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jeff@nwfitnessportland.com

Sales Director

We offer a BEST PRICE GUARANTEE! That means if you find a lower price on the exact same product, we will match or beat the price! Plus, the fact that we are local and offer service, you can rest assured that you will have the best ownership experience possible if there is ever a problem with your equipment.

We offer our products at our best price EVERY DAY, and GUARANTEE the BEST PRICE for 30 days after you make your purchase, so you can be sure you are making a great decision!

When you come into our store, we can show you all of the equipment options. We let you try the equipment with a knowledgeable salesperson to assist you in finding the best product for your needs. Once we have found the best product, we are happy to search the internet with you to make sure you are getting the best price!

In the market for a new piece of fitness equipment for your home or business? Visit our store today!

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jeff@nwfitnessportland.com

Sales Director

I talk to a lot of customers about how they can BEST set themselves up to succeed in an at home fitness program. There are 5 essential things to consider. Take these factors into consideration, and you increase your chances of sticking with your program incrementally!

1. Product Selection

People ask “What is the ‘best’ piece of equipment to get?” Unfortunately there is no single answer that fits all situations. To get a fully rounded fitness program going, you want to have the ability to work both cardio and strength. Cardio options include treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes, and the like. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. In short, get what you like using. It really doesn’t matter if you burn a few more calories on one piece or the other if you don’t use it, so get what you will use! For strength, you can go as simple as a few dumbbells or kettlebells, or as elaborate as a full multi-station home gym. Again, determine the way you like to strength train and get the equipment that you are most likely to enjoy using.

2. In Home Placement

Many people think, “I’ll put it in the garage!” Nothing could be more detrimental to your success. In the winter time, the garage is almost as cold as going outside, in the summer it can be too hot! Since most people workout in the morning or evening due to schedules, the temperature of the garage tends to keep people from going out there to get their workout in. For best results, create a space inside the home that is climate controlled and inviting.

3. Entertainment

Get a television in your workout room! Whether you like watching sports center, the batchelor, or biggest loser, combining your tv time with workout time will give you the best chance of creating a habit. For me – it’s morning sports center while sprint training on the treadmill, followed by strength training on my functional trainer. If you are not a tv person, set yourself up to read or listen to music that motivates you to get moving!

4. Motivation

Track your workouts. There are many ways to do this from keeping your statistics in a journal to great apps that offer tremendous feedback. Monitor your heart rate and push yourself by making improvement a priority. Some of the new cardio equipment consoles have this technology embedded and automatically track your progress for you. If you need this technology to keep track of your progress, spend the extra money to get the features you need to motivate you. Another great thing to do is set up a contest or weekly check in with a friend or family member to review the last week’s workouts. Having someone to answer to will help motivate you to stick with it.

5. Buy Quality Equipment

Many people want to “just get something cheap on craigslist.” Nothing will kill your workout program faster than poor quality equipment. Unfortunately craigslist is full of junk! I study craigslist everyday to find QUALITY used products to sell at our store – 99% of the listings are the low-end products from sears or costco that people bought before reading this article. Low end machines are typically unstable, not smooth, and break down frequently with limited local support to repair them. If you are on a tight budget, it is better to buy a QUALITY used piece from a store like us – who will back it up with a service and labor warranty than guessing about whether something on craigslist is worthwhile.

Hopefully this will help you get set up for success in your at home fitness program. If you are in need of QUALITY equipment, contact us to work with our experienced sales consultants and determine the best products for your specific needs, space constraints, and budget. We will help educate you, allow you to try a wide variety of products, and help you put together a program for at home fitness success with no pressure!

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jeff@nwfitnessportland.com

By Jeff Hahn
Sales Director

If you are shopping for a treadmill, you will surely hear how important the motor is to the performance and durability of the product you are going to purchase.  You will commonly hear that you must have a 2.5 or 3.0 “Continuous Duty” motor.  The fact is HORSEPOWER ratings can be misleading.  There is no regulation on how horsepower is rated on treadmills.

Take these two treadmills for example: The Vision Fitness TF-20 vs. the Sole F65.  The Vision motor is rated at 2.75HP while the Sole F65 is rated at 3.25HP.  The Vision motor weighs 4 times what the Sole does and is physically larger by quite a bit.  On top of that, the Vision rating is taken at 3200RPM while the Sole rating is at 7720RPM.  This means that they took the rating on the Sole while working twice as hard as the Vision.

