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CountryLife4U
Fitness
Deciding
What Fat Burning Exercise
Equipment You Need
If
you are not sure which cardiovascular machine you need or want to
purchase then take a look at the following article. Hopefully this
will assist you in making the right choice for your fat burning
needs.
Treadmill
The
Treadmill is very versatile and is pretty much top of the list
when it comes to cardiovascular equipment. It suits all types of
fitness levels and can be used for everything from fat burning,
walking programs, running to fitness testing. There are loads of
varieties of treadmills but you need to choose one that suits your
needs best, otherwise you won't use it and it will only gather
dust. (sound familiar?)
1#
Best Choice Treadmill
For
a good allround treadmill, which will cost a bit extra to hire or
purchase, go for the following functions when shopping around.
Motorised - don't buy manuals because you probably won't use it
after the first week. (If you have high blood pressure or a heart
condition manual treadmills may put too much stress on the heart)
For
an easy to use treadmill go for functions that are all located on
the front console of the treadmill, where the screen is. Speed
Function, Incline Function for which you can use for "hills
and intervals", Manual, Hills, Interval Programs and a
Fitness Test Program if possible too. The Pulse rate Function is
optional, although I do recommend it if you are very unfit or have
any medical conditions.
If
you have got these functions you are "set". These basic
functions, which most motorised treadmills have, offer heaps of
variation for your workouts and for you to advance with your
"cardio" program. If you are of a more advanced level
such as an athlete you will need to spend extra $$$ to ensure the
treadmill caters for an athletes needs.
You
can also get motorised treadmills where you have to get on and off
the treadmill to adjust inclines etc and where you need to use a
handle to wind up the speed. However I have found that, in
general, these manual type functions tend to interrupt the
cardiovascular session which usually leads to the treadmill being
shoved in the junk room of your house and not being used at all.
These treadmills are not suitable for running or jogging either.
Indoor
Cycles
Indoor
cycles are also fantastic and don't take up much room in the house
either. Some of them are more light weight than others too, which
is convenient when you need to move the cycle from one room to
another. This cardiovascular machine can also be used for fitness
testing, fat burning and fitness in general. The best part is you
don't need to be an experienced cyclist to use one.
1#
Best Choice Cycle
Semi-recumbent
cycles are great. The seats are like a normal chair
"seat" and you can stretch your legs out further. They
aren't as hard to lower yourself onto as the fully recumbent
cycle. Requirements: Full function console including programs and
heart rate monitor. If you don't mind changing the intensity
yourself and would prefer to save yourself some $$$ go for
semi-recumbent with an intensity dial.
Indoor
Upright Cycle. A stationery exercise bike, similar to a normal
bike with a narrow seat. Basic Requirements: Rpms and intensity
dial. You can usually purchase or hire these quite cheaply. As the
price is normally fairly low it'd be worth your while to find out
how much extra it is for an indoor upright cycle with functions
and programs - don't forget the pulse rate monitor.
Fully-recumbent
cycles are also fantastic but can be difficult to lower yourself
onto if you have back problems. They also have a large seat and
are normally found at most health clubs or for hire. The fully
recumbent are quite a bit more expensive than the semi-recumbent,
from what I have experienced anyway. Requirements: Rpms and
programs essential as these things cost an arm and a leg, so you
want to make sure you get your money's worth. Pulse rate Functions
are important. Make sure the programs have hills and intervals.
The same rules apply for other cardiovascular equipment. Make sure
if you are paying big dollars that you have a full function
console that contains all programs plus a heart rate monitor.
Steppers
I
don't recommend steppers for beginners, extremely overweight,
overweight, low-level fitness or people suffering from lower back
pain, heart and or blood pressure conditions. Why?
1
Your heart rate can be raised too high without making much of an
effort
2 It can be quite difficult to use when starting out and can be
quite off-putting.
3 Most people rock their hips by taking large steps which effects
their lower backs and encourages lower back pain.
4 As people tire very quickly on the stepper they tend to either
half hang off the equipment from exhaustion or round their backs
to the point where they are only causing themselves the risk of
injury.
Don't
get me wrong - Steppers can be fun, but you need to make sure that
correct posture and technique is carried out at all times as well
as being at a more advanced fitness level.
Other
Equipment
As
you may have already seen in the shops and on the net the options
for cardiovascular exercise equipment seems to be never ending. If
you really get stuck you can ask your doctor what he/she
recommends for now and you can go ahead and hire, rather than
purchasing equipment until you have made up your mind. Basically
the above is a brief overview of just a few of the many types of
equipment available for use.
WHAT
DO I DO IF MY BIKE, TREADMILL OR CARDIOVASCULAR EQUIPMENT DOESN'T
HAVE PROGRAMS?
You
can still perform your cardiovascular programs, you just need to
improvise. Hills: Slowly increase the intensity as if you were
walking or riding etc up a hill, so it will gradually get harder
and harder. Stop at a higher intensity then gradually decrease the
intensity. Repeat this sequence. Incline functions are perfect for
this as they give the impression of walking or riding up a hill.
Intervals: Dramatically swapping and altering inclines and speed.
You can increase the speed, then slow it down while at the same
time decreasing and increasing the inclines. You can create your
own variety of combinations. Manual: This is a steady pace which
is not altered in any way, with the intensity staying the same
throughout the program. I often call this "flats" as you
aren't increasing the incline.
Things
You will Need to Keep in Mind
Make
sure you tell the sales consultant if you have any injuries or
medical conditions that may affect what type of equipment you
require eg Such as knee or joint injuries or high blood pressure,
lower back pain etc. You should ask your doctor too if he / she
recommends any specific equipment if you require rehabilitation.
Always make sure, whether you have any medical concerns or not,
that you check with your doctor before starting any type of
exercise program.
Within
my web site http://www.virtualfitnesstrainer.com
I include a variety of "cardio" programs for different
body types and health and fitness goals. The intensities change as
do the programs depending on the body type and needs of my
members. It's important to make note of your goals before shopping
for your "cardio" machine to ensure you buy the correct
machine for your needs.
For
further information regarding fat burning programs designed to
suit your needs or further articles on losing body fat please
click on the following link: http://www.virtualfitnesstrainer.com.
Happy
Training!
Yours
in fun, health and fitness
Mandy
http://www.virtualfitnesstrainer.com
Mandy Gibbons, Personal Fitness
Trainer info@virtualfitnesstrainer.com
http://www.virtualfitnesstrainer.com
http://www.virtualfitnesstrainer.com.au
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