Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Gym Equipment - Fitness with Total Gym




Total gym workouts are the key to developing and sustaining a healthy and strong body. There is a trend for bodybuilders just to concentrate on one limited area, and miss out on the holistic benefits of full body training. Here, we show you the benefits of a total gym workout.

Phase 1
When you start a total gym workout, you should start by doing cardio work. Warming up is essential for any athletic endeavor, and with bodybuilding, you want to get the limbs loose and the blood pumping. Warming up will also help burn off excess fat. Running is a very common way of warming up, but for something really strenuous try the boxer's training of skipping.

Phase 2
People often start total gym workouts by working the arms or legs, but this really makes little sense. It makes a lot more sense to end your workout with your limbs, as tiring them early will mean that your arms will only be able to handle reduced weights during the rest of your workout, and your legs will not be able to carry you as vigorously around the gym. Working the chest and back first is a much better progression. Try to use dumbbell bench presses to enhance your chest, and if you have a pec deck, use that. It is not so easy to work your back, but you can do lat pull downs and deadlifts if you have access to the right equipment, and these should produce very satisfactory results.

Phase 3
The arms can come next, and this is a favorite area of so many bodybuilders. You can look forward to this part of your total gym workout, as your arms can produce the most visible results from your hard work. Too many people don't consider that there are 3 sets of muscles in the arm, so you need to exercise them all in turn. You can try some dumbbell curls which benefit the biceps, some triceps pulldowns which will build the triceps (hard work!), and then forearms curls and reverse forearm curls to enhance your forearm muscles. If you work this hard, you will see for yourself why this is not a good place to start!

Phase 4
Time now for some leg work. Even with total gym workouts, many people overlook the legs, unless they are competitive bodybuilders. As the legs do a lot of work carrying the rest of your body, they respond well to exercise. Start out by doing squats to build your thighs, and if you try single footed heel raises for your calves you should find them highly effective. The hamstrings are the final part, and although they will be exercised by default during your running and warming up, you can also do some basic leg curls which will increase the effect.

This will show you that total workouts can be simple enough, and not take that much time, and also that working the whole body is far more effective.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Home Gym Workouts
How To Burn Fat
http://www.MuscleBuilderReview.com

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Gym Equipment Fitness - Olympic Weight Benches

Weight benches are an integral part of any home gym. This is an essential piece of fitness gym equipment and you should take great care in choosing the right one for you. There are many weight benches on the market but you will want to choose one that is right for you and one that will stand up over time. You do not want to sacrifice quality to save a few dollars. Do not settle for lower quality gym equipment fitness products.

A good weight bench is foundational piece of home gym equipment for any strength training program. Many of the home fitness equipment that you find in some Sporting Goods or Department Stores can be flimsy and unstable in their designs.

Make sure that you purchase an Olympic Weight Benches that is constructed from Industrial Grade Heavy Duty Steel. Most of these will offer the ability to incline and decline the bench allowing you to exercise your chest muscles from different directions. They are also sturdy enough to handle the heavier weights. You may not think about this but they also have a wider base allowing you to change the weights on one end without worrying about the bar becoming too heavy on one end and flipping off.

One of the benches that I think meets the criteria discuss above is a bench from the company Body Solid. I have purchased their equipment in the past and have been very impressed with it. You can click on the link below to investigate further. Good luck in your search for your next quality piece of gym equipment/fitness equipment.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Home Gym Fitness Equipment Helps Offset Sedentary Lifestyles

Technology has brought so many conveniences to our everyday lives and has made it possible to pack so much more into a single day. But, at the same time, many of these conveniences have ended up eliminating a lot of physical movement that used to be necessary.

Because of this, people now have to purposefully integrate exercise into their routines and this has made the interest in home gym fitness equipment rise considerably in recent years.

Because technology now delivers so much to us with the simple push of a button or two, we are not often called upon to meet heavy physical demands in our regular, daily lives. While there are still many people who do have occupations that have them toiling and sweating, increasingly the average American worker does nothing more strenuous than changing the toner in the copier.

