Because the incident occurred when he was so young, Eric couldn’t recall a day when he had the use of two arms.

One of the most inspirational athletes I’ve reported on, Eric played varsity football and also qualified for the state wrestling tournament.

He grew up learning to adapt and enjoying good times with his family and friends. Part of the fun involved playing sports, something that he was able to continue at the varsity level in wrestling and football despite seemingly long odds.

A 5-foot-8, 155-pounder, Eric amazed just about everyone but himself at mid-sized Chippewa High School. He actually led his team in interceptions and was among the tops in tackles.

“I’m somewhat surprised at how I’ve done, but I’ve been playing football since I was in sixth grade for contact and flag before that,” Eric told me during his playing days. “I know what I can do. Actually, I think wrestling is harder because there are so many moves.”

Eric was humble when it came to evaluating his performance for a team that finished 5-5.

“Game to game, I’ve done all right,” he said. “Some games I did good, some games I did bad.”

Coach Nolan W. said Eric wasn’t one of his biggest or strongest players, but one of the best. Through hard work that included weight training and lots of running outdoors and on the treadmill, Eric built himself into a powerful athlete. His work ethic and self-reliance started at a young age. He didn’t want any help, from simple tasks like tying his shoe to working on the family farm.

As a football player, he didn’t want special treatment either.

“He puts himself in position to make plays,” Nolan said. “He’s a great outside linebacker for us. … I want to see all my players do well, but Eric has given me chills down my spine after some of the plays he’s made. I definitely feel something extra special coaching him because of the adversity he’s faced.”

Eric was an inspiration to not only his own community, but Ohio and beyond.

Like, a 19-year-old athlete in Texas, who lost his arm while working on a car. He had heard about Eric, called him and the two talked for 45 minutes, with the usually quiet Eric offering lots of encouragement. When Eric’s family read about a girl in Central Ohio who lost an arm following a boating mishap, they contacted the family and again Eric was able to offer hope.

Eric’s story has a message anyone can gain strength from: hard work and dedication can allow people to overcome seemingly great adversity.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.net

When shopping for a stationery exercise bike there are two main styles to consider: Upright Bike or Recumbent Bike. The biggest factors to consider in determining which is right are your fitness level, back health and comfort needs. Both bikes provide an excellent source of aerobic exercise, but with subtle differences between the two.

Upright Bike

Upright bikes are familiar, like the bikes we grew up riding. There is not a back support, so even though you’re indoors it will give a rider the feeling of being out on their road bike.

If you live in a cold-weather state, an upright bike is a great way to help get through the winter. You can keep the legs sharp before getting back outside on the trails and roads when the temperatures warm up again.

The upright bike takes up a little less space and on average comes at a slightly lower cost than a recumbent bike.

Because of the seat angle, an upright bike will work the quads a bit more as you push down, while the recumbent bike will stress the hamstrings with more of a push out.

The back and abs can get more of a workout on an upright bike because of the posture you’re sitting at.

Recumbent bike

Comfort is the key to a recumbent bike, which comes fitted with a back rest. Most recumbent bikes have a mesh back with curved lower-lumbar support.

When a person sits, there’s 3 ½ more times stress put on their back than when they’re standing. Consequently, if you have any back problems, then a recumbent bike should provide the safest support for the spine.

Making a choice

When you go into a fitness store, ask a qualified consultant to let you try out both styles of bikes and point out the different features. You can actually get about the same quality of workout on both bikes, so the choice between an upright bike and incumbent bike really comes down to personal preference and comfort.

Do you want to set up a workout room in your house, but don‘t know where to start? Many people build their rooms around one marquee piece, either a Home Gym or Functional Trainer.

It’s important to know the difference between the two and choose the model that will best suit your needs. Most importantly, pick the style of workout equipment that you’re most likely to use.

Home Gym

The more traditional Home Gym includes one or two weight stacks, with fixed arms and hand grips. It can be bulkier and more expensive than Functional Trainers. Most movements on a Home Gym follow a set plane, such as military press for shoulders, bench press for chest or leg extensions.

Home Gyms are great for beginners as they are generally regarded to be easier to use, but they can also benefit experienced lifters.

They can be a good complement to lifting with free weights because Home Gyms will keep you on a controlled lift and do a good job of isolating specific body parts.

Functional Trainer

Functional Trainers have increasingly gained popularity as they are often less expensive than Home Gyms and take up less space. Functional Trainers have weight stacks on their

base, too, but the main difference is in the cable systems that come with different shaped handles. They provide more options for working out and because the cable does not have to follow a fixed plane more sports specific routines can be implemented.

For instance, a golfer can hold the cable handle and simulate his or her swing. A baseball or softball player can grip the cable handle and mimic a throwing motion. There are hundreds of different movement possibilities for a Functional Trainer.

