Online Fun and Business

Learning How To Add Pounds of Muscle Fast

This is for you poor souls that just can’t seem to gain a pound.
And on top of that, you get no sympathy from the scores of
people that want to lose weight and have no idea why you’d
complain about not being able to put weight on.

They think you’re the lucky one, eating whatever you want
without gaining weight. Little do they know that you are just as
frustrated without gaining mass as they are with not being able
to lose weight!

For those of you who desperately want to add muscle, you know
how frustrating it can be to train hard and stay skinny. You
wish your problem was losing weight instead of gaining mass.

You need to eat more calories than you burn off and use an
effective trainig program designed to add pounds of muscle to
your skinny frame.

Of course, there is more to it than that, but that is the bottom
line. It does matter, however, what kind of calories you eat,
and when you eat them.

Eating candy bars and drinking sugar laden sodas may help you in
gaining mass but that mass will be fat, not muscle. And then
you’ll wish you were skinny again. You need to not only take in
enough calories but you need to take in the right
calories that will help your body achieve an anabolic
(muscle building) state, and minimize fat storage. You need to
constantly feed your body high quality protein at a minimum of 1
gram of protein per pound of bodyweight. Hard weight training
causes your body to crave muscle building nutrients, protein
being the primary nutrient that it needs.

As a naturally skinny guy myself I can tell you from experience
that I have a very difficult time gaining mass unless I am
taking in at least 1.5 grams of high quality protien every day.

Make sure you eat at least six meals a day. This will help your
body utilize the nutrients more efficiently, including
minimizing fat storage by avoiding excessively large meals that
send your body signals that there might be a famine pending,
causing body fat storage to accelerate.

Most people who have trouble gaining mass aren’t taking in as
many quality calories as they think. Consider keeping track of
your calorie intake and make adjustments as you go, shooting for
a gain of 1 to 2 pounds gained per week.

If you are gaining mass at a rate of 1 pound of quality muscle
per week, you will transform your appearance in a matter of a
few months.

Constantly monitoring your calorie intake, body weight, and skin
fold caliper measurements will help you pinpoint the number of
calories you need to consume to build muscle. For Gaining Mass -
Max Out Your Mass and Strength Most of use were taugh to warm up
over several sets while decreasing the number of repetitions.
For example, start with a set of 15-20 reps on the bench press,
add weight, do another set of 10 - 12 reps and possibly even a
third set of this number.

Finally, the work begins and you add weight for a fairly hard
set of 8 - 10 reps. Increase the weight for a hard set of 6 - 8
reps and possibly one last hard set of 5 - 6 reps. Here’s the
problem I have with routines like this (which is most routines).

You’re working hard enough on the warm ups to begin wearing
yourself out, yet not hard enough to have a positive impact on
your progress, ie, strength and muscle mass gains.

Your warm up should be designed to do just enough to prevent
injury and allow you to work out as hard as you can with the
heaviest weight possible for your working sets. If you workout
in the manner I described and you switch to warming up just
enough, you’ll find yourself lifting heavier weights for more
reps than you were previously using.

This will increase the intensity, signaling your body that it
needs to increase its muscle mass to cope with the new stress.

This may take some experimenting but here are a couple of
examples to give you an idea. Let’s say you want to use 225
pounds on your working set of bench presses.

Start out with a very light set of 8 - 10 reps with 100 pounds,
then do 3 reps with 145 and another 2 reps with 190. Rest a
minute or 2 and then do your work set with 225. Those 3 warm up
sets are done without any rest, except the time it takes to
change the weights on the bar.

Let’s say you want to Squat with 300 lbs.

Do 8 - 10 reps with 135, followed by 3 reps with 205, 2 reps
with 255 and maybe 1 rep with 275. Rest a minute or 2 and then
do your work set with 300 lbs. Again, you’ll need to experiment
with what it takes to get you physically and mentally prepared
for your work set but try using this warm up method and see if
your top end poundages don’t improve.