Having some good fitness gear in the house can help to offset this sedentary nature that so many people have become accustomed to in the new American lifestyle. This new, more stationary and slow-moving lifestyle has lead to a significant increase in obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other health concerns.

With the busy schedules that most people keep, it is increasingly difficult to find the time to escape from the rat-race and get to the gym. As stress escalates, people are inclined to want to stay in the familiar, comforting surroundings of their homes, giving rise to the increase in sales of home gym fitness equipment.

Putting together a set of home gym fitness equipment is one of the best gifts that someone who is health-conscious can give to themselves. For the most part, the home gym exercise equipment that you will end up with in your house is easier to use than the more complex gear found in a commercial gym setting. And, in addition to being easier to use, it takes up less space and normally requires very little maintenance.

Some of the newer pieces of such gear on the market have been designed to work the whole body. Such equipment is a great boom to those who would prefer at home fitness routines because with an investment in just one piece of exercise gear for the house, you can address many different areas of your body that need to be toned and tightened.

It is much easier to find a bit of free space in your house for one single item of home exercise equipment as opposed to different units to exercise different body parts. Choosing the right home gym fitness equipment for your needs can often be somewhat bewildering because there are so many choices and so many companies that claim they have the one-and-only best exercise gear for the house that you can find.

And, things become even more muddled when you turn on the television and see infomercials or shopping channels that pitch the latest and greatest at home fitness device you have ever seen. What is amazing is that almost weekly some new breakthrough exercise gear for the house is promoted, making it difficult for the average person to know what to believe.

A great way to make sure you select the proper home gym fitness equipment is to ask a professional trainer to help you in that endeavor. They can evaluate your current condition and help you clarify your fitness goals and then advise you about the best at home fitness equipment for your quest.

Also, once you choose and get the equipment set up, they can provide training so that you will be able to use the fitness equipment correctly and effectively.

A whole world of information about home gym fitness equipment eagerly awaits you from Mike Selvon portal. We appreciate your feedback at our home gym fitness equipment blog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Selvon

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Power Racks: Essential Home Gym Equipment



A power rack is one of the most useful pieces of equipment for a home gym. If you have a good weight set and a good bench, the next thing you should consider is a good quality power rack. A power rack is a simple device that holds a barbell at any height you choose to start an exercise, and provides safety rails that catch the barbell at the end of the set. There is a link at the bottom of this article that will take you to some pictures of several different power racks.

The most important features of a power rack are safety and versatility. If you set it up properly, it enables you to perform many heavy exercises in relative safety. If you have ever bench pressed a heavy weight by yourself without a rack of some kind, you know what I mean! What do you do when you can’t get that barbell off your chest? You either scream for help or shift the weight to one side and let it drop to the floor which not only can damage your equipment and the floor, but opens you up to the possibility of serious injury to your back, neck and shoulders. A properly used power rack prevents this by providing an adjustable height safety catch that allows you to simply lower the weight onto it and you can safely slide out from under the barbell with no risk or effort whatsoever!

Power racks are fully adjustable so you can set it up for safe military presses, bench presses (flat, incline or decline), squats, calf raises, shrugs and any other movement where the barbell does not go to the floor at the end of the set. Many racks also have a chin up bar, adjustable dip bars, and an optional lat pull down attachment. I highly recommend the lat pulley attachment on the power rack versus a separate machine. I have used both and the rack is much more stable than most stand-alone lat machines, and the space savings is considerable.

I believe the power rack to be essential for someone who works out alone in a home gym. If you have a good set of weights and a good quality bench and are serious about your weight lifting or bodybuilding program, get a power rack next!

I personally own and use a Body Solid (Powerline) Power rack with a plate loading lat attachment, but Powertec and Yukon make quality racks as well. I am partial to Body Solid because I like all my equipment to look the same, and I have been please with every piece of Body Solid equipment I have purchased over the years.

