Category Archives: exercise machines

Taking your exercise outdoors

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ElliptiGo

Ready to take your exercise outdoors? The first warm weekend of spring has finally arrived in northeastern Wisconsin, and many of us can’t wait to take our routine outside. There are a number of good reasons to do so.

* Exercising outside reduces stress:  according to a report published in Environmental science and technology, 71 percent of people feel less stressed after a thirty minute walk.

* Exercising outside is more enjoyable:  the change of scenery keeps you involved longer, and makes the activity more fun.  Being outside also means you’re more likely to exercise with friends or among other people, that can add to the enjoyment.

* Exercising outside helps your body:  breathing in fresh air increases the oxygen to your brain and blood cells. That results in better mental clarity, and greater energy to the body.

* Exercising outside exposes you to sunshine – spending 30 minutes in sunlight can give you nearly a day’s supply of vitamin D through skin exposure. But be careful, we all know that too much can raise the risk of skin cancer, not to mention a painful burn.

There are a number of different options for getting exercise outdoors: walking, running, participating in sports, engaging in yard work.

If you are looking for something a little different this season, check out the ElliptiGo. Part elliptical machine, part bicycle, it mimics the motion of running without the impact, and allows you to get out of the gym.  Anderson Cooper recently tried one out on his show when checking out the newest fitness trends for 2013.  We imagine he would have had even more fun exercising with the machine outdoors!

Want to try out the sensation for yourself? Try one out at MGL Fitness, 500 Pilgrim Way in Green Bay, just off Ashland Avenue. Or give us a call at 800-335-2770. Hope to see you

Top Fitness Trends 2013

 

 

5 Essential Items to Start Your Home Gym

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Thinking about building a home gym? With so many options available to you this can be a little overwhelming. One way to simplify the process is to break it down into the type of exercises you’ll be doing in your home gym. For example, in order to accomodate well-rounded workouts, you’re going to want to include equipment for cardio and strength training. From there, you can narrow down your search based on your personal preferences, budget and space constraints. Here is our list of 5 essentials for building your home gym.

1. Pick Your Cardio Poison

In order to accommodate a complete workout, you’re going to need to outfit your home gym with some type of cardio machine. When it comes to the type of cardio machine you choose, that is entirely up to you. Treadmills are great for people who enjoy running and can tolerate the impact. However, if your body doesn’t respond well to the impact but you still want that type of intensity in a workout, an Elliptical machine is probably a better fit for you. You can also achieve great results from stationary bikes and rowing machines.

2. Strength Training Station

Never discount the importance of incorporating strength training into your workout routine. As you plan for a strength training station, you have a couple of different options to choose from. If you are on a tight budget or lacking a lot of space for your home gym, you might want to consider choosing free weights for your strength training station. Adjustable dumbbells are a great option or if you’re looking for a non-traditional alternative, consider choosing kettle bells for your strength training station.

There are a wide variety of strength training machines to choose from if you prefer a resistance-based machine over free weights. Precor has a great line of strength systems built to accommodate any level of fitness.

3. Weight Bench

If you went the free weight rout for your strength training station, you’ll eventually want to find a weight bench. A weight bench will greatly expand your repertoire of exercises that you can do with free weights. Choose one that adjusts to both flat and inclined positions for even more options.

4. Pilates or Yoga Mat

If you’ve ever tried Pilates or Yoga before, then you know they provide great workouts and do wonders for your flexibility. The great thing about Pilates and Yoga is that all you need to participate is a mat! It might be helpful to have an instructional video to get started, but other than that, it’s a pretty minimalistic workout. Even if you haven’t jumped onto the Pilates or Yoga bandwagon, you’ll want a mat in your home gym to accommodate stretching and abdominal workouts.

5. TV/DVD Player

Whether you like to follow along with exercise videos or just enjoy having that source of entertainment while you work out, having a TV with a DVD player in your home gym is a really nice bonus.

Remember, your home gym doesn’t have to be built in a day. It should be a work in progress that you can continue to expand and improve as time goes on. Start with the piece that is paramount for achieving your fitness goas and expand from there when you are ready.

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Calorie-Burning Interval Workout for the Precor Elliptical

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Spending 30 minutes on the elliptical day in and day out can become pretty mundane. Not to mention, repeating the same workout every day will yield diminishing returns in terms of the results you see in your training. Spice up your elliptical workout with an interval workout once a week for a more interesting workout and a jolt to your body.

