Employee Fitness, Corporate Fitness and more

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Employee Fitness:The Truth On How To Lose Body Fat Quickly

Losing body fat quickly is not very difficult at all; with some knowledge and will power anyone can lose weight and body fat quickly. I’m going to give you some tips on how to effectively lose body fat quickly
5 Tips On How To Lose Body Fat Quickly
1: *NEVER* get full. Stop eating right before you get that stuffed feeling, don’t let yourself get to that point. Eating after 6PM is normally not a good idea either because the food will need to digest properly.
2: Eat *MORE*. By eating more, you will raise your metabolism and effectively burn more fat. That doesn’t mean eating more cheeseburgers or big mac’s! Eating smaller meals is the key, and a rate of about 2.5 hours in between each meal is a good way to measure your eating habit.
3: Get *MOVING*. Just walk 30 minutes a day, a few times a week. Go do some pushups and stretch those muscles. You don’t necessarily have to sign up for a gym membership, calasthetics is a good way to keep your body in shape without weights.
4: Drink *WATER*. Drinking enough water is very important when it comes to losing weight. The more you drink, the more you’re hydrating your body and the quicker that fat will come off.
5: *DON’T* Give Up. Something very important, if you slack off for a day or do something you don’t intend to, do not give up! Messing up once is not going to kill you, this is something you need to understand. Whatever you do, DON’T GIVE UP!
See, it’s very simple to lose weight; it’s not rocket science at all! If you’re wanting more tips on how to BURN FAT right off your body and “LOSE WEIGHT” quickly, simple click here to visit www.l-o-s-e-weight.com
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July 17, 2009   No Comments

Employee Fitness:The Advantages Of Using A Home Gym

If you want to get into peak physical condition, build muscle mass, lose excess weight and develop healthy cardiovascular conditioning, it is crucial to workout on a consistent basis. Inconsistency is definitely not your friend where working out is concerned. A few years ago, the only place one could find quality exercise equipment was in an actual gym or fitness center. Now, many people are instead choosing to purchase home gyms and other types of exercise equipment for their private use.
The Cost Advantage
Many people decide that a home workout program is a better option than paying membership fees at a local gym or health club. Instead of spending money every month on a local gym membership with older equipment, home fitness gyms allow users to make a one time payment for a piece of exercise equipment that can give a total body workout and should last many years. Though it may cost more up front, buying a home gym is a lot easier and less expensive in the long run than joining a fitness club, and you’re more likely to use the home gym, unlike the club membership. Most people who sign up for gym memberships quit after just a few months. Purchasing a home gym is actually an investment, because it will offer years of wellness, decrease the likelihood of disease, and may even lower your health insurance premiums.
The Time Advantage
People find many excuses why they are unable to exercise, from time constraints to tight budgets. However with home fitness gyms, users can not only save money, but workout quickly in their free time, freeing up extra time each day to relax and spend time with friends and family. Parents know how hard it can be to find the time to exercise when they have to pick the children up from school or daycare, take them to sports practices, cook dinner in between, and somehow get their kids to do their homework. With a home gym, they can easily exercise in half an hour, the time it would take just to drive to a local gym, and shower before dinner’s ready.
The Convenience Advantage
Another advantage of using a home gym is that you have the choice of working out whenever you want at your own convenience. This isn’t always the case with health club memberships. While some health clubs are open 24 hours and thus cater to all types of schedules, you may have to wait for machines or free weights to become available because someone else is using them. Especially if the club is extremely busy, it can be difficult to even get your heart rate up because you’re continually waiting for other people to finish. That’s not the case with a home gym. You can work out any time you want to and you never have to wait for anyone to finish if you’re the only person using it.
As with anything in life, it is going to take hard work if you ever hope to achieve the results that you’re looking for. However, that isn’t to say that working out can’t also be enjoyable. If you work out in the privacy of your own home, you can play some music you love while you work out, or watch your favorite TV program if you work out in front of the television. It’s important to do whatever it takes to keep your workouts both fun and interesting. If you remember that, you will have a better chance of sticking with your routine and you’ll be that much closer to achieving the results you want. The benefits of working out at home are numerous, but the most important thing you have to do is make a commitment to yourself to workout regularly. If you can’t commit to it, then you will be wasting your money no matter whether you purchase a home gym or a club membership. Don’t get discouraged if the results you want aren’t immediate, as long as you continue to work towards your goal, you will eventually achieve it.
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July 16, 2009   No Comments