See quality power racks at:

http://www.RockSolidBodybuilding.com/powerrack

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
David Monyer has been involved in bodybuilding for the last 20 years, making most of his muscle gains in his basement gym, as well as different clubs and gyms over the years. For more information and well researched sites to purchase equipment and supplements, visit http://www.RockSolidBodybuilding.com

Friday, December 5, 2008

Some Cool New Fitness Equipment

Best Home Gym Equipment

If you like to work out, then it is important for you to find the best home gym equipment for you. You want something that is going to produce the individual results that you need in order for you to be in the best shape possible. However, the choice can be difficult since there is a variety of home gym equipment available. You have a choice between free weights, rowing machines, treadmills, and other hydraulic systems. Each touts to be the best home gym equipment that money can buy. Nevertheless, every individual needs something different since everyone's body is different and each person seeks different results. That is why you need to do your homework to find the best home gym equipment that you can.

For the beginner

If you're extremely out of shape, then you may want to start out with something such as a treadmill. However, you may be an individual with knee troubles and a treadmill may be too much. In that case, the best home gym equipment for you would be something such as an elliptical machine. This is because it has no impact on the knees like a treadmill. To make sure one of these items is the best home gym equipment for you, you can try these types of equipment out in a store.

For the more advanced

If you are looking for more advanced equipment, then the best home gym equipment is going to be some kind of weight system. This could be a hydraulic system and/or some free weights. This provides you with some resistance training. If you're not very experienced with free weights, then the best home gym equipment for you might be a workout station. Workout stations do not allow much room for you to deviate from how they are supposed to be used. This reduces the probability of an injury. Even some of the most experienced weight lifters still use a workout station for that very reason.

If you wish to use free weights, be sure to start out small and work your way up to heavier weights. You don't want to start out too big and cause yourself injury. This is a great way to gauge how your fitness level is changing. You'll know when it is time to move to a higher weight amount.

For everyone

Stationary bikes can be a lot of fun and is included as part of the best home gym equipment. Having one of these allows for some cardio in your exercise regimen. In some cases such equipment can be better than a treadmill. Just make sure that when finding the best home gym equipment that you choose what is the best for you and your individual condition. In the long run, you'll be glad you did.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about home gym equipment, please visit Best Home Exercise Equipment for current articles and discussions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Pennington

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Ultimate Body Press Dip Machine

Product Review - The Yin to the Iron Gym's Yang





The Iron Gym pull-up bar gives you access to arguably the best bodyweight resistance exercise ever and for that simple fact, the Iron Gym is worth every penny. It works great in most doorways and installs without having to drill into your walls. You do kind of feel like you are going to bang your head onto the door frame with each pull-up on the Iron Gym, but that is a small sacrifice to be able to perform this tremendous exercise from home. The convenience factor cannot be overstated. The more convenient an exercise is the more likely you are to do it and the more success you will have.


As for the other features of the Iron Gym, the knee raise straps are good as long as you don't use them for too long which may cut off circulation in your arms while you are hanging there. Besides, you can do knee raises while you are doing pull ups. The push-up bar feature is good for those whose wrists are strained by normal push-ups but the dip bar is a joke. The range of motion is a completely inadequate distance of about 5 inches. Furthermore, if you are going to do pull-ups where the resistance is equal to your entire bodyweight you should balance that with a press exercise that also employs your entire bodyweight. So what exercise is the Yin to the Iron Gym's Yang?

The exercise that most perfectly balances the resistance of the pull-up is the handstand push-up. Imagine using your arms to pull yourself up to an overhead bar then doing the exact opposite. From a handstand you then press your entire bodyweight up over your head. Or would that be pressing up under your head? Now I'm confused. The point is these two exercises balance each other perfectly. The only problem is that if you have ever tried handstand push-ups you know that it is not exactly easy to get into that position. It helps if you use a wall for balance, but my efforts have lead to some damaged walls and embarrassing falls. Secondly, the handstand push-up does not work because your head gets in the way of full range of motion. There must be a better way.