Sure, there are ways to gain muscle without becoming much
stronger and ways to become stronger without adding muscle but
all things being equal you need to become stronger to succeed in
gaining mass in the form of new muscle.

To sum up, do minimal reps on the warm up sets, don’t rest
between warm up sets, and then go to your top weight on your
work sets.

If you’re in the market for home fitness equipment, you might be surprised by the variety of choices available. With everything from rowing machines and elliptical set ups, it’s hard for a shopper to know what’s best to furnish a home gym.

Getting started creating a home gym should begin first with a self-evaluation. Running out and buying a machine for the home that won’t get used doesn’t make a lot of sense. Figure out what you hope to achieve with a home fitness routine, what you like to do, what you might stick with and go from there.

If overall strength training and weight loss are the goals, a number of different machines can fit the bill. Those machines that do a good job of providing total, or nearly total body workouts include ellipticals, rowers and some smith models. Other typical home machines include treadmills and exercise bikes. All offer their own benefits.

The key to getting a total body workout is to include not only the visible major muscle groups, but also the cardiovascular system. By doing this, the person who is working out in a home gym will find that not only do the arms, legs and back get strengthened, endurance can also be improved.

Perhaps the most holistic machine a home fitness shopper can look for is an elliptical. Combing the benefits of a number of different machines in a single low-impact, but solid workout, an elliptical is one of the few pieces of home gym equipment that can boast total body effects. Rowers, smith machines and even a good treadmill will come close to the mark, but a few other forms of exercise might also be needed to achieve that total body effect.

In general, when looking for the best in fitness equipment, it’s a good idea to first set a smart budget, decide what kind of workouts you hope to get and then shop for a machine accordingly. Whether it’s an elliptical or a stationary bike, the key to lasting use is finding a machine that will grow with you. Make sure different programming features are available, varying resistance options and more. Plus, make sure what ever you buy has some safety and comfort features standard as well.

Once a machine is chosen for a home fitness program, keeping motivated will often depend on the equipment’s ability to grow along with you and your own personal attitude. What works on Day One might not be challenging enough a year into an exercise program, so the smart buyer purchases a product with some flexibility.

Creating a home fitness center is a very attainable goal on just about any budget. While most machine models will cover the budgetary spectrum, even more affordable models can, and often do, provide solid workouts.

What ever you end up with in your home gym, remember the best fitness routine involves the entire body. To ensure you stick with a routine, pick one that’s not only fun and challenging, but also provides some room for growth.

#1 Resource

Fitness equipment.

http://www.fitnessequipmentsupply.com

So you bought a new PC for yourself or a relative during the holidays. There was the initial excitement about its speed and the nice screen – and then it came time to actually get it running. Which meant embarking on some real work -– downloading a browser, a couple of multimedia players, a PDF reader, a toolbar, and maybe something for voice and instant messaging. Don’t forget the anti-spyware and anti-virus apps – you’ve got to have those. Hours, maybe even days, go by. How many wizards have you clicked through, not to mention license agreements and preference pickers? And then you have to ask: did I get everything? And how am I going to keep all of this up to date?

This has been my experience too many times. I wanted to simplify the project. This led me to Google and Google Pack– a one-stop software package that helps you discover, install, and maintain a wide range of essential PC programs. It is easier for everyone. And it’s free.

It downloads in minutes and installs in just a few clicks. There’s only one license agreement – and no wizards. And there’s a tool called the Google Updater that keeps all the software in the Google Pack current. Even if you already have some of the software in the Pack, you can use the Google Updater to update and manage it.

And now the question for you is: what will you do with all that time you’ve saved?

KeltickDragon is the webmaster for BuyComputersDirect.com & TheBulkyGirl.com

These treadmill buying tips will make you aware of important
considerations before you go treadmill shopping. A treadmill is
the most popular piece of fitness equipment today and will last
for many years. So you want to look for everything you want now
as well as everything you’ll need as you become more fit.

