Posts Tagged ‘Strength Training’
It is a common misconception for many people to think that the only way to get in shape is to join a gym. I want to clear that up for you and show that there are other solutions to getting leaner, fitter, faster and stronger without a gym membership.
First of all, let me say that this is in no way a stab in the back for gyms or health clubs. I have several areas that I can criticise strongly regarding them but it is fair to say that they do work for a lot of people. I myself do use one for a small proportion of my heavier weight strength training because I do not have that weight at home. I need this for strength training alone, any environment can be prepared for fat loss and fitness!
Unfortunately a large part of the misconception lies in the fact that many running into the thousands will trial a gym to get in shape and not succeed in their quest, leading to the assumption that if they cannot make it work there, where will it work?
Others who have not even ventured down this route will assume that this is the only route also and not try other methods because they don’t believe there to be any. There is a lack of knowledge or education. To a large degree, if your goals are results orientated rather than having an environment to workout in and watch MTV you are not missing out on a gym membership. They are filled with machines that offer very few benefits in getting fit and lean; exercises are very isolated in the movements they create, limit the range of movement and encourage positions and weights that can contribute towards injury.
I touched on it above but time can also be robbed that makes the exercise ineffective by waiting around for equipment, watching TV or chatting when one piece of equipment that everyone should take with them is a stopwatch so they can control how long they are resting for.
Time or lack of it also puts many off the gym and exercise in general when they’ve had a long day and accept that they do not have time to exercise whether in a gym or elsewhere.
What does this all mean?
That you are not getting the activity that you should to maintain some form of health and help your performance in your day to day activities. I am a big activist for understanding the link between having good exercise and activity in your lifestyle to help promote better lifestyle and success at home and work. Your ability to concentrate is stronger than ever before and you are more productive when necessary while being able to relax when the time comes to do so.
Gym memberships become costly and ineffective. They can become unused direct debits that continue to leave your bank account each month.
A growing trend towards an overweight population.
There is no need to accept that a lack of time or pre-conceived environment as a reason for not succceeding.
Solutions towards getting lean, melting fat and providing stores of energy for the day are all around you.
Working out at home is one of them. For now, lets assume you are training inside without equipment. Bodyweight training is an extremely valid format of performing activity to promote use of your muscle tissue and all of your energy systems that create the fat burning, lung busting environment. There are hundreds to thousands of exercises out there that can be used and adapted for all levels of experience and ability.
Take a press up for example. Just one single exercise can be changed from performing it against a wall to on the knees to standard to one handed to provide a level of difficulty appropriate to produce the right outcome. No equipment is involved but then it is also how you perform the exercise, how it sits into a program and how much time you have to act out an effective program.
Some tips to use would be:-
Pair exercises together so that there is no rest in between. Advance this further to 3 or 4 exercises in a row across all sections of the body.
Set a time limit and go through a set of exercises as many times as possible, resting as necessary. Use a reps based challenge. I’ve used routines in the past that challenge an individual to perform say 300 reps across 10-12 exercises in as quick a time as possible.
Use large movements. This is actually more possible in bodyweight routines than a number of gym based routines that will utilise one joint with smaller muscle volumes that offer no increase in calorie expenditure.
Use time-based sets with short rest and perform with good form but also with intensity and overload the body, given your own ability.
There are plenty others that would make this article a book but the body combined with the strategy eliminate the requirement of a gym and the best part of an hour or more to achieve anything remotely productive.
In fact, I’ve prescribed routines as short as 10 minutes, twice a day to promote the burning of fat tissue. Does that leave a reason for not engaging in the right activity and helping yourself?
Take the exercise outdoors but I don’t mean jogging. That’s all well and good if you’re training for a long distance run (and so you’re putting in a lot of time) but not for fat loss and fitness in a short space of time.
Interval training using exercises that work the muscle tissue (mostly resistance based) and the lungs (cardio based) can be performed for short bursts with short periods of rest in between. Similar to the workouts described in the home they provide an overload on the system in a short space of time that is adaptable to any person’s level of experience and ability.
Many do look into equipment for the home; just make sure you get good value for money, versatile, space saving (for most), beneficial pieces instead of the latest fads or expensive bulky pieces.
