“You get what you pay for” is never more true than when shopping for fitness equipment such as treadmills, elliptical machines and exercise bikes.
Too many times people go to a department store or national sporting goods chain, fork down $500-750 or so for a cardio machine thinking they got a great deal and are disappointed within a year, if not months.
The cheaper machines either break down, are flimsy to use, or most often, both.
What many people don’t know about purchasing fitness equipment is that there is a HUGE difference between products. People are almost always more satisfied if they buy from a fitness store that specializes in fitness equipment.
Here are the top six reasons to buy treadmills, elliptical machines and exercise bikes from a specialty store such as At Home Fitness in Arizona:
QUALITY – The better, more expensive cardio equipment will have a better performance because it’s better engineered. This is especially noticeable on an elliptical machine, where the elliptical pattern will be better on better equipment. Treadmills and exercise bikes will also have much smoother, sturdier feels to them on better models.
SELLER EXPERTISE – Stores such as At Home Fitness in Arizona – and its online site athomefitness.com available nationally – specialize in just fitness equipment. They have deals in place to sell the top fitness lines available.
The AHF sales associates know the products in and out and will be able to educate customers as to the best products to fit their needs.
They don’t rotate from folding sweaters, or selling camping equipment to trying to act like they know about treadmills, like a salesperson in a department store might.
LONG-TERM USE – An AHF sales associate will tell you that one of the biggest keys is to purchase equipment that you’ll enjoy using. Too often department store treadmills or ellipticals develop sticking points, or feel flimsy not long after people start using them. Some treadmills aren’t even made to be run on, which is something a lot of people don’t know or aren’t told.
WARRANTY – While you’ll pay more for quality fitness equipment, you’ll usually wind up saving money on that type of investment. How is that possible?
Many top-of-the-line fitness manufacturers offer warranties that will replace broken parts. You’re not likely to find that in department stores.
Also, if you need service the turnaround time from a store like AHF is only a matter of days instead of weeks or months from department stores.
The more durable products will last for many years. That will save you the trouble of having to buy a new one or getting a health club membership because your cheap home treadmill or elliptical sits unused – except for turning into a clothes rack.
FIND THE REAL VALUE – When an inexperienced consumer walks into a department store and finds a $300 elliptical or $599 treadmill, he probably thinks he’s found a real value.
Don’t expect the same durability that you’ll find in quality fitness equipment, though. Top equipment is simply not going to be sold for less than about $1,000.
That’s a lot of money, but if you think in terms of many years of great use out of a top product, then that’s where the real value is.
And if you go to a store like At Home Fitness because of the volume of equipment they sell, you can actually find great deals on high-end fitness equipment.
TRY IT OUT – Go into a specialty fitness store with a pair of running shoes and try out the equipment you’re interested in and find something you‘ll use for years to come.
When you think long-term it will make even more sense to avoid the quick fix of a department store special, which it turns out really isn’t so special.

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.com

Many of the readers of this At Home Fitness blog no doubt also play sports and/or coach a team.
Many of the same people likely are involved in coaching kids.
Sometimes often overlooked with all the emphasis on exercise, practice and competition is the need for good sportsmanship.
As a sports writer and athlete I often see examples of good and bad sportsmanship.
Maybe sometimes people don’t even know they’ve crossed the line and are exhibiting bad sportsmanship when they do it.
I recently came across these tips on sportsmanship at www.kidshealth.org that I think provide good tips for anyone involved with athletics.
Fostering Good Sportsmanship
Remember the saying “Actions speak louder than words”? That’s especially true when it comes to teaching your kids the basics of good sportsmanship. Your behavior during practices and games will influence them more than any pep talk or lecture you give them.
Here are some suggestions on how to build sportsmanship in your kids:
Unless you’re coaching your child’s team, you need to remember that you’re the parent. Shout words of encouragement, not directions, from the sidelines (there is a difference!).
If you are your kid’s coach, don’t expect too much out of your own child. Don’t be harder on him or her than on anyone else on the team, but don’t play favorites either.
Keep your comments positive. Don’t bad-mouth coaches, players, or game officials. If you have a serious concern about the way that games or practices are being conducted, or if you’re upset about other parents’ behavior, discuss it privately with the coach or with a league official.
After a competition, it’s important not to dwell on who won or lost. Instead, try asking, “How did you feel you did during the game?” If your child feels weak at a particular skill, like throwing or catching, offer to work on it together before the next game.
Applaud good plays no matter who makes them.
Set a good example with your courteous behavior toward the parents of kids on the other team. Congratulate them when their kids win.
Remember that it’s your kids, not you, who are playing. Don’t push them into a sport because it’s what you enjoyed. As kids get older, let them choose what sports they want to play and decide the level of commitment they want to make.
Keep your perspective. It’s just a game. Even if the team loses every game of the season, it’s unlikely to ruin your child’s life or chances of success.
Look for examples of good sportsmanship in professional athletes and point them out to your kids. Talk about the bad examples, too, and why they upset you.
Finally, don’t forget to have fun. Even if your child isn’t the star, enjoy the game while you’re thinking of all the benefits your child is gaining — new skills, new friends, and attitudes that can help all through life

