Until two years ago I was not a person to talk to about cross-training. I’m a runner, and runners run. Period. But that’s not exactly true if you want to prolong your running career and maintain a well-rounded fitness program. Still, my conversion to cross-training believer didn’t come easily.

As a high school student I was a gymnast. Not satisfied specializing on one or two events, I competed in all of them. I loved gymnastics and believe it’s one of the best sports for developing overall fitness. Sadly, there’s only so much a middle aged body can take when it comes to gymnastics, and I’ve had some pretty serious injuries related to that sport so it’s not in my best interest to pursue it any further.

Over twenty years ago I had surgery on my neck to fuse discs damaged in a fall from the horizontal bar, and had to stop running for a year. During that time I tried swimming, another sport that can develop an overall strong, fit body if you can endure the monotony of swimming back and forth, over and over again, to get the workout that you need. I swam a lot of miles while waiting for the doctors okay to resume my running program. I also logged a lot of miles on my bicycle. I enjoyed that, but to elevate my heart rate to the level I was used to from running, I had to go really far, really fast. It was fun, but it never felt the same as running and I never felt like I was working as hard or efficiently as I wanted. Once I completed my year of healing from spinal fusion, I hit the roads hard.

Two years ago I had to have surgery on both of my feet. Not because of running too much, but because I have some bones in my feet that are too short and caused too much stress in all the wrong places. I now have five pieces of titanium in both feet. My feet work properly now but I still get sore if I overdo the running. One year ago I had to have my lower spine fused. Again, not because of too much running, but because I have degenerative disc disease. Not really a disease, this is something that’s very common and affects different people in different ways and most of us will feel its effects in one way or another as we age. I now have six pieces of titanium in my back. All of this brings me back to the original point: I need to cross-train if I want to continue running.

An article toward the back of Runner’s World magazine last year led me to a contraption called “ElliptiGO”. Picture an elliptical trainer on wheels and you’re on the right track. Described as an elliptical bicycle, the ElliptiGO has two wheels and handle bars with hand brakes like a bike, but no seat. Your feet sit in trays and your legs move in an elliptical motion while you stand upright. This upright position produces more wind resistance than a bike and provides an excellent workout! The motion is as close to running as you can get without actually running, and the pounding on the body is nonexistent. If you can’t handle stares from curious onlookers, the ElliptiGO isn’t for you. But if you want a great workout very similar to running without the pounding, give one a try. Check out www.elliptigo.com or stop in at a HealthStyles Exercise Equipment near you for more information. I promise it’ll put a smile on your face and some sweat on your brow.

Tom Riggs
Fort Collins Coloroadoan

HealthStyles Exercise Equipment carries the full selection of ElliptiGO bikes. Complete specifications and additional videos, images, and reviews are online here:

ElliptiGO 11R Outdoor Elliptical Bike

ElliptiGO 8C Outdoor Elliptical Bike

ElliptiGO 3C Outdoor Elliptical Bike

Ever wondered why people exercise with heart rate …and what exactly a heart rate monitor IS? This video answers those questions, showing how training with heart rate provides motivation to workout smarter, track your progress, get feedback and reach your personal fitness goals. Plus, we demonstrate what exactly a Polar training computer is and how it works. In this first half, were speaking with a busy mom – a mother of three with a full-time job – who’s trying to get back into shape and needs some motivation.

---

HealthStyles Exercise Equipment carries a variety of heart rate monitors. Stop by your local HealthStyles Showroom and talk to one of our fitness consultants to find out what Polar Heart Rate Monitor matches your fitness level and goals.

According to a leading consumer magazine, the Octane Q37ci Elliptical was rated a “Best Buy” for it’s sturdy construction, safety features, and interactive training programs.

By far, the biggest advantage of the Octane Q37 Elliptical over any other machine is the quality construction. The Octane Ellipticals are sturdy and reliable and in our experience as a specialty exercise equipment retailer, we’ve seen far fewer service requests from these machines than any other elliptical sold.

In addition to the reliability and solid commercial feel, the Octane Q37 Elliptical allows users to feel more comfortable and balanced with a natural movement pattern. The natural motion enhances the use of core muscles and gives the user the maximum comfort in using both the legs and arms at any speed without feeling off balance.

