Elliptical Buying Guide

Elliptical Trainers are quickly becoming the most popular pieces of cardio equipment for people to add to their home gym.
What makes a good elliptical trainer? How much should you spend on a good elliptical trainer. We'll answer those questions and more in our Elliptical Trainer Buying Guide.

Stride Length, Comfort and Adjustability
Most cheap elliptical trainers don't offer much in the way of adjustability, you get what you pay for.
Some of the upper end ellipticals offer adjustable pedals that vary your workout angle and provide a more natural ankle and knee alignment. It's a nice feature to have and will help avoid stress injuries and ankle problems that the cheap ellipticals can produce.
One of the features you should pay close attention to is the elliptical's stride length. The stride lengths vary from 7" on the lower end machines, up to about 23" on the better ellipticals.
***Never buy an elliptical trainer with a short stride length. The longer the better in most cases and if you can, get an elliptical with an adjustable stride length. Usually the longer the stride length, the better. Short stride lengths have a tendency to give a more up and down choppy ride and aren't effective when you speed up. The faster you go, the longer length should be - it's just like running.

Resistance and Operation
Elliptical trainers offer two forms of resistance. The first form of resistance is the tension or friction on the flywheel, and the second (and less widely available) form of resistance is incline control.
Most elliptical trainers don't offer any incline adjustment. So you're just left with how the elliptical machine delivers it's resistance on the flywheel.
Flywheel resistance comes in two forms: Belt tension (cheaper models under $300) and magnetic resistance.
Magnetic resistance is best (eddy current). Insist on good magnetic resistance on your elliptical trainer if you're a serious trainer, or you may find yourself replacing the machine sooner than later because it's not challenging enough.

Heart Rate Monitor
Most of the better ellipticals but the very low end bargain basement models have a built in heart rate monitor these days. The most common variety of heart rate monitor is the pulse grip sensor.
The pulse grip sensor heart rate monitor is a system that provides a rough estimate of your heart rate through electrical impedance. This method of monitoring is acceptable for elliptical machines in the sub $1000 price range and can be improved by purchasing a separate heart rate monitor.
When you get into the mid-level ellipticals, your machine should come standard with a wireless or telemetric heart rate control unit. The wireless heart rate monitor is the most accurate method for measuring heart rate available.
Look for an elliptical that has wireless heart rate control, and heart rate controlled workouts. Heart rate controlled workouts are where the elliptical trainer will adjust resistance automatically based on what your heart is doing. If your heart rate is going too fast, the machine will automatically get easier, but if your heart rate is going too slow, it will make the machine more difficult.

Display Console and Built-in Workouts
The display console is the heart of any elliptical trainer. A good console can provide extra motivation and feedback while you’re using your elliptical trainer.
If you don't think a good display console is important, take it from someone who’s seen hundreds of ellipticals. A console that provides feedback on speed, distance, heart rate and workout information is essential for a good workout and can drastically affect your motivation.
On cheap ellipticals you can't get any visual cues about how your workout is progressing. It becomes really frustrating.
If you have a good display console you can monitor exactly how your workout is progressing and fine tune your upcoming workouts later based on feedback and results of your current workout.
It also gives you additional motivation when you glance down at the console and see you're almost done!
Make sure your elliptical trainer has built-in workouts. You'll thank us later when you're still using your machine everyday, while the people who bought the cheap elliptical trainers are using them for coat racks.

Price
Shopping for an elliptical trainer and don't know how much to spend? That's a common problem for most people. There are just too many choices available today.
Unlike treadmills, elliptical trainers are much more closely grouped in price, and you can get a good machine without breaking the bank.
Don't even consider spending less than $500 bucks for an elliptical trainer or you're going to be sorry later. Cheap elliptical trainers are just as bad as cheap treadmills. If you buy an elliptical based solely on price you may as well take your money out of your wallet and set it on fire.
To get a quality elliptical trainer expect to spend at least $1000. That won't get you the top of the line ellipticals, but you can do pretty well for yourself in that price range. Keep in mind that the average price of an elliptical is $2000.
High end elliptical trainers range in price anywhere from $3000 to $4500. The high end machines offer a more natural elliptical motion and better ergonomics which means you’ll feel more comfortable using it from day one. They’ll also have features like built-in workouts, longer stride lengths, wireless heart rate monitoring, longer warranties and higher user weight limit which translates to a better overall feel.
Buy the best elliptical trainer you can afford even if you have to stretch a bit to get one. You'll be glad you did.