You can even incorporate an exercise ball into your workout, sitting on it and pulling the cable handle toward you at a variety of angles.

However, these machines can also be harder to use and some people aren’t sure if they’re following the right motions. It’s important that they ask questions when contemplating buying a Functional Trainer and have correct information on how to use them.

Final analysis

Whatever direction you decide to go, the Home Gym or Functional Trainer will provide health enthusiasts a means to get a total-body workout. You should also consider how these two choices would complement the other fitness equipment you already have, such as free weights.

To the novice or uniformed, dumbbells and kettlebells may seem similar. They’re both used to gain strength and can help one improve their overall workout, but there are a lot of differences between using the two.

Dumbbells are much more common and easier to use. They follow a start-stop motion, such as bringing the weight up and down for a biceps curl. They are especially good for isolating a certain body part, such as the aforementioned biceps, or a triceps kickback.

In general, dumbbells are easier to use for beginning weight lifters, but that’s not to say highly experienced strongmen or women wouldn’t fund them useful, too.

Kettlebells are becoming more and more popular in the U.S., but they also take a good deal more training and research to use properly. Don’t make the mistake of trying to work out with kettlebells as if they were dumbbells.

Traditional dumbbells have a handle directly in line with the wrist and work on one plane of motion and rely on leverage and fixed positions, but kettlebells are very unstable and consequently from the second you pick them up involve a full-body motion.

Kettlebells trigger instability as one has to balance them and use all muscle groups to perform lifts.

As a result of the full-body motion involved with lifting kettlebells, a person can get a much better aerobic workout with them than dumbbells.

Kettlebells will produce overall muscle that is dense and strong, whereas dumbbells could allow for certain muscles to become bulkier.

One obstacle to using kettle bells is learning their more complex movements, but their are training videos and books available. You may even be able to find a qualified trainer with expertise in kettlebells.

Treadmills are a longer established part of the fitness landscape than elliptical trainers, but they both have great, albeit varying, benefits for users.
The biggest difference between the two is that you’re not physically connected to a treadmill. There is no pre-set motion to follow and one size fits all.
Anyone from a rehab patient who walks at an extremely slow pace to a marathon runner putting in a grueling indoor workout can use a treadmill.
Right behind treadmills as the top selling fitness equipment are ellipticals.
Ellipticals are excellent for a cardiovascular workout that will not put as much impact on a person’s joints. Since your feet are placed on a pad, you are burning calories but not getting as much shock to the knees or hips as with a treadmill.
Another factor to consider is perceived exertion, or how hard a person thinks they’re working. Since we can all practically walk, or maybe even run with our eyes closed, it might not seem like we’re working as hard as when we’re following a less natural movement pattern on the elliptical. The truth is you’re working hard on both of them if you’re putting out effort.
If you’re trying to get more motivated, then this aspect of the elliptical might be a good selling point for you. The elliptical can be set for forward or backward movements. Elliptical handles allow a person to get more of an upper body workout than with treadmills.
Both pieces of equipment can usually change the plane you’re moving on and offer different workouts, such as fat burning, aerobic or strength training.
For hard-core walkers, joggers or runners, it’s hard to beat the treadmill.
However, for older people, those with joint issues or maybe just people looking for a new twist on their workouts, then an elliptical might be the best choice. Octane and Life Fitness are two leading brands for ellipticals. Both pieces of equipment are excellent ways to burn calories and improve your aerobic health.

When it comes to working out, staying motivated and sticking with your routine can be difficult at times. Over time, it becomes far too easy to start making up excuses to avoid your workout. If you have found yourself in a slump or if you feel as if you are heading in that direction, you might want to put these tips to work to help keep yourself motivated.

Tip #1:  Make Sure Your Goals are Realistic

One reason people give up on their workout routines is because they set high expectations for themselves or because they expect to see immediate results. Choose the time of the day that is most convenient for you so you don’t feel stressed out or pressured to squeeze in your workout. Also, choose an amount of time to dedicate to your workout that you know you can stick to and don’t become discouraged if you don’t lose 10 pounds in the first week. Remember, those who lose weight and keep it off over the long-haul lose only about 1 or 2 pounds per week.

Tip #2: Choose the Right Activity

You should also explore all of the different types of activities that are available and then select those that you enjoy doing most. If you have a couple different activities that you enjoy, try rotating them so your body doesn’t become used to your routine and so you don’t get bored with your activities.

Tip #3: Subscribe to Magazines and Newsletters

Magazines and newsletters can keep you inspired by providing you with ongoing advice and feedback. In addition, magazines and newsletters often include inspiring stories that can help you keep moving forward.

Tip #4: Sign Up for Activities

By signing up for physical activities, such as races and walk-a-thons, or by participating in team sports, you will be motivated to keep working out so you will be in shape for that particular activity. Not only will this help you keep your eye on a goal, you will also have a great time as you socialize with other people who are participating in the same event.