The movement patterns of many less expensive machines do not feel as natural and can put stress on hips, ankles, and knees. Over the course of many hours of weekly use, these repetitive unnatural movements can cause discomfort, pain, or overuse injuries. But more often than not, an uncomfortable machine is just less likely to be used on a regular basis.

Here are a few fitness tips to help you get the most out of your Octane Elliptical workouts.

1. Make sure to keep good posture while using the arms especially during the arm blaster workouts. You want to feel like you are pulling from your mid back muscles while retracting your shoulder blades well and keeping your elbows moving back and downwards close to your sides. The last place you want to feel like you are pulling from is your upper neck or traps.
   
   
2. At your comfort level, get used to dropping your hands and arms and swinging them like you would during a walk or run, this will help your balance as well as your core. It is harder to do during higher resistance levels so you can choose to work on this during the warm up and cool down.
   
   
3. Make sure you are going in reverse occasionally. It’s not a bad idea for people to do at least 10% of their workout going backwards. This will help insure that you are equalizing the load across some of the muscle groups in the legs as well as challenging your balance.
   
   
4. Make sure you do not over do it on a weekly basis. The beauty of the Octane elliptical is that the workout time needed is compressed since there is so much muscle recruitment involved, so you can modify the workouts based on time and intensity each day and also modify which muscles you are using more for that specific workout. An example would be that someone might have a 15 minute workout one day while using the arm feature, really concentrating on pushing and pulling at a higher level of resistance. This could be followed up the next day with a simulation of running at a low level of resistance without using the arms much and the time might be 30-40 minutes. This variation example will help prevent overtraining by allowing different body parts to rest and recover properly in between workouts.
   
   
5. Use the Cross Training program and instructional book to challenge yourself to a circuit style program. Research shows how effective going back and forth between cardio and strength training can be to help maximize cardiovascular training as well as muscle toning and weight loss. You don’t have to rely on the pictures in the cross training book that come with the Octane as they are just suggestions, you can use anything from bands to kettlebells to body weight training, just be creative.
   
   
6. Try shorter workouts less than 30 minutes to stay consistent. Just as long as you are concentrating on warming up and cooling down properly, you can challenge yourself to come off the machine completely wiped out and have a ton of calories burned in just a short period of time. Some favorite workouts are only 20 minutes long! It’s much easier from a motivational standpoint to find less than 30 minutes of time to work into your schedule for using the Octane than it is to find 45 minutes or an hour. Get used to these small blocks of time and you will see how much fun and productive the workouts can be!
   
   
7. Use the custom interval program to set intervals with a set resistance for a selected period of time. Some people enjoy doing 1 minute hard efforts followed by 4 minutes of mild to moderate effort and then repeat for a number of times. Others seem to like a 30 second peak interval followed by a 90 second recovery and repeat for 8 times. These are called recovery and peak effort intervals and you can play with the right combos of resistance level to make it right for you. Just make sure you are doing your warm up and cool down properly.
   
   
8. Set shorter, reasonable goals when you first try X-Mode. When setting the time that the X-Mode comes on, I would recommend having it come on for only 30 seconds for users just starting with the Octane. Move up the time and frequency of the X-Mode as your fitness improves.
   
   
9. Challenge yourself to use only one of the arms when pushing and pulling. This requires a good deal of concentration and core control to resist swinging from side to side as the other arm wants to join in but is resting in the downward, swinging position. Don’t push into anything that is painful. A lighter resistance still gets the job done.

In addition to the top reviewed Octane Q37ci ellipticals, Octane offers a full range of options to fit your personal preference and budget.

Each Octane Elliptical offers a “c” and “ci” console. The “ci” consoles offer the full interactive heart rate training programs. The “c” consoles offer basic workouts without the interactive heart rate so you can get the same quality machine at a lower price without all the buttons and whistles.

The Q37c console on the left and Q37ci console on the right:

The Octane Q35c is the most affordable Octane elliptical and offers the same quality construction and stride without the converging multi-grip arms.

The Octane Q47c and Q47ci ellipticals offer a unique “SmartStride” feature that automatically adjusts the stride lengths from 18 to 26 inches. This is ideal for family use to ensure that mom, dad, and the kids can all use the machine comfortably. This is also an added benefit to ensure maximum comfort transitioning between walking, jogging, and running speeds.

