Fitness Notes

Gaiam Balance Ball Chair is an intriguing device, created by leading health and fitness experts to improve back health for those who sit long hours at desks and tables. This product employs the same balance ball used in workout routines and helps build a healthier back, relieve pain, and improve one's overall well being. It includes a removable 52cm Balance Ball, an adjustable support bar, easy-glide casters, and a very handy air pump. Note - this product as listed here is designed for users 5' to 5'11" tall with a 300-pound weight capacity.

The patented design allows one to do tension-relieving techniques while seated in the chair - or even to simply remove the ball to stretch and strengthen key muscles without a trip to the gym. The Chair relieves stress on the spine, helps prevent back discomfort and repetitive motion disorders and helps prevent health issues related to poor posture. The Chair also enables non-impact strengthening exercises and stretching and keeps the user active, even on busy work days. This is a most interesting product and comes with some real rave reviews.

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Creative Fitness Door Gym is one of those extremely practical and simple items that can easily be overlooked as a resource for cinsitioning and for working out at home. Naturally enough, using it is aided immensely by following some simple workout diorections, developed and generated originally by persons who know the value of the full body implications of a simple, rigid bar.

Striking in its simplicity yet completely productive in its physical value, this Door Gym takes the cake for surprising. This handy little unit fits easily into 24- to 32-inch doorways (and has extensions available). It is also ideal for pull-ups, push-ups, chin-ups, crunches, and more. It does require trim up to 3.5 inches wide around the door and it breaks down and stores in its own case for easy travel.

How it works: It latches on without screws, bolts or fasteners, so there are no unsightly holes in the door trim. A cantilever design uses the exerciser's own body weight (up to 300 lbs.) to keep it in place.But it is also more than a simple pull-up, chin-up bar. It also has two protruding close-grip handles that let you work out with your palms facing each other, a good position for isolating the muscles in the center of the back that control posture. In addition, the Door Gym can actually be used on the ground as a push-up bar and a sit-up spotter.

For more product information and for user reviews, click here.

Schwinn 430 Elliptical Trainer is a remarkable and very state of the art machine, fabulous for home workouts. Among the many outstanding features of this exercise bike is an interesting pedal configurarion which emulates the natural motion of the foot while supporting ther heel throughout the stride, making them much easier on knees and joints. The handlebars themselves feature a "grip heart rate monitoring device" which makes it possible to track heart rate while exercising.

The Schwinn 430 also offers eight computer-controlled resistance levels and eight workout programs for complete and variable workout intensity. This includes six user-profile programs, one manual, and one calorie goal program. The quick-start functions allows easy changing to different resistance levels while in the midst of exercising to challenge graduated movement to the next levels. Three feedback programs--recovery mode, results mode, and body mass index allow tracking the progress of a workout routine during the course of it. 59" long, 26" wide by 68" tall, this unit takes up minimum space while maintaining an incredible strong facility. It also has transport wheels for easy movement.

For more information and for users reviews of this fascinating piece of equipment, click here.

Nike Triax C5 Heart Rate Monitor Watch is easy to operate, has extremely easy to find batteries when replacements take place and is from Nike - just simply a great name in workout equipment. Accurate and easy to wear - (users admit they forget they are wearing it) - the results of readings are accurate to within 1 - 2 heart beats per minute. Perfect for running and for aerobic workouts, the large LCD readout is most simple to access. Time of day, high and low target zones  fwith an alarmor warning when the high target or even the low targets are reached. Water resistant and ergonomically S-Curved to fit the wrist more comfortably, this is one of the newest innovations in heart rate monitors and doubles as a comfortable watch at the worst of times. No workout will be complete without it in the future once you own one of these accurate and unobtrusive small units.

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Perfect Pushup Mobile Unit is an absolutely perfect workput appliance, geared for maximizing the muscular effects of oushups byrotating and inviolving more muscles in the pushup process. It actually moves with the natural rotation of your arms to engage more muscles and reduce joint strain as a result. Each handle snaps securely into a non-slip base. This product comes in a zippered neoprene case and stores flat so it's easy to stash in your briefcase, backpack, or office drawer. It includes some travel workout cards which easily fit inside a pocket and are easy to read and apply.

The Perfect Pushup Mobile Unit also features a polycarbonate plastic alloy which is the same material used in bullet proof glass. Completely sturday and long-lasting, it supports users up to 300 lbs. For a real true workout for upper arms and all muscles in the entire group, this tool is a perfect addition to a tight workout regime. Easy to move and store, it offers a near-perfect method of strengthening and toning.

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