The Precor Elliptical comes with a few pre-programed workouts for you to choose from, but if you want to follow this workout, select the “manual” setting and adjust the resistance yourself.

Warm Up

It’s important to begin any workout with a warm up to ease your muscles into exercise.

  1. Start by setting the resistance at level 5, and pedal at 130 strides per minute (spm) for 5 minutes.
  2. Next, increase your spm to 150 and the resistance to 7 and warm up your core by going hands-free for 2 minutes.
  3. Now switch gears and pedal backwards for 2 minutes at a reduced resistance of 5 and speed of 130-140 spm.

Interval 1

By now your heart rate should be elevated and it’s time to get down to business.

  1. Increase the resistance to 8 and ramp up your speed to 170 spm for 2 minutes.
  2. Rest for 1 minute*
  3. Increase the resistance back up to 8 and your speed to 180 spm for 90 seconds.
  4. Rest for 90 seconds.
  5. Sprint at a resistance of 8 and speed of 190 spm for 30 seconds.
  6. Rest for 2 minutes.

*Rest at a resistance of 7 and spm of 140

Interval 2

Your second interval will be shorter, but higher in intensity.

  1. Increase the resistance to 8 and your speed to 190 spm for 1 minute.
  2. Rest for 1 minute*
  3. Increase the resistance to 8 and your speed to 200 spm for 30 seconds.
  4. Rest for 90 seconds
  5. Increase the resistance to 8 and your speed to 210 spm for 30 seconds.
  6. Rest for 2 minutes
  7. Increase resistance to 8 and your speed to 190 spm for 1 minute.

*Rest at a resistance of 7 and spm of 130

Cool Down

  1. Decrease the resistance level to 5 and pedal at 140 spm for 2 minutes.
  2. Pedal in reverse at a resistance level of 5 and speed of 130 spm for 2 minutes.
  3. Keeping the resistance level at 5, finish your cool down at 130 spm for 2 minutes.

 

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Product Spotlight: LifeCORE Rowing Machine

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If you’re looking for an exercise machine that supports both aerobic and strength-building workouts, the LifeCORE Rower is your answer. It’s a resistance-based machine that simulates the act of rowing a boat. Rowing is a great endurance workout, but without stress on your joints and ligaments that comes with running. The LifeCORE Rower is the perfect addition to your home gym if you need to give your knees, feet or back a break from running or biking.

Why LifeCORE

The people at LifeCORE understand exercise equipment because they have been in business since the early ’90′s. They’re on a mission to build and sell high-quality, durable machinery that is meant to last. Additionally, the LifeCORE Rower comes with a lifetime warranty on the frame and up to 5 years on parts. Just more proof that LifeCORE is committed to providing people with the best rowing machines and stand behind their product.

Benefits and Features

Programmable

The LifeCORE Rower comes with 15 workouts pre-programmed, so you can get started with quality workouts if you’re new to rowing. Each rower also has the capacity to store data for up to four different users. That way each user can track their progress and save their personal information.

Easily Stored

If it’s space you’re lacking in your home gym, the LifeCORE Rower is a great space-saving solution. The rower is pretty small to begin with, but the lightweight frame folds down, making it even more compact for easier storage.

Amenities

The LifeCORE Rower has plenty of extra features that make your workout that much more pleasant. From the blue back-lit display screen, to the adjustable cooling air vent, this rower is guaranteed to be a smooth ride.

ERGONOMICALLY Designed

Your workout equipment should be designed in a way that adjusts to your body and supports your movement flawlessly. The LifeCORE Rower has an ergonomically designed seat and handle so that you can maintain your posture comfortably. They’ve also designed the pedals so that they are angled and pivot with the motion of your foot.

Just because you put yourself through the ringer with your workout doesn’t mean your workout equipment has to be torturous. Your workouts are hard enough, don’t settle for a rower that makes it even harder for the wrong reasons.

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Product Spotlight: LifeCORE Fitness Bikes

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If you’re a cyclist living in Wisconsin or pretty much any other state in the Midwest, you know there’s a small window of opportunity to get out and ride from about May through September. How do you make sure you don’t lose that speed you worked so hard to build up over the summer months after you pack away the bike for the winter? One way to do it is with a LifeCORE Fitness Bike. Make this your next addition to the home gym and you’ll come out of hibernation ready to take on any biking challenge next spring.