The Octane xRide series are a one-of-a-kind seated elliptical. These seated ellipticals offer a completely different style of low-impact elliptical workout. The additional back support from the seat can be beneficial for beginning exercisers and physical therapy. And for the experienced exerciser, it offers the opportunity to incorporate a new level of power and strength into a cross training workout.

Stop in to demo an Octane Elliptical at one of HealthStyles’ retail locations to find the cross training solution that works best for you.

Or call us at 800-829-9705 for more information.

Scott Laurent
has a BA in sports psychology. He is a certified personal trainer and was a semi-pro athlete. His consulting business, ReadyToExercise.com, helps people who are contemplating, just starting, or having difficulty remaining in an exercise program.

Visit Scott at the Healthstyles Exercise Equipment Colorado Blvd or Park Meadows Retail Stores Or email: scott@readytoexercise.com

Based on the latest reviews from a leading consumer publication, Healthstyles Exercise Equipment’s selection of ellipticals and treadmills were well represented in the line up of 2012′s best home fitness equipment.

The Octane Q37ci was ranked as the best overall elliptical with high marks for it’s high quality, sturdy construction, safety, and interactive heart rate training programs. The Octane Q37c elliptical was also given high marks as a more affordable alternative to the Q37ci with the same quality construction and safety without the added heart rate training programs.

The Vision Fitness X30 Premier was the 2nd ranked elliptical trainer this year. The Vision X30 Premier was also given high marks for quality construction, ergonomics, user safety, and heart rate training. The Vision X30 Deluxe and X30 Simple were also well reviewed as more affordable alternatives to the X30 Premier with less programming options.

The top rated budget elliptical trainers under $1,000 were the Horizon EX-69 and Horizon EX-79 Elliptical trainers.

The Diamondback 1260ef Elliptical received an honorable mention as the top rated elliptical from 2011.

In the non-folding treadmill category, the Landice L7 Cardio Trainer Treadmill was ranked 2nd this year with the highest horsepower rating of all of the treadmills that were reviewed this year. The Vision T9500 Deluxe and Vision T9200 Simple treadmills made it to the top of the list. The Vision T9200 Simple was the top rated treadmill under $1500.

The top recommended folding treadmill was the LifeSpan TR4000i. Vision also made the top 10 folding treadmills with high marks for the T9250 Deluxe, T9250 Premier, and T9250 Simple treadmills.

In the budget treadmill category (under $1,000), the Horizon T203, T202, and T101 and the LifeSpan TR1200i folding treadmills all made the top ten.

Octane ellipticals and Vision Fitness ellipticals and treadmills are available to demo in HeathStyles’ Colorado retail stores.

Horizon, Lifespan, and Diamondback fitness equipment is available for order online or from your local retail store.

Contact your local HealthStyles fitness consultant today to learn more about any of these top rated ellipticals and treadmills.

The exercise of rowing is a fantastic full body workout that can provide a great non-impact cardio workout.

Despite being in a seated position, rowing is great calorie burner, as 70-75% of the musculature used is the large muscle groups of the hips, glutes and legs. At the same time you also use your arms and back and by the end of your workout, you have used about 84% of your muscle mass.

Make sure you brush up on proper rowing technique as you begin to use a rowing machine. Most people fatigue quickly as they use their upper body too much, and round their back creating stress on the lower back. It is essential that a strong postural position is maintained throughout the rowing action. To achieve correct posture, the torso is simply rocked from a slightly backward (11 o’clock) position to a forward (1 o’clock) position on the seat. Once you have your stroke technique down, you will find rowing to be one of the best cardio workouts out there!

There are many types of rowers, but my favorite are the ones with the unique Waterflywheel design made by Waterrower. As the name implies, Waterrowers use water as the resistance. The water provides a smooth and efficient resistance, designed to mimic moving a boat through water. It is excellent for any fitness level and any age, making it an excellent choice for family fitness equipment. The Waterrower requires no power, low maintenance and is quiet and the stand up design requires little space. Can it get any better?!

