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!

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

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!

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!

jeff@nwfitnessportland.com

By Jeff Hahn
Sales Director

Shopping for an exercise bike can be a very confusing experience.  In this post, we will talk about finding the right bike to meet your needs.

There are three main types of bikes available on the market right now: Upright, Recumbent, and Spinner.

Vision Fitness E3200 Upright

An upright bike is a typical exercise bike that you would see in a club.  It has a comfortable cushy seat and the pedals are down below the seat.  You sit in an upright position and pedal just like you would on a regular road bike.  Most upright bikes use a magnetic resistance system and offer a multitude of programming options.

Vision Fitness R2250 Recumbent

A recumbent bike is one that has a seat back.  Your feet pedal out in front of you and usually the pedals are slightly closer to the ground than the seat bottom (technically a semi-recumbent). There are a few full recumbent models now available (feet and seat at the same height) and also hybrid recumbent models (where the pedals are at a 45⁰ angle from the seat).  Most recumbent bikes use a magnetic resistance system and offer a multitude of programming options.

LeMond Revmaster Pro

A spin bike is one that is positioned like an upright, but offers a wide range of adjustability for the seat and handlebars to fit like your road bike.  They also typically are a direct drive system which means there is no free-wheel.  They have a very heavy flywheel which creates a lot of momentum and gives that “on the road” feel that cyclists love.  Most spin bikes use a friction resistance system, but some now are coming with a magnetic option.

There are also several “hybrid” options now that combine several of the styles.  The LeMond G-Force UT offers the adjust-ability of a spinner with the programming and magnetic resistance of an upright.  There are others that are coming up with devices like Octane Fitness and their xR-6 seated ellipticals.  With so many options, it may seem difficult to decide which is best for you.

Deciding which type of bike is the best for you really comes down to just a few key factors:

1. Are you recovering from an injury?
People with knee injuries are often recommended by their doctor or physical therapist to rehab on an exercise bike.  While many people think a recumbent is the most comfortable, for rehab an upright is best.  The body position when you are on an upright bike requires slightly less knee bend than the recumbent counterparts and that can be the difference between you being able to pedal all the way around or feeling too much pain to make a full pedal revolution.

2. How much space do you have available?
Most Upright and Spin bikes take up about 2 feet wide by 3-4 feet long.  Recumbent bikes are a bit larger at 2 feet wide by 4-5 feet long.  While this is not usually a deal breaker, if you are putting it in your bedroom or TV room, it may come into play.

3. What is your intended use for the bike?
If you are looking to just get a good workout in while watching TV, either the recumbent or upright will work great.  With built in programs and options like heart rate training, it is easy to start pedaling, get into your show, and let the bike do all the thinking.  If you are someone who is looking to train hard and likes high intensity riding, you are a spin bike rider.  Spin bikes offer a much greater top resistance and also have stronger frames designed to allow the user to stand up and push it to the limit.  Most spinners don’t have programs or electronics, so you have to be the type of person who will crank up the resistance by hand and make yourself work!

4. What are the sizes of the users in the home?
This is important to make sure that the bike will fit everyone that wants to use it.  Most bikes offer some adjustability, but the adjustments are typically easier to use and offer a better range as they go up in price.  If you are an average sized user or don’t really need to adjust your bike much, you may be able to get away spending a little less than a family of users that have drastic height differences.

5. What is your preference for how you would like to sit for 20-40 minutes of exercise?
Yes, if none of the other factors apply, it really does come down to which is the most comfortable for you and what you like to use.  Some people don’t like the feel of a spin bike seat; others can’t stand a seat back.  One of the best things to do is come into a store like ours that offers all of the different styles and put them through the paces.  That is the only way to know for sure what is most comfortable to you!

Well, there you go! Now you are ready to go out and find the best bike for YOU!  Come down to the store and hop on a few of the best bikes available.  Your body will tell you which one is best!

jeff@nwfitnessportland.com

By Jeff Hahn
Sales Director

The best thing about selling Vision Fitness products is the fact that they offer 3 consoles on their cardio equipment.  This allows me as the salesperson to perfectly match the needs of the buyer to the machine and ensure that they aren’t paying for any features they won’t use.  With the recent enhancements to the Premier console, there is a ton of value and many reasons to upgrade to the best!

The first thing that is different about the Premier Console is it allows for up to six unique user profiles.  That means everyone in the house gets to have a custom setup, not just the typical one or two.  It also means easy start up without having to enter the age, weight, etc. when starting a program.  The best part of the user profiles is the machine automatically keeps a fitness calendar, making it easy to look up past workout data to make sure you are keeping on track.  It is also a great way to compete with family members to see who can do the most miles, or burn the most calories in a certain period.

Premier Console

The second thing I love is that program information is built right into the console.  Don’t you hate when you don’t know what a program is designed to do and have to dig up your owner’s manual to figure it out?  The Premier Console has a description of each program embedded in the info button so you can easily look it up as you are choosing the program. In the way of programming, the Premier gives you tons of options including all the typical programs (fat burn, interval, etc.) as well as motivational programs (pacer), goal oriented programs (calorie goal, distance goal, etc.), heart rate interactive programs (which automatically keep you at a desired heart rate), and even the unique Sprint8.  I can guarantee you will never get bored with the Premier!

The third thing that the Premier Console has that none of the others do is a full color screen that can deliver audio/video from any input source.  That’s right, you can actually watch a DVD, or your cable box, right on the screen.  When in this mode, it simply overlays your workout stats on top of whatever you are watching.  You can easily toggle back and forth between your workout program, watching TV, and multiple personalized motivational screen backgrounds, keeping you entertained and working out for longer.  The time flies by with all the entertainment options!

Finally, the Premier Console is the easiest console I have ever used.  While it may have the most programming options, it also has a very easy to navigate design similar to using an ATM (which if you are like my wife, I am sure you have mastered, right?)  You go from one menu  to the next seamlessly and easily navigating to the exact program or information you need.

If you are in the market for an exercise bike, elliptical trainer, or treadmill – make sure you stop by our store and check out the Vision Fitness lineup and Premier Console for yourself.  You will be glad you did!

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