Treadmill Buying Tip # 1 Your Workout Area

Make sure the treadmill is going to fit in the room where you
will be using it. A treadmill can look small in the store but
can become huge once you get it in your workout room at home.

Get the treadmills measurements and make sure it fits well in
your room and isn’t crammed in a small space. Your workout area
should be pleasant so you will enjoy it and workout more often.

Treadmill Buying Tip # 2 Price

You get what you pay for in a treadmill but make sure you get
the best in your price range. Read the treadmill reviews and
ratings because these usually come from unbiased sources.

Treadmill Buying Tip # 3 Motor

One of the most important elements of any treadmill is the
motor. Look for a motor with a continuous duty power rating.
You’ll see other ratings such as, peak duty and treadmill duty
but they don’t mean much. Continuous duty power rating is a more
accurate measure of motor power and this kind of motor will give
you better performance with longer life.

Most treadmill motors range from 1.5 HP to 3.0 HP with the less
expensive treadmills offering lower power motors that simply
will not last. Look for at least a 2.0 HP continuous duty motor
and this should be adequate. If you run a lot on your treadmill
you might want to get a 2.5 HP motor.

There are AC and DC motors with most home treadmills using a DC
motor because they are quieter. AC motors are mostly used in
commercial treadmills and require much more power. The AC motor
will also require a dedicated power line and will be much
noisier.

For a home treadmill, look for a DC motor with a minimum 1 year
warranty for a quieter workout. A lot of people watch TV or
listen to music while working out so motor noise is a very
important consideration.

Treadmill Buying Tip # 4 Running Or Walking Surface

Common mistakes made when buying a treadmill is thinking all
running or walking surfaces are the same. They are not the same
and here is what you look for.

Look for a 2 ply surface belt with a minimum width of 17
inches. If you are a runner, get a running or belt surface
length of 60 inches as a minimum. If you just want to walk on
your treadmill look for a minimum belt surface length of 48
inches. These lengths will provide a more comfortable stride for
walking or running.

Treadmill Buying Tip # 5 Inclines

Look for an electronic incline that can be adjusted by pushing
a button on the console. There are manually adjusted inclines
but they have to be set before you begin using the treadmill.
Quality treadmills will have this automatic electronic incline
feature and you’ll be much happier with it. Look for the incline
feature to range between 0% and a minimum of 10% but higher is
better.

Treadmill Buying Tip # 6 Low Impact Deck

Treadmills with low impact or have a shock absorption system
are much easier on your back and all of your joints. But a
treadmill deck should not feel too soft or spongy. Read the
treadmill reviews and ratings to know the type of cushioning
system each manufacturer uses.

Treadmill Buying Tip # 7 Frame

Look for a high alloy steel or a heavy aluminum treadmill
frame. Steel is the best choice because it is heavier, sturdier
and will last the longest. The weight of the steel frame also
gives your treadmill more stability.

Treadmill Buying Tip # 8 Warranties

Most quality treadmills offer lifetime frame warranties, but
with regular use, your treadmill will require service at some
point. Look for a warranty with a minimum of 1 year labor and 1
to 3 years for parts on the motor, deck, belt and electronics.

Motors and belts may require to be serviced by a technician. So
make sure you purchase your treadmill from a company that
provides accessibility to a technician.

Even if you purchase your treadmill from the Internet, several
manufacturers work with quality fitness service companies close
to where you live.

Treadmill Buying Tip # 9 The Overall Feel

The treadmill you choose should feel sturdy, be comfortable for
you to walk or run on and be easy to use.

Options like heart rate monitors, electronic displays, custom
programs and interval training are something only you can decide
on.

These buying tips are for the critical considerations like
structure, motor, belt and frame. Buying a quality treadmill
means you will have fewer breakdowns while experiencing a much
better workout.

