Elliptical machine trainers provide an outstanding way to tone muscle and get a great cardio workout that’s low-impact on the joints and ligaments.
They are also very easy to use for people of all ages. 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.
Here are five reasons why owning your own elliptical machine is a smart decision:
1. Time-saver – Since elliptical machines can work out both the upper and lower body at the same time, you can get a quality full-body workout in as little as 20 minutes. By owning one of your own, you can work out any time you want.
2. Low-impact – When compared to other exercises, such as running or weightlifting, an elliptical machine is very low impact on the body.
Ellipticals are especially recommended for older individuals who want to get a cardio workout, or individuals who are trying to give their back or knees a break from more jarring types of workouts.
3. Weight loss – By increasing the heart rate while working out, you also burn more calories and in turn can start to lose weight when exercise is combined with a healthy diet.
4. Easy to use – As mentioned earlier, ellipticals are very easy to use. Almost anyone can use them, but you can control how hard you want to exercise on the machine.
5. Get healthier – Because of the full-body workout an elliptical provides, it will help people get an excellent cardio workout and that can help improve your overall health when done consistently over 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. Consult a doctor before making any significant changes in your exercise routine or diet. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com

This is it – At Home Fitness’ absolute best pricing of the year!
Our massive Memorial Day Sale runs from May 15-27, including Memorial Day store hours from 10-6.
While other stores may claim their best prices are after Christmas, on New Year’s Day, or any other holidays, the time stores really want to generate business is right before everyone goes on summer vacation.
At Home Fitness is no different – we want you to consider shopping us before you get into the summer season and we’re rolling out incredible savings of up to 30 percent on many items and same as cash financing for up to 36 months.
We are Arizona’s No. 1 specialty fitness dealers for a reason – we sell the most equipment, have the most qualified sales associates and can offer the best deals.
And our deals don’t get any better than this Memorial Day Sale.
Come and check out our extreme savings on great brands such as Torque Fitness, StairMaster, Life Fitness, Octane Fitness and 3G Cardio.
In many cases, we are willing and able to sell for lower than the MAP price listed on our website. For lower pricing, please call or visit your local At Home Fitness retail store in Scottsdale, Desert Ridge, Gilbert or Ahwatukee. Or call 888-940-1022 (Ext 1) and speak with a sales associate.

Technology gets more and more amazing every day and when it comes to fitness their an App for just about anything you can think of to be healthier.
There are countless Apps for fitness and nutrition available at minimal or no cost, such as the free iPhone App MyFitnessPal.
Whether you’re in search of a healthy restaurant for a quick lunch break, or you want to sit down and plan nutritious meals for the upcoming week, MyFitnessPal is your best friend when it comes to eating better.
Here are three more Fitness Apps I really like:
* 3G Cardio Accelerated Vibration Training AVT™ Exercise App – Vibration training is the fastest growing segment of the fitness industry and thanks to the designers at 3G Cardio there’s now an App for it.
Users of the award-winning 3G Cardio AVT™ 6.0, 5.0 and 3.0 Vibration Machines not only have the best in design and parts, but the best in user friendly controls.
And it doesn’t get any better, easier, fun or more beneficial than the 3G Cardio Accelerated Vibration Training AVT™ Exercise App that can be downloaded free to your I-pad from iTunes.
This App is broken into three workout options – strength training, stretching or massage.
Simply touch the program you want and it will pull up videos with audio that will take you through a complete program.
It’s almost like having a personal trainer right in your workout room to help show you the proper technique and provide added motivation.
People of all ages and physical backgrounds are benefiting from the 3G Cardio Accelerated Vibration Training AVT™ Exercise App.
Put away the workout poster or magazine and download the 3G Cardio Vibration Training App today.
* Fit Freeway – This retro arcade-style car-racing game by Active Theory is a lot of fun to play while exercising on an elliptical or stationary bike.
The faster your legs move, the faster the race car goes. It reads your speed by using your iPhone or iPad’s accelerometer to read the vibrations in the exercise bike or elliptical. These vibrations are analyzed and converted into your exercise cadence.
Here’s another super-fun feature: the front facing camera on your device reads your head position so you can steer with your head.
*Zombies, Run 5K – Zombies are all the rage lately, with shows such as “The Walking Dead” becoming super popular.
Running from Zombies on this App for Android and iOS is a fun way to motivate you into doing a bit more exercise.
This App delivers an audio adventure with you as the star who’s trying to outrun zombies over the course of several missions.
You’ll have so much fun trying to be a hero or heroine that you’ll forget how hard your running. Follow this program for eight weeks and you’ll be ready to run a 5K race.
There are also good Apps such as “Gorilla Workout,” “Navy Seals Fitness” and much more.
No matter what App(s) you choose there is still no quick fix for weight loss – it is still your responsibility to eat right and exercise.
But I certainly can help with the process of eating right and exercising to get some added information and motivation for the modern convenience of fitness Apps.