Why LifeCORE?

The people at LifeCORE understand biking because they have been in business since the early ’90′s. They’re on a mission to build and sell high-quality, durable bikes that are meant to last.

Benefits and Features

Compact Frame with easy adjustment options

LifeCORE fitness bikes start out with a compact 42″ frame. Bikes are made to fit bodies of any size with their Infinitely Adjustable Slide-Seat-Track. Save space in your workout room and allow anyone in the family to use the same bike.

Self-Powered

Don’t want to be tied down in the corner of your home gym? With the LifeCORE fitness bike you don’t have to let electrical outlets dictate where you position your bike. All bikes are self-powered with magnetic resistance so you don’t have to worry about messing around with cords.

Programable

LifeCORE Fitness Bikes come pre-programmed with 12 challenging workouts to choose from. If you’d like to design your own custom workout, you can program the workout and save it to your user profile. Each bike can save up to 5 user profiles.

Monitoring Devices

The handle bars on each LifeCORE Fitness Bike feature a heart rate monitor so that you can monitor your body while you exercise. The built-in heart rate monitor helps you to stay within your target range for optimal results.

If biking is your sport, don’t let the cold weather and snow be your excuse to not stay in shape over the long winter months. Outfit your home gym with a LifeCORE Fitness Bike and keep riding all winter long.

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Product Spotlight: Precor Elliptical Crosstrainer

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Finding the perfect exercise machine for your home gym isn’t easy. There are tons of options to choose from with lots to think about: From the type of machine, to the brand, right down to the features. One our favorite brand of elliptical machines is the Precor Elliptical Crosstrainer. Here’s why!

Why Precor?

Precor makes a wide range of models so you have some variety to choose from, depending on what you need in an Elliptical, and of course, your budget. All Precor Elliptical Crosstrainers feature a unique design meant to closely simulate running, for a more safe, effective workout. Also, the low impact workout of the Precor Elliptical reduces your perceived exertion. In other words, you don’t feel as though you’re working as hard as you are, making it easier to spend more time working out.

Benefits and Features

CrossRamp Technology

We all have our trouble spots. For some of us, we want more toned thighs, while others just want stronger calves. Well Precor’s CrossRamp Science allows you to adjust your Elliptical stride to target different areas of the lower body. That way, you can decide which muscle to focus on during any given workout.

Customizable Workouts

Precor’s Elliptical Crosstrainers allow you to customize your workouts based on the intensity and type of workout you want to do. Whether you feel like simulating a hike in the mountains or cross country skiing, Precor’s CrossRamp technology allows you to customize the perfect workout for you.

Preset workouts

If you’re new to the Elliptical or just don’t want to plan a custom workout, Precor Elliptical Crosstrainers come programed with a variety of preset workouts for you to choose from.

Monitoring Devices

Your Precor Elliptical can also help you monitor your body while you work out. The built-in heart rate monitor helps you to stay within your target range for optimal results.

User ID’s

The Precor Elliptical Crosstrainer can store personal information and preferences for multiple users. It’s perfect for households with multiple users!

Workout equipment is an investment. You want to purchase machinery that’s going to stand the test of time and give you the kind of workout you need to get fit. For the best in quality and performance, choose a Precor Elliptical Crosstrainer.

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5 Benefits of Working Out at Home

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If you find that you lack the motivation to go to the gym everyday, why not bring the gym to you? Dedicate a room in your house to serve as a gym and experience the countless benefits of working out from home.

1. Save Money

Sure a home gym might come with a higher price tag up front, but don’t think of it as a cost so much as an investment. The money you save on expensive gym memberships will make up for the cost in no time at all.

2. Exercise Efficiency

With a home gym you can literally work out whenever you feel like it (and even when you don’t feel like it). Your home gym is always open, and the best part of all is, you don’t have to waste time driving there!

3. Watch the Kids Wile You Exercise

One of the biggest excuses parents have for not working out regularly is that they have to watch their children. Although that is a good excuse, with a home gym you can watch your children while you work out.

4. The Pressure’s Off

Many people feel intimidated about working out in front of a bunch of complete strangers. With a home gym you don’t have be self-conscious about who’s watching you work out and possibly judging you based on your fitness level.

