals, bikes and home gyms.

ProForm Fitness Equipment – One of the world’s most well known fitness equipment brands Pro-Form have a large range of equipment including treadmills, exercise bikes, elliptical machines, weight benches and more—all geared to provide the most effective workout available.

Reebok Fitness Equipment - Reebok is a well known brand of exercise equipment and apparel including treadmills, cross trainers, strength equipment, bikes and more.

Schwinn Fitness – Part of the Nautilus family of fitness equipment Schwinn have gained a world class reputation for high quality exercise bikes and ellipticals.

Smooth Fitness – Smooth Fitness is the number one online retailer of home fitness equipment and the 255th largest e-commerce site in the United States as ranked by Internet Retailer. The Company currently markets the Smooth line of treadmills, elliptical trainers and exercise bikes.

Sole Fitness – Sole brings over twenty years of treadmill and fitness product design and manufacturing to the table with a line of innovative equipment designed including treadmills and elliptical machines.

Spirit Fitness – Finding cheap exercise equipment can be difficult to do. Sure, you can always buy it used, but you never know how it was used (and abused) by the previous owner. If you are looking for great entry-level equipment that is going to work for you, you should definitely check out Spirit Fitness.

Total Gym - Founded in 1974, Total Gym has always been committed to manufacturing top-quality functional exercise and rehabilitation equipment. With over 10 years of TV advertising Total Gym is America’s most recognisable fitness equipment.

Tunturi Fitness Equipment – Have you heard of Tunturi? Chances are, the answer is “no”, even though Tunturi exercise equipment is sold in more than 40 countries around the world. Their line of fitness equipment (which has been in production since the 1970s) is long, including treadmills, exercise bikes, rowing machines, muscle trainers and more.

Weider – The most trusted name in strength training for over 25 years, Weider knows how to make you strong. Their all-in-one systems, premier benches —and even the overwhelmingly popular Platinum—all have one thing in common: Proven Weider quality.

Weslo – A comfortable balance of exercise, fitness and a budget-conscious lifestyle. With Weslo, you can take your first steps toward a healthier, more vibrant life.

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So, I was doing my usual Internet search for the latest and greatest in fitness trends when I came across a couple of really interesting posts.

The first article was about a little device called the Fitbit Tracker.  This little guy is like the pedometer’s much cooler, much hipper younger brother.  The Fitbit Tracker doesn’t just track the number of steps you take in a day, it also keeps track of your sleep patterns (as a new mom, I really need this!), the duration and intensity of your workouts and how many calories you’ve burned in a day.

This thing is so small and it’s sensors are so accurate that you can carry it around in your pocket if you want to, or you can clip it to your shirt or your bra.  Regardless of where you put it, the Fitbit continues to record your every move with a pretty high degree of accuracy.

At the end of the day, all you have to do is synchronize your Fitbit with your computer and download all of your information.  This is a great way to track energy spikes and lulls throughout your day.  It’s also a good way to determine whether you’re getting quality sleep at night.

It actually tracks your sleep time, how many times you wake up in the night, how long you remain awake during the night and how much time you spend lying in bed, not sleeping.

Hey, I haven’t tried it yet, but I know what’s going on the top of my birthday wish list for this year.  After all I’m a gadget freak and any excuse I have to acquire a new gadget, I’ll jump at.  Not to mention, who wouldn’t want their own personal sleep study conducted every night?

Who wouldn’t carry a miniature personal trainer around in their pocket all day to help keep their diet and exercise plan on track?  I know I would!

Check back with me in a couple of months and I’ll tell you how the Fitbit really works once I’ve tried it out for a while.

Great Gadgets to Get You Moving is a post from: Home Gym Fitness Equipment Reviews

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If you’ve never seen a BOSU trainer, it looks like someone chopped the top off a stability  ball and glued it to a hard, flat, plastic base.  BOSU is actually an acronym that stands for Both Sides Utilized or Both Sides Up depending on the context being used - I’ll get a little more into that in a minute.

When I first saw a BOSU and heard about what it’s supposed to do, I had my doubts about its ability to deliver.  I’m always skeptical about new fitness trends because, frankly, there are just too many that guarantee unbeatable results only to leave consumers disappointed, frustrated and more importantly, one step further from reaching their fitness goals.

Anyway, being the fitness enthusiast that I am, I tried out the BOSU despite my reservations; though, sure I’d be disappointed.

…Wow was I wrong!

The BOSU trainer provided an awesome workout.  In fact, it was so effective that I quickly began to incorporate it into the aerobics classes that I was teaching at the time.

What is it?

The BOSU is essentially a platform used to perform basic exercises.  You can stand, kneel and lay down on it.  You can use it for strength, balance, coordination and cardiovascular training.  Any exercise that you can do on a bench or on the floor can also be done on the BOSU.

So why not save yourself some money and just workout on the floor?

