It seems there is always a new fitness trend claiming to be the “next big thing.”
In fact, marketers spend millions to get you off the couch and into the best shape of your life. Lately, one of the innovations we’re most excited about doesn’t look like a fitness machine at all. In fact, it looks more like a decoration you’d hang in your living room!
Meet “the Mirror…”
Yes, I’m sure thoughts of Snow White’s magic mirror may be floating through your head. The true magic with this gizmo is how it can use sophisticated technology to put other IKEA-brand mirrors to shame.
This mirror has just one goal in mind… to get your butt into great shape!
It does this by giving you access to on-demand workout videos or live stream classes directly in your home. Suddenly, your living room is like a personal fitness studio complete with a trainer ready to help you along. The app for this device lets you build a custom workout designed for your specific goals.
Wanna know more? Well, here’s the “skinny” on a mirror that can make you skinny…
Continue readingYour phone’s app store has page-after-page of fitness and exercise apps. It’s an endless supply really. You can find apps for everything from motivation … to meal planning… to yoga … marathon training… and more!
We’ve talked before about how programming, like iFit found on NordicTrack and ProForm ellipticals, can help you boost your workouts. But other fitness apps found on your smart device can also be great tools to help keep you interested and motivated in your daily workout.
Whether you want to up your cardio game, build and tone muscles, or learn to stretch properly, there’s something to fit every need.
Continue readingNew Shorter Exercise Recommendations
We hear it all the time – “Get up and get moving!”
Unfortunately, many of us are not moving near as much as we should in an effort to maintain our fitness.
Whether you are already moving and shaking on your fitness journey…or just setting out on the path to your best you…there are recommendations to help guide you along the way.
The government recently released new physical activity recommendations, so there are some updated guidelines to follow to keep your journey on track. Keep reading to find out how much you need to be getting up and moving, and just how to go about making it happen.
Continue readingA New Lateral Machine from a Trusted Brand
Bowflex LateralX LX5
The LateralX machines are another innovative product from Bowflex, a brand known for creating new takes on the usual machines. They function in a way that is similar to an elliptical, except that your feet are going to be moving in three directions. That may sound crazy, so let’s break it down.
According to Bowflex, the machine is designed to help you move in a way that is more true-to -life. You don’t only move on one plane of direction in real-life, so why should your exercise be any different? Since your body moves in all different directions and engages multiple muscle groups at one time, the LateralX machines were designed to do just that.
Bowflex LateralX LX5
On a traditional elliptical you are moving your legs both up and down, and front to back, on one plane of motion. The LateralX series adds a third component to this by also moving side to side. It looks a little like downhill skiing, except that the LateralX machines provide the same low-impact workout that you look for in an elliptical.
And that’s just the legs! The machine is also designed to have you use your arms so that you are also engaging your arms and shoulders in a push-pull motion. In addition, there are also hand grips that place your body in a squat position while you do the same movement if you are looking for even more burn.
These different movements and positions allow you to engage more muscle groups than you would on other exercise equipment.
According to Bowflex, the LateralX is going to give you a shredded body in 16 minutes a day. It may be worth noting that this is less cardio activity per day than The American Heart Association recommends for cardiovascular health. They also feature individuals in their videos that are clearly in good shape and spend a lot more than 16 minutes per day exercising on one piece of equipment. It is probably safe to say that not everyone will look like the people in the Bowflex videos just by using their machine for 16 minutes a day.
It is also important to remember that exercise equipment is one tool in your fitness arsenal. You need be looking at your diet and your overall health as well. That being said, using the LateralX machines as part of a larger overall picture is sure to help you reach your personal fitness goals.
Bowflex also says that according to the LateralX University Caloric Study, the LateralX machines burn 39% more calories in that same 16 minute window than traditional ellipticals. We were unable to find the actual study parameters to confirm how the study was performed to reach such conclusions.
Bowflex LateralX LX5
Lateral Movement – Regardless of time spent or calories burned, it is obvious that incorporating lateral movement into your workout will help fire up muscle groups that you wouldn’t otherwise.
This is also incorporating movement that is natural for your body outside of the gym. When you are moving around in the world, you aren’t only going forward and backward.
This additional plane of movement may not be ideal for those that suffer from hip pain. The side-to-side motion, as well as the squatting position option require a good deal of hip mobility, so that is something to keep in mind.
However, the LateralX LX5 has an adjustable lateral range so that you can find the side-to-side motion that best suits your ability.
Low-Impact – Like a traditional elliptical, the LateralX machines are going to give you a low-impact workout that is great for people that are rehabbing from an injury or that suffer from pain in their knees.