There is only one other exercise that requires you to press your entire bodyweight and that exercise is the chest or tricep dip. The dip is similar to a push-up but instead of pressing only a portion of your weight up against the floor you press your entire bodyweight up against the grips of the dip stand which are usually about waist high or more. This is a great exercise for strengthening the chest, triceps and shoulders. The dip exercise is also a useful addition to the Iron Gym because these muscles are generally the muscle used to counterbalance those engage during a pull-up.

The problem with the dip exercise is that most of the dip machines on the market today are either too big or too expense to be considered for home use. However there is one dip machine that is designed specifically for home use and sells for under $100. The Ultimate Body Press Dip Machine is the only reasonably affordable dip machine that is compact enough to use in your home and just like the Iron Gym you will not have to damage you walls to install it because it is freestanding. There are also other exercises you can do with the Ultimate Body Press but the most important similarity is you can now take full advantage of another one of the most challenging and effect bodyweight resistance exercises in the convenience of your own home. That makes the Ultimate Body Press the Yin to the Irons Gym's Yang and for that simple fact it is worth every penny.

Frank Balentine,
President,
Ultimate Body Press,
http://www.ultimatebodypress.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Franklin_Balentine

Franklin Balentine - EzineArticles Expert Author

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Portable Fitness Equipment - Monkey Bar Gym

Powerblock Dumbbells - The Dumbbells That Grow As You Grow


Any fitness trainer will tell you that choosing the right dumbbells for home-training is essential for creating a successful and regular workout routine. Many newcomers to the world of strength-training cringe at the thought of having to purchase a wall-sized rack of weights to accompany the changes in their strength abilities over time. Powerblock dumbbells are one of the most popular, adjustable weight training sets on the market. They are a great product to help you jump-start your own home fitness routine, without having to sacrifice a room of your house. These balanced, adjustable dumbbells provide good stability for strength-straining movements, while taking up very little space in your home. The following article will walk you through some of the finer points of these great, space-saving dumbbells.

Don't let their cage-like square shape fool you. The square shape actually weighs more than traditional round or hexagonal weights. These weights are impeccably composed of rectangular steel plates, side-rods and stacked vertical square plates, taking up about the same space as two of your average large dumbbells. In the realm of quick change dumbbells, Powerblocks are also extremely compact, allowing you to seamlessly integrate them into your space, without the bulkiness of a more traditional weight-lifting set. Powerblocks are adjustable dumbbells that can provide the entire weight-choice spectrum of a more traditional set of dumbbells. A small set can fit into an 18 X 22 inch space, and can replace a whopping 37 pairs of traditional dumbbells. This means that you can store your entire free-weight workout facility in the space the size of a shoe box, instead of needing a massive wall or floor mount for your rack of weights.

This ingenious "all-in-one" setup is achieved through a pin mechanism that allows you to select the desired weight you want to lift. The pins mark off the needed weight to be lifted, and store the rest of the weight in the waist-high stand. Another great advantage to using this type of dumbbell is that they not only are they the heaviest of the non-traditional set-ups, but they are also super-versatile, in that they allow you to start with a 50-pound set, and expand upward in increments of 3 pounds towards a maximum of 130 pounds per dummbell. This means that you can easily shift weight from as little as 5 lbs. to 50 lbs. in around 5-10 seconds.

Powerblocks also provide the ideal setup for micro-loading, as the Powerblock set allows for small increases on the weight increments. To do this, you simply select your desired weight, and then easily add on the 2 pound micro-weights, which slip seamlessly into the hand-weight itself. In this way, the dumbbells are equally suited for all you beginner lifters, as well as the more seasoned lifting pro. Another advantage is that you can work slowly to move toward your desired strength goals, instead of having to jump from one weight to the next, as with other types of home-gym equipment.

