At Home Fitness Articles & Features » Fitness Equipment Buying Tips

What are best exercises on a vibration trainer?

Aaron Dorksen — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:35:53 +0000

(Note: It’s Vibration Training Week here at At Home Fitness. This is the fourth in a five-part series in which we’ll feature information on this increasingly popular area of fitness).
There are many more exercises that can be done on a vibration training machine, such as Power Plate and 3G Cardio vibration machines, than people may be aware of.
First, here’s what you don’t do on a vibration machine. You don’t simply stand there and shake off weight and tone muscles.
And, you don’t stay on the vibration machine for long periods of time, such as with an elliptical machine or treadmill.
A vibration plate user must perform standard static and dynamic exercises on the vibration machine that are similar to ones they’d do with traditional weights. Choose a hertz level that you’re comfortable with (between 30-50 Hz usually) and perform exercises for counts of 30 or 60 seconds in most cases. Hold the mid-point of the exercise, or perform them slowly through the complete motion.
Some of the best exercises on the vibration machine for upper body are pushups, shoulder press, biceps curl, triceps dip, bent over row, front raise and dips. Some of these exercises require using straps that are included.
For legs, perform squat holds or full squats, calf stretches or raises, step-ups on and off the platform and leg massages.
The muscles contract in response to the plate vibration and movement, resulting in rapid contractions and accelerated results, according to 3G Cardio. The vibrations create instability, which the body senses and reflexively contracts muscles involuntarily to stabilize and react.
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

What are good vibration machines?

Aaron Dorksen — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:07:18 +0000

(Note: It’s Vibration Training Week here at At Home Fitness. This is the third in a five-part series in which we’ll feature information on this increasingly popular area of fitness).
There are nowhere near as many vibration machines on the market as say treadmills or ellipticals, but there are still a number to choose from.
Two independent review websites for best vibration machines I’ve found very useful to learn about vibration machines – and which ultimately helped me decide on one to purchase recently – are www.vibration-machine-reviews.com and www.vibrationplatereview.com.
I think these websites do a good job comparing important basic information such as size, power, Hertz levels, special features, price, manufacturer and overall ratings.
Just like with treadmills, not all vibration machines are created equal. Two of the best lines of vibration plates are Power Plate and 3G Cardio.
The top-rated vibration trainers on both websites and earning “Best Buy” awards are Power Plate My7 (MSRP $7,999), 3G Cardio AVT 6.0 Vibration Machine, ($4,999), Power Plate Pro 6 ($10,750) and 3G Cardio AVT 5.0 Vibration Machine ($3,999). They all received score rankings between 92 and 97.
Incidentally, all four of these machines are carried by At Home Fitness in its Arizona superstores and oneline at www.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

What is vibration training?

Aaron Dorksen — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:50:02 +0000

(Note: It’s Vibration Training Week here at At Home Fitness. This is the first in a five-part series in which we’ll feature information on this increasingly popular area of fitness).

If you’re interested in fitness, chances are by now you’ve heard of vibration training. If you haven’t, then vibration training is an area of training rapidly growing in popularity that it would benefit you to learn more about.
Whole Body Vibration Training (WBV), also known as Accelerated Vibration Training (AVT), allows people to exercise in an extremely efficient, safe manner using vibrations that stimulate the muscles.
This type of exercise dates back to ancient times, but regained popularity in the 1960s when Russian cosmonauts used vibration training to counteract the effects of muscle mass and bone density while in space.
Before the cosmonauts went into space, they took part in vibration training that strengthened their muscles and bones so that they’d remain stronger throughout their mission and upon returning to Earth.
Vibration trainers have been around for less than two decades in fitness clubs, but are now more and more readily available for home use as well through fitness retailers such as At Home Fitness.
Today, vibration machines are used by everyone from physical therapy and rehab patients, to professional athletes and celebrities, to the couple next door looking to stay more healthy and fit.
The easiest way to explain what takes place in vibration training is by examining the basic physics for “Force” as defined by Sir Isaac Newton’s equation: F = m * a (Force equals mass times acceleration).
To improve strength, people must expose their bodies to forces that are greater than normal in daily life.
In traditional strength training, such as lifting free weights or using a weight machine, people increase the “mass” by adding more weight.
In vibration training, it’s the “acceleration” that’s increased.
The “force” is generated by the upward vibrations coming from the platform which cause a user’s muscle tissue to activate and react up to 50 times per second. In fact, up to 97 percent of the muscle fibers are activated nearly instantaneously, compared to as little as 20 percent with traditional methods — and in a lot less time.
A person doesn’t just stand on the vibration platform. They must hold common static exercise positions such as squat, calf raise or pushup.
For more people with more advanced fitness levels, they can perform dynamic movements such as going through the motion of a squat or pushup. Vibration training has been found to be safer on joints and ligaments and to provide much greater results than traditional methods for people of all different ages and fitness backgrounds.
Coming tomorrow, I’ll explain how vibration training works.