The bottom line is shop around, read the treadmill reviews and
ratings and look at your treadmill as a long term investment in
your overall health. That is the best treadmill buying tip you
can get.

Slimming the Waist: Article 1 of 3 - Abs By Ben Greenfield

Let’s face it…there’s a million different abdominal exercises
and routines out there, and each one promises to have the right
stuff to give you a six-pack, get you toned, remove those love
handles, and fulfill any other elaborate plans you may have for
your midsection. With so many choices, it can be difficult to
decide which is best, or perhaps more importantly, which
achieves your goals with the least amount of effort.

To simplify things a bit, I’m going to break abdominal training
down into 3 basic categories: smart training, effective cardio,
and proper nutrition. By the time you finish reading this series
of three articles, you’ll be equipped with 1) a quick and easy
way to design your own abdominal routine using a simple set of
rules (this article); 2) an explanation of how to incorporate
both long and slow fat-burning cardio and quick and fast
metabolism-boosting cardio into your program and 3) five simple
nutritional rules to make your body a fat-burning machine.

Time to go to ab school. Since this isn’t anatomy class, I won’t
waste your time naming the muscles and giving you strange Latin
terms like “rectus”. We’ll go straight into the good stuff - how
to design your own waist-slimming routine. This type of routine
works best when you’re able to devote an entire workout to core
training alone. Your ab exercises should fall into a five basic
categories:

WARM-UP: The start of your routine needs to get the ab muscles
“firing” in conjunction with the rest of your body. Basically,
this means your warm-up exercise or exercises need to use the
full body and center around a waist hinging action, such as:

Body Weight Squats: start in standing position, then “sit down”
until your thighs are parallel to the floor, keeping your center
of gravity back behind you.

Lunge with Overhead Push: lunge forward holding a weight, and as
you stand out of the lunge, press the weight overhead.

Inchworm Crawl: with open space in front of you, start in a
fully extended push-up position, walk the feet towards the hands
as close as possible, then walk the hands away from the feet.

Complete 1 set of 10-20 reps for each of these exercises, then
move on to…

STABILITY: Stability exercises should be body weight only
exercises that fatigue the abs with a high amount of reps and a
low amount of resistance. These would include crunches, flutter
kicks, reverse crunches, twists and anything else that doesn’t
require a weight or apparatus to accomplish. Choose 2 or 3 of
these exercises, complete 15-20 reps for each, and after you’ve
got a “burn” feeling in the abs, progress to the third section…

STABILITY WITH RESISTANCE: Now that you’ve completed the
stability exercises, you’re going to add a weight, like a plate,
dumbbell, medicine ball, or just plain gravity. Exercise
examples would be an incline bench crunch, a weighted crunch, a
weighted straight leg crunch or a medicine ball twist crunch
(i.e. Russian Twists). Since your resistance is going up, your
rep count will go down. Complete 10-15 reps for these exercises,
and do them at a slower pace than the stability exercises…now
your abs should be wide awake.

DYNAMIC CORE: The difficulty of the exercises, in terms of
movement complexity, is going to be the greatest with your
dynamic core exercises. These should be done in a standing
position, and should include a twisting, flexing, or rotating
component that forces you to work against resistance. Examples
of dynamic core exercises include:

Cable torso twists: hold a shoulder level handle attached to a
cable apparatus at arm’s length, and pull the cable across your
body using the torso, not the shoulders.

Woodchoppers: begin with a medicine ball held over head, then
“chop” down, bending at the knees and back, so that the ball
endsbetween your feet. These can also be performed diagonally.

Around the World: holding a weight in your hands with the arms
straight, draw giant circles with a weight or medicine ball,
bending and extending at the knees and back as you drop from the
high point to the low point of the circle.

