Smooth Fitness Blog

Choosing a treadmill to purchase can be very difficult and confusing these days. With so much contradictive information on the internet, a person looking for a home treadmill for the first time may not have or understand all the available information in order to choose the right treadmill, even after doing research. How much horsepower does the motor need? What’s the difference between peak performance, intermediate duty, and continuous duty? What indicators do I need on a console? These are a few of the many questions people have when searching for a treadmill for their home. (more…)

While dieting is a very rewarding process, it can be a difficult one. Many individuals struggle with staying on track, weight loss plateaus, and resisting temptation. Sometimes it may seem as if you need to make a major dietary change, but in many cases small changes over time almost always lead to healthier and longer lasting results. Overcoming these obstacles and knowing what to change is difficult on your own; therefore, we have come up with some tips to keep your diet simple and easy.

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Willpower can be a limited resource when it comes to diet and exercise. Every person struggles with willpower in some capacity. Temptations are around every corner and the ability to make the right choices directly correlates to the strength of an individual’s willpower. But willpower is not static. With the use of some simple strategies willpower can be improved, strengthened and used to achieve fitness goals and overcome dietary obstacles.
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This last stretch of bitter cold, unpredictable snow storms and early night fall can be pretty cumbersome, especially when you want to get outside to train for running season. Winter weather may force you to hop on the treadmill, but after reading this, you’ll thank us for a dose of tough treadmill love.

Depending on your taste, treadmill running may not tickle your fancy because you feel it doesn’t offer the same benefits of running outdoors. However, there are some key advantages and workout schedules that will propel you to the head of the pack this season.

Here is a quick list of benefits before we get to the race training guide:

• Cushioned treadmills reduce stress on bones and joints
• They’re great for pace training (for beginners)
• No need to worry about dodging traffic or other pedestrians
• Safely run indoors at night
• Plan and track goals easily

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Cycling bikes used to be more popular with fitness enthusiasts   before the likes of treadmills and ellipticals came along. Did you know exercise machines similar to today’s exercise bike have been around since the 18^th century!? The fact remains, though, that cycling bikes are still a great piece of equipment to have in your home gym.

Cycling bikes, like many things, have changed drastically over the years, and for the better. Cycling bikes, like this one here, are a lot more versatile than you may think,and with a realm of benefits, are the perfect tool for the cyclist in the offseason, or the everyday exerciser.

Aerobic Endurance

We all know cycling has it’s benefit in strengthening our legs, but there is of course an aerobic side of cycling as well. With numerous benefits for your cardiovascular health, starting your own cycling program at home can help strengthen your heart and lung capacity.

Weight Loss

When it comes to cardio equipment and burning calories, cycling bikes may take the cake (which is better than you taking the cake.) Part of the reason is that it can be relatively easy to fall into a rhythm on a cycling bike. The important part is to make sure that rhythm is productive. Many cyclers (the people, not the bikes) follow programs that allow you to burn 500 calories or more in 30-40 minutes.

Muscle Building

We touched on this earlier, and it’s no secret. Cycling is a tried and true way to build muscle strength and stamina. On top of that, one of the best things about cycling (compared to other equipment) is that it is a low-to-non impact exercise. That means less stress on your joints, which will really benefit you in the long run.

Convenience Factor

Of course there are more benefits to owning a cycling bike than just improving your health. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the fact that cycling bikes are super convenient. The V350 cycling bike, for example, comes with integrated transport wheels, and with it’s compact design, doesn’t take up too much space.

If you were hesitant about buying a spinner because you thought they were dated, you were right. Spinning is a tool that’s been used for centuries. No wonder. At the end of the day, it’s still one of the best (and easiest) ways to get a quality workout.

Fitness Magazine wrote a short article on the fitness blues a few weeks back. In it they touched on a few tips for keeping up your fitness when the weather turns, including doing it for yourself, and staying consistent. While the article focuses on two extreme runners who love running outside (in Alaska) the reality is that many of us hate the cold weather. While we’re still in first month of the year, it’s safe to say there is probably a correlation between cold weather and the downfall of people’s new year’s resolutions. (more…)

Halloween is a spectacular holiday, but it is full of dense, sugary, creations designed to make you want more. It is ok to step outside your normal health guidelines on this holiday, however it is important to not take your exceptions too far. Staying on track for Halloween will help you stay on track for the rest of the holiday season as well. It is very hard for parents and adults to resist the delicious treats and even harder to limit how much candy your children will eat. We hope to provide you with some helpful tips on how to keep Halloween healthy and fun for everyone.

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When you start feeling diminishing returns from your workouts, chances are you have fallen into a workout rut. This happens to everyone at some point or another. But don’t worry! You can easily recover from these ruts and we hope to provide you with some tips on how to do that. The first step is to take some time and analyze exactly what your routines have to offer and hopefully pin-point the weaker points that should be changed. One very common cause for a rut is not challenging your body enough.
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When it comes to staying healthy, eating the right foods is just as important as routine exercise. There are a number of “healthy” options out there; however, it is important to get the most out of your meals. Not only do you want to eat healthy foods but you want to eat foods that will blend well with your workout style, daily routine, and fitness lifestyle. We have outlined some of the top fitness foods that all offer great benefits for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and enhancing workout results.

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The success of any workout plan or fitness regimen is determined by the progression from one goal to the next. In order to progress in a healthy way it is very important to set realistic fitness goals. Setting one large goal is great; however, it is never just one step from where you are today to that goal. Setting small short term goals and reaching them will eventually lead to your overall goal but in a realistic and healthy way.
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