What’s the best way to shop for a treadmill?

Aaron Dorksen — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:17:48 +0000

I have covered this topic before, but continue to hear people ask “What’s the best way to shop for a treadmill?” Back buy popular demand, here are five more tips to go about getting the best treadmill to fit your needs.
1. Establish a gameplan – Just like a pro football team shows up on Sundays with a good idea what it wants to do in the game, you should set up a plan before you start shopping.
Write down how much you plan to use the treadmill, what activities you’ll do on it (ie: walking, light running, distance running, sprints) and how much you can afford to spend.
2. Try it out in person – Don’t buy a treadmill online or from some Big Box store that appears to be a great deal without trying it out. Chances are you won’t wind up liking it and it will eventually serve as a clothes rack in the back of an extra bedroom or box holder in the garage.
Go into a specialty fitness store such as At Home Fitness (Arizona) and let the experts give you a guided tour of what’s available.
Bring a pair of running shoes and ask to try out the treadmills like you’ll use them at home. If you plan to run on it, then run on the ones in the store you’re interested in.
Many of us have used a treadmill in a hotel or resort that doesn’t work right, is broken, or unstable and doesn’t seem to support very well. Make sure you really like the one you buy so that doesn‘t happen to you.
Most treadmills look similar and it will be hard to tell them apart by simply walking on them. The biggest mistake people make in buying a treadmill is not taking it for a proper test “run.”
3. Don’t under buy your treadmill – As mentioned above, if you plan to do a good amount of running on a treadmill make sure you get one that accommodates it. Some treadmills aren’t even designed to be used by someone who weighs over 200 pounds running on them on a regular basis.
4. Explore your options – There are lots of options available on treadmills and sometimes you can save money on high-end treadmills depending on what options you go with.
For those who want a high-end treadmill, Landice is an outstanding brand to choose. You can mix and match options even at the elite level.
Landice offers two different sized frames (L7 and L8) and four different electronic boards (pro trainer, pro sports trainer, cardio trainer and the top of the line executive trainer) to select from.
When it comes to mid-line treadmills, brands such as Vision Fitness, which is manufactured by Johnson Health Tech, offers many great options.
Finally, for entry-level treadmills, AFG (Advanced Fitness Group), is an outstanding choice.
5. Warranty, warranty, warranty – Check the warranty. Some companies undersell the competition, but they know full well that seven years or so down the line people will be coming back to them to buy replacement parts and/or service and often wind up spending another $500-700. (There goes the initial “good deal” out the window.)
However, companies such as Landice offers a lifetime warranty. So there can be a huge difference.
Contact the pros at At Home Fitness for more information: www.athomefitness.com

Benefits of Whole Body Vibration training

At Home Fitness — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:10:53 +0000

The benefits of Whole Body Vibration training are becoming more and more
apparent.A growing number of people are using vibration machines in health clubs and their own homes.

Also, more and more research is being done that shows the benefits of using Whole Body Vibration training.
Here are 12 areas in which Whole Body Vibration training is being researched in studies to help people improve their health.
* Circulation
* Immune system
* Cardiovascular system
* Muscle tone
* Overall strength
* Flexibility
* Exercise recovery
* Balance
* Bone density
* Mood
* Pain management
* Massage therapy

Of course, not all vibration machines are created equal. In order to maximize the effects of vibration machines, it’s important to shop around
for the best you can find within your budget. At the top of the line for the Vibration Machine Reviews “Best Buy rankings” are Power Plate My7 (MSRP $7,999) with a 97 score, followed closely by 3G Cardio AVT 6.0 Vibration Machine (96 score, $4,999). Two others that are also top of the line are Power Plate Pro 6 (95 score,$10,750) and 3G Cardio AVT 5.0 Vibration Machine (94, $3,999).

