Everyone knows that weight loss is basically getting the correct “calories in, calories out” formula. A low calorie diet can be the simplest form of dieting, nothing more than reducing the number of calories you consume. Although it is possible to lose weight that way, there can be a problem in just cutting your food intake down. (more…)

With spring just around the corner, everyone wants to have a flat stomach and even, better six-pack abs! The question is, how do I go about getting them? There is a lot of misinformation out there about this topic that can cause a lot of frustration. Many people think that they can get flat abs if they do enough abdominal exercises. This is based on the inaccurate premise that you can do an exercise for a certain area of the body, and get rid of fat there. A review of the headlines of any popular fitness magazine will help you understand what feeds that belief. Headlines like “Flat Abs in 2 Weeks” and “10 Quick Tips to Flatten Your Tummy” lead one to believe that spot reduction is not only possible, but easy! The real truth is that the only way to get flat abs is to lose body fat, and the only way to lose body fat is to: (more…)

Here is a demonstration of an ab crunch exercise on a FitBall exercise ball.

Recommended Exercise Equipment:

FitBall Exercise Balls

Medicine Balls

Contact your local HealthStyles Exercise Equipment fitness consultant for the best product recommendation to meet your personal goals, abilities, and budget.

Here’s a demonstration of a core workout that you can do anytime, anywhere – a great workout for beginners or a valuable supplement for the more advanced. ACE’s (American Council on Exercise) Jessica Matthews and Fabio Comana as walk you through the 5 core abdominal exercises. Perform only one set of each exercise as described resting for at least 30 seconds before doing the next exercise. For optimal results, try to do the exercises at least two times during the week and once on the weekend for a minimum total of three days per week. Recommended Exercise Equipment: Harbinger Deluxe Tri-Fold Workout Mat Harbinger Dura-Foam Exercise Pad 2ft x 6ft Contact your local HealthStyles Exercise Equipment fitness consultant for the best product recommendation to meet your personal goals, abilities, and budget.

Here is a demonstration of a simple 2 minute ab workout.

Recommended Exercise Equipment:

Harbinger Deluxe Tri-Fold Workout Mat 

Harbinger Dura-Foam Exercise Pad 2ft x 6ft

Contact your local HealthStyles Exercise Equipment fitness consultant for the best product recommendation to meet your personal goals, abilities, and budget.

Here is an example of an advanced ab exercise, the V-Up, using a Bosu, Balance cushion, or other balance board.

Recommended Exercise Equipment:

BOSU Home Balance Trainer 

FitBALL Balance Disc – Blue 

FitBall Deluxe Balance Board 

Fitter First Classic Wobble Board 

Contact your local HealthStyles Exercise Equipment fitness consultant for the best product recommendation to meet your personal goals, abilities, and budget.

The 2010 Olympics are just days away. Soon we will all be mesmerized by the amazing feats and figures of the athletes. Their muscles carefully sculpted for power, speed and endurance. Wow! What does it take to get an Olympic body? Can the average guy or gal ever hope to look like an Olympic athlete? Of course you can if you are willing to spend the time. Obviously most of us do not have the time to devote to training that Olympic athletes do. But don’t despair, joining the fitness game at any point can produce amazing results. Here are 10 Tips from the experts on how you can get started (more…)

This week’s product spotlight is on the Vision Fitness ES700 Indoor Cycle. The ES700 indoor cycling bike is a heavy duty commercial quality indoor cycling bike that compares with the best on the market, at an amazingly affordable price. The ES700 will perform under the highest of demands. Whether you are looking for a bike that is durable enough for a class setting or an indoor training bike for the off-season, the ES700 is the bike for you. Stainless steel seat post and handlebar stem combine with the zinc-coated frame to prevent the corrosion so often seen on indoor cycles. Proven bicycle ergonomics and features, such as the micro-adjustable handlebar and seat positions, no-maintenance belt drive system, and simple and smooth tension adjustment knob, make this bike especially smooth, quiet and comfortable. (more…)

February is Healthy Heart Month and a good time to review what types of food can help prevent heart disease: Fruits and Vegetables: Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables ensures that you are taking in a wide range of nutrients to protect against heart disease. Fruits and vegetables are high in vitamin C, beta carotene, bioflavonoids and phytochemicals, all of which are essential antitoxidants in the prevention of heart disease. Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Omega 3’s have been found to help decrease triglyceride levels, the rate of atherosclerotic plaque, and arrhythmias. Fish high in Omega 3 include: salmon, sardines, herring trout, mackerel, bluefish, halibut, striped bass, tuna, Atlantic cod, and flounder. Other sources of Omega 3- rich foods include: canola oil, flaxseed, walnuts and wheat germ. Soluble Fiber: Soluble fiber helps to decrease cholesterol levels, therefore working to decrease risk for heart disease. Foods high in soluble fiber inclue: oats, oat bran, pectin, psylim, flax, lentils, legumes, apples, pears and grapes. Nuts: Nuts are high in fiber, vitamin E, magnesium, and essentially fatty acid. Eaten in moderation, nuts can help decrease risk for heart disease. A few examples of some heart healthy nuts include: almonds, walnuts, chestnuts, peanuts, and pisctchios. Folate: Foods righ in folate help to decrease risk for heart disease by helping to regulate homocysteine levels. Green leafy vegetables, orange juice, lentils, whole grain enrighed cereals, and asparagus are great sources of folate. Jeanne Luetke, MS,RD, CLT EveryBody Nutrition Consulting 825 Grand Avenue PO Box 622 Glenwood Springs, CO 81602 PHONE 970-309-0784 Email: JL.RD@LIVE.com

SAN DIEGO (Feb 9, 2010) — The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America’s leading authority on fitness and one of the largest fitness certification, education and training organizations in the world, today announced key findings from an exclusive study on the benefits of kettlebell workouts conducted with the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, through its exercise and health program. Results concluded that kettlebells provide a much higher-intensity workout than standard weight-training routines and offer superior results in a short amount of time. (more…)

To ensure that you are getting the best fitness equipment for the money, try the machine in a specialty fitness store. Like any purchase directly affecting your life and well-being, do your research, check reputable sources, but most importantly, RIDE IT BEFORE YOU BUY IT!!! If you cannot try it before you buy it, a red flag should go up. Would you buy a car without test driving it? Would you buy a car because some guy in a tuxedo says it’s a great car for the price? RIDE IT BEFORE YOU BUY IT!