Tip #5: Reward Yourself

Everyone wants to be rewarded for a job well done, so why shouldn’t you be? By building a rewards system into your workout routine, you will be more inspired to stay committed to your workout.  Make a list of the things you will reward yourself with once you reach certain goals and then make sure to follow through with the reward – you deserve it!

If you are struggling with keeping your eating under control, you might want to consider exploring a diet program called Volumetrics. Unlike fad diets, Volumetrics doesn’t involve following a crazy diet plan that no one could ever stick to for a long period of time. In addition, it doesn’t require you to follow an unhealthy program that could lead to illness or injury. Rather, it is a simple concept developed by nutritionist Barbara Rolls, PhD that involves adding foods to you diet that help you feel full.

Many people overeat simply because they never feel satisfied after eating. With the help of Volumetrics, you can achieve that “full” feeling so you can feel satisfied. The key to being successful with this diet is finding foods that are filling, but that are not full of calories.

Some low-density foods that you can eat a lot of without consuming a large amount of calories include:

·    No-starchy vegetables
·    Soup broths
·    Non-fat milk

Some high-density foods that contain a large amount of calories within a small serving include:

·    Butter
·    Candy
·    Chips
·    Chocolate
·    Cookies
·    Crackers
·    Nuts
·    Oils

In order to get that full feeling while keeping your caloric intake down, you should focus on eating a lot of low-density foods. Focusing on foods that contain a high percentage of water, such as fruits and vegetables, is also a part of this diet.

Volumetrics also recommends replacing certain foods with low-fat varieties. For example, replacing eggs, oil, cream and butter with yogurt, egg whites, applesauce and skim milk will significantly cut your caloric intake as well as the amount of fat you consume.

Of course, hunger isn’t the only reason many people overeat. For example, some people overeat because it brings them comfort, while others eat simply because the food tastes so good. In fact, many people continue to eat even after they are no longer hungry. So, while Volumetrics might help some people, it might not be the right diet plan for you.

Looking respectable at the gym

Looking physically respectable gets tougher and tougher as you get older. If you keep the same bad diet habits at 40 or older as you did at 25, or stop being very active, the loser will be your waist line and overall health. Whether you’re trying to play catch up and get your lost physique back, or trying to maintain a good level you’re at, it can still be intimidating to go to a public gym as you get older. Looking respectable at the gym is not as tough as people might think, though.

No matter what one’s age is, if you’re at the gym, and actually working out, then you’re taking steps to improve. And that should be respected by even the fittest people in the gym.

A football coach I used to interview had a quote that always stuck with me. He said, “People never stay the same. They’re either getting better or worse each day. You have a choice each day – which are you going to do?”

If you’re new to a gym, you might get some stares at first no matter what kind of shape you’re in because people don’t recognize you. But if you keep at it, and do the best you can each day, people should take notice of your commitment. Whether you’re bench-pressing several big plates at once or just the bar, working with big or small dumbbells, sprinting or walking on the treadmill, the key is consistency. Don’t judge yourself against anyone but yourself.

At the weight room I work out in, I remember talking to a rather heavy-set woman who said “hi” to me one day when there weren’t many people in the facility and we were both riding stationery bikes. She proceeded to tell me she had recently undergone gastric bypass surgery and that it was tough for her to workout, but she was determined to do it. After that I kept seeing her in the weight room on a regular basis and looked at her with respect – maybe not in the same way as the athletes I’m used to competing with or writing about as a sports writer, but as a person who in her own way was doing her best. And that’s all you can do in the weight room - your best.

If you put some effort into it, the results will last a lifetime.

If you are putting together a workout routine that will help you look better and to feel healthier, it is important for you to include more than just cardio in your workout. While it is certainly for you to include cardio in order to help with fat burning and to keep your heart healthy, there are also many benefits associated with weight lifting. Some of these include:

·    Helps burn fat
·    Decreases your risk of developing osteoporosis by building strong bones
·    Increases your metabolism so you burn fat more efficiently throughout the day
·    Tones your muscles, making your overall appearance look healthier and fitter
·    May help increase your HDL cholesterol, which is otherwise known as good cholesterol
·    Increases your energy levels
·    Reduces your chances of developing diabetes
·    Makes you physically stronger
·    Improves your balance
·    Reduces your chances of becoming injured
·    Improves your sports performance and exercise performance
·    Helps you feel good about yourself
·    Improves your posture
·    May give your immune system a boost

The good news is that you don’t have to go out and purchase costly gym equipment in order to engage in weight training either. In fact, there are many exercises that you can perform with nothing but your own weight, including squats and push-ups. If you want to take it a step further, dumb bells are inexpensive and are quite effective at giving the body a workout.