Five great fitness ideas for senior citizens

Aaron Dorksen — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:20:10 +0000

If you are old enough to remember working out when Jane Fonda helped usher in the golden age of fitness, leg warmers were all the rage and Jazzercise classes popped up everywhere, chances are that you’re now a senior citizen or approaching that age.
Hopefully fitness is not a forgotten memory for you now.
People should keep moving as much as they can for as long as they can, but need to be smart about how they exercise at each stage of life.
The Baby Boomer generation needs exercise more than ever to keep muscles from stiffening and weakening. Exercise can also be a great way for people of all ages to feel better about themselves and fight off depression or anxiety.
Here are five fitness tips for senior citizens.
1. Explore the great outdoors – While your body might not tolerate running anymore, try to walk and-or bike as much as you can. Do it by yourself, with a family member or friend, or in groups.
2. Create a home gym – From the simple to fitness-club quality, setting up a home gym will help you exercise in the convenience of your own home. Go into a fitness store to compare prices and get a big-ticket item such as a treadmill or elliptical machine. You can also find smalelr items there, or may even find great buys at garage sales.
3. Research fitness – G to the library, book store or drug store to find books and magazines about fitness that can give you good tips. Read the Internet to, but beware of the source.
4. Find exercise DVDs – If you don’t have the time or money to join workout groups, find exercise DVDs and work out along with them. It’s a great way to find motivation and also watch someone else to make sure you’re doing the exercises correctly.
5. Change it up – Some people tell me “exercise is boring.” I ask them right away, “Do you change up what you’re doing and try to be creative?” Most often they reply, “Well, actually no.” If you add some variety, exercising should become more fun.

Landice: The Best Treadmill You Can Own.

Aaron Dorksen — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:38:21 +0000

If you are someone who wants to own the best, when it comes to treadmills the industry standard is Landice.
Landice has been the No. 1-rated Treadmill seven years in a row with a perfect score. Landice also has the best warranty in the business.
At Home Fitness in Arizona and their online headquarters www.athomefitness.com is your one-stop source for great deals on Landice equipment.
Let the At home Fitness professionals explain to you the different options available for Landice when it comes to top of the line motors, superior electronics panels, and solid, long lasting construction.
People might be surprised to learn they can mix and match treadmill features even at the elite level.
Landice offers two different sized frames (L7 and L8) and four different electronic boards (pro trainer, pro sports trainer, cardio trainer and the top of the line executive trainer) to select from.
So even if you want the top-end frame, you could save about $700-800 depending on what electronic board you decide to go with.
Here’s a look at some of the high-end Landice models that rank atop nearly all fitness rankings in the industry:
* The Landice L8 LTD Executive Trainer contains the most features to be found in the L8 LTD series. In addition to its computer-animated display, it offers additional fitness tests to help you push your body to a whole new level.
* The Landice L8 LTD Treadmill Cardio Trainer helps you move your workout to a whole new level by including a special Landice treadmills motivational display. You can also set your own goals, create your own programs, and take your choice of three different fitness tests. The wireless chest strap and the AccuTrack heart-rate monitoring systems are both included.
* The Landice L7 Club Treadmill Pro Trainer offers a simplified control panel for users who wish to set their own pace.
Runners World Magazine published the results of their customer satisfaction survey of over 2000 readers who owned or used a treadmill at health clubs or corporate fitness gyms.
The readers were asked to rate the treadmills on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest rating. The following is a list of the top results:
Men’s Journal also rated Landice high, giving them the “Gear of the Year Award.” The magazine reported: “Looking to the automotive world for inspiration, Landice created a treadmill with the brushed aluminum finish of an Audi TT, the round, red-and-white analog gauges of a ’55 T-bird, and the audio console of a Lexus SC 430. Under the hood it’s powered by a 3 hp engine that exceeds health club standards and pushes its top speed to 12 mph – a very respectable pace.”
At Home Fitness is one of the best places to purchase Landice Treadmills, both in their variety of Phoenix-area locations and on their website at www.athomefitness.com

Does vibration machine training work?

Aaron Dorksen — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:17:09 +0000

One of the newest, most rapidly growing lines of exercise equipment on the market today are vibration training machines.
It has led me to research these machines and also try them out personally in order to answer the question, “Does vibration machine training work?”
I can tell you without a doubt the answer is “yes.”
Vibration machines such as Best Buy award winners Power Plate and the new 3G Cardio Vibration Machines have been advertised to do everything from tone muscles, to improve strength and bone density, to improve circulation and even help lessen the effects of some diseases.
An idea that goes back to ancient times, and was popularized in the 20th century by the Russians to help their cosmonauts fight the effects of keeping muscles toned fit in zero gravity conditions, vibration training allows people to get on the machine’s platform and allow the vibrations to help work the muscles.
A person can stand, sit, lay down or assume other exercise positions such as a pushup or dip.
The platform creates vibrations, which are sent through the body.
Reflexively the muscles contract. This causes tendons to stretch, and increases blood flow and improves blood oxygenation.
It takes more than just standing on the machine to get the best results as a person will feel their muscles fatigue as they hold positions such as a squat, calf raise, or push-up. However, you can also adjust the Hertz settings to massage for a more relaxing experience.
Vibration machines allow a person to work their muscles to fatigue much more safely and efficiently than traditional method because it puts very little if any strain on ligaments and joints.
These machines have also been found to benefit people of all different ages and health levels and have even been popular in hospital and nursing homes because they allows people to safely exercise.
Consult with a doctor if you have health concerns before making any kind of workout changes.
Also, remember there are no easy ways to get totally fit, but combined with a good diet and healthy lifestyle vibration machines are one of the best ways to train out there.