What to take from all of this

Probably the single most important thing to keep in mind with ellipticals is that you are getting locked into the elliptical motion that the manufacturer has decided is the “best” so it’s important to make sure that motion feels natural to you. If you can’t try the elliptical you’re interested in, frankly, you can’t buy it. It’s THAT important. It’d be like buying a pair of shoes without knowing the size and just hoping they were comfortable.

Holiday Sale!!

Check out the Holiday Sale, 2010! Check with store for details.

Vision Fitness Racks Up Three "Best Buy" Ratings in Consumers Digest in Ellipticals and Treadmills:Come and see at Empire Home Fitness

Vision Fitness Racks Up Three "Best Buy"
Ratings in Consumers Digest

COTTAGE GROVE, Wis. (January 12, 2010) — Vision Fitness received three "Best Buy" ratings in the January/February 2010 issue of Consumers Digest, a leading consumer magazine that provides the general consumer with product reviews focusing on convenience, safety and value. The X20 Elliptical Trainer received a "Best Buy" in the economy elliptical category, while the T9250 and T9200 Treadmills achieved top honors in the economy treadmill category.
"Since the launch of our brand nearly 15 years ago, our goal has been to develop value-oriented fitness equipment that helps consumers live happier, healthier lives," said Gary Peak, Vice President of Sales for Vision Fitness. "To be recognized as a 'Best Buy' speaks volumes for the quality of our equipment and the value we offer consumers. Vision products have received an unprecedented 28 Best Buys to date from leading consumer review publications. When you purchase a product from Vision Fitness, you don't have to sacrifice. You get the performance and features you want, without having to break the bank."
The performance/value message is clearly emphasized in Consumers Digest's review of the X20 Elliptical Trainer. The magazine reports that it's an "incredible value" and provides "the fluid feel of elliptical machines that cost $500 more." In its review of the T9250 Folding Treadmill, the magazine reports that it "beats the competition on warranty and storability."
For more information about Vision Fitness and its complete offering of products, visit VisionFitness.com. For more information about Consumers Digest and its fitness equipment review, visit ConsumersDigest.com.
About Vision Fitness
Vision Fitness, which began as a division of Trek® Bicycle Company, is the premier specialty fitness brand of Johnson Health Tech, the fourth largest fitness equipment manufacturer in the world. In addition to Vision, Johnson Health Tech is home to some of the most respected brands in the fitness industry, including: Matrix, AFG, and Horizon. The company manufactures a wide assortment of fitness equipment for both commercial and residential use, including treadmills, elliptical trainers, exercise bikes and strength training equipment.
About Consumers Digest
Consumers Digest provides the general consumer with product reviews emphasizing convenience, safety and value. It aims to make readers as informed as possible ahead of their purchase of a product or service, so they can spend their money wisely. Regularly featured product areas include personal finance, medical advances, electronic equipment, automobiles, food and insurance.
      
    Vision X20 Elliptical           Vision 2200 Treadmill


http://www.empirehomefitness.com/

What is Interval Training?

Interval training is basically exercise which consists of activity at high intensityfor a period of time, followed by low intensity exercise for a period of time. These 'sets' are repeated.

Sprint Intervals

The high intensity portion are called Sprint Intervals. Sprint intervals are measured either by time or distance. They can be as short as 15 seconds in activities like HIIT or as long as 20 minutes for aerobic interval training.

An example of a Sprint Intervals would be running at full pace along a stretch of field for 30 seconds, another would be an indoor cyclist spending 15 minutes simulating a climb on the bike.

Rest Intervals

The periods of recovery are called Rest Intervals. During an rest interval athletes do not stop the activity but generally exercise at a low intensity which allows the body to recover from the sprint interval. The length of these rest intervals are determined primarily by your fitness levels and the type of the sprint interval.
The intervals are important; the basis of the interval training is to ensure that your sprints are done at an optimal intensity, without sufficient rest your interval training will resort back to an aerobic type of activity.

Intensity

The intensity of the sprint intervals is how hard you push yourself during the sprint. For simplicity sake the intensity is usually measured on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being no effort whatsoever while 10 represents the maximum effort possible.
Now this is a completely personal scale depending on your own fitness levels and the type of interval training.
For example a seasoned athletes may be training on improving his speed work, the sprint lasts for 15 seconds and his ‘10’ may be a flat out sprint with the athlete going as fast as he or she can.
Another example would be someone who has not exercised in a while decides to do intervals while walking; a 1 minute walk at a brisk pace may leave the person completely out of breath. This would be their 10.
Now take the original athlete who sprinted for 15 seconds and change the interval to 5 minutes. They couldn’t maintain the same original 15 seconds pace for 5 minutes, but the maximum effort still represents a 10.
A ‘10’ is merely the maximum amount of effort a person can safely expend for that particular interval.