5. Don’t Share Equipment

Sharing workout equipment is by no means ideal. At the gym you’re not guaranteed your turn on a machine when you want it. Your workout can often times be sabotaged by a machine-hog. And then when your machine finally opens up, you’re left with a sweat-soaked piece of equipment. With a home gym you can go through your workout at your pace. No interruptions and certainly no waiting around.

Working out doesn’t have to be a major event in your day. It shouldn’t require you to block out hours at a time in your calendar. With a home gym, you can work out when it’s convenient for you. Plus your workouts become more efficient and cost-effective.

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3 Benefits of Buying Workout Machinery Locally

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You can pretty much buy anything off of the Internet these days: Electronics, clothing, even groceries! But some things are just meant to be purchased from a physical store. Workout machinery is one of those things. Here are 5 benefits of purchasing your workout equipment from a local retailer as opposed to an Internet-based store.

1. Free Equipment Delivery and Assembly

Have you ever seen a treadmill pre-assembly? Yeah, it’s kind of intimidating. Imagine coming home from work to find a boxed up treadmill waiting for you on your front porch. When you order workout equipment online, that’s exactly what you can expect. Buy from a local retailer, and you can count on free delivery and assembly. Just tell us where you want it!

2. Test it out Before You Buy

Workout equipment is an investment. Sure there’s a more substantial upfront cost, but the money you save on monthly gym memberships makes up for it in no time. That’s assuming you buy the right equipment. Buy the wrong equipment, and you’ll be in the exact same spot in a couple of years. Before you make any large purchase, it’s important to do your homework. Sure you can read reviews, but you could have a completely different opinion of that Elliptical than the stranger who gave it 5 stars on Amazon.

When you buy your workout equipment from a local retailer, you have a chance to see the actual machinery and test it out for yourself. You want to make sure the equipment looks and feels right before you pull the trigger on it.

3. Work with Knowledgeable Staff

You can study all the specs you want, but no amount of data is going to provide you with as much valuable information as a staff member at your local retailer. Are you partial to a particular brand but face strict budget constraints? Your knowledgeable retail staff will be able to look at your specific needs and help you select the right equipment for you.

So go ahead and check product reviews online, but whatever you do, don’t add that treadmill to the shopping cart until you’ve visited MGL Fitness. We’ll help guide you in the right direction, encourage you to take some test drives, and deliver the assembled piece of equipment to your home workout room.

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The Case Against Infomercial Exercise

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It’s so tempting! You’re flipping around the dial, watching late-night TV, and the ad catches your eye. Exercise programs that promise nothing but fun and results, with loads of happy and muscular models touting the benefit. Before and after shots that are nothing short of miraculous. Equipment that stores under the bed or in the closet  but rivals gym quality. Earnest TV stars and fitness celebrities who urge you to trust them and buy!

How many of you have called the toll-free number in an inspired ( or weak) moment? And how many of those promises did your late night purchase deliver?

The truth of it is,  you have very little chance of succeeding with equipment and fitness programs purchased this way.   No matter what you think you’re getting from seeing it on television, there are always a few surprises.  Gliders that don’t glide,  home gyms that turn out to be more difficult to operate than advertised,  equipment that seems a lot more shoddy in the light of day. 

Not only that, but in order to succeed at your fitness goals, your equipment has to fit YOU – your likes and dislikes, your fitness level, your budget, your space, and your schedule.   And the only way that can happen, is to see it, try it, and ask questions about it.  Chances are, if you could try out that home infomercial equipment before you bought it, you might opt for something else entirely. 

 Maybe you’d go for a Precor elliptical or treadmill, the standard in commercial gyms everywhere for it’s quality and durability. Or an Inspire home gym, top rated  for a solid body workout in a small space, or a Landice treadmill, voted #1 in  customer satisfaction by a leading running magazine.  We also have bikes and free weights and kettle bells and fitness balls, and yes, even some of the fitness products that you see advertised in those late-night infomercials!

So do yourself a favor and come on out to see us at MGL Fitness. We’d love to talk to you about the best way to reach your fitness goals, with equipment and products to fit your budget, lifestyle, and fitness personality.   Bring your gym shoes and kick the tires and try stuff out before you buy. We’d love to set you on the road to fitness. Then, rest easy, knowing that MGL Fitness stands behind its products and service – for more than 20 years serving customers in Green Bay and Appleton just like you.

And that’s something you just don’t get with a late night 800 number!