It comes once a year and it always seems to get put off until the last minute. You swear that you will never do it again, but alas, it is the last minute tax crunch. Unfortunately, working out is not like taxes. It is not something that you can get away with cramming in at the last minute and only focus on once a year.

Sporadic workouts done with great intensity are a sure way to land you with an injury, not to mention mediocre health and fitness. So what is the solution?

A better work out program?
Plyometrics and periodic training?
Better exercise equipment?
Personal Trainer?

All of those things can help, but the key is consistency. No matter how great your plan, club, training, etc, is; it is quickly undermined by inconsistency. One month of working out, followed by eleven months of sitting on your butt, spells disaster.

The first key to being consistent is enjoying the process. Now enjoying doing your taxes is a stretch, but enjoying working out is possible. If you want the results working out can bring you, it is going to have to become a habit like brushing your teeth. You don&8217;t have to love doing it, but you better make sure you don&8217;t hate it.

The first step to turn working out into a habit is realizing that working out needs to be habit. It&8217;s not just an inconvenience you push through to finally allow you to fit into those one size smaller jeans.

To be healthy and to keep your body running smoothly, you are going to have to maintain some type of consistent workout plan and the good news is that you get to choose the plan. Knowing that working out is something you need to be doing the rest of your life, why not make it enjoyable?

There is also a very powerful physiological effect that happens when you turn working out into a habit. By committing to the new healthier lifestyle, you start to remove internal sabotage. If you are fighting to get to the gym, doing a work out you hate, just to lose weight or get to a fitness level, there will always be a voice of doubt in your head. Everyday you will have to fight that voice and it will eventually win.

By committing to working out consistently, the voice of doubt eventually disappears. No longer are you on a mad push to get to that perfect fitness goal. You are committed to working out and enjoying the process which eventually also brings you that fitness goal.

All of a sudden, not working out will feel funny. You will crave the consistency of taking the steps that makes your body feel great. No longer will working out be a &8220;have to&8221;, it will become a &8220;get to.&8221;
The act of following a consistent workout plan will become the habit and the target of that plan, will be the goal you are striving for. Whether you achieve your goal, have a set back, or decide on a different goal, your underlying motivation of consistently following a workout plan will never change. This allows consistently working out to become a habit, even though, the specifics of what you do, changes.

You have to work out consistently to keep you body running at its best and you have to do taxes. You might not like taxes, but if you make working out a habit you enjoy, you will end up keeping it the rest of your life.

Landice has an excellent reputation for building quality treadmills. These are not your mass merchant specials with 90 day parts and labor warranties. In fact, Landice offers a lifetime warranty on their treadmills, which says something about their durability.

Landice has been selling treadmills for a number of years. Their focus is to build sturdy treadmills with the best components available. The result is machines that are built to last and are capable of taking a beating. Of course, that comes at a price. Their least expensive treadmill starts at 3,100, and their commercial grade models top off at 5,000. Lets just say, you dont want these treadmills to end up as clothes racks.

So what do you get for your money?

As mentioned, Landice utilizes the best components available for treadmills. For example, they equip their machines with 3.0 hp continuous duty Baldor motors. These motors are monsters in comparison to most treadmill motors. There are a number of companies that claim their treadmills have 3.0 hp motors, but if you were to compare them to the Baldor motor there would be a noticeable difference in the size. This powerful motor assures that the treadmill will run at even the highest speeds without straining.

Landice uses a 4-ply treadbelt, the majority of competitors use 2-ply. Although costing significantly more, this 4-ply belt provides twice the strength of a 2-ply belt. It also adds additional cushioning to reduce impact.

Another quality component that Landice installs are 2.5 rollers. These are the same rollers used in the best commercial treadmills. The larger the roller diameter the less tension required on the treadbelt, since the roller has more surface area to grab the belt. Decreased tension means decreased friction and longer life on belts, motor, bearings and the rollers themselves.

As you can see these treadmills are built to institutional standards, in fact Landice has over 20,000 treadmills placed in health clubs around the world. And unlike every other fitness manufacturer that builds treadmills, Landice only produces treadmills. They are not also building, elliptical trainers, strength machines and stationary bicycles. Their focus is solely treadmills.

Who should buy a Landice treadmill?

Individuals who are going to abuse a treadmill. Were talking serious runners, including competitors and marathon runners. These treadmills are ideal for people who push their equipment to the limit.

Landice Receives Best Buy Recommendations

In the past Landice has received a top pick from one of the most popular consumer rating magazine. Landice has also received a number of Best Buy ratings. Treadmill Doctor states, “An incredibly solid treadmill. Some cheaper treadmills may be better for some people but if you’re serious, this is a serious machine.”