Article found on  http://www.intervaltraining.net/what_is_interval_training.html

Octane Q35 Elliptical at Empire Home Fitness

Winning best selling brand of ellipticals for 6 years running, the Q35 is Octane's entry level elliptical that everyone should be adding to their fitness routine this holiday season.
Check it out on our website at: http://empirehomefitness.com/octane-fitness-q35-elliptical/2/4/512/

Revitalized Low-Impact Training

The original Octane elliptical just keeps getting better, delivering the form, function and results that exercisers want. The new Q35c features contact heart rate monitoring and enhanced X-Mode workout booster to let you get even more out of your workout. From the natural fluid motion of Body-Mapping Ergonomics™ and QuadLink drive to the informative electronics and variety of pre-programmed workouts, this elliptical gets you moving and seeing results in no time.
Octane’s signature workout boosters—xMode, ArmBlaster and GluteKicker—challenge and motivate you to even greater levels of effort. And the stationary handlebars includes contact heart rate grips let you conveniently and scientifically monitor and manage your workout.
This simple, straight-forward elliptical provides exceptional performance and unbeatable value—and outstanding results.

Reaching Your Goals the SMART Way

 

ACE Fit Fact is taken from ACE FitnessMatters magazine. Want more information like this delivered directly to your home? ACE FitnessMatters, the bi-monthly magazine from the American Council on Exercise (ACE), is the source for the most accurate, up-to-date fitness information you need to live a healthy, active life. Subscribe to ACE FitnessMatters Magazine online or call 1-888-825-3636.

The American Council on Exercise does not endorse or promote the companies, products or services that reside on this website. ACE does not receive revenue generated from any organizations that advertise on this Web site. Copyright 2003 American Council on Exercise. All Rights Reserved.

Reaching Your Goals the SMART Way

One proven way to set effective goals is using the SMART goal method. This method will allow you to take those vague ideas and transform them into reality.

SPECIFIC: The goals must specifically state what is to be accomplished. They must be easily understood and should not be ambiguous or subject to interpretation. For example, rather than stating you would like to improve your fitness level, set a specific goal to be able to run a mile in 12 minutes.

MEASURABLE: The goals must be measureable so that there is no doubt about whether you achieved them. Measurable goals also allow you to evaluate your progress. Goals can be measured objectively or subjectively (i.e., how you feel and look), or both. For example, you could measure your percent body fat and body weight, but also monitor how your pants fit.

ATTAINABLE: The goals must be attainable--not too difficult or too easy. Easy goals do not motivate, and overly difficult ones may frustrate you and lead to a perception of failure.

RELEVANT: The goals must be relevant or pertinent to your particular interests, needs and abilities. For example, when preparing for a 5K walk, running quarter-mile sprints would not be the best approach.

TIME-BOUND: The goals must be time-bound by specific deadlines for completion. Timelines can be both short-term and long-term and should help you stay focused and on track.
Self-evaluation

If you feel like you are doing everything possible to attain that SMART goal but are still coming up short, perhaps you need a reality check. Try keeping a diet and exercise journal for one week and check to see if you are actually maintaining a program that will get you where you want to be. You can use websites such as www.MyPyramidtracker.gov, which will help you record and analyze your diet and exercise.

Behavioral vs. Physiological

Ask yourself why you want to make this change an who you are doing it for.

Write down a list of all the benefits you foresee with making this change and a list of costs (e.g., time, effort and money) that will be required to do so. If the balance swings in favor of the benefits, you are likely to stick with the program.

Identify a support system. Find individuals of significance in your life who will support your desire to change and perhaps even join you.

Select some rewards for achieving major steps in your program. Recognize your achievements with treats such as a purchase, attending a function or even taking a trip. Such rewards will help you stay motivated during the beginning of your program.

Visibly place prompts and cues that constantly remind you of the decision you made to change, and remove any stimuli that may trigger undesirable behaviors. For example, placing visible notes or keeping a workout bag accessible will prompt good behavior, while removing ice cream from the freezer may remove a negative stimulus.

People often start a program with the intention of making a change, but struggle to stick with it. Remember, it is only when you decide that you are ready to make a real commitment to this change and do it for yourself that you expect results. Without a real resolution to change, you will likely encounter many obstacles and barriers that will make sticking with the program difficult. Consider the following tips if you are thinking about starting a program:

Are you one of those people who resolve to get back into shape every time the New Year comes around--but for some reason fail to accomplish that goal every year?  If so, perhaps you might need to adjust the strategy you use when setting these hard-to-reach objectives.