Employee Fitness:3 Secrets to a Successful Weight Loss Workout Plan

Many people believe that a weight loss workout plan has to be difficult. Well, that is simply not true. You can, through guidance from a professional at Natural weight loss, develop a rapid weight loss workout plan that is easy to do and easy to maintain over the course of time.
The key point above, however, is “through guidance from a professional.” This is very important and should not be discounted under any circumstances.
Your first step should be a visit to your health care provider for a check up. While you are there, tell him what you are doing so they can best check those areas of your health that might be affected by exercise and other activities. Once you are given a clean bill of health to pursue your regime, you will want to get a professional to help you develop a program that best suits your needs and health requirements and respects your health restrictions.
You have two basic choices when it comes to finding a professional to help you in this area. You can go to a physical location, such as a gym, or you can join an online fitness center and receive individual fitness guidance that is tailored to your needs.
For those who can afford it (in both money and time), a membership at a gym that offers personal training that fits your needs and requirements is a good idea. But there are some people who cannot afford memberships at a pricey gym and for those people we recommend that you explore the idea of using an online trainer to help you with your weight loss workout plan.
Here are some reasons why we like this idea:
It cost far less money to join an online fitness training program. It does not require you to drive around town. You can do your program during the hours that best suit your needs. You can get personalized attention from a qualified trainer. You have access to a wealth of related materials that can help you and educate you on the importance of being fit.
The first thing you need to realize is that you need to workout. This is the most important aspect of losing weight. There are no excuses that are going to help you through this one. You just need to do it.
The second thing to decide is do you want to go to a gym or work out at home. You have only two choices. For myself I would prefer to work out at home and have been able to do that effectively using some great online based work out websites.
The last part of your weight loss workout plan is to do just that plan. You need to sit down and figure out when you are going to workout. Is it going to be in teh mornng or afternoon or at night. I am a morning person and would prefer to get my workout done early. There is lots of talk about a morning workout being best. If you hate waking up early then it doesn’t really matter if that is true. So just plan and pick a time that works for you.
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July 15, 2009   No Comments

Employee Fitness:How to Get Fit and Build a World Class Physique

Being in great shape is something that is grossly underestimated in today’s society and certainly something that can have a massive impact on your overall quality of life. Unfortunately, many of us get busy with work and day to day activities that we don’t make regular exercise a priority.
There are many ways to get fit, including walking, jogging and playing sports. However, the best way to build a great physique and get into world class shape is with an exercise plan.
Now, when most people hear weight lifting and cardio they immediately think of an expensive gym membership. Not only are gyms expensive, they’re also time consuming (driving to and from the gym to workout) and can be really intimidating to someone who is just starting out and may be insecure about their body.
A great alternative to going to the gym is following a home fitness program. There are programs and systems available which can whip you into shape without ever having to leave the house. These programs are extremely easy to follow and many of them are available in video format.
Working out out at home can be a fantastic way to get into shape and is excellent if you prefer a more private setting, however it’s not without downsides. The biggest problem with home exercise and fitness programs is motivation — you have to keep yourself motivated and learn to block out all of the distractions that may pop up during your workout time.
If your goal is to improve your health this year and you’ve decided that the time to make a lifestyle change is now, I encourage you to consider a home fitness plan. As long as you can maintain the desire and motivation to exercise each day, you’ll find that working out at home is convenient and extremely effective with the right program.
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July 14, 2009   No Comments