Your heart rate will be the highest during this part of the
workout and your reps should be low: 8-10 for each exercise is
fine. Finally, for the last part of your routine…

UNBALANCED: Here is the trickiest part of your routine. You need
to find an exercise that throws you off balance. Here’s one
example: get into the pushup position and twist toward the
ceiling with one arm only, opening your body in one direction.
Then reverse and twist in the other direction, keeping both legs
planted. Another example is a crawl crunch, where you assume a
crawl position, extend both arm and leg on the same side, then
crunch your elbow and knee together. As little as 5-10
repetitions will be more than enough for each exercise in the
unbalance phase.

That’s it! Put them all together and you will have a complete
routine for your entire midsection. You’re one step closer to
slimming the waist. Many of the abdominal routines I design for
online clients are based on these same principles. By signing up
for personal training at www.pacificfit.net, you have access to
multiple core workouts, complete with exercise picture and video
galleries, as well as constant exercise and routine updates, and
frequent evaluations to track your progress. In the next article
of this series, I’ll be telling you the fastest way to burn fat
and lose weight with cardio. Until then, train smart!

Ben Greenfield M.S. PE, NSCA-CPT, CSCS elite@pacificfit.net

If you are serious about purchasing a quality treadmill, and not
some toy that will break down in a short period of time, then
there are a number of considerations to think about. One of the
most important is the quality of the motor.

A treadmill motor is one of the most significant components to
consider when buying a treadmill. It is what drives the
treadbelt that you walk or run on. Depending on the quality and
power it can make the difference between a smooth running
machine and a loud noise maker that struggle to run.

In most cases the larger and heavier the motor the better. But
that is not always the case. The quality of the motor can make a
big difference, even if it is smaller. In other words not all
treadmill motors are equal.

When comparing treadmill motors you want to go by the horsepower
of the continuous duty, not peak horsepower. Peak horsepower is
the maximum horsepower a treadmill can reach. Continuous-duty
horsepower is a measure of sustained power during regular use.
The continuous motor power is what is consistently delivered
during heavy usage over an extended period of time. Since peak
horsepower is usually significantly higher than a motor’s
continuous capability, continuous horsepower better helps you
determine which treadmill will accommodate your intended
exercise use. Generally speaking, the larger the motor the more
powerful it can operate at a continuous rate

Continuous duty is the standard in comparing horsepower.
Unfortunately there is no official standard rating and often
treadmill manufacturers will exaggerate the actual continuous
duty horsepower. Regardless, the continuous duty horsepower
rating will give you some guideline, but it is not an absolute.

An indication of the quality of the motor will often be
reflected by the extent of the warranty. A 90 day warranty will
suggest lack of quality. A warranty of 5 years or more tells you
that the motor is built to last, or otherwise the company would
go broke having to replace them. In fact, there are a number of
treadmill manufacturers that offer lifetime warranties on the
motor. We suggest the following continuous duty horsepower when
selecting a treadmill. If you are over 200 lbs you may want to
add a .5 hp to the motor level:

Walking - 2.0 continuous duty HP+

Jogging - 2.5 continuous duty HP+

Running - 3.0 continuous duty HP+

Be especially careful when you purchase a treadmill under
$1,000. Below that price you will have manufacturers skimp on
the quality of components in order to keep the price down. When
you purchase from a reputable manufacturer the chances of the
motor breaking down are slim. When you buy an inferior treadmill
the chances of the motor burning out increases substantially.

Plyometrics - they are as old as the hills. High-energy bursts
of activity such as jump roping (supposedly dating back to
Egypt’s Mesopotamians) jumping jacks and of course the jump
shot! I remember these exercises as a staple in my childhood
P.E. classes and now as a fitness-oriented adult, they still
bombard me regularly in my various cardio classes. What makes
these forms of exercise so long-lasting? Though jazzercise,
slide and even step classes have dwindled through the years to
make way for newer ways to sweat, these exercises have
maintained their popularity and continue to resurface in the
most up-to-date fitness trends at your local gym. While some
athletes may fulfill an hour-long exercise session with
plyometrics (a technique to sharpen their skills within a
specific sport), the average fitness enthusiasts will use them
to simply supplement a resistance or cardio workout.