10 Resistance Levels – If you are looking to add more challenge to your workout, you can adjust the resistance level on the LateralX LX5. This is a slight upgrade from the 8 levels on the LateralX LX3. This also gives you the option to do HIIT workouts based on your speed and resistance levels.
10 Workout Programs – If you are looking for some guidance when it comes to your workout, you can choose from the 10 pre-programmed workouts to get yourself moving faster.
Integrated Heart Rate Controls – The heart rate controls on the LateralX LX5 are on the handles, which is convenient since this machine is designed for you to hold onto them at all times. It also comes with the chest strap if you aren’t wanting to have to think about your hand placement.
7.5” Backlit LCD Display – We expected to see a larger screen on this model, not only because that seems to be the trend, but also because of the $2699 price tag. This is also the same size screen that you find on the LateralX LX3. However, it does have a media rack if you want to use a larger device for entertainment purposes.
Premium Video Content – The LateralX LX5 gives you access to 30 full-length workout videos, allowing you to have the guidance and motivation of a trainer right in front of you. You can choose from options like “LateralX Basics” and “LateralX Athletic Conditioning”, or take your workout off the machine with videos for weight training and yoga.
The App – Set your goals and keep track of your progress using the Bowflex LateralX app. Watch your progress from week to week to see yourself reaching all of your fitness goals.
Bowflex Radio – With tons of playlists at your fingertips, Bowflex Radio will get you moving no matter what you’re in the mood for.
Warranty – The LateralX LX5 comes with a 3 year frame, parts, 1 year electronics warranty and a 90 day labor warranty. While this is a better warranty than the LX3 model, it’s still not fantastic for the $2699 price tag.
Bowflex LateralX LX5 Performance Pack – Comes with mat and tablet.
Bowflex also offers the LateralX LX5 Performance Pack for an additional $300 landing you at a $2999 price tag. So what does the performance pack get you?
The only additions are accessories, not upgrades to the machine itself. If you purchase the performance pack version of the LateralX LX5, you receive a mat for the machine and a Samsung Galaxy Tab E 9.6” tablet.
The actual machine is exactly the same, so you’re mostly just paying to get the tablet, which you can get for under $300 on its own elsewhere.
If you’re looking for another machine in this class to compare to, you should also take a look at the NordicTrack FreeStride Trainer FS9i. It doesn’t provide quite the lateral motion as the LateralX, but it does allow you free range of motion in terms of your stride length. Plus, it provides the innovative iFit Coaching technology. Worth a look before you buy…
Check out a comparison chart of all Bowflex machines here.
Shop BowFlex Ellipticals at Bowflex.com.
In 2015, Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, suffered the loss of her husband, Dave Goldberg, who was killed in a tragic treadmill accident.
Accidents can and do happen, but if you prepare yourself properly you can use exercise equipment to safely get a great workout.
Whether you are new to the elliptical or consider yourself a pro, safety is extremely important. Just because you’ve used an elliptical before doesn’t mean you can get lazy in this department. Home exercise equipment is a heavy-duty piece of machinery and things can go wrong in the blink of an eye.
Continue reading
So, why do so many people just surrender at a certain point?
It all comes down to some long standing myths that people believe about exercise and aging. And, we’re here to debunk those mis-beliefs!
We’ve put together a list of common mistakes that people make on an elliptical that will not only lower the effectiveness of your workout, but can also lead to injury.
Avoiding these common blunders will ensure that you get the most out of every minute of your elliptical session.
The SpaceSaver SE7i has a folding design – Read our full review here.
Apartment or small home owners living in a limited amount of square footage knows that space comes at a premium. Thankfully, elliptical machines can vary a great deal in size so you have options without sacrificing the features that make for a quality workout.
When choosing an elliptical for small spaces, stride length and height requirements are two things that have to be taken into consideration.
Stride Length – Your stride is directly affected by the weight and stability of your elliptical’s frame. Avoid machines with a flimsy or unstable frame as they often deliver a short, choppy stride. This is often the case with cheaper models (under $500) as they sacrifice the quality and weight of the frame for a lower priced product.
It’s easy to only focus on the physical training and conditioning that you need, but there are a lot of other factors that you have to consider. Forcing yourself outside and just logging the miles isn’t the only way to prepare and sometimes it isn’t even the best option.
Using an elliptical for indoor marathon training can give you the variety you need to reach your goals when pesky outside variables try to slow you down!
Ellipticals can help you recover from an injury.
You’ve worked so hard to maintain your fitness and work toward a goal. Suddenly your body can’t do what you want it to do. This can be extremely frustrating and discouraging.
But making sure that you are doing everything you can during your recovery is a huge step towards getting back to normal. Ellipticals are a useful tool for runners suffering from a wide variety of injuries. They help you maintain your cardio health, work your muscles and keep you motivated without risk of further injury.