Employee Fitness:BowFlex Revolution an Honest Review

The Bowflex revolution is an updated variant of the first Bowflex home gym system. There are many updates to this system that make it a great investment. Initially the cost of such a machine might dissuade a few potential purchasers, but for most, the price of acquiring a gym membership and the awkwardness of working out with other people, makes the purchase of the Bowflex Revolution perfect.
There are many Pro’s to the bowflex revolution. Foremost, there are over one hundred exercises that can be performed on this home gym. This permits the user to possibly create a different workout each day of the year. Secondly, with the original bowflex models the leg press maxed out at 410lbs, while the bowflex revolution allows for 600lbs of resistance. The bowflex revolution comes with a ten year warranty and bowflex has excellent customer service. There is also a 10 year guarantee on the included SpiraFlex plates. Some home gyms are extremely noisy, not the bowflex revolution. Even in a thin walls of an apartment there is very little noise that can be heard from the bowflex revolution when in use. The quality of this machine is second to none. I would be surprised if most owners ever have to use their warranty. The bowflex revolution was also designed with comfort for taller individuals in mind.
There are a a couple of negative elements to weigh with the bowflex revolution as well. Foremost, the machine weighs 245lbs , so moving this home gym around is not such an easy deed. Also, the bowflex revolution comes with 220lbs of resistance standard. While this is fine for most owners some people would prefer more resistance if possible. Bowflex will upgrade the revolution from 220lbs of resistance to 300lbs upon request for an additional $100 fee. Finally, the bowflex revolution is not the cheapest machine on the market with a price tag around $2700 dollars. However, bowflex does provide financing. As an owner of the bowflex revolution I think the $2700 price tag is well worth the quality and convenience I got in return.
Overall I believe the bowflex revolution is an first-class home gym at an affordable price. I whole heartedly recommend this home gym to anyone entertaining the idea of starting a serious workout program at home.
For more information on the bowflex revolution or other bowflex products please visit Bowflex Revolution
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July 13, 2009   No Comments