The Plyometrics form of exercise utilizes explosive movements
that increase muscular strength through the pairing of speed
with power. While many plyometric moves include jumping, it is
not merely the jump that results in strength gain. It is when
you begin the drill with a precursor such as the squat, slight
or exaggerated, and then launch your body upwards with speed.
Think of a slingshot. The tighter and longer you pull the band
toward you, the farther and more powerful the shot will execute.
Similarly, when you begin to sit back for the squat, this
applies a nice long stretch to your hamstrings. When you
elongate the muscle fibers through this action, the tighter the
hamstring will contract upon the jump. Plyometrics uses these
two phases, the eccentric phase followed by an immediate
concentric phase, to acclimate the muscular system to the use of
high intensity expulsion of strength. The main idea when
performing the plyometric is to create good recovery time for
the sake of endurance, which results in the ability to
repeatedly execute the movement without fatigue. What better way
to kill two birds with one stone during your time allotment for
exercise, since most plyometrics can be considered cardio and
resistant training.

As with any exercise, there are some cautions to performing
plyometrics. Be sure to wear proper footwear with adequate ankle
support. Since most of the moves will subject the ankles to
jarring, it is imperative that they are well stabilized. Also,
as with any classic aerobic exercise, it is important the turf
you are exercising on is geared toward shock absorbency. A gym’s
raised wood floor or exercise mats with atleast one inch or more
of padding are usually accessible with a fitness membership. Do
not think of beginning a plyometric fitness routine in your
garage or in your home on carpet as you could be performing on
concrete, which can do more harm than good in the long run.

As with any fitness plan, always begin plyometric training with
a good warm-up and end the routine with a gradual cool down and
stretch. And if you happen to be a mom of rambunctious children,
especially consider the use that plyometrics in your workout
since it coordinates well with your daily demands and exposure
to moves such as the catch, fetch, jump and grab!

In just a moment, I am going to give you the key that will
unlock any fitness goal you may have now or any goal you may
have in the future.

It is the secret to permanent fat loss, muscle gain, and getting
an incredible physique.

No magic, no potions, no screaming “Eureka, I’ve Found It!” No
fluff, just a fact.

Are you ready for this key, the one that will unlock the door to
becoming the best bodybuilder you possibly can be?

O.K. here it comes. Want to sit down for it? The key to getting
the body you’ve always wanted is:

**You choose to!**

Huh?

Yes, getting in shape, being more muscular and stronger than
most people is simply a choice that you make.

In fact, I could end this article with that said (some of you
probably wish that I would
Anything you want in life, any goal or desire can be yours if
you simply choose to go after it. Things just do not fall into
place naturally and without effort.

Yes, they do fall, just not where you want them to. You must
first “think” of what it is you want and then choose to go after
it.

And if you do not get what you want? Try it again.

Like the back of the shampoo bottle says, “Lather, Rinse,
Repeat.” Keep at it until you kill it and claim it.

Forget blame. Forget victim talk. Forget excuses.

If you want it, choose to get it. After you choose it, if you
are persistent enough and work hard enough, whatever you wish
for can be yours.

Want to shed some body fat? Choose to.

Want to gain muscle mass? Choose to.

Increase your strength or start eating better? Choose to.

Life boils down to a series of choices. The better choices you
make, the better your life will be.

You can choose to do cardio or you can choose that piece of
cheesecake. You can choose to get behind the wheel after
drinking or you can choose to hand the keys to a friend.

Some of the choices you make have a long lasting and dramatic
impact on your life forever.

So, for any of the young aspiring bodybuilders out there, I
guarantee if you make better choices now, you will cut out years
of trial and error!

Bottom line, if you choose to go after something, you can be
assured that it’s within your reach because others have already
accomplished it.