20 fitness resolution ideas for 2012

Aaron Dorksen — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:06:18 +0000

We are now midway through the first week of 2012.
Hopefully your holiday hangovers and eating binges are a thing of the past … and you’re focusing on ways to improve in the New Year.
If you already set a New Year’s Resolution that’s great.
If you didn’t, obviously it’s not too late.
Here are 20 fitness resolutions to make, or add to your existing goals, in 2012:
* Lose weight
* Eat more fruits and vegetables
* Cut down on your salt and sugar intake
* Drink less alcohol
* Quit smoking
* Reduce stress
* Take a fitness-related trip
* Take part in more family fitness activities
* Volunteer to help others with fitness, such as a youth coach
* Learn something a new workout routine or sport
* Try to get up earlier in the mornings
* Ride a bike outside for exercise
* Improve your time management
* Join a gym or health club
* Improve your home workout room with equipment such as a treadmill, elliptical or vibration training machine * Find a workout partner
* Treat your self to regular massage therapy
* Improve and vary your stretching routines
* Learn more about fitness (ie: subscribe to a fitness magazine, talk to a certified trainer, take an exercise class)
* Find more time and ways to relax – that can help your health, too!

Octane Fitness Q37ci elliptical ranked No. 1 in nation

Aaron Dorksen — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:42:54 +0000

The awards season will start early for one of the products carried by Arizona specialty fitness giant At Home Fitness.
Drum roll please … congratulations to Octane Fitness and its Octane Q37ci Elliptical, which has just been ranked as the No. 1 overall best buy elliptical machine in the world by a leading consumer ranking publication.
The Octane Q37ci will be revealed as the No. 1 elliptical machine in an upcoming edition of a top consumer reporting magazine.
Available at At Home Fitness in Arizona and also oneline at www.athomefitness.com, the Octane Q37ci combines incredible quality and value for its price range. The Octane Q37ci model comes with a price of $3,099 through at Home Fitness.
Octane Fitness improved upon its already award-winning elliptical machine with the Octane Fitness Q37ci .
With the addition of a side platform (optional) and the ability to truly incorporate upper body workouts, this Octane Elliptical is now a total body complete workout machine.
Taking into consideration the potential for a great upper body workout, combined with the best elliptical motion in the business and it clear that Octane will continue to be the “King of the Mountain” for many more years to come.
Among the top features of the Octane Fitness Q37ci cross-training machine:
Innovative CROSSCiRCUIT+ and customizable interval programs—offer an unparalleled challenge and variety to shape and tone your body
Powerbands and optional stationary side platforms—with multiple anchor points that let you complete strength training exercises that will benefit any user
Converging Path handlebars with MultiGrip—strengthen and tone the upper-body with the exclusively designed handlebars that offer a variety of hand positions and deliver a natural upper-body motion
ArmBlaster—tone the upper-body, with customizable resistance levels and interval durations to fit the needs of any level of exerciser
1.8″ pedal spacing—the most natural pedal spacing available, mimics human biomechanics and provides optimal comfort
X-Mode & GluteKicker—customizable workout boosters that prompt users into varied cross training actions to keep you interested, motivated, and pushing your workout to optimum results
Heart rate monitoring and control—lets you know just how hard you are working and keeps you ‘in the zone’
Low step-up height—makes getting on and off effortless; great for low-ceiling rooms
Space-efficient footprint—significantly shorter than other premium ellipticals or treadmills; fits conveniently in your home
MOM Mode—promotes family safety and provides peace of mind for parents by disabling console buttons and restricting movement so little ones cannot easily move arms and pedals.
Every Octane Fitness total-body elliptical cross trainer is made to exacting standards with only the best components and expert craftsmanship. During their quest to develop the ultimate elliptical cross trainer, they continuously tested our design for ergonomics and durability.

Come into an At Home Fitness store today and try out firsthand the No. 1-rated elliptical machine in the industry.