Mens Fitness Magazine had these comments on the Landice L7 Executive Trainer If you want the best – and can afford it – the L7 is the bad boy.

If you want a treadmill that can withstand strenuous use, then you should consider Landice. They are built to last and may just out last you.

ProForm is the largest seller of treadmills in the world. They focus on budget models and sell through mass merchants, large sporting good chains and the home shopping networks. ProForm is owned by Icon Fitness. In addition to selling ProForm fitness equipment, they also sell Weslo, Nordic Track, Reebok, Image and HealthRider. ProForm along with the other Icon brands dominate the sub 1,000 market.

We know that ProForm offers an attractive price, with treadmills selling as low as 400. The question is, are they a good value? From strictly a price perspective they are an excellent value. When you factor in durability and maintenance, their value may come into question.

Why are ProForm treadmills so popular?

When you compare the price and features, ProForm treadmills appear to be an exceptional deal. Most have numerous bells and whistle, including built-in televisions. And from an outward appearance they appear to be a substantial machine, but it is what is under the hood that is most important.

The majority of ProForm treadmills come with a 90 day parts and labor warranty. Now what does that say about their products? I find treadmill warranties very revealing. It would seem apparent that treadmill companies using inexpensive components would offer short-term warranties. In contrast, those manufacturers that build durable treadmills can afford to offer extended warranties, like 2-5 years on the parts and 1 year labor. Although it should be mentioned that ProForm is now offering a 12-15 year motor warranty on select models.

Recently I was at a fitness specialty store in Wilmington, NC, and was talking to the person in charge of servicing. Although this particular retailer did not sell ProForm, they often service them. He mentioned they were considering discontinuing service on the ProForm treadmills. The problem was once they fixed one problem often the owners would soon came back with the same problem or another service issue.

It should be noted that there are literally tens of thousands of ProForm treadmills sold every year, and the majority of owners are satisfied with their purchase See www.epinions.com for customer reviews. Furthermore, Consumer Reports rated one of the ProForm treadmills as Very Good for quality. But it is a numbers game, and whereby other brands may have a minute percentage of mechanical problems, you can expect that percentage to be higher for budget treadmills. When you sell treadmills at budget prices you have to use budget components, and on average those treadmills are more likely to breakdown.

I recommend ProForm treadmills for primarily walking and moderate use. Their high-end models can probably handle light jogging. But if you plan to use the treadmill on a frequent basis, or have multiple users, you may want to consider other brands in the 1,500 price range.

If your budget is tight, at least spend in excess of 700 for a ProForm Treadmill, and I highly recommend you put out a few extra dollars for an extended warranty. Treadmill repairs can potentially be costly.

For those that have a limited budget ProForm may be your best bet, but as the saying goes, You get what you pay for.

Have you ever noticed how many treadmills are being sold at a discount prices? Of course, that is part of commercialism. For example, when was the last time you paid list price for a car or jewelry?

What motivated me to write this article is the fact that Discount Treadmill is a very popular search term. People are looking to get the best deal possible when they purchase a treadmill. That makes sense, since even a moderate priced treadmill can run from 1,000 – 2,000.

So how do you tell when a treadmill is being sold at a discount?

First, by comparative shopping. You find a particular model that satisfies your needs and you shop around. Depending on the quality of the treadmill, you compare prices at the various mass retailers, large sporting goods stores, specialty fitness stores and online.

In addition, you look for special offers like free shipping, added accessories and extended warranties. Regarding shipping, some businesses may drop off a treadmill on your curve, while others will bring it into your house, set it up and remove the packaging. Considering the weight of some models, that can add considerable value.

Discounts from Buying Online

More and more people are going online to purchase a treadmill. Are they really saving money? Yes and no. Yes, you can save money from not having to pay sales tax if you purchase from a business that is not located in your state. You can also find discounts online that are better deals than you would find in retail stores. Also, several manufacturers sell direct on the Internet, thus cutting out the middleman.

In contrast the large sporting goods stores generally sell for the same price online as they do in their store. Furthermore, many treadmill manufacturers set a minimum price that any and all dealers cannot go under, regardless whether they sell online and off.

Discount Prices vs MSRP

Regarding the manufacturers suggested retail price, that is a number that has nothing to do with reality. It is deliberately inflated in an attempt to make the real selling price less intimidating. Both manufacturers and retailers play serious games with their prices.