Because the unstable surface provided by the BOSU forces you to use all of your stabilizer muscles while you’re performing regular exercises.  While you’re engaging all of these smaller, yet important muscles, the soft surface of the BOSU works to preserve your joints during aerobic activities and, of course, enhances your ability to balance.

Both Sides Up

The Both Sides Up definition of BOSU literally refers to the fact that you can use this trainer with the soft dome side up or with the hard plastic side up.  Each position offers a unique spin on different exercises.

For example, you can do push-ups with the dome side up by placing one hand on the floor and one on the dome or by placing your hands on the floor and your toes or knees on the BOSU.

You can then flip the BOSU over so the hard plastic base is facing up.  You can hold onto the sides (which have handles built in) and do push-ups with your toes or knees on the floor.

There are literally hundreds of exercises and exercise variations that can be done on the BOSU, including all out aerobic workouts!

Both Sides Utilized

This definition of BOSU refers to the philosophy behind its creation.  The idea is that the BOSU will help you create balance in all aspects of your life by beginning with you body.  The BOSU was developed on the concept that, as you achieve mental and physical balance within your life, your performance levels will greatly improve in all areas.

Hey, I don’t know about the philosophical meaning behind the BOSU, but as a person who seeks intense and effective workouts, I am telling you, the BOSU is a great way to add intensity to the workout that you’re already doing.

The both sides up definition is highly accurate because the BOSU will kick your butt whether it’s dome up or base up.

I encourage skepticism in research of new fitness products and I don’t expect you all to take my word for it on the BOSU, but I would recommend that you go out and try it yourself.  Find a local health club that has BOSU classes and get a day pass.  You may find that it’s the newest piece of equipment you’ll want to add to your home gym.

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Hey guys…just thought I’d let you know about an amazing ‘Black Friday’ promotion that Smooth Fitness is running at the moment.

From now until December 1st Smooth Fitness are selling the Smooth CE 2.0 Elliptical at the never seen before price of $699!

They are also giving an extra 1 year labor warranty on their fitness equipment…that means you now get a 2 Year Labor Warranty
on All Products

Finally, when you spend over $1977 and above on products you get FREE IN ROOM Delivery (normally $75) so you don’t have to brake your back lugging heavy machines up/down flights of stairs.

So if you have been putting off getting your own home gym and were waiting until after the holiday season before starting a fitness routine then this might just be the kick in the pants you need to get started now.

Smooth makes greats machines at great prices and so with this extra ‘Black Friday’ discount it should be a no brainer.

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All-in-one trainers usually do well in the home gym market because they provide affordability, ease of use and reduced space requirements.  While there are many of these machines on the market today that are of high quality and will give users a great workout, there are just as many that are poorly constructed and will end up being more trouble than they’re worth.

Bowflex Trainers

Probably the most popular “all-in-one” weight training machine on the market today is Bowflex.  The reason that Bowflex is so popular among home gym enthusiasts is because it really works.  The Bowflex Power Rod technology makes the machine easy to use and highly effective.

The Power Rod design provides continual resistance throughout the entire repetition of each exercise (this is great during a super-slow training routine).

The only real drawback that I’ve been able to detect in the Bowflex is that in some models, certain exercises have a limited range of motion.  However, in the more expensive models, even that isn’t a real problem.

While Bowflex is a good example of an all-in-one weight training machine that is effective, there are plenty out there that are not.  Just as you’ll find with most types of home gym equipment, some is of high quality and worth the investment, while some won’t provide you with a full year of workouts.

Universal Trainers

These usually provide a combination of different stations to allow the user to get a full body workout on just one machine.  The problem, though, is that many of these machines are poorly constructed.

While club quality universal trainers offer great workouts, home gym quality machines tend to fall short.  The biggest problems that I’ve found with home quality universal trainers are instability and limited range of motion.

Now, the instability problem can stem from shoddy engineering or operator error.  If you’re trying to set up your universal weight machine and you don’t have the instructions out there’s a good chance that you’ll notice a little instability in your new equipment!

Once you do buy home gym equipment, it’s extremely important that you set it up according to the instructions in order to get the safest and most effective workout possible.

The range of motion limitation that, in my opinion, plagues the home gym quality universal trainers usually occurs when a manufacturer tries to combine two different exercises in one station and ends up limiting motion in both.  The most common occurrence of this is the interchangeable preacher curl and leg extension station.

If you’re considering buying a universal trainer, or any all-in-one weight machine, the best advice that I can give you is test it before you buy it.  I don’t mean go and do two reps with no weight – I mean really test the equipment out.  Use the amount of weight that you expect to begin working out with, make sure you adjust the equipment to fit your frame and then do a bunch of reps.

By doing this, you may find that a machine has sticking points, poor range of motion, improper fit to your frame and a variety of other issues; or, you may find that it’s your personal dream machine and buy it on the spot.  The point is, you won’t know unless you really test it out before you make your decision.

So, to answer the question, do all-in-one trainers really work – yes, they do, but it’s up to you to find out which ones work the best for you.

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