Fitness wise, this is intelligent design. Powerblocks allow you to slowly and safely increase your strength and endurance without the risk of injury that comes from jumping and struggling with a heavier 5 pound increase. Safety and reduction of risk are of extreme importance, especially when working from a home-based gym without the supervision of a coach or trainer. The structural design of each Powerblock handle creates a very comfortable lifting experience for both the novice and advanced lifters. More importantly, for a beginner weight-trainer who may have weak wrists, the Powerblock has a wrist-protector handle padding to ensure wrist support, reducing the chance of injury.

Cost-wise, the average dumbbell will run you anywhere from 80-99 cents per pound and up. The average cost of Powerblocks run around 11 cents per pound, making them one of the most affordable products on the market. The set-up also comes with an easy-to-move workbench and a triceps bar that attaches to the the back of the workbench. Powerblocks offer a several versions of their selectorized dumbbell sets. The first is the Elite Personal Set, which equals 500 pounds of free-weights, or 10 pairs of dumbbells. This set allows you to train within a range of 5-50 pounds per dumbbell. The second version of this product is the Elite Powerblock, which equals 28 pairs of dumbbells, or a whopping 2,570 pounds of free weights. This allows you to work anywhere from 5 to 130 pounds per dumbbell.

All in all, with a good weight bench and a set of these dumbbells, anyone can have a quality weight-training set-up in a small space in their home. Powerblocks are the best bet for an efficient, safe workout, for both beginner and advanced lifters alike.

Mike Westerdal is the owner of http://www.criticalbench.com. Visit his site to receive two free PDF reports entitled, "31 Days To Bigger Arms" and "Boosting Testosterone Levels for Big Muscle Gains."

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

What Features Are Best In An Exercise Treadmill

Treadmills are relatively inexpensive pieces of equipment that you can purchase for your home gym. Treadmills can be small manually powered units that are easily stored. They can also be large motorized units that essentially become a permanent feature of your floor plan. Treadmills are used for home fitness, in commercial gyms, for medical tests, and for other unrelated purposes. Used correctly, treadmills can offer excellent conditioning and health benefits to those individuals who use them.

What Kind of Treadmills are There? Treadmills range from simple to complex. If you are going to purchase a treadmill for home use, then you must make certain that it suits your current physical needs and that it is expandable to meet your future needs. However, it is equally important to purchase a machine that is not going to present too much of a challenge to your or exceed what you perceive are your eventual needs. If your exercise equipment is too complex, you will be less likely to use it, preventing you from enjoying its benefits.

When you prepare to purchase your home treadmill, be certain you do your research first. Measure the floor area in which you will keep your treadmill. Don't plan to keep your treadmill in the closet and take it out to use. You will never do it! Once you have your place selected for your treadmill, research the brands that make machines that fit that size space and have the features that you think you will use. All of these decisions are important in choosing between the many machines that are out there. Do not be attracted by all of the bells and whistle that come with today's machines if they will only prevent you from using the machine at all.

One thing that you will need to decide is if you require your machine to have a motor or not. Motorized machines exist in a variety of complexities that offer the flexibility to suit a number of users. However, manual treadmills are easier for the average home user to maintain. Manual treadmills are also frequently less expensive than motorized treadmills. Only by comparing the advantages offered by each kind can you determine which best suits your needs.

What are the Benefits of Treadmill Exercise? Teadmills allow people to exercise indoors, even when the weather prevents them from going outside for a walk or for a jog. If they have certain displays, they can also monitor heart rate and estimate calorie use. It is possible to use your treadmill for strength training and endurance building, as well as for weight loss. Using a treadmill, whether in a gym or at home also permits the user to go for walks or jogs, even when the area in which they train is dangerous for them to do so.