Check out this video overview of the Waterrower:

Tonja Hadley, MA, CSCS
Personal Trainer
Loveland Store Manager
HealthStyles Exercise Equipment

In the past it seemed like having the space saving convenience of a folding treadmill meant sacrificing the sturdy integrity of a non-folding model, but that seems to have changed with the a new folding treadmill manufactured by Life Fitness. The new F1 treadmill which rolled off the assembly line around the first of the year has the feel and absorption of a non-folding treadmill, while holding the line with a very attractive price, great features, and a high level of quality throughout.

Our biggest complaint with most folding treadmills has been how bouncy and unsteady they feel while running on them, however the F1 feels great to run on and still folds up and out of the way if needed.

Here are some of the things we liked about the F1 after spending some time on it.

• Excellent remote console arm position at your fingertips to manage speed and incline, including the ability to have your favorite speed and incline settings saved as presets.
• The longer loop handles work really well for those who enjoy walking fast at incline.
• The 2 ½ horsepower motor feels much stronger than other 2 ½ horse motors we have tried, with quick speed and incline changes resulting.
• The virtual trainer interactive software can be very motivating to those who like to customize their own programs and also like to track their workout stats. You can even invite buddies to train on your programs or likewise, you on theirs.
• Best of all, feels as sturdy as a non folding tread while running at any incline or speed.

It appears that Life Fitness has come out with a treadmill in the F1, that is lower priced than its more expensive predecessor the F3, with a sturdier running surface and more motivating programming features to boot!.All in all, it’s a great treadmill for the money and one that deserves to bear the quality Life Fitness name

Buying a treadmill for your home might be the first step to improving your health and fitness, but home exercise equipment isn’t cheap, and the decision to buy equipment for your home gym shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Treadmills are similar to cars — there are many makes and models to choose from. How do you know which features are right for you? How do you even know where to start? Knowing exactly what to look for will help you find the treadmill that will most benefit you, and might help prevent your treadmill from becoming just another hanger for your clothes.

Here are a few key things to know about the piece of equipment you choose for your home workout space.

1. Size — Know how much space you have to work with, and what the exact dimensions are of the piece of equipment you choose. Treadmills come in a variety of sizes, and if you do the research, you can find one that fits your space requirement. Also regarding size, it is important to note weight limits on the machine you are looking at.
   
   
2. Motor and Horsepower — Select a treadmill with a motor fit for your needs and how you will use the machine. Treadmills with larger motors and higher horsepower are built for serious runners who plan to run long distances. The bigger the motor, the longer it should last before burning out. Serious runners should look at treadmills with 1.5 to 2 continuous horsepower. If you are planning on using your treadmill for light jogging or walking, a lower horsepower will be sufficient.
   
   
3. Features — When you look at the features offered on treadmills today, you will face a dizzying array of options. Many manufacturers will include entertainment systems, fans, complex programs, downloadable add-on exercise regimens, all manner of bells and whistles in what’s called “feature loading.” Many of these additional electronics are unnecessary and worse yet are likely to break. They can also distract you from looking at the quality of the actual treadmill. Entertainment or computer systems built into a treadmill are probably of lower quality than what you already have in your house, and are certainly going to become obsolete long before the treadmill stops functioning. Since the electronics warranty on many machines is very short, you are unlikely to get such components repaired if they do malfunction.
   
   To avoid feature loading, look for top rated treadmills with a sturdy frame; with a multi-year or lifetime warranty on the motor; with a simple and therefore usable set of programs; with a cushioned running surface; and with a basic heart rate monitor for accurately tracking your progress.
   
   
4. Belt Deck — The length of the treadmill deck is important, as taller runners with longer strides will find treadmills with shorter belt decks difficult to run on. Taller runners should look for a treadmill with a belt deck that is 50 to 60 inches long. Width is also important so be sure you feel comfortable with the amount of room you have to either side when standing on a treadmill.

When shopping for a home treadmill, select a home exercise store staffed with knowledgeable sales people. Shopping at a store that specializes in home exercise will help eliminate frustration and help you make the most informed purchase decision.

Functional strength training means structuring your workouts around the type of movements used for sports specific, task specific and workout related activities. By exercising the muscles used during the activities of everyday living, you actually improve strength, coordination, range of motion, balance, and mobility.

When Life Fitness built the G7 Cable Motion Gym, it was an attempt to carry over the high quality feel of its commercial functional training gym, the Dual Adjustable Pulley Club Model featured in gyms around the world. They succeeded is making this home version so close in feel and quality, that we use it with most clients in our personal training studio, and recommend it often to those looking for a functional cable gym for their home. Here are some of the standout reasons why our clients and I like it over other Cable Motion Gyms.