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.com

Regular exercise and healthy eating are two of the best things a person can do for themselves.
Completing the “Big Three” on my list of essential health tips is this: Don’t smoke!
If you smoke right now, the smartest thing you can do for your overall health is to quit. If you don’t smoke, don’t start!
Everyone knows that it is very difficult to do, but if a person stops smoking their heart and lungs begin to get healthier almost immediately.
Here are five tips to quit smoking yourself, or to pass on to a relative or a friend, according to Parade.com:
1. Know your motivation – Write your reasons for quitting on a piece of paper, laminate it, and put it in your pocket. Every time you’re tempted to smoke, pull it out as a reminder of why you shouldn’t.
2 Get free help – You can get free counseling and talk with a ‘quit coach’ by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW. In some states, this can even help you get medication for less.
3 Plan a quitting strategy – Ask your physician or pharmacist. There are seven medications now available to help.
4 Avoid tempting situations – You’ll probably need to change other behaviors for the first few months. If you’re used to having a cigarette after dinner, call a friend or go for a walk instead. Driving can also be a trigger, so have gum handy in the car.
5 Deal with setbacks – If you slip up, analyze what happened, then figure out how to avoid that situation next time.

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.com

When it comes to fitness equipment, exercise bikes have been around longer than treadmills and ellipticals and there are many reasons why they’re still a great seller.
Bottom line is that exercise bikes – ranging from recumbent bikes, upright bikes and indoor cycles – are a great way to get a cardio workout. Brands to choose from include Bladez, Inspire, Life Core Fitness, Vision Fitness, Life Fitness and ElliptiGo.
Here are the top five reasons exercise bikes should be an important part of any home gym:
Low Impact – There is much less impact on an exercise bike than a treadmill because you’re not jumping or running on an exercise bike. An exercise bike can help you get a good cardio workout without taking a toll on your joints. Exercise bikes are great for people with joint problems or pain.
Heart smart – Regular exercise on a bike helps improve your cardiovascular health. Heart disease and stroke are leading killers of men and women, so this benefit is of utmost importance.
Pain Management – Believe it or not, research has found that regular workouts on an exercise bike can help manage joint and even back pain. The American Council on Exercise has reported that researchers at the Virginia Medical Center found in a study that people with chronic back pain who rode an exercise bike for 25 minutes had a lower perception of pain for at least 30 minutes afterward.
Basically, if you get the blood flowing and muscles moving on a regular basis, it can loosen up your body.
Safety – Exercise bikes are one of the safest forms of cardio exercise you can do. It’s obviously safer than walking or running outside, and even more safe than exercising on a treadmill or elliptical, where there is a slight risk of falling.
Reasonable cost – Compared to other cardio machines, exercise bikes remain one of the most affordable.
People who want to shop for exercise bikes in Arizona are encouraged to check out one of the four locations of At Home Fitness. Arizona’s top seller of high-end fitness equipment has a wide variety of exercise bikes to shop for.
Top-of-the-line exercise bikes are available in At Home Fitness stores in Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert and Ahwatukee.