Employee Fitness:Treadmill Recommendations by Price Range

Treadmill Recommendations by Price Range Treadmills can be purchased for as little as $300 to as much as $4,500 or more! There are literally hundreds of models to choose from. In general, treadmills are no different than any other piece of home fitness equipment. You get what you pay for. Treadmills under $1,000 often come with a short 90-day warranty and overall don’t perform that well and aren’t built to last. They’ll typically be lighter in weight, less stable, have smaller and narrower belts, and have fewer features. These budget treadmills are best for walking and light use. More expensive treadmills, by contrast, have much better warranties and are of higher quality. It’s not uncommon to see lifetime warranties on the frame and generous warranties on the motor. They’ll be much heavier, more stable, and will have plenty of features. These treadmills are built to take a regular beating and are more durable. The following treadmill recommendations come from the Treadmill Selection Guide. They are an online retailer of treadmill parts and accessories. They have short reviews of just about every treadmill model made. They have quickly become known online as the number one source for objective reviews of treadmills. And since they don’t sell treadmills, you know they don’t have a bias towards any brand or model. They are a highly reputable source of information on treadmills. If you’re not sure what price range is best for you, check out the Treadmill Selection Guide that the Treadmill Doctor put together. It’s a quick and easy questionnaire that will help you determine what price range you should be looking at when buying a treadmill. Under $500 Treadmills in this range are budget models to say the least. Don’t expect these treadmills to last a long time and be prepared for regular repairs. I’m not trying to discourage you from buying a treadmill in this price range if it’s all you can afford. I just want you to be aware of what you are buying. Don’t be tempted to “save a buck” and opt for a cheaper treadmill if you can afford a more expensive model. If you can afford to spend $1,000 on a treadmill and you’ll be using it at least a couple times per week, don’t even look at treadmills under $500. You’ll thank me later with fewer repairs and a much smoother, quieter machine (and more enjoyable workouts). If you’re on a tight budget, however, and $500 is all you can afford, I recommend that you consider joining a health club instead of buying an inexpensive treadmill. If you have a health club in your area and if you can join for less than $500/year, that will be a much better option for you in the long run. By having a membership to a club, you’ll have access to the highest quality exercise machines and you may be more committed to staying in shape since you’re “forced” to go somewhere to workout. If the local health club is out of the question, then there are a couple treadmills in this price range to consider. The Proform C 500 gets a “Best Buy” rating from the Treadmill Doctor in this price range. It is “simply the best sub-$500 treadmill on the market,” according to them. The Proform C 500 is only available at Sam’s Club or their website for $499. Another treadmill to consider is the Weslo Cadence C 72. The Treadmill Doctor says that is a, “a decent choice if you want to stick to the $450 range.” The Weslo Cadence C 72 retails for $449 and you can buy it and other Weslo treadmills directly from Weslo.com. The other treadmills that the Treadmill Doctor likes in this price range are the Image 15.0 R and the Image 17.0 R. These can be found at Walmart. At the time of this writing, however, the Image 17.0 R was not available. I don’t know if it’s discontinued or if it’s just not carried anymore at Walmart. The Image 15.0 R was still available and had a sale price of $365 (regularly $398). $500 – $1,000 Recommended Buys For 2005, Treadmill Doctor rated the Epic T 60 as a best buy with the Gold’s Gym VX5000 as a close second. Both of these treadmills are made by Icon Fitness. The Epic T 60 is found exclusively at Costco and the Gold’s Gym VX5000 is found exclusively at Sam’s Club. Both are generally priced around $900. For 2006, however, they have new recommendations. They now rate the Sole F63 as the best buy in this category. The Sole F63 has a 2.5 continuous duty motor with a user weight capacity of 285 pounds. It folds for easier storage, comes equipped with six workout programs, and comes with a hand pulse grip with a wireless chest strap included to monitor your heart rate. Read my full review of the Sole F63. The Sole F63 has an amazing warranty for the price. The frame has a lifetime warranty, 20 years on the motor, 3 years on the deck, electronics, belt, and rollers, and 1 year on labor. With all of its features and generous warranty, it’s tough to beat at only $999.99! The Sole F63 is available at SoleTreadmills.com. Another treadmill that gets high marks from the Treadmill Doctor and consumers alike, is the Smooth 5.25. Smooth treadmills are made by Smooth Fitness and are sold exclusively online. The Smooth treadmills have a solid reputation and a large fan base. We’ve run across countless reviews of Smooth treadmills and the vast majority of them are highly positive. The Smooth 5.25 is similar to the Sole F63. The Smooth 5.25 comes with a 2.5 continuous motor with a user weight capacity of 275 pounds. It folds, has seven workout programs, and has a hand grip pulse to monitor your heart rate but does not include the wireless chest strap. The Smooth 5.25 has a slightly better warranty, however, than the Sole F63. It has a lifetime warranty on the frame and motor, 3 years on all parts, and 1 year of in-home service. The Smooth 5.25 is regularly priced at $1,497 but is often on sale for $1,099. Read my full review of the 5.25 Smooth treadmill. The Smooth 5.25 is offered exclusively online at SmoothFitness.com $1000 – $2,000 Recommended BuysMost consumers can find a high-quality treadmill to meet their needs in this price range. These mid-priced treadmills provide great value for just about every consumer. Unless you are a serious runner and need to train for marathons, you really won’t need to look beyond the $2,000 price point. The Treadmill Doctor ranks the Smooth 6.25 and the Bodyguard T 240 as “Best Buys” for treadmills in this category. The Smooth 6.25 treadmill is another model made by Smooth Fitness and the Treadmill Doctor says it is, “the brightest star in the Smooth lineup.” The Smooth 6.25 has a powerful 2.75 continuous duty motor, a generous 20″ x 54″ deck, folds, and has a user weight capacity of 350 pounds. According to the Treadmill Doctor, this is one of the most stable treadmills for runners in the $1,500 price range. The Smooth 6.25 has one of the best warranties available on a folding treadmill. It has a lifetime warranty on the frame and motor, 5 years on all parts, and 1 year of in-home service. This treadmill has a retail price of $1,997 but is usually on sale for $1,499. Read my full review of the 6.25 Smooth treadmill.Treadmill Doctor says the Bodyguard T 240, is the “strongest treadmill with the best warranty under $2,000.00.” The Bodyguard T 240 is very similar to the Smooth 6.25. It has a 2.75 continuous duty motor, folds, and has a user weight capacity of 350 pounds. The Bodyguard T 240 has a lifetime warranty on the frame and motor, 10 years on parts, and 3 years on labor. The Bodyguard retails for around $1,899. Read my full review of the Bodyguard treadmills. Another treadmill that gets high marks in this price range is the Sole F85. This is Sole’s top-of-the-line folding treadmill. The Sole F85 is one of the best folding treadmills you’ll find. In fact, the Treadmill Doctor says it is, “One of the best fold-ups on the planet.” Read my full review of the Sole F85 treadmill. The Sole F85 has a powerful 3.5 continuous duty motor with a user weight capacity of 400 pounds. It has six workout programs, two user-defined programs, heart rate monitoring with a wireless chest strap included, and comes equipped with cooling fans. The Sole F85 has a great warranty with a 30 year warranty on the motor, lifetime warranty on the deck and frame, 5 years on the electronics, belt, and rollers, and 2 years on labor. The Sole F85 sells for $1,999.99 with free shipping and is available at SoleTreadmills.com. Other treadmills the Treadmill Doctor likes in this price range are the Pacemaster Bronze and the Pacemaster Silver.
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July 12, 2009   No Comments