Back on to the subject of time, many will differentiate between exercises that provide resistance and those that provide a cardiovascular stimulus. If you want to do both which if performed in the correct way I would recommend then that also takes more time. Methods and tools are now providing both at once and cutting back further on the time required to build and participate in an effective training regime.
What is this great equipment?
Kettlebells, Sandbags, Rope training, Advanced Resistance Band training to name a few. Perform these the right way and not only do you get great results but I’ve never really met anyone yet that has not got a buzz out of using them because they come from outside the box in terms of regular standard types of exercise.Check any out on video sites to see what I mean.
These pieces of equipment are extremly effective in providing intense gut busting workouts and are here to stay. I hate the idea that exercise should be mundane and boring and prefer to adopt styles that provide a challenge both physically and really engage the mind. That itself is enough to stimulate repetition.
I’ve come across and worked with countless numbers of people that are in time consuming jobs and home-life that are not conducive towards the standard type of exercise routines. I would also recall many individuals that are anti-gym for one reason or another. In all cases I have found results to have blown any misconceptions out of the water and create characters that embrace the right type of activity for them in a suitable environment that achieves results. I would start off with bodyweight routines using resistance and cardio based exercises that promote progressive overload using work and rest intervals of 60 seconds to 30 seconds and aim for about 20 minutes of fairly continuous work.
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For many years, if you wanted to start a strength training regimen, you only had two real choices. One is to buy free weights and dumbbells and workout at home, or you could get a monthly membership a fitness gym and get access to their weight machines. But today there are more options open to the fitness conscious consumer, and there are plenty of choices in the home gym equipment field to consider. So if you are in the market for a home gym here are some of the things that you should be looking for.
Generally, most home gym equipment falls into two major categories, the first being home gyms that use rods or bars to create resistance, and the second being strength training machines that use a weight stack or plates. The biggest difference in these two will be the price that you pay for them, and the second difference is the amount of space that each one takes up in your home.
The first kind of home gym equipment often can be folded up and takes up very little space in the room. However many experts claim that the workouts with this kind of equipment are not as thorough or complete as the more expensive weight training machines which usually take up a lot more room space. But whichever type of equipment you choose, keep these considerations in mind:
Consider the size of the room where you will be placing the equipment first. If space is a major consideration, then it may best to go with a unit that folds up and out of the way.
The assembly of any home gym equipment can be difficult at best, so if you are not used to assembling this kind of product you may want to pay extra to have someone put it together for you. Just be sure to include the assembly cost in your overall budget.
Make sure that any home gym you buy is made of solid and durable materials. The frame itself needs to be made of heavy steel, and be very strong and sturdy even when supporting the maximum weight. The cables that are used to connect to each weight stack should be especially strong and made of quality material too.
Most people will need a weight stack of around at least 200 lbs. to be able to make the most use of the equipment. If more than one person plans on working out at the same time on your equipment, you might even consider getting a second weight stack in that case.
Finally, never buy any home gym equipment without testing it personally beforehand. Regardless of whether you buy your home gym online or not, you need to go through a complete workout on it to make sure that it will fit you best. If you do, and you follow the guidelines listed above, you should be able to find the best home gym equipment for your needs.
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Home fitness gyms are quite popular for people who want the benefits of a good workout without having to leave home to get it. The best home gyms on the market are durable, reliable, constructed with quality parts and materials, and most importantly, meet your specific fitness and workout needs.
Three Types of Home Gyms
There are three basic types of home gym:
1.Machine
2.Free weight
3.Plate loaded machine
Each type of home gym comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, and each is suited to different workout needs and styles.
Planning of home gym. Having a home workout area does not have to be overwhelming! With a little bit of planning, and budgeting, you can easily transform space in your house into a personal fitness area. When you’re getting started, here are a few helpful hints to keep in mind:
• Determine your personal fitness goals
• Find a proper location
• Tone up your technology
• Add your own personal design touch to the space
• Put accessories to work
When shopping for a home gym, make sure the items you consider will help you meet your fitness goals. Do you want a series of elastic bands to provide resistance or do you want a system of cables and pulleys to lift a stack of weights? If you decide on a gym with a weight stack, does it include enough weight? If you want to do some major strength training, does the gym include free weights? Does the gym have add-ons for leg lifts and other lower body exercises or will you concentrate on your upper body?