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. Consult a doctor before making any significant changes in your exercise routine or diet. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com

Don’t forget the treadmill this summer
The weather is getting warmer and warmer, which is a great time to use the treadmill.
Instead of overheating outside in the sun, get a great cardio workout indoors on a treadmill.
Here are five benefits of doing summer treadmill workouts:
1. You can get an effective, stimulating workout that mimics walking or jogging outdoors and will stimulate your mind as well as muscles.
2. There are lots of great phone and computer apps that will let you take even more control of your workout by simulating things such as you driving a race car, running a mountain course and even running from zombies. Pretty much whatever floats your boat as they say.
3. Many treadmills come with standard programs, which allow you to keep things interesting by adjusting the speed, incline and-or decline.
4. You control the entertainment. Play DVD movies while you’re on the treadmill to help pass the time. Or, play a good music CD mix to keep your body energized.
5. Treadmills are ready any time when you own your own. Work out when you want with total control of your environment.
Stop in at a specialty store such as At Home Fitness in Arizona, or check them out online for more information on the different types of treadmills that are available.
Good treadmills cost a decent amount of money up front, but they are a true investment that will pay off many times over in benefits over the long run.

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

Editor’s note: This is the second in a weeklong series that will provide basic running tips.
One of the most common questions newcomers to running will ask is this: “Is it better to run on a treadmill or outside?
Really it comes down to a matter of personal preference, but it’s actually good to do both. Here are some of the pros and cons of both.
Many marathoners put a lot of their mileage in on treadmills to save wear and tear on their legs. It may be a little boring to run for a half hour or more on a treadmill, but pop in a DVD on the TV or listen to some good music to help pass the time indoors.
Running on a treadmill is easier than running outside on your body because the landing is cushioned better and you don’t have to deal with the outside elements. However, it’s also good to mix in variety, so you shouldn’t limit all your running to one or the other.
You can also know that the treadmill surface will be consistent and you won’t have to worry about stepping in a hole or tripping on something you didn’t see.
If you are running (or walking) on a treadmill to basically be in good overall shape and lose weight, a treadmill is just as good for you as running outside. Calories burned running inside are the same as those burned on the street or on a track. Likewise, your cardio benefits are even. The treadmill is actually a better option in many instances because it is more likely to prevent injury, offers a safer place to run and more convenience.
Any time you walk or run outside there’s the chance of the unexpected happening. Outside runners and walkers sometimes have to deal with careless or rude drivers, people who want to talk when they just want to get a run in, dogs, weather and even uneven roads or trails when they’re outside. If you work out on a treadmill in the comfort of your own home all of those hazards and distractions are left outside your front door.
The treadmill benefits are similar to what they’d experience outside as well. The aforementioned safety and convenience factors are better on a treadmill. The ability to set a treadmill to pre-programmed workouts, which can give you inclines and declines and force you to stick to a pace, can actually be better than running outside.
One big difference is that the mechanics of running on a treadmill are ever-so slightly different than running outside. You don’t get the experience of dealing with running in different types of weather (especially dealing with wind), sometimes uneven surfaces and hill training is not quite the same.

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. Consult a doctor before making any significant changes in your exercise routine or diet. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com

Editor’s note: This is the first in a weeklong series that will provide basic running tips.

If it’s been a long time since you’ve incorporated running into your workouts, or you really can’t remember running since you were a kid, here are some tips on how to ease back into it the right way.
The biggest key for getting back into running is actually walking. In other words, start slowly.
Mix in walking with running so that you gradually build up your endurance and muscles. It’s also better to not overdo it to help prevent injury.
Most trainers will recommend running about three times a week, for a 15-20 minute workout each time. Again, it’s OK to break up that time by walking some and running some. Ideally, as time goes by more and more of the workout will be running.
You can run on a treadmill inside, outside or both. Actually, it’s a good idea to mix up where you run.
When you are running out on the street, know the rules of the road. It’s better to see the traffic coming at you, rather than having vehicles approach from behind. Most experienced runners will always face the traffic – it’s just a lot safer.
Ideally, run on sidewalks when possible because that’s safer than the roads, but watch out on sidewalks for cars coming out of driveways onto the roadway.
Make sure you have a good pair of running shoes because they provide the base – and protection – for everything you’re going to do. Consult with a specialty fitness store to get tips on what’s the best shoe for you.
Another good investment is a heart-rate monitor so that you are finding the right pace to get into a good cardio zone. Consult with your doctor about what heart-rate is ideal for your age and fitness level and also for more tips on starting a running program.
Other ideas that will help you get started are to find a workout partner and keep a log of your running to measure your progress and also provide motivation.
Warm up for 10 minutes before starting your running program with a walk or very light jog and stretching. Give the same amount of time for a cool down.