• The pulleys are commercial quality resulting in a superb motion thereby eliminating the stickiness in cable movement usually felt while working those small muscle groups like inner / outer leg work, rotator cuff exercises or rotational work.
• The quick connect commercial cable attachments make for easy transitions between exercises.
• The multi purpose bar uses swivels on the ends making the barbell style work in squats and presses more realistic in natural movement.
• The multi-position pull up grips along with the weighted lift assist strap help make pull-ups more enjoyable and effective.
• Unlimited range and angles achieved with the 20 position dual cable column and the handle to change adjustment heights works much better and smoother than all the other column gyms we’ve tried.
• A very well done DVD and exercise book showing proper form and examples of exercises with all of the accessory attachments for those without the advantage of having a personal trainer with them.

This functional trainer is not exactly small and compact (68.5L x 70W x 83H), however the design allows it to fit easily into most corners. It’s also not the least expensive functional trainer on the market, but as the fact that it is the choice of many personal trainers would indicate, it is the right functional trainer for the more discriminating exerciser, familiar with the smooth feel and functionality of club-quality strength equipment.

So if you want a workout that is close to the one that you would find in top quality clubs all over the world for almost half the price, the Life Fitness G7 Functional Trainer hits the mark!

For more information:

Click here for a Video Demonstration of the Life Fitness G7 Home Gym

Click here to view all Life Fitness Exercise Equipment

Click here for the Life Fitness G7 Home Gym complete features and specifications.

Visit your local HealthStyles Exercise Equipment retail store to try the G7 Home Gym before you buy.

When it comes to strength training especially when doing squats with a smith machine or free-weight rack or cage, nothing compares to the freedom and security of doing a workout in the Hoist PTS Dual Action Smith Machine.

The Dual Action means that you feel the bar and weight under your control in both the horizontal and vertical direction, unlike other smith machines which direct your movement along a 7 degree pitch vertically. The end result is a ton more muscle recruitment including all your stabilizing muscles and outstanding core development.

Add the fact that the bar rotates, simulating a real free-weight bar and you have complete control for unrestricted movements like barbell curls. And you have the comfort of 10 racking points within the cage to drop in on, and moveable spotting bars to set at any height. The Dual Action Smith allows you an upgradeable weight stack with a Low Row and Lat Pull Down or you can have the whole enchilada by adding the High Low Pulley Columns upgrade which turn this Smith Machine into a Functional Dual Cable Trainer with 23 pulley positions per column.

The quality of movement of all the parts and smoothness of the cables is what makes this easy and enjoyable to use with a great opportunity to cut the cord from the gym and have all your workouts at home!

Click here for a Video demonstration of the Hoist PTS Smith System

Click here to view all Hoist Strength Training Equipment

Hoist PTS Smith System w/ HiLO, Lat, Bench, Shield

Hoist PTS-1000 Dual Action Smith Cage 

Hoist PTS-1000 Dual Hi-Lo Pulley Option 

Hoist PTS-1000 Lat Pulldown Low Row Option 

Hoist PTS-1000 Weight Stack Shield Option 

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

Scott Laurent
has a BA in sports psychology. He is a certified personal trainer and was a semi-pro athlete. His consulting business, ReadyToExercise.com, helps people who are contemplating, just starting, or having difficulty remaining in an exercise program.

Visit Scott at the Healthstyles Exercise Equipment Colorado Blvd or Park Meadows Retail Stores Or email: scott@readytoexercise.com

As a regular elliptical user, I wasn’t sure what I thought when Octane Fitness, a leader in elliptical cross-trainers came out with the X-Ride…..but I quickly became a believer. The X-Ride fits into a whole new category of exercise, the seated elliptical. The first of its kind, the Octane XR6 offers awesome low-impact exercise, and all the benefits of total body exercise, while in a seated position. The design of the X-Ride offers a very comfortable seated workout position yet my first impression was that this elliptical might be better for someone a little older or less conditioned than myself (and I’m no spring chicken!),

While the X-Ride is definitely easy on the joints and thus ideal for someone like me, who finds it difficult to put in a lot of miles on the road or the treadmill due to knees that have taken a beating for too many years, that in no way takes away from the fantastic upper and lower body workout that can be gotten by individuals of any age or fitness ability on this machine. The XR6 offers awesome cross-training for runners or people who really prefer a low impact workout. The  seat is adjustable so it fits people of any size and weight, and also can be positioned to really give my glutes a workout!