Employee Fitness:All you need to know to create the best home gym

With the increase of outlandish club membership fees, many are considering building their own home gym, complete with cardio and Weightlifting equipment, training matter, full-sized wall mirrors-even all the necessary clothes basket. Is this a practical solution for you? Read on for some things to consider before you make this transition.
Finally! You can work out in the comfort of your own home all alone. There is no Ogling as you bend them gluteus muscles. No sneering at you as you take the time to completion with the cycling routine. No one to make small chat with.
Although it may sound attractive now, there are some practical issues to address before you invest in your own gym-and-home. For example, about the place, what kind of dimensions are you working with? And is the structure of the training space robust enough for the weightiness of the equipment you want to set up?
Are you motivated to actually get the kind of work that you need? While some people feel uncomfortable working out in public places, the benefit of doing this is that you are expected to make some kind of training in the gym. It takes a lot of discipline to get out of bed (or up from the cozy sofa) and practice in your own home gym, particularly if you live alone. On the other hand, invite a friend to join you for a home training can add some stimulus to the routine.
Do you live in an apartment? If so, would the use of home gym interfering with the neighbors? Will the use of a home gym conflict with the lease agreement?
Quite naturally, one would consider the costs involved in converting a free space in a gym at home. While prices vary (home gym equipment can range anywhere from $ 200 to well over $ 3,000-just for starters), you will consider your particular needs. You may ask yourself: Is the cost of equipment worth the amount of time I can spare to work out? Having checked the equipment matter, or can I get the same type of training with a less well-known brand? Am I comfortable with buying used equipment, or do I need to have the new equipment?
Before committing to these and other factors in order to convert it back to a training room, see your family physician before beginning any exercise routine. This is not just common sense, it is also important to get the maximum benefit of routine. Even though you may have for the bench press 250 pounds, your doctor may not agree, given the past history of ill-back. In addition, your doctor know your physical condition is probably better than you, so make sure that he or she is well aware of the items that you want to buy for training regimen.
Now that you’ve tried these and other questions, it’s time to actually buy the equipment. Are you familiar with all the options available to you? Do you have any knowledge of the hundreds of brands that are out there? If not, then you may wish to run background checks on various consumer Web sites. Make sure that you get a more than adequate warranty with the purchase. A single fly-by-night warranty may be good for the purchase of a TV remote control, but given the enormous finances involved in equipping a home gym and strenuous use of the equipment-make sure that you do not come out short – changed.
Still determined to have the home gym? Good for you! Now invest in a couple of good training shoes and get to work!
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July 11, 2009   No Comments

