Gym Flooring

Weight benches are an important part of any gym, whether it is a fitness center or a home gym.  They are so much more than a place to do the traditional bench press.  While they are necessary for this exercise you can do so much more than just the bench press on a weight lifting bench.

Even if you don’t have the extra weight bench attachments you can still pretty much get a full body workout by using a weight bench, some dumbbells and resistance bands.  Since the bench gets you off of the floor it positions you in a way that allows you to lift or stretch in more ways.  For instance if you lay on the weight bench face down you can use dumbbells or wrist weights and lift and lower your arms so you can target certain back and shoulder muscles.   Read more...

$99 per month or more not including exorbitant setup fees of often hundreds of dollars. Even those much less expensive gyms that are in the $40 per month range can certainly add up over time especially if you factor in the amount of gas you use back and forth on each trip. Not only are they expensive, they can also be inconvenient. A majority of individuals who sign up for gym memberships never end up sticking to the workout routines because it can be so hard to fit going to the gym into your daily schedule. This makes building a home gym a perfect solution for many people.

Now, building a home gym does not have to be an expensive endeavor. You can often get away with very little equipment to start and simply add to it as you become more experienced with working out and your budget increases. For those who are new to working out, one of the best purchases can be a home gym system. These all in one equipment packages feature attachments that will allow you to work your entire body with one machine. Because of this, your home gym may end up being much smaller than if you had many pieces of equipment. Those who are a little more advanced may look to include free weights in their home gym setup.  Read more...

If you are making efforts to get into better shape or to lose weight, one question you might have is about whether or not you should join a gym or other type of fitness center. This is a question that only you can answer, but here are a few thoughts to ponder before you sign up at fitness center or gym. * Is a contract required? If so, you will want to be sure that you understand the terms of your contract and what the payment schedule is. Some gyms may offer discounts for long term memberships, so know what you’re signing! If you sign up for a 36 month contract, you’ll be held to it, even if you stop going. Don’t be afraid to ask the salesperson to bring it home and read it in its entirety before signing on the dotted line. * Are the hours and location of the gym conveinent for you? If the gym or fitness center has limited hours, or isn’t close enough to your home, you might struggle to make it there. To maximize your membership at any gym, you have to go! Make sure that it is open hours when you are planning on working out, and doesn’t take an hour to get to. Otherwise your enthusiasm might fade quick. * Do they have the equipment that you are looking for? You will want to be sure that your gym has the fitness equipment you need for maximum health benefits. Do they have enough cardio machines such as elliptical trainers, stationary bicycles, treadmills, stair machines etc. that you won’t have to wait to use them? There is nothing more demotivating than arriving at the gym to find you have to wait an hour to use your desired machine. If you are looking to do weight training, you’ll want to be sure they offer free weights, or strength training equipment.

* Do they offer fitness classes? You might feel more comfortable or motivated working out in a group environment. If you are this type of person, look for a gym that offers fitness classes such as step aerobics, pilates, yoga or spinning. Before signing up, you’ll want to confirm whether or not there are additional fees to attend, so you aren’t surprised with additional fees later. * Do they offer personal trainers? If you are interested in a personal trainer, you’ll want to be sure that your gym offers this service. Personal Trainers are not typically included in base memberships at most gyms, however it is worth asking if there are any introductory specials that offer a personal trainer for your first visit/ workout. * Do they have other features that you or your family might enjoy? Some features might be a bonus! Do they have an indoor swimming pool, hot tub, sauna or tennis courts that you have access to? Although this might not be a major selling point, having different things to do at the gym could help tackle weight loss plateaus or boredom in your workout routine. * Is the gym clean? There is nothing more disgusting than a gym that is filled with dirt and grime. Do they offer sanitizers to clean machines before and after using them? No one wants to sit in someone elses puddle of sweat. Look for signs like dirty floors and unkept bathrooms or locker rooms. These are good indicators of the overall cleanliness of the gym you are considering. Cleanliness is next to Godliness, they say.  Read more...

If your workout consists of more than just jogging, at some point you’ll want to invest in some fitness equipment. Which you select will, naturally, depend on lots of things – budget vs price, quality vs needs, type and interests and so forth.

Fitness equipment can run anywhere from $50 to $5,000 or more. You may be satisfied with an exercise ball or you may want a complete gym. That depends, of course, on your budget, your commitment and your desired workout routine.  Read more...

any of us cutting out the expensive gym memberships and looking to home based fitness programs, investing in some items of home fitness equipment can be a motivating way to get you on the road to slim, fit and toned. Here are a few tricks and tips for getting you thinking about what you would like to create at home. Even if you do not have much room there are ways to maximize your floor space to squeeze as much in as safely and effectively as possible. There are many choices out there from rowing machines, treadmills, elliptical machines and bikes and it can be rather overwhelming. All in all there are three areas to think about when designing your home gym. 1. Consider what your physical fitness goals are for your gym. Is your aim to tone, build cardiovascular fitness, build up muscle or lose weight? These factors will depend on your sex, age and your health and fitness levels and social factors like whether you have a partner or family. 2. There are some real ‘must haves’ in the range of home fitness equipment like free weights, at least one cardio machine, and dumbbell sets. Look for equipment combinations that are most suitable for your home gym while considering your personal fitness goals and the practical things like your budget and floor space. 3. Bear in mind the floor plan and layout you would like. Consider things like which pieces of gym equipment fit together in dedicated workout areas, floor space requirements, window positions along with mirrors and other exciting accessories. Building Home Fitness Goals Regarding your physical fitness goals, consider the areas of cardio, fat burn and weight loss and assess how overweight you are, if at all. It may be helpful to take a look at some height and weight charts to determine the type of aerobic and cardiovascular exercises suitable for you and how much weight training equipment is needed. Notice how your weight is distributed. Are you top or bottom heavy? For example, if you are bottom heavy, focus on exercising the legs, so a bike or treadmill is better than an a cross trainer. If your weight is pretty much balanced, then having a general range of equipment is best. Other things to think about regarding your objectives for your home fitness equipment are whether you have any injuries, your current level of fitness and who else will be using the equipment. Also, it is important to be clear about your objectives when you go to the store or buy online so you stick to your plan and are not influenced. Where to put your equipment? Regarding layout, basements are ideal as they can support the heavy weight of gym machines and weights. Be sure that you have enough space to stretch in all directions for mat based workouts. Keep cardiovascular equipment next to windows that you can open to get fresh air while you work out. Have the step, bench mat and weight rack in the same area. It is a good idea to use mirrors in your gym and in fact is it essential when using free weights to ensure a good posture, so mount them on as many walls as possible. Put a full length mirror in your stretch area. Mirrors help to ensure you keep good posture at all times.

By: Bill Nad  Read more...