Any problem that you may face in life, chances are that someone
has faced it and has already battled and conquered it. Just
follow what it is they did to come out on top.

If getting the body you’ve always desired is one of your
priorities, you can rest assured that many others have already
done it.

So the question of whether or not it’s possible is not an issue.
It’s just your turn to go get it.

The choices we make dictate the lives we lead. Where you are
today is the result of all the choices you have made up to this
point.

If you want better, you must make better choices. You can either
move ahead or stay behind.

The choice is yours.

Body piercing is a fabulous way of expressing yourself and your
personality in an outward fashion. Many individuals choose to
pierce one or several parts of their body in order to either
make a statement or add a unique aspect to their appearance.
However, before you decide to pierce any part of your body,
carefully consider the choice since this form of self expression
is a bit more permanent than changing a hairstyle, experimenting
with cosmetics, or creating your own fashion statement.

Body piercing has been used as an art form for thousands of
years. Everyone from ancient cavemen to ancient cultures and
civilizations has used body piercing to express a variety of
thoughts. Some cultures, including the ancient Aztecs, use body
piercing to commune with the gods, whereas other cultures,
including those in several African tribes, use body piercings to
express beauty, status, or wealth.

Men and women choose to pierce all parts of their bodies for a
variety of reasons. The most popular reason given for body
piercing is to add a unique feature to the individual. Many
people to either want to pierce their body parts or have already
pierced different parts of their body wish to break out of the
norm that our society has set. Although body piercing is a more
permanent way of expressing yourself, it can be done in a subtle
and tasteful fashion for those individuals worried about how
their personal expression will affect different aspects of their
lives, including their public, private, and business lives.

By far, the most popular body piercing involves the ears. From
simple holes on the lobes of the ears to piercings in the
cartilage, earrings are available in all shapes, sizes, colors,
and styles. For individuals looking for more envelope-pushing
piercings, consider piercing noses, labrias, eyebrows, or even
tongues. Just like the selection of earrings, most reputable
jewelry stores or body piercing salons offer a wide variety of
quality body piercing jewelry. Use different styles, colors, and
jewels to further showcase your personality through your body
piercings.

Before you make a rush decision to pierce a part of your body,
carefully consider how this decision will affect all aspects of
your life. Individuals with visible body piercings often
complain of discrimination in their public or business lives.
This is often a fact that you should take into consideration.
Consult your business’s policy on piercings to prevent any
problems later down the road.

Ellipticals are usually rated in two ways. Many are “consumer rated,” which means they have been used and ranked by consumers or editors of consumer magazines. Others have been rated by members of the medical profession, for ease of use, best workout, and lowest risk of injury.

A number of medical doctors specializing in sports injuries and sports medicine approve the Precor EFX 546 and find it to be a better way to workout. The problem is, they can costs more than $5000. But if you cannot afford to pay top-dollar for an elliptical cross trainer, You should not simply purchase a really cheap trainer. Research all of your options first.

Consumer Reports magazine recently did a report and found that when it comes to elliptical trainers, you definitely get what you pay for. The editors conducted a test of ten elliptical trainers in all price ranges. The test results concluded that if you want the best workout machine and you do not want a lemon then you have got to spend money to purchase one of the upper models.

Prevention magazine rates the ProForm as best value in an elliptical trainer. The NordicTrack wins for most features, and the Precor EFX is the highest quality model, according to Prevention.

Good Housekeeping also conducted tests, giving elliptical trainers to staff members of different fitness levels. Models were rated for comfort and safety. The best model was determined to be the ProForm 800 CardioCross Trainer. In second place was the Stamina Conversion II Elliptical/Stepper 55-2050.

More information can be found in the reports themselves, including pros and cons of each model. But this overview provides a guideline that will help you pick the elliptical trainer that is right for you.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Elliptical-Trainer-Solutions.com. He provides more elliptical trainer ratings, rankings and elliptical trainer reviews that you can research in your pajamas on his website.