Gym sizing
Before you bring a gym home, decide where you want to keep it. Sellers will list a gym’s height, length, and width in item listings. Measure your space and check to make sure the home gyms you look at will fit in it. Also, decide how many stations you want right off the bat. If only one person will use the home gym at a time, a single-station gym setup will work well.
If more than one person wants to work out on the gym at once, consider a multi-station setup. If you want to save space, make sure the gym folds. The Total Gym and Bowflex both fold up so that you can store them out of sight under the bed or in a closet.
Home gym equipment
Home Gyms. Ever see someone with a good physique who got it by working out on a home gym? I have. I’ve even competed against people who became competitive physique athletes (bodybuilders) by working out on a home gym. It can be done. But if this is true, why do so few do it?
Why do most people who buy a home gym end up selling it in a yard sale?
Write your goals down. This is basic and is a good practice for any worthy pursuit. What is it that you truly hope to accomplish by purchasing a home gym? Do you just want to loose a few pounds? If so, you really don’t need home gym equipment to do it. Perhaps a few small changes to your diet and walking a mile a day will get you where you want to go. Maybe you want to tone up a bit? Now were talking, home gyms are great way to tone up loose and sagging muscles, and add a pleasing healthy appearance to your overall physique.
Buy quality.
Quality home gym equipment will usually outlast their less expensive counterparts and actually save you money in the long run. It will function more smoothly reducing the risk of injury. It will require less maintenance. It will have a more natural feel to it, and is far more likely to still be in use a year from now.
For more information see our Finding the Right Home Gym.
Visit us http://www.halfvalue.com and http://www.halfvalue.co.uk website for more information.
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There is plenty of home gym equipment to choose from these days, but all gym equipment is not created equal. As with most home fitness equipment, there are pluses and minuses for almost every model you want to name. But when you read all of the consumer reviews that are available, certain models do rise to the top of the ratings. And here are the results of those findings now.
First of all, we have to divide the reviews into two parts, the first having to do with the most popular home gym equipment that uses bars and rods to create the resistance needed for each exercise. These type of home gyms often fold up and take up very little floor space. They tend to be very convenient and easy to use. The second type of home gym equipment still uses a weight system of some type instead. Because of that, they are often much more bulky, large machines that take up more space.
The two most popular home gyms that feature rods and bars for resistance are the Bowflex made by Nautilus, and the Crossbar made by Weider. Each machine has it’s own strengths and weaknesses. The Bowflex is much easier to assemble, and it comes with excellent instructions on how to use it. The Crossbar on the other hand, takes more time to put together, but it costs and awful lot less than the Bowflex. All things considered, most reviewers and consumers seem to feel that the Crossbar gets the overall nod mainly based on price. Both machines seem to do almost equally as well as each other when actually performing exercises. Expect to pay between $1500 and $2000 for a Bowflex, and around $500 for a Crossbar.
If you are really serious about home strength training then you will probably opt for one of the more traditional weight stack machines instead. There are several of them on the market that do a fine job, but one that seems to get very good reviews and reports from consumers is the Hoist V5. It’s certainly not cheap, costing well over $3000. But according to all sources it is a very high quality, strong and sturdy, strength trainer that will do just about everything that you need. It includes a 200 lb. weight stack, a chest press, a lat pulldown, and a leg extension/curl feature. It functions smoothly and easily with near gym quality motion.
One very important point to keep in mind is that no strength training machine will help you reach your goals if you don’t remain consistent in using it. So having the best equipment and training inconsistently will never match the performance of a lesser quality home gym that is used on a regular basis.
It’s also important to enlist the help of your doctor to make sure that the strength training program you are engaged in will be beneficial and not cause you injury.
There is plenty of other home gym equipment to consider when shopping in this field, but hopefully the information we have provided above will help you decide on equipment that will best fit your needs.
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If you have decided that it’s time to get in shape and you have heard that getting a home gym can help you accomplish that, then there are some things you need to know before you go shopping.