The design is great, but it’s the programming that I really got excited about. The Muscle Endurance Program acts like a personal trainer that prompts you to cross train with random commands to push and pull with your arms, pedal fast, go in reverse, use a different grip and more. This program keeps me motivated and really gives me a full body workout. I can also do strength intervals of 15 reps during the workout, with the Chest Press and Leg Press programs. These programs along with the more standard Fat Burning, Interval and Heart Rate Programs make the X-Ride so versatile that it challenges individuals of any age and fitness level. It is really the best piece of cardio equipment that I have found to get a fantastic cardio workout with some very good strength training at the same time. With time being a valuable commodity for me, being able to do strength and cardio at the same time is fantastic!

The footprint is smaller than a treadmill and most other ellipticals, and it is amazingly quiet which is allows me to have the X-Ride in the family room and not disturb my husband while I work out. Octane has now come out with the XR4 which has a smaller footprint than the XR6, and fewer programs at a more economical price point, but in my opinion the size and programming of the XR6 is well worth the extra investment!

Additional video demonstrations and testimonials:

The xRide Experience Testimonials

Benefits of the Octane xRide Seated Ellipticals

Stop in to demo an Octane elliptical trainer at one of HealthStyles’ retail locations or call us at 800-829-9705 for more information.

Click here to shop online for Octane Elliptical cross training machines.

February is Healthy Heart Month and at HealthStyles Exercise Equipment, February is also Octane Fitness Month. Octane Fitness is one of HealthStyles’ most valued strategic partners. Octane makes elliptical cross-training machines, and only cross-training machines, which is one of the things that makes them unique to the fitness industry, and valuable partners with HealthStyles.

In 2001, Dennis Lee and Tim Porth left their corporate jobs in the fitness equipment manufacturing business and launched a startup called Octane Fitness, with the vision of designing and manufacturing and marketing low-impact, elliptical cross-training machines. By concentrating exclusively on ellipticals and also outsourcing functions such as manufacturing, shipping and warehousing, they have created an extremely successful business that manufactures and sells some of the very best elliptical cross trainers in the world.

Where most exercise equipment manufacturers take the broad approach of manufacturing a full range of cardiovascular equipment that includes treadmills, ellipticals, and upright and recumbent bikes, the key to the tremendous success of Octane was their narrow focus on only ellipticals. Because of this, they created a line of machines that are aesthetically pleasing, superbly designed, and at competitive price points. Most importantly, people like the feel of them!

Once the retail versions of Octane’s ellipticals were launched successfully, Octane went to work to create the best and most durable commercial ellipticals in the marketplace. Their commercial ellipticals have now been purchased by hundreds of corporate fitness centers, training centers and health clubs, including 24 Hour Fitness and Lifetime Fitness.

In addition to many best-in-class awards over the years from health and wellness magazines, Octane has also been recognized as the best supplier by specialty retailers. This is due to their customer friendly relationships with dealers like HeathStyles. Things like product availability, quick turn-around time, high product reliability and immediate availability of service support and parts, allow us, in turn, to provide the best service possible to our customers, which is of utmost importance to us.

We are excited to be aligned with a company like Octane that is so focused on meeting the customer’s needs. Since 2001, their success has pushed other manufacturers to improve the quality and features of their products in the elliptical category, improving the entire range of ellipticals available from all manufacturers.

It is clear that with the increasing demand for result producing, low impact workouts, the popularity of elliptical cross-trainers is going to continue to increase. Having Octane as a key partner, HealthStyles will continue to be a leader in providing quality ellipticals to the active Colorado exercise enthusiast! In celebration of our partnership with Octane, we are offering an instant rebate on all Octane ellipticals and in addition, through the 28th of February, HealthStyles will provide you with a FREE PROFESSIONAL DELIVERY AND ASSEMBLY OFFER on any Octane elliptical cross trainer that is purchased during this window of time.

