Elliptical Horror Story
It’s difficult making a selection among all the elliptical machines available and finding one
a) where the elliptical movement is good
b) which fits your budget
c) that feels sturdy enough for the amount of punishment it’s going to take
But anyway, you visit stores, you look online and finally you make a choice. You get your elliptical trainer delivered and it appears just fine. Your fitness program begins in earnest - you don’t use the machine as much as you expected but you ARE using it… and then within a few months things start to go wrong.
The elliptical movement is not as smooth as before, there are noises coming from the machine, and then after a little while you can’t use it at all.
Then you’d expect warranty and customer service to take over when you have problems with a purchase as large as an elliptical trainer wouldn’t you - I mean these things are not cheap - over $1000?
Well, you might be wrong.
Read the problems one reader encountered with his NordicTrack elliptical.What should you do if you’re thinking of buying an elliptical?
- Read our independent free elliptical buying guide
- Take a look at our reviews of ellipticals and best buys
There was a fair warning of problems in our review of the NordicTrack but unless you happened to see it before a purchase how would you know?
I have to say that NO machine is guaranteed to be error-free but with purchases of large fitness equipment like an elliptical trainer you do want to see the backup of great customer service who will look after you if you hit problems.
Tags: elliptical trainer, Fitness Equipment, machine, problems, reviewsNike+ Ipod - great for fitness motivation
My niece just came back from a long weekend in New York with a great gizmo for running - a nike + ipod sport kit
Apparently these have been around for a while and the whole thing has just passed me by. (Well, I AM in a non-running phase just now)
For once the technology seems pretty easy to master even for those of use still working out how to record something on the VCR long after everyone else has moved onto Tivo or Sky+
Anyway this kit my neice bought has a sensor to fit in your Nike+ shoes and then a receiver to plug into your ipod nano (has to be a nano) and away you go running.
Actually though my niece has these anyway, you don’t really need the expensive shoes just something to fasten the to them that you can buy for next to nothing (see here for a shoe pouch
Once you get going, your ipod nano tracks your running time, distance, pace and calories burned and at the end of your workout you can transfer your workout data to itunes and nikeplus.com to and see your progress in full color and graphic detail. You can get voice alerts during your workout too where the music neatly fades in and out around the alert.
Online you can set challenges, goals and resolutions to keep you motivated.
But the best thing is downloading upbeat music to keep you going - there are special selections at itunes and my niece has a great victory song she uses every time. As she says “I ran 7 miles yesterday because of my ipod - I never did that before”.
Definitely worth checking out if you are a runner. You can buy the Ipod Nike+ kit at Amazon
Tags: Fitness, ipod, ipod nano, motivation, nike Plus, nike+, running, workoutAre You Wearing the Wrong Shoes?
You can save money in lots of ways when it comes to exercising (see 27 ways to get fit for free) but buying good shoes is one area where you should not compromise.
The wrong shoes can affect your performance and cause injury.
Athletic shoes need to
- fit your feet properly
- feel comfortable
- offer support
- be flexible where required
- offer protection for your bones, joints and muscles by absorbing shock
- keep your feet in a good position for whatever sport you are doing
Do You Need Shoes Designed for each Activity?
Some activities need specialist equipment, for example climbing or hill walking and if you are involved in these you have to buy what you need.
For more general activities like running or tennis it might not be so obvious. Can you get away with a cross-training shoe?
If you run, you should always wear running shoes which are designed to absorb shock - they have more cushioning than other athletic shoes and they support the forward motion without too much side to side flexibility.
For other activities, it depends how often you take part and what your budget is - three times a week or more and it definitely becomes worth investing in shoes designed to meet the needs of your particular sport.
If you do a mix of activities such as aerobics, walking and tennis, a cross-trainer may be a good option - they are supportive for the whole range of motion in the foot.
Where to Buy Sports Shoes
It’s best to choose a specialist retailer. When I chose my running shoes my local running shop video-taped me running on a treadmill in several pair of shoes - and some of them which felt quite comfortable when I put them on, rubbed the skin and hurt when I ran in them.
They also assessed the action of my feet for over- and underpronation both from the video and the wear patterns on my old shoes and gave me the right kind of shoes for my running style. I have normal pronation it appears but I’m still not sure I liked looking at myself running on the video (but I got over it).
Even if you don’t need a specialist running shop - look for a shop where they know their products so that you can get plenty of advice before you buy. Get the size checked too - you should have plenty of room to wriggle your toes and the heel should not be slipping when you wear your usual sports socks. The best size is often larger than your usual shoe size.
When to Buy
Shop for shoes in the afternoon as your feet become larger as the day goes on.
When to Replace your Athletic Shoes
Replace your shoes after about a year even if they show no signs of wear - as the cushioning and support will be getting less effective. (You may need to replace running shoes earlier than that if you do a lot of running - every 500 miles and walking shoes every 1000 miles).
Tags: athletic shoes, cross-training shoe, running, sports shoes, walking$100 Home Gym Project
Fitness equipment can run to thousands of dollars. And for some kinds of equipment, it’s true, the more you spend the better experience you have with it - and therefore the more likely you are to use it.
But what if you don’t have thousands of dollars (or even hundreds) to spend on home gym equipment? What if funds are too tight to afford a quality treadmill or elliptical trainer or even to join a gym? What can you do then?
The $100 Home Gym Project is for you - because you CAN get all the equipment you need to shape up and gain stamina and strength at home without shelling out a fortune. And the beauty of this equipment is that it
- takes up less space - a shelf in the closet may be enough to hold your home gym
- is often portable enough to slip into your suitcase and take with you wherever you go
If money is a bit tight at this time of year but you want to get in shape, think about taking a budget of just $100 and investing it in a small kit for yourself that you will use over and over again.
See the $100 Home Gym Project page for more details about putting together your ideal $100 home gym kit.
Tags: exercise equipment, Fitness Equipment, get fit, home gym
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