Disadvantages do exist to treadmills, of course. After an extended period of use, some people can find treadmill workouts to be boring. Also, treadmills are not safe to have around small children if those children can access the machine without parental supervision. For the most part, however, purchasing a treadmill for home use can add a new dimension to your workout.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Marketer and webmaster Jerry Cahill provides helpful information on fitness. One site he maintains to help others with fitness information is at Home Exercise Treadmills

Titan T1 The Ultimate Home Gym Fitness Equipment




If you are looking for the ultimate strength training machine that will suit the needs of practically everyone in your home, office, or training facility, look no further than the Titan T1. Whether you are an advanced weight trainer or just starting out, the Titan is built to accommodate your needs. Stack on the weight (up to 650 lbs. on the smith-carriage or 800 lbs on the heavy duty free weight racks), or go as light as you prefer with our unique counter-balance system. With the counter-balance you will also enjoy such exercises as assisted pull-ups, assisted dips, lat pull downs w/ Smith Machine, and more! The sliding bench makes positioning a breeze and is always perfectly centered for a symmetrical workout every time. Insert 2 footplates into either a high or low position with our quick-change attachment technology and your ready to turn the sliding bench into a high capacity leg press machine. As if this isn’t enough to shape those perfect thighs, we’ve added a second set of footplates that quickly insert into our patented smith-hybrid carriage to create an unprecedented vertical leg press.

Not only does the Titan give you unmatched variety in a home gym, but it is constructed with superior quality and with an elegance that you should expect in a life-long investment for a high-end home gym. You won’t have to worry about vacuuming up the worn-off chrome plating in a couple of years from the Titan’s weight posts because we build ours with shiny and elegant stainless steel. You’ll also get textured stainless steel grips on the bars and accessory handles for an elegance and comfortable feel that will last throughout the years. The Titan is built with commercial quality parts and frame and you get a commercial quality workout every time you use your Titan.

There has never been a system like the Titan that gives you so much in such a compact design. For just a few pennies a day (you spend more than this in gas on your way to the gym) you can invest in your health and well-being with a gym that gives you the quality and variety of most commercial gyms, but you can now work out whenever you want in the comfort and privacy of your own home. No more fighting traffic, waiting for a bench to free-up, finding and paying a babysitter, etc., etc. etc… Weight training is an effective way to reduce fat, tone your muscles and build self esteem. When you look better, you feel better and are more productive and happy. Reach your fitness goals quicker and more efficiently & conveniently by investing in a long-term health plan today – the Titan T1 Health Plan!

Weights not included

Standard Titan T-1 includes:

Diamond Plated Foothold Attachments which can be used for the following exercises:

* Vertical Leg Press – The footholds can be attached to the carriage system for working the full quadriceps muscles.
* Low Rows – The footholds can be attached for placement of the feet while working the back muscles.
* Back Extensions –If you have a fitness ball, the footholds can be used to hold and stabilize you while performing various exercises such as back extensions or sit-ups.

1. Counter-Balance System which allows you to do the following exercises easier by reducing the weight you must push / pull up to as low as one pound, if necessary:
1. Assisted Dips
2. Cable Bars and Accessories - Included with the Titan are these bars and accessories:
1. Lat pull-down bar – constructed of steel with long-lasting textured stainless steel grips
2. Angled Tricep bar for cable – constructed of steelwith long-lasting textured stainless steel grips
3. Double Grip Low Row Handle
4. Weight posts – Stainless steel weight posts to store weight plates
5. Cable extensions – 12” and 18” cable extensions


Exercise Handles – The following handles are included with your Titan.

6. Push / Pull Handles – These handles now feature textured stainless steel grips to give you the same feel of the commercial gym. They are used for most exercises and include our unique twist-and-lock design to start and end each exercise safely. Supports up to 650 lbs. safely.
7. Dips Bar / Dead-lift Handles – These handles can be inserted into the smith carriage at your preferred height and width for dips, assisted dips, dead-lifts and more. These also serve as the support bars for the pad when doing assisted pull-ups.
8. Pull-up handles – two pull-up attachments can be attached to suit your preference (wide, narrow, straight or angled) and are constructed of solid steel and now include textured stainless steel grips.