COMMIT TO GET FIT WITH OCTANE ELLIPTICALS AND HEALTHSTYLES!

To learn more about Octane, here area a few links to additional elliptical reviews and video demonstrations:

Octane – A Superior Elliptical Choice

New Octane xRide Seated Ellipticals

Product Spotlight: Octane Q37 and Q47 Elliptical Cross Circuit Workout

Stop in to demo an Octane elliptical trainer at one of HealthStyles’ retail locations or call us at 800-829-9705 for more information.

Click here to shop online for Octane Elliptical cross training machines.

Vision Fitness has hit the mark with an elliptical machine that feels like a club model at a $1,000 price. Up untill now, it has been a struggle to recommend a club quality elliptical trainer for less than $2,000.

A leading consumer products magazine has chosen the Vision X20 Elliptical as a Best Buy Elliptical for 2011. Their comments:

"The X20 is an incredible value. Its 20 inch stride length, 23 lb. flywheel and high gear ratio give this model the fluid feel of elliptical machines that cost $500 more."

Here are a few of the best features that we really like about the new Vision X20 and X30 Ellipticals.

• Much better balance and stride comfort
  Natural stride is a huge factor in increasing comfort and reducing injury potential when using an elliptical. The new X20 and X30 ellipticals have hit a home run with closer pedal spacing and a nice long 20 inch stride
• Arms work naturally to incorporate upper body muscles.
  Arm movements that work naturally with the lower body movement on an elliptical are crucial to comfort and a natural feel while exercising. By working the muscles of both the arms and the legs, an elliptical will raise the heart rate quicker and keep the heart rate elevated to provide the most efficient cardiovascular workout possible. We especially like the multi-grip positions on the X30 arms.
• Sturdy and stable
  Even at higher resistance levels and higher speeds, the X20 and X30 ellipticals were extremely stable. If the piece of equipment feels sturdy and durable, you are much more likely to use it and stay on it longer to get the best workout possible. The stability of the X20 and X30 ellipticals is much closer to significantly higher priced units that you would find in a health club.
• Very quiet
  These ellipticals are ideal for parents who want to work out while children are sleeping, or individuals who want to watch TV or listen to music which they workout.
• The Sprint 8 Workout
  Sprint 8 is a 20 minute workout which when done 3 times a week has shown great results for many of our clients. The Sprint 8 workout is included with the Deluxe or Premier console options on the X20 and X30 ellipticals. For users interested in value pricing and less interested in program variety, the Simple console provides 7 user programs and contact heart rate at a lower price.

When considering the 2 bases, the X30 has all of the features of the X20 with the addition of a large accessory tray, cushioned footpads for comfort while striding, and multi-position arms so you can find your perfect workout position!

The great thing about these 2 ellipticals is that with 2 bases and 3 consoles, you actually have 6 ellipticals to choose from based on your budget, desired feedback, and workout preferences.

While the X20 and X30 may not have quite the heavy duty commercial feel of the top of the line retail ellipticals, it also does not have the price tag of the higher priced units. The X20 and X30 Vision Fitness ellipticals are an excellent choice for people who want a value-priced elliptical without sacrificing features and benefits.

Stop in to demo a Vision Fitness X20 or X30 Elliptical Trainer at one of HealthStyles’ retail locations or call us at 800-829-9705 for more information.

Click here to shop online for Vision Fitness ellipticals.

Scott Laurent
has a BA in sports psychology. He is a certified personal trainer and was a semi-pro athlete. His consulting business, ReadyToExercise.com, helps people who are contemplating, just starting, or having difficulty remaining in an exercise program.

Visit Scott at the Healthstyles Exercise Equipment Colorado Blvd or Park Meadows Retail Stores Or email: scott@readytoexercise.com

Indoor cycling presents some great fitness opportunities for training, so the newest Vision Fitness V-series indoor cycle gave us a good reason to like it for its overall new design and lower price point without sacrificing the very comparable features of the higher end more expensive indoor cycles.

Fit and feel tends to be the most important thing that I look for when recommending an indoor cycle, and the V-Series bike makes great strides over their older model ES600 and 700, along with some nice perks with the paint color and sleek frame design. Finally adding a computer option to this newer model brings the opportunity for heart rate training as well as all the other training parameters of distance, cadence, time and calories to help people train more effectively. Here are some of the standout features and benefits that I list as being a great reason to look at this as an option for purchase.

