Time for Exercise

My husband and I decided that this year we wouldn’t buy separate gifts for each other for Christmas. Instead, we’d get some fitness equipment for our home. We went back and forth for weeks on what kind of equipment we wanted. He thought treadmill first, I wanted an elliptical. Next we both seriously considered a rowing machine, but we’ve finally settled on a Total Gym.

Total Gym exercise equipment has a good reputation as a quality machine, and that’s obviously important if you’re going to spend any money on gym equipment for your home. Prices have a nice range, so you don’t have to spend a fortune if you don’t want to, yet you’ll still get a quality product. One thing to note on all Total Gym exercise equipment is that while you can fold it up and put it away, it’s fairly heavy.

Today I’d like to review a few of the Total Gym exercise equipment options, and what interests me about each.

Total Gym 1100

The Total Gym 1100 is a budget friendly model. You’ll have to check on your own for current pricing – I don’t like to share product pricing in my reviews when it can change so easily. Still, I will note that Amazon has one of the best prices I’ve seen, plus they’re a company I trust.

The Total Gym 1100 measures 99.5 by 43.75 by 16 inches, and can be folded and put away. If you have the space, I don’t recommend putting your exercise equipment away too often, as it’s easier to use if it’s just out there, ready to go, but many of us have good reasons to put exercise equipment away, such as a small living space or young children who won’t always leave it alone. Do what works for you and focus on keeping up your motivation no matter where you keep your exercise equipment.

Like other Total Gyms, this model allows you to do about 60 exercises, and comes with leg pulleys so you can work out your lower body, not just your upper body. The reviews on Amazon are quite promising, so low price or no, this looks like a highly acceptable machine whether you’re trying to build your home gym on a budget or just want to make sure that you aren’t overspending on something you won’t actually use.

Total Gym XLS Trainer

The Total Gym XLS Trainer is a step up from the 1100. It has a new pulley system, better padding on the glide board, plus extra features such as a Pilates kit. It also supports up to 400 pounds, although some reviewers on Amazon dispute it’s suitability for that range. It includes over 80 exercises, 5 workout DVDs, an exercise wall chart, training deck and nutritional program/meal planning guide. Overall, it looks like a great piece of exercise equipment for a very reasonable price.

Total Gym 1800 Club Home Gym

If you don’t want to take the jump in price to the XLS Trainer, the Total Gym 1800 Club is a pretty good choice. It has a larger glide board than the 1100, and includes ab boards, a Pilates bar and a mat to protect your floor. You also get one DVD with two workouts. This model has a maximum user weight of 275 pounds, which from what I’ve seen is a pretty common range for lower priced home gym equipment.

If you’re noticing that there aren’t big differences apparent in different models and price ranges, you’re right. The differences are often in the quality of the frame and glide board, and in the accessories you get.

There are other Total Gym models to consider, but these are the ones we looked at. Take a look at what each one offers you as you consider your own needs. It’s likely to be a good purchase.

Many people really don’t dance that much these days. This is probably especially true after getting married and having a family, just due to the sheer lack of free time.

Because of this many people feel very clumsy when they dance. So why do dance aerobics?

One of the simplest advantages is that many people find it fun. The music adds interest to an activity that might otherwise bore you. And moving to a rhythm encourages you to keep up with the group, to keep trying. It also just feels good.

As with any other aerobic exercise, dance aerobics is good for your metabolism. It gets your heart rate up and works your muscles. Some steps help with your balance. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s been a while since I posted. Life’s been hectic, between my husband losing his job due to layoffs, and my entire family getting the flu, which ended with me getting a sinus infection. It’s been a while since I really felt up to working, never mind working out, but I’m getting there now.

I’ll tell you now, though, if you ever get any sort of sinus troubles, even just a cold from what I understand, a Neti pot really can help. I didn’t have to go to the doctor for help with my sinus troubles, which I’m about 99% sure was either a sinus infection or mere steps away from one. Nasal irrigation is taking care of the problem for me. My first time using it, and I’m greatly impressed.

A lot of people want an instant answer to their food issues. Something that will help them to eat more healthy foods without such a struggle over old favorites. But perhaps thinking slow and steady is a better way to go.

One of the first things you need to recognize are the things that cause you to eat too much. For some it’s stress, others boredom, others just simply have a lot of bad eating habits.

It’s important to recognize the areas that give you the most trouble. If you can either break the habit or find a healthier, lower calorie snack for those times, you could be on your way to controlling your weight. That can be a wonderful thing.

Of course, many people need help with this, which is why diet plans are so very popular. And there’s nothing wrong with needing a little help. If it were easy, we’d all be our own ideal weights.

The next thing is to recognize that you can’t always change all your habits in one easy shot. It often takes time. It definitely takes discipline. And if you leave yourself feeling too deprived, it will be easy for all your new control to be broken. Tiny steps are better for most people.

This can carry over into your fitness habits too. If you can convince yourself to start something as simple as a 15 minutes walk daily on your lunch break, you can build up into more fitness habits. Combine better eating habits with better fitness habits, and your overall health should improve.

Of course, there’s no saying exactly what results you will get. These things do vary by the individual, but if you’re eating better and working out, that’s an accomplishment you can be proud of.