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.com

Whether you live in Mesa, Tempe, Glendale or Avondale, to shop for fitness equipment in the Phoenix area stop into an At Home Fitness store.
At Home Fitness has an excellent line of exercise bikes available, ranging from recumbent bikes, upright bikes and indoor cycles.
Brands to choose from include Bladez, Inspire, Life Core Fitness, Vision Fitness, Life Fitness and ElliptiGo.
People who want to shop for exercise bikes in Arizona are encouraged to check out one of the four locations of At Home Fitness. Arizona’s top seller of high-end fitness equipment has a wide variety of exercise bikes to shop for.
Top-of-the-line exercise bikes are available in At Home Fitness stores in Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert and Ahwatukee.
If you want to buy exercise bikes in Arizona, a trained sales person can show you the bikes in person. Make sure to try out the bikes in person and come to the stores ready with questions about the benefits of exercise bikes, options, price, warranties, etc.
There are lots of other types of home fitness equipment and home exercise equipment that At Home Fitness sells. Visit one of their stores today, or shop them online at athomefitness.com

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.com

With spring officially here, there’s no excuse for putting off fitness anymore.
The days will be getting longer and weather warming up, so the opportunities for fitness will be more and more plentiful.
If your fitness regimen is still in hibernation here are 10 great ways to spring back into shape:
1. Go for a walk outside or light jog – This is a great way to shake some of the rust off.
2. Go for a bike ride – Find a good trail or safe route in your town to enjoy the outdoors with a bike ride.
3. Start a stretching program – Improve your flexibility, but make sure you are stretching properly and only after sufficiently warming up.
4. Set goals – Pick short- and long-term goals, such as lose 10 pounds or exercise at least three times a week and then stick to them.
5. Come up with a workout plan – Either talk to a trainer or research a fitness regimen yourself. Then write it down and stick to it.
6. Don’t be too hard on yourself – If you do get sidetracked and fall short of your goals, get back into your fitness routine as soon as possible.
7. Play catch – Throw the baseball or softball around with family members. Have fun while you get some light exercise – maybe medium exercise if you’re chasing tosses from a wild thrower.
8. Play outdoor basketball – Find an outdoor basketball court and enjoy your own March Madness hoop action, just don’t get too wild with your game until you’re in better shape.
9. Fly a kite – Mix exercise with nature by flying a kite. The kids will love it and adults will have fun, too.
10. Clean up the yard – Get a head start on yard work for the spring and summer by cleaning up the debris left over from a long winter. Working in your yard is a great way to get exercise, and also improve your property.

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

Elliptical machines are one of the best ways to get a great cardio workout.
To buy ellipticals in Arizona, stop into an At Home Fitness store in Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert or Ahwatukee.
When compared to other exercises, such as running or weightlifting, an elliptical machine is very low impact on the body, but still gets big-time results.
Ellipticals are especially recommended for older individuals who want to get a good cardio workout, or individuals who are trying to give their back or knees a break from more jarring types of workouts.
However, all types of people can benefit from ellipticals, even highly trained athletes.
Although not real complicated to use, ellipticals can help people achieve great results. All you have to do is stand with your feet inside the foot pedals and begin moving back and forth as your hands and arms move along with the moving handlebars. When you stop, the machine will stop, too.
Most ellipticals come with preset programs that allow you to choose a workout routine. You can adjust the incline level to increase the difficulty of your workouts.
Brands available at At Home Fitness include industry leaders such as Landice Ellipticals, Life Fitness, Vision Fitness, AFG, Sole Ellipticals, HealthRider Ellipticals, LifeSpan, SportsArt, Horizon, ProForm Ellipticals and Bladez.
Talk to an At Home Fitness trained associate about the many different options available when it comes to shopping for elliptiucal machines. You can also buy ellipticals at athomefitness.com
The At Home Fitness stores are conveniently located to many communities in Arizona, such as Mesa, Tempe, Glendale and Avondale to buy fitness equipment
Of course, there are also many other types of home fitness equipment and home exercise equipment that At Home Fitness sells. Stop into one of their stores today, or shop them online at athomefitness.com

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.com