Vision Fitness Drive System

You can make a smaller motor give you more horsepower by winding it up to a higher RPM, but it will pull more power and wear out faster.  Since both companies offer a lifetime motor warranty, you may think this to be irrelevant – except when you look at the parts warranty.  Vision offers 5 years parts, and Sole offers 3.  The part that is most likely to fail due to high power draw on the motor is the lower electronics board – this is the brain of your treadmill.  It takes the power from the wall and supplies the motor with the power to make the treadmill give you the speed you want it to run at.  When it is running high levels of power and surging for your footfalls, it is heating up – and we all know that heat is the enemy of anything electronic.

So with that being said, it is obvious that the Vision Fitness motor is a better quality motor, and will help the other components to last longer as well.  The motor is the most expensive part of your treadmill and the combination of HORSEPOWER and RPM that the reading is taken at will give you a good indication of the quality level.  Other things you can check are the physical size and weight of the motor.  Typically the bigger and heavier, the better the motor.  Don’t be fooled by companies that try to “out-spec” their competition by giving unrealistic Horsepower ratings at high RPM.  Go to a store with a knowledgeable staff that can help you determine your needs, and find the right product to fit. In fitness equipment, as with most things, you get what you pay for – so buy quality for the best ownership experience.

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jeff@nwfitnessportland.com

By Jeff Hahn
Sales Director

Looking for the ultimate workout motivation? Look no further – the new “Touch” console on the 2013 Vision Fitness ellipticals, treadmills and exercise bikes has it all! The new “Touch” screen is packed with features and motivation to get you results. It offers workout tracking for up to 4 users. Once your profile is setup, just log in before each workout and the calendar automatically updates your workout statistics.

There are tons of programs available – highlighted by the “Virtual Active” trails that actually interact with your machine. With these programs your treadmill will change elevation to match the HD trail as it is passing by. As you adjust the speed, the feed of the trail adjusts to match your pace. If you are on an elliptical or bike, the resistance kicks up with the elevation of the trail, and the speed adjusts to match your pedaling speed. To take it one step further, you can display the “Virtual Active” trails onto your HD television using the “Passport” player.

There are tons of other great features that you will find in the “Touch” console. It connects with Nike+, has integrated on-screen controls for your iPod, and tons more. The best part – it is so intuitive to use, I was able to figure it out without even cracking the owner’s manual. To see this live for yourself, come on down to the store and we will give you a live demo! Check out the full line of Vision Fitness products here.

Vision Fitness Touch Console

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jeff@nwfitnessportland.com

By: Jeff Hahn
Sales Director

Bodyguard "imagine" iPad app

One of the biggest hurdles to sticking with any workout program is boredom.  Keeping the user entertained and maximizing results are the two biggest factors in sustaining a solid workout plan.  Once you have made the decision to buy equipment for your home, you are on your way to success!  New technology in one brand of treadmills is making workouts fun again – and their iPad integration makes it impossible to run out of fun things to do while working out.

Bodyguard fitness has just launched the “imagine” iPad app for their treadmills.  This is not simply a docking station that will charge your iPod and play music, but a fully integrated treadmill control panel app that utilizes the many great features we already use on the iPad everyday and allows for maximum multitasking and fantastic reporting on workout results too!

Studies have shown that we are now spending more time than ever on the internet.  Just recently the statistics have changed to be more on mobile devices and more time using apps than using web browsers.  The iPad dominates the tablet computer market and has more apps than any other competitive product.  The ease of use and great features give iPad users unlimited options when it comes to entertainment.  You have true entertainment options like movies, YouTube, and streaming live sports; you have social media like facebook, twitter, and pinterest; you have email, internet, games, and even interactive exercising apps that give you that “on the trail” outdoors experience like Virtual Active.

So now that you know that the entertainment options are are unlimited, let’s talk about the “imagine” app and how it can help you reach your fitness goals!  The first thing you notice about the app is the ease of setting up your user profile.  You enter your name, weight, age, etc and even snap a quick pic of yourself and you are ready to go.  Now each time you use the treadmill, just select your profile and you are logged in for history, data, and custom settings.  Setting up programs is a snap.  Each program has a brief description of what the intended use is.  Find the one you want and follow the prompts to customize the speed, elevation, heart rate and you are on your way!  Upon completing your workout, the data is saved so you can easily replicate the program you just did the next time you want to do it.  A data export allows for easy charting and graphing of performance to make sure you are reaching your fitness goals.  For more details, check out this quick video, then head on into the store for a live demo!

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jeff@nwfitnessportland.com

By Jeff Hahn
Sales Director

Looking for the latest equipment that you can pack up and take to the park this summer?  Then you’ve got to check out the Human Trainer Versatility Kit by Astone Fitness.