Employee Fitness:Its not about you or me its about Wii..it’s time to get Wiifit:

Wii Fit is the new video game fitness phenomenon for Nintendo.Wii Fit includes the revolutionary Wii Fit Balance Board which is a pressure-sensitive scale with built-in gyroscopic technology that accurately measures the users center of balance and body mass index (BMI) as well as shifts in weight, posture, and body movement.It’s an experience you must try out it includes lot of invigorating exercises and activities.The Wii Balance Board can measure a user’s weight, center of gravity and body mass index.It helps you exercise about 40 different activities,including yoga poses and push ups.The Wiifit experience makes for a fun and exciting exercising routine for the entire family.Wiifit works every muscle in the body including:abs, arms,back,chest,legs and gluteus.
The Maximum weight: 330 lbs Nintendo’s fitness board add-on to the Wii is something between gaming and self-improvement but you shouldn’t cancel the gym membership just yet – the cardio events are the game’s weak point.But as a well made fitness tool with some entertaining mini-games Wii Fit is hard to beat.Wii Fit will get you moving.It it is easy for anyone to try, another example of how Nintendo continues to expand the world of video games to new audiences.Nintendo claims that its Wii console has broken the PS2’s record by selling 51 million games during its first 18 months “I see Wii Fit as being mostly targeted to the nontraditional gaming audience,” Anita Frazier, video-games analyst with the NPD Group, said in an e-mail.”Part of the success of the Wii has been its ability to bring the whole family together to try out gaming, and this is a way to keep some of those that have tried the Wii interested in continuing to use it in a unique way.”Game developers are putting the Wii Balance Board to use in other games,such as “We Ski” from Namco Bandai.In it,a player holds the Wii remote and nunchuck as they act as ski poles.”Wii Fit” has sold more than two million units in Japan since its launch late last year, and Nintendo says interest is “strong” in Europe,where it went on sale two months ago.According to the game’s virtual fitness expert,people with an uneven center will unnaturally compensate for the imbalance,causing unnecessary strain and poor posture.To improve that balance,”Wii Fit” guides your customized Mii character through a series of mini-games, strength-training sessions,aerobics exercises and yoga poses. It’s not hard to burn calories with some of the aerobic exercises, especially the hula-hoop spin.The idea is to swivel your hips and keep your character spinning,and you can accelerate your scoring pace by continuing to spin while catching more hoops.
In its fourth fiscal quarter ended in March, Nintendo saw its profit jump 60% from a year earlier.The company is counting on “Wii Fit” to help drive growth this quarter.
Nintendo is banking that the United States,a country whose increasingly overweight population never met an exercise craze it didn’t like,will be prime territory for “Wii Fit”.
A new promotional image shows the balance board used in Wii Fit has a weight limit of 330 pounds.Note however that this is the Japanese version,and Nintendo may be releasing a larger sized board for the “bigger” Noth American market.US fans say that Nintendo should increase the US weight limit to much more than that,one fan said “there are going to be the frivolous law suits over weight discrimination because of broken Wiifit boards”
There is massive shortage of WiiFit in the States!The reason behind this, industry analyst Michael Pachter says,is because Nintendo is shipping four times as many units of WiiFit to Europe compared to North America.He estimated 2 million units being shipped to N-Europe’s home region because that’s where the money is.”The shortage demonstrates one consequence of the weak dollar.We’re seeing companies ignore their largest market simply because they can make a greater profit elsewhere” he told the LA Times.”They know that Americans will be just as fat a few months from now”,he added. One Us “tester” said that “my favorite section would be the aerobics, which are the real fat burners of Wiifit.Jogging,rhythm boxing and steps are probably some of the best workouts one can get in your living room, and combining these with the muscle toning exercises could work wonders in conjunction with a bit of separate weight training.I’m still not sold on yoga in terms of improving balance, mainly because I’m still wobbling around like a jelly on a pneumatic drill, but they’re great for warming up and stretching out”. Despite the doubters,Nintendo have done it again when it comes to their market expansion. Nintendo Manger Matt Atwood of America’s Public Relations explanation of what the name was really about.”So that’s Wii but now Nintendo needs you, because, it’s really not about you or me.It’s about Wii. And together,Wii will change everything.” The initial hype generated by Nintendo’s motion-controlled console was a phenomenal susses,Amazon.co.uk was completely overwhelmed when its entire pre-order allocation was sold within just seven minutes, and Wii’s were flogged on eBay for as much as -FIVE times the retail price.If you have a Wii-videogame, it’s time to get Wiifit.
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=966477