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. Consult a doctor before making any significant changes in your exercise routine or diet. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com

Would you rather listen to nails screech against a chalkboard, or spend the afternoon watching paint on a fence dry instead of exercising?
For some people that’s the case – they dislike exercising that much.
However, it doesn’t have to be that way.
Here are fivetips to make exercise more fun:
1. Take part in fun aerobic activities – In addition to dancing, there are many other fun activities that will give you a good aerobic workout.
Consider things like skating, sports such as tennis or basketball, playing with the kids, or running or walking with your friend while enjoying a good conversation.
2. Dance – Maybe you just don’t want to exercise at all in traditional ways. If that’s the case, then start doing an active activity that you enjoy more regularly, such as dancing.
Believe it or not, if you eat right and dance regularly that can help you get more toned and lose weight.
3. Find a workout partner – If you can find a workout buddy, it will make things easier for you to stick to a program. You will have someone else to be accountable to and you can both push each other.
4. Find practical reasons to exercise – Some people don’t like to exercise if there’s no purpose to it, like running on a treadmill for 20 minutes and not going anywhere. For others, that’s perfectly fine.
But if you’re in the first category, combine exercise with things such as yard work projects, walking or jogging to the store for light shopping trips, or riding your bike to a store.
5. Set up a comfortable environment to exercise in - Not only is it important to set aside time in your busy schedule to exercise, but you should start by setting up a successful environment in your home to work out.
Put your fitness equipment in a comfortable room, one where you’ll enjoy putting in lots of hours of exercise. If you set up a treadmill in a crowded, cluttered garage, do you really think you’ll use it a lot there?
Now that could be different if it’s a big garage and set up nicely for exercising, or a basement that’s big enough and cleared out enough for fitness equipment.
Wherever you set up your fitness area, make sure it’s conducive to working out. Try to make it as fun a room as possible to be in. Set up a stereo and/or TV. Put up pictures or posters that motivate you. It’s hard enough to stay motivated for fitness the older we get, but if it’s a boring room to be in that certainly won’t make it any easier.
Make your fitness room a source of pride. Add fitness equipment such as a functional trainer along the way. Maybe even give it a name. And keep working out!

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

Oftentimes, when it comes to getting fit the hardest part is just getting started.
Here are 10 motivational tips to help get – and keep – you going:
1. Find inspirational fitness quotes – Perhaps you like Woody Allen’s famous motivational quote – “Eighty percent of success is just showing up” have your own or need to be on the lookout for more. Any way you find them, motivational quotes are a great way to get yourself motivated.
2. Time for you – Think of exercise as time for you and just you if that helps. Many people constantly make time for others – from kids, spouse, other family, co-workers, students, etc. – but don’t often make time for themselves. If you think of fitness as “you time“ that might make a difference.
3. Have fun – I still talk to a surprising number of people who think fitness isn’t fun. I’m not sure if they were scarred (or is it scared) by a hard-driving former coach, but exercise should be fun. If it isn’t, pick out different exercises to do. But as long as you’re moving and burning calories, just about anything you choose will be beneficial.
4. Look in the mirror – Picture how much better you’ll look if you
exercise regularly.
5. Set a goal to wear some old favorite clothes – Maybe set a goal to fit into an old favorite shirt or pair of jeans you’ve had to retire lately
because it doesn’t fit.
6. Read about fitness – You can get a lot of great ideas and motivation from reading about fitness in magazines, books, newspapers and the Internet.
7. Success stories. Look for articles on other people’s success stories or talk to friends who are physically fit and pick their brains if you can.
8. Rewards – Give yourself a reward for meeting certain exercise goals, such as buying new clothes or taking a trip.
9. Find a workout partner – For some people this is the best way to stay motivated.
10. Buy some new fitness equipment – Find something you’ll use and
add it to your home gym, or start a workout room. Having equipment at your home such as a treadmill, elliptical machine and-or free weights is a great way to never miss going to the gym. It’s always a walk down the hall at your home.