The Human Trainer utilizes your bodyweight as resistance to perform nearly any exercise you can imagine.  You can easily adjust the intensity of the exercise by changing your body position to make the movement more or less aggressive.  Check out this video for a glimpse at some of exercises that you can perform using the Human Trainer:

Best of all, the Human Trainer Versatility Kit is only $199 and in stock now.  Print out this coupon and come on in to pick up yours!

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jeff@nwfitnessportland.com

By Jeff Hahn
Sales Director

Spring has sprung and we have refreshed our sales floor to add SportsArt Fitness products.  SportsArt Fitness is a local company offering products from their main warehouse located in Fife, WA near Tacoma.  We are very excited to add these products to our current mix offering additional styles of elliptical trainers, upright and recumbent bikes, and treadmills.  SportsArt is know in the fitness industry as a company that provides cutting edge products at reasonable prices with outstanding features and warranties. see all products

SportsArt T631 Treadmill

SportsArt Fitness treadmills have some unique advantages and outstanding capabilities.  We have chosen to floor the T631 and T621 models.  The T631 comes with an outstanding “Lifetime Frame & Mechanical Parts, 7 Years Electronics, 1 Year Labor” warranty.  It is also powered by their exclusive 4.0HP Eco-PowrTM drive system that saves energy, requires no maintenance, and delivers powerful performance from 0.1-12mph.  Both the T631 and T621 come with the MyFlexTM cushioning system and a large 22″w x 61″l running area constructed from a unique carbon weave material that is resistant to static buildup.  While both machines are built to take a pounding, the T631 allows for users up to 450lbs, and the T621 up to 400lbs.  The T631 has iPod connectivity built in, and both have a wide array of programs available.

SportsArt E830 Elliptical

SportsArt Fitness elliptical trainers have a unique rear-drive design that offers a wide range of stride lengths not seen in most other elliptical brands.  The E822 is one of the top selling models and offers a manually adjusted stride length from 18″-25.5″ to fit users of all heights.  The SportsArt ellipticals also offer a unique MyFlexTM pedal cushioning that softens each step to reduce the chance of your feet falling asleep.  The E830 model offers the longest stride length adjustment of any elliptical on the market from 17″-29″ and the adjustment is made electronically with just the push of a button.  With a user limit of 450 lbs. and an outstanding “Lifetime Frame & Mechanical Parts, 7 Years Electronics, 1 Year Labor” warranty, the E830 is an outstanding workhorse.

SportsArt C532r Recumbent

SportsArt exercise bikes have been winning awards for several years.  The C532r and C532u are leaders in their categories when it comes to warranty, comfort, adjust-ability, and feel.  Fitness Professor Reviews just rated the C532r – Head of Class for Recumbent Bikes at any price for the fifth year in a row!  Both bikes come with the outstanding “Lifetime Frame & Mechanical Parts, 7 Years Electronics, 1 Year Labor” warranty and have a 450lb. max user rating.  Both bikes are also self-generating for power – which means you are actually creating the power required to run the unit.

Come down to the store and give these outstanding SportsArt products a try!

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jeff@nwfitnessportland.com

By Jeff Hahn
Sales Director

Kettlebells

Looking for Cross-Fit type products for use at your home?  We have them!  We are now carrying bumper plates, squat stands, olympic bars, kettlebells, pullup bars, pullup assist bands, medicine balls, plyo-boxes, and more!  Come to the store and check out the best local selection of these items!  Don’t forget to “like” us on facebook for a money saving coupon on these items!

Huge selections of products in stock and ready for you to take home.  No need to wait or pay shipping!

Bumper Plates

Continue reading »]]> By Jeff Hahn
Sales Director

You were up late last night flipping through the channels and saw the infomercial about the Bowflex Treadclimber.  The great thing about that is you are now inspired to make a life change and get into shape.  The problem is, nobody has the Treadclimber on display for you to try before you buy.  Is that by design?  Hmmmmm….

The Treadclimber is only sold through the tv and online advertisements.  The reason why is that they really don’t want you to try it before buying it.  It is an impulse decision based on their infomercial, and by the time you have unpacked it, lugged it up your stairs, put it together and used it, there is no way you will pack it back into the original packaging and pay the freight to send it back.  Another clothes-hanger SOLD!  Hence, the reason you see so many of them on Craigs List.

The infomercial would lead you to believe that you are doing more work and burning more calories than using a “regular” treadmill.  The reality is that they are comparing to a treadmill at zero elevation.  If you use a regular treadmill at a similar level of elevation to the treadclimber, you will burn the same amount of calories.  The fact that the “treadal” (their term for treadmill/pedal) starts at an elevation and depresses to flat makes no real difference in what you are doing compared to a regular treadmill at elevation.  What it does add are a couple problems for treadclimber owners.