July 10, 2009   No Comments

Employee Fitness:The Hardcore Gym Movement In 13 Easy To Follow Steps

OK. That’s it! I’ve had it. I’m sick and tired of having the flow of my workout interrupted by the soccer-mom talking on her cell phone, sipping her coffee on the pec deck while not understanding the meaning of the phrase working-in. I’m fed up with having some yo-yo stand between my mirror and me while I’m admiring my pythons when doing curls, just so he can check out his cool new tribal-band tattoo.
Sound familiar? If so, you too must belong to a health or fitness club. I’ve been lifting for about 15 years now and just recently moved. Unfortunately, there were no gyms in my new area, only a handful of health clubs. I figured as long as they’ve got weights, it wouldn’t be a problem. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
It didn’t take me longer than 2 days to figure out that health/fitness club was just another way to say, Welcome one and all. Please come here 30 minutes a day, 3 days a week, walk on the treadmill, chat, have your latte – protein – banana – wheat germ smoothie, just so that you can go home, sit on your ass in front of the TV and eat pork rinds covered in mayo for the rest of the day.
The club where I work out now could not be more different than a gym, and I for one, doesn’t like it. What’s more, I’m going to do something about it. With the power of my pen, I am going to encourage each and every one of you to open your own hardcore gyms, so that we can eradicate this threat to our lifting way of life. Of course, I won’t leave you hanging. While you will be expected to fund the gym along with finding a location and all the other things required to start a new business, I will provide you with the key to making it work. I will give you a doctrine, a set of rules if you will, to be used to make your new hardcore gym the utopia any true muscle-head dreams of. This doctrine will be the gospel on which your gym should be based. It will consist of a number of rules and guidelines. It will be easy to implement, understand, and follow.
The doctrine is as follows:
1. If you’re a sweaty bastard, bring a towel! The last thing anyone wants to sit in is a puddle of sweat mixed with hair gel and god-knows-what when he or she uses a piece of equipment.
2. Anyone who walks in front of someone working out in front of a mirror shall be forced to workout in a room with no mirrors. The only things covering the walls will be naked pictures of Bea Arthur.
3. No reading books, magazines, or newspapers while working out. You want to read? Go to a Starbucks or the library.
4. No cell phones. The only thing more annoying than hearing someone on their phone in a movie theater is listening to someone talk about the latest American Idol episode while you’re trying to maximize your burn.
5. Attire:
If you’re a guy – no spandex without shorts over them. Please no one wants to see what you’re packing down there or know your religion.
Work boots and flannels are only appropriate if you weigh over 200 pounds.
6. No air conditioning how the hell do you know if you’re getting a good workout unless you sweat? Fans were good enough for Charles Atlas; they’re good enough for you.
7. Music – no station with the word Hot in front of its name (e.g. HOT! 107FM). A steady rotation of Van Halen, Metallica, AC/DC, and the Vision Quest soundtrack is all I’d have going. I could be convinced to include Eminem, as well.
8. No cardio machines – if you need to get your heart rate up, it means you’re not working out hard enough. Either increase the intensity or run to the damn gym.
9. No TVs – isn’t that why you came here in the first place?
10. No juice bars!! (’Nuff said)
11. Talking – other than asking people if you could work in, conversation should be kept to a minimum. Besides, do you care about what the guy in the gray sweat suit with the towel around his neck did over the weekend? No! Do you really need to discuss the unseasonably cold weather with yet another person? Absolutely not.
12. No smiling – There is to be no smiling in the gym. Working out is not fun. It’s a way of life. There is nothing fun about it. Anyone caught smiling will have his or her gym membership suspended for one month.
13. Spotting – The ability to provide a quality spot for someone is an art, and one only honed through experience.
make sure you don’t sweat on the person you’re spotting.
- Always say, You got it, it’s all you!
Never spot someone benching When you’re Not wearing underwear.
* One more note about spotting: Never be afraid to ask for a spot if you’re pushing yourself. Being stuck under a barbell while benching will cause a serious drop in gym manly points from which few could ever recover.
The bottom line is that working out is like a drug. Once you start working out and experiencing the highs (e.g. looking and feeling better, increased confidence), you don’t want to stop out of fear of coming down (i.e. getting out of shape). So you need to keep going. Once it gets its claws in you, you’re hooked. And where does one go when they want to get their fix? That’s right – the local crack house, or in our case, the gym. From what I’ve seen on TV, crack houses are not pretty… there’s no AC. You don’t go there to make friends. They certainly don’t sell tasty protein shakes. Thus the gym should not either. It should be utilitarian. Get in, do your business, get out. You want to read and watch TV in a nice comfortable atmosphere? Then stay home or go to Bally’s. We don’t want your kind here.
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=976971