For example, one online retailer that sells private labeled treadmills lists the MSRP at double the real selling price. They attempt to suggest you are saving as much as 50. But in realty their private label treadmill is sold for the same price as the manufacturers models. Another popular treadmill sold online promotes discounts at 15-40 off.

With all this slight of hand with prices how do you determine the real value?

First, you decide how you are going to use the treadmill, and determine what features would satisfy your fitness goals. For example, if you plan to use the treadmill for walking and want the machine to last for more than 90 days, you want certain minimal features. If you plan to use it for running, than you need upgraded features. Here are some of the features you want to compare

Motor size
Deck size
Roller size
Electronics
Console
Programs

In addition, you want to compare the warranties. The warranty says a lot about the overall quality of the machine and the components. You also want to research the reputation of the manufacturer. You want to buy from a company that is synonymous with quality. You also want to do business with a company that stands behind their treadmills.

When buying a treadmill do not get caught up in marketing hype of discount prices. Instead look for the best value in your price range.

Designed to challenge your strength, flexibility and coordination, Pilates aims to put your body in perfect balance. During WWI, Joseph Pilates served as an orderly at a military camp, working with bed-ridden patients. Many of these patients were not able to move, but that did nothing to deter Pilates’ determination to help them gain strength and mobility. Experimenting with his patients and on his own, Pilates devised a series of controlled exercises that engaged both mind and body. Watching patients carefully, Pilates saw them become more active and alert. The men taking part in Pilates’ exercise regime recovered more effectively than those who did not.

At one point Pilates removed bedsprings from beneath the beds and attached them to the walls at or above bed level. These springs were used to excercise. His contraption later inspired the Reformer, a popular Pilates exercise machine utilizing springs, straps, and a box to perform a variety of exercises.

Those who performed Pilates exercises developed a strong immune system and managed to escape a deadly plague that killed many at the time. Not one of Pilates students died from the influenza epidemic of this time which he claimed was due to the result of his work. None of Pilates’ followers succumbed even though the camps, where many were located were the hardest hit.

Becoming involved in a Pilates program will change the way you think about your body, exercise, and ultimately your total well-being.

Hiking is a popular, inexpensive way to get out and take a break from daily life. The really good news is it is excellent for both your body and brain.

Go For A Hike It Is Good For You!

Saying that there are benefits associated with hiking may sound a bit obvious. Getting out and walking is a pretty obvious way to get some exercise. That being said, burning a few calories is not really the point.

If you are looking for a workout, hiking offers an opportunity to break a sweat. The level of excursion, however, is not as high as most other exercises. As a result, there are two ways to get the cardio benefits of hiking.

The first is to walk for more than 20 minutes. This consistently keeps your heart rate up and starts to burn calories. 20 minutes, however, isnt really going to cut it unless you do it every day. To really break a sweat and build stamina, you want to hike at least an hour. If it sounds like a lot, keep in mind you are going 30 minutes in one direction and 30 minutes back.

The second method is to go up. By up, I mean to hike a trail with elevation changes. Generally, a trail that goes up at a slight incline for a long time is better than one that goes up steeply for a short period. Time is a key factor, so try to find a trail that isnt going to wipe you out in the first 200 feet.

Regardless of the exercise element, the mental benefits of hiking are well noted. Life can be hectic and stress can build up without being noticed. Hiking is like taking a timeout from life. You have an hour or more to just walk along and relax. The walking helps burn off the stress while the time gives you a chance to just think without interruption. Psychologist note that nearly every adult benefits from having a little me time when they are not being tugged this way and that by people, telephone calls and even email messages. At the end of your hike, I guarantee you will feel refreshed and have a new perspective on things.

That hiking is good for you, both physically and mentally, is an undisputed fact. Of course, the only way to benefit from it is to head out and start trekking along. Leave the damn cell phone at home!

You always hear the old adage, lets go exercise and work up a good sweat like sweating is a sign that youve had a good, productive workout. But what if you exercise and you dont really sweat during the workout? Was that workout a lost cause? Does it mean you just didnt exercise long or hard enough for it to be a productive workout?
Well lets examine the facts here and dispel the ever popular myth about just why you sweat and its relation to exercise.

Your body is like an engine that never stops running and like all engines, it produces heat. The more your muscles contract, the more heat is produced. If the body didnt have ways of keeping you cool, you would overheat and collapse within 20 minutes.