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

If you want a treadmill or other fitness equipment repaired in the North Phoenix and Northwest Phoenix area, At Home Fitness is the company to turn to.
At Home Fitness has one of its superstores in the Desert Ridge Marketplace location at 21001 N. Tatum Blvd, Phoenix, 85050. People can bring their equipment to the store to be fixed, or At Home Fitness will send one of its highly trained service technicians to your home to fix fitness equipment..
If you need fitness equipment repaired in Arizona communities or cities such as Anthem, 85086; Cave Creek, 85331; Sun City West 85375; Peoria, 85383; Carefree, 85317; Deer Valley, 85028 and Glendale, 85301 make sure to contact At Home Fitness.
At Home Fitness Desert Ridge is located off the 101 loop to Tatum. It’s next to Target and Connelly Billiards on the first entrance into Desert Ridge Marketplace.
The best treadmill retailer in Arizona and the Phoenix area, At Home Fitness also has great deals on elliptical machines, home gyms, exercise bikes, functional trainers and more. At Home Fitness is the place to go to buy exercise equipment with the best reviews and treadmills with the best reviews in Arizona.
At Home Fitness is also the leader to turn to get your fitness equipment repaired in Arizona.
To get a good service and repairs on an elliptical machine, treadmill or other exercise equipment, make sure to stop in and visit the At Home Fitness Desert Ridge Marketplace location at 21001 N. Tatum Blvd, Phoenix, 85050.
Most people would rather buy a treadmill or other fitness equipment locally, where they get to try it out in person and talk with a qualified salesperson.
A commitment to quality, value and customer service have helped At Home Fitness continue to grow and take the lead for best specialty fitness equipment in Arizona.
At Home Fitness also has locations in Scottsdale, 6969 E. Shea Blvd.; Ahwatukee, 14647 So. 50th St.; Chandler, 4320 W. Chandler Blvd.; and Gilbert, 2810 S. Market St.
In addition, the specialty fitness giant is a leader in Internet sales, with shipping available to all over the country. To find some of the lowest fitness prices anywhere on the Internet, visit www.athomefitness.com
Anyone with questions about At Home Fitness’ Desert Ridge location or any of the equipment they carry should call the store at 480-513-1123 and speak with one of the trained fitness associates.

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

A quarter century since its introduction, the Stairmaster Stepmill remains one of the most well-known and best fitness machines there is.
Climbing stairs is one of the most efficient and effective ways to get in a great cardio workout and also build strength at the same time.
“If you’re willing to put in the work, it provides the results!” Stairmaster says and it’s true.
At Home Fitness has the best pricing on the residential model Stairmaster Stepmill 3 (MSRP: $3,499, AHF Sale Price: $2,999) and full commercial model Stairmaster Stepmill SM5 (MSRP: $6,299, AHF Sale Price: $5,949).
Here are six great benefits of using a Stairmaster Stepmill:
1. Engages the body’s largest muscle groups to repeatedly lift your body weight up, step after step.
2. Maximizes your cardio time and efforts by raising your heart rate immediately – 20 minutes of workout time is likely to include 19 minutes with an elevated heart rate!
3. Increases core muscle strength by requiring simple balance and significant strength.
4. Just maintaining balance engages core muscles with every step, and the act of climbing the stairs buildings strength and endurance.
5. Stairmaster Stepmill engages every major muscle in your lower body as many as 120-plus times/minute: glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps and calves. High reps build strong, lean muscle.
6. It’s low-impact exercise so you can work as hard as you want without the wear and tear on your joins and ligaments of exercises like running.
Low Impact The StepMill 5 makes you work hard without being hard on you. You can achieve high work efforts while moving at very low speeds relative to other workout options, minimizing the toll/stress on the body. For example, climbing at 1mph on the StepMill 5 is roughly equivalent to running at 6mph on a flat treadmill.
Better than “Real” Stairs Climbing “real” stairs usually means you get to the top and then have to go back down. Descending stairs is much harder on your knees than climbing up because your muscles and connective tissues are being used as “brakes” to fight the effect of gravity, and you are hitting each step with more impact. With the StepMill 5, you get all the benefits of climbing while avoiding the negative elements of descending.
Make 20 minutes count for 30 Combining so many positive effects (cardio, strengthening, muscle building, toning) in one workout means it takes less time to get the results you are looking for.
For wholesale best pricing on the residential model Stairmaster Stepmill 3 (MSRP: $3,499, AHF Sale Price: $2,999) and full commercial model Stairmaster Stepmill SM5 (MSRP: $6,299, AHF Sale Price: $5,949) shop At Home Fitness online or in its superstores in Arizona.

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. Consult a doctor before making any significant changes in your exercise routine or diet. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com