• Great smoothness of the flywheel, even with it being several pounds lighter than the most expensive indoor cycles.
• Tension easily transitioned with the rubber grip handle was much better than others to quickly dial in the right feel.
• The straight bar horns on the front handle actually works better than some higher priced models for myself and clients when standing and climbing or in the time trial position.
• The computer is very easy to use and positioned nicely on the lower part of the handle bars.
• The ability to fit taller users definitely exists on this bike versus others in its price range.
• The seat extension bar actually helps make lifting the bike to get on its wheels easier without having to lean down and grab the lowest point of the bike.
• A better parts warranty than others in all the price ranges

Outside of it taking a little more time to assemble than the Lemond Cycles, there is nothing that would keep me from recommending the Vision Fitness V-Series Indoor cycle for an individual looking for a smooth, comfortable ride with all the perks of the most expensive indoor cycles but with a lower price point.

Stop in to demo a Vision Fitness V-Series Indoor Cycle at one of HealthStyles’ retail locations or call us at 800-829-9705 for more information.

Click here to shop online for Indoor Cycles.

Scott Laurent
has a BA in sports psychology. He is a certified personal trainer and was a semi-pro athlete. His consulting business, ReadyToExercise.com, helps people who are contemplating, just starting, or having difficulty remaining in an exercise program.

Visit Scott at the Healthstyles Exercise Equipment Colorado Blvd or Park Meadows Retail Stores Or email: scott@readytoexercise.com

As a personal trainer, I am extremely comfortable recommending Life Fitness brand home equipment to my clients for their home fitness rooms. Life Fitness has been manufacturing quality exercise equipment for Health Clubs throughout the world for over 40 years and that quality has certainly been transferred to the manufacturing of their home products.

Specifically, the Life Fitness T-Series Treadmills make working out indoors an effective and efficient way to train during the colder months. Whether you are a world class runner or just an average Joe trying to lose weight, there are a ton of features and benefits to help achieve your goals.

(more…)

With the ever growing number of ellipticals on the market for purchase these days, it is refreshing to see a company like Octane continue to create ellipticals that have the most customer appeal and fitness benefits to the user than I have ever seen. Octane Fitness Ellipticals continually earn multiple awards from leading consumer publications like Health, Consumer Guide, and Today’s Health and Wellness, with several publications winning Best Buy designations.

When the user steps up on an Octane, the sense of comfort and balance one feels while using either the set 20 ½ inch stride or the adjustable stride model, fuels the individual into a dynamic workout at varying speeds that feels natural and not like you are along for the ride. This workout gives the added confidence of pushing and pulling yourself through an outstanding, ergonomically correct, total body workout.

The low step up height makes it one of the few ellipticals that will work with a user over 6 feet tall in a low ceiling environment. This feature along with narrow pedal spacing, converging path multi-grip handles and great programming, make all models in the Octane elliptical line a great choice for individuals of all ages and ability levels. Add to this the zero maintenance required and one of the lowest incidences of service problems of any elliptical made, and I am confident in giving the Octane Elliptical’s a huge thumbs up recommendation for those looking for an elliptical.

Stop in to demo an Octane elliptical trainer at one of HealthStyles’ retail locations or call us at 800-829-9705 for more information.

Click here to shop online for Octane Elliptical cross training machines.

Scott Laurent
has a BA in sports psychology. He is a certified personal trainer and was a semi-pro athlete. His consulting business, ReadyToExercise.com, helps people who are contemplating, just starting, or having difficulty remaining in an exercise program.

Visit Scott at the Healthstyles Exercise Equipment Colorado Blvd or Park Meadows Retail Stores Or email: scott@readytoexercise.com

I found the WaterRower to be a big winner in many respects. First of all, what a great opportunity to get almost 85% of your muscles involved in a cardio exercise, making rowing one of the purest and most efficient ways to work cardio and strength at the same time.

(more…)

With summer coming on, we at HealthStyles would like to make you aware that we carry several items that would not be considered to fit into the “exercise equipment” category. The Sunset Swings (made by the same company that manufactures our Inspire strength equipment) have been a great addition to our line-up and could be a great addition to your back yard or patio! (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!