First of all, what do you plan on using your home gym to accomplish? Is it just to lose weight? If that is the main purpose of buying a home gym, then you may not want to buy it at all. The truth is, aerobic exercise is far more effective at helping you lose weight then strength training, although a home gym can help you build up your muscle mass which can accelerate your weight loss in addition to the aerobic exercises that you do. The point is, don’t expect a home gym to be the most effective method of weight control.
On the other hand, if your goal is to tone your body or condition it, or perhaps just develop a few extra curves in certain places, then a home gym can be very effective. So what choices do you have when looking for home gym equipment?
The first category to choose from is free weights and dumbbells. They have certainly stood the test of time and proven that they can help build muscle mass. However, you need to be sure to use the correct form when exercising with free weights or you can actually do bodily damage instead.
That’s where home gym equipment comes in. Home gyms are usually strength training machines that provide a structured way of performing each exercise. And they are usually designed to help you maintain proper form as you do. They also provide a convenient way of storing the weight stack or plates that are used so that it’s all more organized.
This kind of strength training machine usually breaks down into two categories, the first being machines that utilize rods or bars to provide resistance when exercises are done. The second more expensive machines still use weights to provide resistance to your muscles, but they tend to be much larger and more bulky, and therefore take up a lot more space in a room.
To get good solid quality equipment, expect to pay at least $500 or more to get a wide range of exercises that will allow full body conditioning. There is a lot of home gym equipment available for sale online, but before you buy be sure to personally try out the equipment in advance. Make sure that you go through a complete workout routine on the equipment first, and then you will know more about whether or not it will meet your needs.
After doing your research off-line you can then go online and often save quite a bit of money by doing so. Whatever equipment you choose, be sure to also get the proper training on how to use it effectively to get the results that you really want.
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Working out is not an obligation that you need to adhere. It is a lifestyle routine that your body silently requires so that you are protected, strengthened, firmed and hyped. Fitness lifestyle, as the world calls it, is one aspect of mankind’s existence that has benefited billions of people regardless of race, location and culture.
Getting on a workout program doesn’t have to be elaborate, costly and too intense. The common misconception people have is that if you work out, it will cost you a few bucks. Nah, you can do it at home if you don’t have the nerves and funds to sign up for a club membership. Also, you don’t need to linger for 2 hours to be able to get the best results.
A 30-minute time to sweat can be made into a good daily routine. Others should start learning that working out too long in the gym doesn’t necessarily hasten the results. Great news is that you can be effective even with lesser time to sweat, flex, firm and tone. Consider these 4 how-to lists to succeed in your workout:
1.It’s all a matter of preparation. Getting your plans mapped out and identifying your specific fitness goals will take you to a more effective shot at working out. Making your gym time a daily itinerary is actually a good habit to embrace. Always tell yourself that it is time to work out, not time to miss any session. It’s much better to work out when there aren’t many people at the gym or when it is quiet at home.
2.Lift weights not beyond thrice a week. Your muscles are to be trained by category. If you do weightlifting on Mondays and Wednesdays, you can do your leg strength training on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Always make sure that you allow your muscles to rest and recover. Overtraining can mean harm. Instead of developing the muscles, you are making them shrink if you train them every day.
3. It’s nothing to be guilty about if you miss your workout. While it is your consistent goal to be exercising regularly, missing a day for a very valid reason should not discourage you from pursuing your goals. You can catch up with your routines anyway, so it’s not really a biggie if you don’t make it a day or two. Make your gym hours and recovery times a constant habit. Allocate time to rest as well.
4.Doing a full-body workout is far effective than just core muscle training. Pick a cardio routine and strength training that aims its focus on many body parts. For multi-hitting strength training, you can do lunges, pull-ups, dead lifts and dips.
With these tips in mind, you can hit your targets in a matter of time. Don’t rush yourself because it will only pressure you. Instead, just enjoy your hours at the gym. Before you know it, you’ve sculpted your body amazingly.
Home gyms are becoming a rage these days. People are converting their study rooms and part of their sharing space in their house to accommodate a home gym. Home gyms are preferred because they cut down on time, are convenient and provide privacy. Before you zero in on a home gym of your choice, you need to consider your fitness need, the space available and then make a budget accordingly.