July 9, 2009   No Comments

Employee Fitness:Bodybuilding Tips For Building Mass When Times Are Tough

Due to the weakening dollar, rising gas/oil costs, and a myriad of other factors, the price of food in America has jumped substantially in the last two years. While many predicted the higher fuel costs would lead to a spike in supermarket prices – and they have – many people were surprised at the tremendous spike in supplement prices over the last year. Whey is up by 50% at most online retailers, and there is no end in sight. Many bodybuilders are seeing their traditional staples of beef, chicken, fresh produce, eggs, and whey cost more than they ever could have imagined.
Before you toss in the iron and take up competitive chess, check out a few quick tips to surviving the recession and higher food prices, as well as a few ideas for benefiting from these tough times.
Negotiate a cheaper membership. If you are hit hard by these tough times, imagine what gym owners are going through. Their supplements cost more, their equipment costs more to deliver, and their memberships are likely down. After all, a gym membership is one of the first elective items cut from a budget when money is scarce. Enter your current gym, or one you’d like to join, and tell them you just can’t afford their rates. It’s very possible the owner will cut you a deal and find a discounted rate for you. After all, his costs are fixed. An extra $10 per month from you – even if it’s not the standard $30 rate – will help him pay the bills.
Work out at home Gas prices have tripled in the last few years, and it’s now to the point where you can spend $5 or more in gasoline. While it’s often hard to get a full chest, back, or leg workout at home, one can often find that a few sets of dumbbells is more than adequate for those days when you train biceps, triceps, forearms, and shoulders. Abs and cardio can also be trained at home, saving more money (and time!). If you save $10 per week by avoiding two trips to the gym and training at home, that adds up to over $500 saved by the end of the year.
Buy in bulk Despite the rising food costs and shortages in other countries, a 25 pound bag of rice can still be purchased for $12 to $15, and will supply several weeks’ worth of carbohydrate source. Tuna is still the king of affordable protein sources. You can pick up a 12-pack of tuna cans for $5. While you’re at the bulk store (Sam’s, Costco, or BJ’s), ask for deals. If store sales are down, it’s likely the butcher has a lot of beef that isn’t selling. See if he’ll reduce the price, buy a lot of it, and freeze it.
Time is Money Don’t just shop in bulk – cook in bulk as well! We all know time is money. So why would you spend 30 minutes cooking meals, four times a day, when you can cook all 4 meals at once? That saves you 90 minutes per day. Use that time to train, sleep, read, or earn more money!
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=981007

July 8, 2009   No Comments