The first method is radiation where heat radiates out of the skin if the air around you is cooler than your body. The second method is conduction which is the transfer of heat by direct contact such as swimming in a pool of cold water where the water absorbs your body heat. The third method is convection where moving air cools us down like when you stand in front of a fan or when the wind blows. The last method is evaporation where water from our blood absorbs the heat and rises to the surface of the skin through the sweat glands so it can evaporate creating a cooling effect.

In colder conditions, you will not need to sweat as much due to the body using radiation to keep cool. In hotter conditions, sweating is the primary method of keeping cool due to the air being hotter than your body but if there is humidity present, sweat cannot evaporate as well and thats why you will see sweat dripping off you. Since in these conditions sweat doesnt evaporate, radiation and convection remember the moving air? are used by your body to keep cool.

Everyone has a different sweating pattern. Gender, age, fitness level and environment contribute to how much you sweat. Women seem to sweat less and start to sweat at higher temperatures than men. People tend to sweat less as they grow old and thus cannot take the heat as well as a younger person but declining fitness levels may have something to do with that. In laboratory experiments where both young and old people were of similar fitness levels, there was no notable difference in their sweating process.

If you exercise in an air-conditioned room or outside when its a cooler time of year, you will not sweat as much because the cold air evaporates your sweat faster and also sets your body up to use more of the radiation method meaning your body can deal with the heat created by exercise more easily. It does not mean you are not burning as many calories because the intensity and length of time of your exercise is what determines caloric burn, not how much you sweat. You are sweating all the time but you just cant see it because it is always evaporating.

If it were true that the more you sweat, the more calories you burn during exercise then it would also be true that you would be burning more calories simply sitting in a hot, humid room so as to build up a sweat but this is obviously not the case as the sweat you would be seeing is due only to the conditions of the room not allowing for evaporation for cooling the body.

Exercise produces heat, heat produces calorie expenditure, and you produce the same amount of heat whether exercising in a cold environment or a hot one so just because you dont sweat as much in the colder environment does not mean your exercise session was less productive.

Yoga is a union of body, mind, and spirit. The history of yoga is long and steeped in tradition. Yoga is an ancient system of health and fitness which originated in India. The word yoga has its first mention in the Rig Veda, the oldest of the sacred texts. Those that study Yoga estimate it’s age to be four thousand year.

The history of Yoga can be divided into four main periods which are the pre-classical period, classical period, post-classical period and modern period. In the history of yoga, the book is called the yoga sutras. The history of yoga would not have been completed in the classical stage of yoga.

The word Yoga literally meant the Yolk that joins something together, such as an ox to a cart. The idea is that yoga unites all aspects of being into one.

What most people envision to be Yoga, those contortionist postures, is really only one small aspect of a much larger field of practices. The methods of yoga includes ethical disciplines, physical postures, breathing control and as well as meditation.

The 20th century witnessed a renaissance of yoga that caused a globalization of this ancient tradition. Modern approaches to yoga have created a clear delineation between the Hindu religion and the practice of yoga. Through the practice of yoga, an individual can gain information about physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well being.

Over the long history of yoga, different schools have emerged, and there are numerous examples branches and philosophies that have spawned. Ultimately, all agree on one common element the fundamental purpose of yoga is to foster harmony in the body, mind, and environment.

Today yoga is accepted as a comprehensive exercise to promote control of the body and mind. More than just a means of being fit and trim, yoga can help you live a healthy, whole, and empowered life. In recent decades, yoga has greatly and swiftly evolved. Yoga is the most diversified spiritual practice in the world. The living tradition of yoga now recognizes no borders as it continues to spread globally.

Its summertime, and the living is easy except when you have to think about putting on an itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny yellow polka dot bikini! But dont worry, theres still time to get in shape to strut your stuff on the beach or the boardwalk!

These tried-and-tested exercises can give you quick results with just 10 minute focused workouts every other day. If youre on a serious mission and feeling really motivated, feel free to go for it every day! And dont forget to mix up these moves with some cardio work, even if its a game of soccer with the kids or a brisk walk to the park. Take advantage of the extra quality time youre spending with the kids, family or friends this summer – whether at home or on vacation – and put the fun things you do to work to stay active. Every calorie counts!

And after a few weeks with these exercises, you can look your best in the seasons latest teeny-weeny bikini fashions! Have fun in the sun but dont forget the sunscreen!!

Dolphin Kicks

For this exercise you want to balance your weight on your forearms with your elbows directly underneath your shoulders. Make sure to pull your shoulder blades down towards the hips away from your ears this will keep the stress off your shoulders. Extend your hips and spine, pull in your abs this supports your torso and bend your right knee slightly off the floor for more support. First Inhale, and then as you exhale extend your left leg straight out to hip height, contracting the glutes and hamstrings. Your hips should be facing forward at all times. With a slight bend, return the left leg to meet the opposite supporting leg.