First and foremost do not cram your gym with all sort of needless equipment. For instance, if you want to lose weight or gain cardio resistance, then equipment like a powered cross trainer, a mechanized treadmill and a Swiss ball is enough. If you need to do strength training, then a Smith machine which costs $650 is apt. The cost of building a multi-gym to tone-up muscles can cost a cool $4800 upwards. This will include things like lighting, flooring, ventilation system, music and ambience.
The minimum area needed to build a home gym is about 150 square feet. There should be some area to move around too. If you have a 200 sq feet area, you can include a Jacuzzi as well. Apart from the main machines like the treadmill, the power plate machines; you should also keep dumb bells, resistance bands and an aerobic box. You should refrain from building your home-gym in the basement area.
Flooring is also an important part while building a gym. You can choose between rubber flooring or a vinyl flooring. Rubber flooring is good for cushioning any falls. One can be comfortable standing, running or walking freely easily unlike a tiled floor or carpeted flooring. Also rubber flooring can easily reduce the impact of any equipment fall. Rubber flooring is easy to maintain and clean as well. Vinyl flooring cuts down on the noise, is stain resistant, is hygienic and can be easily cleaned.
Light and air are two important factors in a gym. It is preferable to have a bold color on the walls to create the vibrant feeling. The lighting that is used should not hurt the eyes. You can have the lights hidden within concealed gloves. You can also use light fixtures that are shielded with frosted glass. This emits softer light which does not cause problems to the eyes while looking up at the ceiling. Dimmed lights are good for Yoga exercises or if you are relaxing after a workout session. You can also have lights concealed behind mirrors affixed on a well-lit wall.
Mirrors are an important part for your home gym because it helps to check your posture while you are working out. An exhaust fan and air conditioner also have a vital role to play when your body begins to generate heat and sweat. You can also keep your TV at eye level so that you don’t have to crane your neck while watching it. There is nothing like an invigorating music going on that compliments your workout style.
This perfect workout which I will describe in detail can be characterized as:
Non conventional, very demanding, multifunctional and holistic.
Besides the indisputable benefits that this workout will bring to your physical fitness and appearance, it will additionally offer you two very important advantages:
- it is perfectly suitable for busy people because with 3 workouts x 40’ per week, your results will be much more impressive than those of the most gym frequenters.
- you can complete it ‘outdoors’ or in your home, which will save a lot of time and money. You don’t need a gym!
On the other hand a main disadvantage is that it is suitable only for already fit people and only for those with strong self-discipline.
This is because this workout is really for tough guys.
Epigrammatically the workout consists of:
* 3 minutes for a general warm up
* 5 minutes for a total bodyweight workout
* 10 minutes of strength training with dumbbells
* 10 minutes of HIIT
* 7 minutes for cooling down and static stretching.
A) Warm up
First of all keep your body well hydrated and fuelled!
Warming up is very crucial to prepare the body for the strenuous exercise that will follow. Since the objective is maximum results in lesser time I keep it short: round 3min.
This is an essential phase: muscles become more flexible and pliable, heart rate rises and body temperature increases. At the end you are ready to proceed to the next phase.
The warm up should be of general type, nothing specific.
I recommend starting with light aerobic exercise and slowly building up speed. Specifically:
- jogging in place
- doing some jumping jacks
- also some flexibility exercises (not stretching! Keep stretching for after cool down).
B) Total bodyweight workout
These tough and functional workouts are the best investment for your time. You can do three types of exercise:
- lower body exercises
Emphasis on various squats and lunges.
- upper body exercises
Emphasis on the endless versions of push ups, bear crawling etc.
- core and abs strengthening
Emphasis on spiderman lunges, mountain climbers etc. I prefer these multifunctional, multijoint exercises than static planks.
You can mix these exercises as you wish but the most logical sequence is:
- Upper body exercise
- Lower body exercise
- Core strengthening.
For example:
- Plyo push ups
- Bodyweight squats
- Spiderman lunges etc.