* Cushioned Shoulder Pads – which make squats and standing calf raises comfortable and easy. These attachments can also be widened or narrowed to fit your preference.
* Base Accessory Rack (does not include H61-P or H61-PM) – easily organizes and stores all of your attachments. Video CD / Chart
1. Assembly instructions for the Titan from uncrating to full assembly.
2. Video and printed copy of exercise instructions
3. Exercise chart

Available Options are as follows:

Option A: Cable Crossover
Option A1: Low Pulley
Option B: Leg Extension/ Leg Curl
Option B1: Preacher Curl/Lower Back Machine
Option C: Ab Flexor Attachment
Option D: Decline foothold
Option E: Dumbbell Spotter
Option F: Leg Abductor / Leg Adductor High / Low Pulley station
Option G: Inversion Boots / station
Option HPB(I): Heavy Bag Attaching Arm (Inside)
Option HPB(O) Heavy Bag Attaching Arm (Outside)
Heavy bag not included
Option N : Close Grip Attachment
Option O: Flat / Incline / Decline Accessory bench on wheels
Option P: Pec Deck
Option R: Ab Crunch machine attachment
(Option N is recommended to be used with this option but not required).
Option S : Dumbbell Hooks
Option T : (Requires Option O)

Does not include
rear accessory bench (option O) or gravity boots (option G).

Diamond Plated Foothold Attachments which can be used for the following exercises:

* Vertical Leg Press – The footholds can be attached to the carriage system for working the full quadriceps muscles.
* Low Rows – The footholds can be attached for placement of the feet while working the back muscles.
* Back Extensions –If you have a fitness ball, the footholds can be used to hold and stabilize you while performing various exercises such as back extensions or sit-ups.

1. Counter-Balance System which allows you to do the following exercises easier by reducing the weight you must push / pull up to as low as one pound, if necessary:
1. Assisted Dips
2. Cable Bars and Accessories - Included with the Titan are these bars and accessories:
1. Lat pull-down bar – constructed of steel with long-lasting textured stainless steel grips
2. Angled Tricep bar for cable – constructed of steelwith long-lasting textured stainless steel grips
3. Double Grip Low Row Handle
4. Weight posts – Stainless steel weight posts to store weight plates
5. Cable extensions – 12” and 18” cable extensions


Exercise Handles – The following handles are included with your Titan.

6. Push / Pull Handles – These handles now feature textured stainless steel grips to give you the same feel of the commercial gym. They are used for most exercises and include our unique twist-and-lock design to start and end each exercise safely. Supports up to 650 lbs. safely.
7. Dips Bar / Dead-lift Handles – These handles can be inserted into the smith carriage at your preferred height and width for dips, assisted dips, dead-lifts and more. These also serve as the support bars for the pad when doing assisted pull-ups.
8. Pull-up handles – two pull-up attachments can be attached to suit your preference (wide, narrow, straight or angled) and are constructed of solid steel and now include textured stainless steel grips.

* Cushioned Shoulder Pads – which make squats and standing calf raises comfortable and easy. These attachments can also be widened or narrowed to fit your preference.
* Base Accessory Rack (does not include H61-P or H61-PM) – easily organizes and stores all of your attachments. Video CD / Chart
1. Assembly instructions for the Titan from uncrating to full assembly.
2. Video and printed copy of exercise instructions
3. Exercise chart

Available Options are as follows:

Option A: Cable Crossover
Option A1: Low Pulley
Option B: Leg Extension/ Leg Curl
Option B1: Preacher Curl/Lower Back Machine
Option C: Ab Flexor Attachment
Option D: Decline foothold
Option E: Dumbbell Spotter
Option F: Leg Abductor / Leg Adductor High / Low Pulley station
Option G: Inversion Boots / station
Option HPB(I): Heavy Bag Attaching Arm (Inside)
Option HPB(O) Heavy Bag Attaching Arm (Outside)
Heavy bag not included
Option N : Close Grip Attachment
Option O: Flat / Incline / Decline Accessory bench on wheels
Option P: Pec Deck
Option R: Ab Crunch machine attachment
(Option N is recommended to be used with this option but not required).
Option S : Dumbbell Hooks
Option T : (Requires Option O)

Monday, December 1, 2008

Budget Friendly Home Fitness Equipment

Before deciding to purchase a home fitness equipment, the user has to get the advice of the physician whether he or she is really fit to do exercises at home, whether it is a strength building exercise or a cardio exercise.