Reps
Repeat up to 20 repetitions, keeping the torso still, then switch to the other side.

Muscle Focus
Glutes, hamstrings, abs, and lats.

Super Butt Kicks

Lay down on your back, placing your arms down by your side. Lift your hips off the floor in a bridge position. Your right knee should be bent with the heel in line with your sit bone, and your left leg should be extended straight up. As you inhale, lower your left leg to the floor. Be sure to keep your hips still and maintain the bridge position. Exhale and bring the leg back up to the start position

Reps
Repeat up to 20 reps, then lower your left leg to the floor in the same bent position as the right. Lower your butt to the floor, rest, and change over to the other leg.

Muscle Focus
Glutes, hamstrings, abs

Dead Bug

Lay down on your back with knees bent at a 45-degree angle. Head, neck and shoulders should be off the floor and hands resting on your knees. On an exhale, draw in your abs and simultaneously extend your left leg out and your right hand over your head. Repeat this move, alternating your arms and legs. Keep your eyes focused on your belly button at all times, and if you start to feel tension in your neck, lower your head down to the floor. This will get easier as you build more strength in the abs.

Reps
Build up to 20 repetitions completed twice with a 30-second to 1-minute break. Make sure not to sacrifice form.

Muscle Focus
Abs

Side Plank Leg Lifts

Lay down on your side, balancing on your right hip and resting on your right forearm. Your right elbow should be directly underneath your shoulder and your knees bent and stacked on top of each other. While exhaling, contract your abs, and lift your hips off the floor. At the same time, extend your left arm and leg out to the side of your body, making sure to keep the knee and toe facing forward.

Reps
Try for 10-15 reps, then turn over onto your other side and repeat.

Muscle Focus
Glutes, abs

With the busy lifestyles today few adults with families can afford to take the time necessary to go the health club or neighborhood gym on a regular basis. Heck, even if it’s within a short distance, we’re talking about several hours commitment per session. Who has time for that!?

Still, we all recognize that exercise is just downright good for you. If you name any random 10 medical conditions and diseases, I’m willing to bet money that some form of frequent exercise is a good treatment or preventative measure for at least 9 of them. Diet and exercise pop up as treatments and preventative measures in so many of the diseases that ail us today, and both of these areas are a good place to focus on if your concerned about your health. Even just some simple walking for exercise can go a long way to improving your health. Walking for exercise is fun, easy, and is a great stress reducer but more on that in a minute.

Another idea is that of home gym equipment. now we’re not talking about enough equipment to fill up the basement or several bedrooms. What you want is something that you enjoy that can be done in the privacy of your home whenever you desire. My son, who’s working on his muscle tone has a resistance weight training program with 1 piece of equipment. The wife likes the aerobic action of a small trampoline and treadmill. The idea of home gym equipment need not be a daunting enterprise, just something that will save hours and allow the exercise program that your desire right from your own home. Another great workout however is simply walking!

The great thing about walking for exercise is that you can do it anywhere. You have absolutely no excuse for not getting up and walking around for at least 30 minutes a day. So its raining out? Take an umbrella! Seriously, just get out for a short walk around the block a couple times and you’ll thank yourself for it later. If its absolutely miserable out, just walking around your house or apartment a while is better than nothing.

Walking for exercise is extremely low impact, and so anyone of any age can do it safely and frequently without worrying about damaging themselves. Running and other more strenuous forms of exercise can cause all kinds of joint pain and soreness, and isn’t recommended unless you are in otherwise good shape.

A lot of recent studies into different forms of exercise are showing that walking is every bit as good for you as running or other more vigorous exercises, you just need to do it longer. If you are walking for exercise, go for at least 30 minutes or even an hour. The more the better, as you can’t hurt yourself by walking too much.

There are a lot of exercise programs that are beginning to realize the benefits of walking for exercise. As it is something virtually anyone that can walk can do, there is a huge target market for walking programs. I’d recommend any program that motivates you to walk frequently. Even without one, there are hiking and walking clubs all over the place to join. Not only can walking for exercise be a way to maintain good health, but it can be a good way to meet new people and form new networks.

With so many benefits and virtually no cons, you can’t go wrong with walking for exercise. Its only drawback is that it takes time to do, but it is time well spent. What is the value of good health and longevity? Add on a favorite piece of gym equipment and you have everything needed to develop a healthy workout and exercise program without the inconvenience of going to the gym all the time.