Exercises are executed in a circuit form, with no or minimal breaks. One exercise is used as a break for the other.
Your heart rate will probably reach close to 160 beats/min.This is really hard stuff!
After you finish with your five minute total bodyweight workout, you are ready to grab the dumbbells and go on.
C. Strength training with dumbbells
After your bodyweight workout you are warm and ready for the dumbbells.
I choose dumbbells because they are much more convenient to use and store.
Now the biggest mistake with weight training is that generally very few people use enough weights to properly tax their muscles.
Thousands of people “play” with 5Kg dumbbells with minimal impact ?n their strength and muscularity.
Probably this is because of the big myth/fallacy that more repetitions will lead to a better definition. This is nonsense. Definition will come only with fat loss.
So please stop losing your valuable time and choose weights heavy enough to put decent stress on your muscles.
For maximum results please take into account the following principles:
1) Try to avoid isolation movements e.g. biceps curls, triceps extension etc. You will get much more profit if you execute compound exercises with the participation of multiple joints.
2) Choose a weight which will permit you to do about 8 repetitions with an impeccable style. Right style is much more important that heavier weights.
3) To gain more time try to exercise with the participation of both your hands or legs.
4) Don’t lose your time with weighted crunches or similar stuff.
The best exercises with dumbbells
1) Overhead presses for shoulders (avoid extensions)
2) Squats or lunges for quads, glutes, hamstrings
3) Deadlifts for back, glutes, hamstrings
4) Chest presses and chest flies for chest
5) Bent over two armed dumbbell rows for back.
That’s all!
Don’t search for exotic, glamorous exercises!
You are already in the paradise!
You can do tenths of variations of these exercises but do respect the basics.
For 10 minutes do as many sets as possible with minimal breaks and alternating between upper and lower body exercises.
This is a tough workout which combines anaerobic with aerobic exercise.
Your pulse will climb up to around 150 beats, especially when you are doing the shoulder presses.
This workout is excellent for fat loss purposes.
D) H.I.I.T (High Intensity Interval Training)
H.I.I.T. is a nice way to burn calories and lose fat in limited time.
I won’t claim that H.I.I.T. is a panacea.
Long, medium to high intensity has definitely its’ place in a fat-loss programme.
Though, for our workout which is scheduled for really busy people, H.I.I.T. is the king hands down.
Before you proceed, make sure that you are fit enough and you have a clearance from your doctor.
D1. If you are at home…
The best option is stairs climbing. You will need at least 3 floors.
Climbing vigorously will be your energy burst and going down in a relaxed manner your active recovery phase. There are tenths of versions you can do H.I.I.T. by adjusting:
- burst duration
- recovery duration
- intensity
- total duration etc.
Specifically for stairs climbing you can:
- walk up or run up
- cover one – two stairs / strides etc.
Start conservatively, gradually build up your speed and continue for 10 minutes.
At the end your pulse should reach 160-180 beats.
D2. If you are outdoors…
Try 60m all-out sprints. They should last round 12 sec, not more. Walk back for recovery. Do this 8 times.
Alternatively you could run for 30″ and jog back in a relaxed manner. Repeat this 6 times.
Again there are endless variations.
D3. If you are in the gym…
You can execute your H.I.I.T. programme on a treadmill, elliptical or bike.
E. Cooling down
Take cooling down seriously. For 2-3 minutes decrease gradually your exercise intensity. Your heart rate should come down to 100-110 beats. Lactic acid and other waste products will be removed and adrenaline will be reduced.
Do some static stretching for all your taxed muscle groups. 1×20″ for each muscle group is a must.
EPILOGUE
This workout really makes wonders and is ideal for busy and determined people. To fully reap its’ benefits:
- Do it 3 times a week
- Adopt an active lifestyle and perform some lighter activities in your free days.
- Adopt a sound nutrition plan.
Think about it…
* You don’t need money!
* You don’t need much time!
* You don’t need a gym!
* You only need…
- Fitness which you can acquire relatively easily
- Knowledge: abundant and accessible
- Guts and self-discipline.
Chris Strogilis
Civ. Eng. – MBA – DipM
http://totalfitness-christos.blogspot.com/