The first problem created by the “treadals” is they force the user to spread their feet in order to land on the center of the belts.  If you put paint on the bottom of your shoes and walked, your feet want to slightly overlap – which the “treadals” will not allow (otherwise you would miss the landing spot).  By forcing you to walk with a wider than natural stance, you are causing undue joint stress on the knees, hips and ankles with each step to overcompensate for the width of the stance.

The second problem is the mechanism that creates the “treadal” movement.  They use an adjustable shock (similar to the trunk of a car) to make the “treadal” drop down and come back to the elevation.  I can’t tell you how many people call me asking how to fix the many problems they have with this mechanism. They bottom out making excessive noise, and they are a piece that will need to be replaced occasionally if you buy one of these units.

As for the workout it gives, the treadclimber is very limited in its ability to work you hard.  Most treadmills have a top speed of 10-12 mph.  The max speed of the treadclimber is 4 or 4.5mph depending on the model.  So when you buy the treadclimber you are not going to be able to do any running or jogging.  Also the belts are not long enough to allow for a running stride.

6 week results guarantee!  Hope you read the fine print.  What the guarantee states is that you can return the machine within the 6 weeks, but the machine must be returned in like new condition and in the original packaging.  Also the refund amount is less the shipping ($199 each way) and assembly fees.  If you paid extra to have it assembled, guess what – you are going to pay someone again to disassemble.  Not exactly as “risk free” as they make it sound now, is it?

Finally, there are currently 3 treadclimber models available.  The TC5 ($999) comes with a 1 year warranty. Comparable treadmills in the same price range come with 3 yrs parts, 1 yr labor.  The TC10 ($2199) comes with a 2 year warranty. Comparable treadmills in the same price range come with 5 yrs parts, 2 yrs labor.  The TC20 ($3299) comes with a 3 year warranty. Comparable treadmills in the same price range come with a LIFETIME parts warranty.  What does that tell you?  Also – you will have a hard time finding someone to work on it if you do have an issue.

Save yourself some time, money, and aggravation.  Come “try before you buy” a regular treadmill or elliptical today – skip the gimmick that claims to be both!

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jeff@nwfitnessportland.com

By Jeff Hahn
Sales Director

The Bodyguard T460XC has won the Fitness Professor “Head of Class” any price range for the last 2 years in a row.  Let’s take a look at what makes this treadmill a superior choice to some of the other big names in the industry:

The first things you notice when you walk up to the Bodyguard T460XC are the ergonomics and attention to detail.  This treadmill just sets up a little better than most, and was well thought out for runners especially.  The contact heartrate sensors are put in an ergonomically correct position.  The navigation keys you use the most are right there for you to use – and they are made of more costly and durable silicone keys. The hand rails are set wide so you don’t have to worry about banging the back of your hand when you are running.

The console is easy to read and well lit.  The information is all displayed, and it is intuitive to get to the program you want.  There are several “hot keys” for instant elevation and speed changes and even an “a”/”b” for two customized speeds allowing simple one touch intervals (no more trying to depress the speed down arrow while sprinting at 9 mph!)  My favorite program is the “Turbo Training” which offers an extreme sprint interval.  With this program, it only takes a couple seconds to go from 3.5-9mph.  With most treadmills that takes 20-30 seconds to get up to speed.  “Turbo Training” allows for true intervals with an outdoor running accelleration.

T460XC

The nuts and bolts begin with a solid X-Frame design that reduces torsion and flex coupled with the BDS+ cushioning system.  You will find the most stable, solid feel of any treadmill with this system.  The T460XC is equipped with a premium orthopedic belt and 4 way deck for optimum feel and durablilty.  The oversized 22″x60″ running area allows ample room for even taller runners.  If you are training for outdoor running, the elevation system allows for a -3% to 15% grade for the ultimate range of training more closely mimicking your 5K or 10K course.

The 3.4HP palladrine motor and drive electronics perform great, even for heavy users up to 400lbs.  The ESC (electronic stride control) system keeps the belt moving at exactly the right speed, even when in use at extreme elevations with heavy users.  The best part about the T460XC is their smart AFDS (advanced friction detection system) which monitors the amp draw and lets you know when it is time for maintenance.  That way you won’t burn up your components and it is based on a real monitoring system, not just a time or mileage estimate.  Because of this system, Bodyguard offers the best warranty in the industry – Lifetime Parts, 3 Years Labor!