For strength building exercises, there are much small and inexpensive home fitness equipment like dumb bells, free weights, and many more. There are strength training machines that allow maintaining a proper form and would also be helpful in minimizing the risk of injury. Such equipment are also suitable for those who have a limited space in the home.

When it comes to the selection of equipment for cardio workouts at home, there are a number of choices including treadmills that are comfortable and familiar, elliptical trainers that give a low impact work out taking care of the joints and so on. An exercise bike would be a compact home fitness equipment and does not take much of the space.

Elliptical trainers are the ultimate fitness equipment which combine the advantages of both the treadmill and stair stepper. Since different equipment are designed to cater to the needs of different parts of the body, it is better to assess what type of equipment is suitable to the user before finalizing. So, it is sane to purchase equipment with which the user is already familiar and knows how to use it.

A budget has to be set apart for buying the home fitness equipment because the quality of the equipment and thereby, the safety of the user matter more than anything else. This can be judged when a user feels comfortable while using it. Earlier, space was the constraint which prevented people from buying home fitness equipment but now manufacturers have overcome this hurdle by introducing equipment that are foldable and compact, so that they fit into the garage and the budget of the buyer.

Home fitness equipment have many advantages. In addition to saving the time to reach the gym, home fitness equipment offer privacy and comfort of exercising at home. This also gives complete control of oneself and the environment because the user can listen to his or her own choice of music or watch a favorite television program while exercising.

Home fitness equipment also gives time to work out in between activates at home which would not be possible while in the gym. Most of the home fitness equipment come with the instructions on how to use them with written directions or DVDs and hence the user can rest assured that the money invested does not go in vain.

When regular exercises along with proper healthy diet are combined with the utility of home fitness equipment with a good level of motivation, the results are sure to be evident.

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Visit http://www.thetreadmillguide.com for an expert guidance for choosing the right treadmill that suits your budget and physical attributions.

New Fitness Equipment

Finding Cheap Home Gym Exercise Equipment

Most people really want to get in shape and always dream about having a healthy body like the ones they see in movies and on TV. Well the hardest part of getting that body is actually getting your self to exercise on a regular basis at home or in a workout fitness gym or club.

Well for many people when you mention going to the gym they not only say they don't have time but they also tend to argue that the prices are just not reasonable enough so they don't end up bothering. Well let's put the excuses aside and think about setting up a home gym. You don't actually need much money because it is not too hard these days to find cheap or discount exercise equipment either brand new or even used.

These days we are lucky if we are thinking about trying to set up a little home exercise gym or studio. The internet gives us so many cheap options of getting equipment with no stress. It also won't break your bank account either if you look around properly for the right deals.

The first place that I have had luck finding great deals on home gym equipment is on Craigslist. This is one of the world's biggest online classified services and you can always seem to find great deals on gym equipment and it's usually right in your own neighborhood if you search the website properly and call around.

You can also check around local garage or yard sales to find equipment like barbells or stair masters. The great thing is that fitness equipment is big usually so if somebody is doing some moving or reorganizing of their house their health equipment is usually the first thing to go. It's a sad priority but true that most people will push their health to the back of what needs to get done.

It's not uncommon to find a treadmill or an old set of weights for next to nothing just because the previous owners just want to get rid of the bulky equipment quickly. Another great thing about buying this stuff used at a yard or garage sale is you can try it out for a few minutes usually first just to make sure it's not broken.

So before you just give up on the idea of getting healthy just because it's too expensive consider looking around for some great deals on cheap exercise equipment. You can find it all over the place but especially on auction sites on the internet and also back yard sales of neighbors who simply don't use their home gym any longer.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

Sam is the author of a website on how to find home gym fitness equipment . He also talks all about different types of cheap exercise equipment and much more.