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Folding or Non-Folding Treadmill?

Although there are all kinds of treadmills, like motorized and manual treadmills, there is another set of features out there called folding and non-folding. Folding treadmills are great because it allows you to work out as much as you want and then simply fold up your treadmills for easy storage so that your huge machine can be neatly put out of the way. Let’s face it any work out machine is going to be an eyesore so if you can get your hands on one with the folding feature you will be much better off especially when it comes to having company over. Besides, what if you decide to lay off on the working out for a bit? No one will notice if your machine is folded and put away but everyone will notice a buildup of dust on your non-folding machine because it is always out and about to be seen.

Sometimes you will run into a very high tech treadmill with all of the technology advances you could ask for, some even include MP3 and iPod hook ups, but most the those treadmills are rarely capable of folding up do to all of the features included on it. When it comes to choosing whether you want a folding or non-folding treadmill consider the fact that the folding treadmills from years ago were considered to be way less stable than the non-folding treadmills. Technology advances have certainly changed that, now folding and non-folding treadmills are stable no matter what. It costs a minimum of about $2000 for a high quality non-folding treadmill and surprisingly there are high quality folding treadmills with plenty of stability available for half the cost, somewhere around the $1000 to $2000 range.

Remember, not all folding treadmills are equal. Lower priced treadmills will not have the stability needed for an extensive workout. The same goes for non-folding treadmills too. Most of the time the lower the cost will mean less stability it will have. If you will be light jogging and/or walking, folding treadmills around $1,000 will have enough stability for a medium workout. A great example of an excellent folding treadmill in the $1,000 price range is the Smooth 5.25 treadmill it is great for walking and light workouts. For more intense workouts that include running, you’ll need a folding treadmill that starts at about $1,500. The Sole F80 treadmill is of the best in this range. When looking for a folding treadmill, you should keep in mind the way that the treadmill folds as well because some machines are a lot easier to fold than others. Some fold at the touch of a button and others require a lot more effort.

You can test drive folding treadmills purchased online by reading reviews written by actual customers. You can tell a lot about the treadmill by what other customers say about it. You can take note what other customers say about the treadmills and if enough people say the same thing, you can be pretty confident that what they are saying is true. The same goes for non-folding treadmills as well.

About the Author

Dave Ashton is a fitness enthusiast and personal trainer. You can find great offers on
folding treadmills
on his website at http://www.motorisedtreadmill.org.uk – It is a fantastic resource for those wanting to
buy cheap treadmill
.

sole treadmill sole f80

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sole treadmill sole f80
I need help choosing between a spirit XT275 treadmill and a Sole F80 treadmill.?

The treadmill would be used for both running and walking, and weight is not an issue. I will choose best answer.

The Sole F80 wins my vote. But here’s some links on the Spirit: http://www.efitnessdirect.com/product.php3?id=1095

http://www.treadmilltips.com/spirit-treadmills.html

And a link on the Sole model you mentioned: http://www.treadmilltips.com/sole-f80-treadmill.html

Compare the two and decide for yourself.

how to lose fat fast

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how to lose fat fast

How You Can lose fat Fast ?

You do not like being overweight-no one does. But when you learn how to lose fat fast, you can change your body so that you will smile instead of frown when you see your reflection.

To lose fat fast, one of the very best things you can do is to make sure you have a support network. It’s hard to achieve fast fat loss without support, so start talking to people you work with, family members, neighbors, or friends.

Ask them if they are interested in how to lose fat fast. If you get a positive response, then talk with them about setting up a buddy system. Offer to exchange phone numbers and emails and set up a regular lunch together where you can compare notes.

When you hit the hard spots on your journey to lose fat fast, then call up someone in your support network and share your feelings with them. Be fair, too, when they call you and they are having a hard time, listen. You never know what you will learn that may be helpful.

Another thing you must do is set goals for yourself.

To get started setting goals, ask yourself these questions:

  • How much weight do you want to lose?
  • How much time are you willing to devote to achieving your fast fat loss?
  • What sacrifices are you willing to make to achieve your goals?
  • What will you reward yourself with when you hit your goal?
  • What is your back-up plan if you slip and miss a goal?
  • Be realistic when you try to lose fat fast. If you try to lose 20 pounds in one week, you are setting yourself up for failure. Instead, aim for goals that are doable but will require effort, such as losing 10 pounds in 4 or 5 weeks.

    Still another secret is to have a plan to deal with setbacks. Nothing is ever perfect, not even fast fat loss on a bullet-proof plan. Mistakes happen and you are only human, so you need to be able to cope with a slip-up.

    Tell yourself in advance that it is OK if you fail at first, or do not achieve every goal you have set up for yourself. When you do that, you will not fall apart or worse, quit your fast fat loss program when you have one little itty-bitty setback.

    Learning how to size your portions correctly is another secret you need to know. If you have been eating entire steaks, baked potatoes, and whole pizzas, then figuring out what the right portion size is will help you in your struggle to learn how to lose fat fast.

    Here are a few tips:

  • Three ounces of meat is the size of the palm of your hand (no fingers)
  • A portion of fruit is one cup, which is as big as a baseball
  • One orange or apple is the diameter of a tennis ball
  • One potato shouldn’t be bigger than your computer’s mouse
  • A normal sized bagel is no bigger than a CD
  • An ounce of cheese is the size of half a small cell phone
  • A teaspoon of peanut butter is the size of the end of your thumb
  • If you want to know more about it, visit this blog : http://slim-fast-blog.blogspot.com

    About the Author

    Thanks for reading. Now enjoy more information at this blog : http://slim-fast-blog.blogspot.com

    reviews of fat burners

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    reviews of fat burners

    fat burner Cream weight loss Solutions Exposed!

    An obvious manifestation of the ever pressing plight of obesity especially in the United States is the birth of different products either orally prescribed or not, or weight loss creams. Fat burner cream weight loss can be divided according to how they effect when applied to the body. The first one, lipotropic products, have the ability to burn fats and unloads them into the bloodstream to be made accessible to once again becoming an energy source of the body. The second one, thermogenic products have the ability to increase the body temperature to hasten metabolism. Thermogenic products likewise depress the appetite which is another factor that greatly contributes to a decrease in people’s weight.

    But we must be warned that not all products are for everybody. Fat burner cream for weight loss can only be utilized by different people depending on how much calories they are aiming to consume. Calories are said to be consumed by the body system in three ways. First, calories are required for everyday physiological functioning such as breathing, digestion, and even when sleeping. Second, calories are needed in more laborious activities like exercising and other works. Third, excess calories that are not utilized during the aforementioned activities are stored as fats. Hence, it can be said that it likewise heavily depends upon the individual himself to goal for activities that could help him burn more calories so that not too much fat is stored in his body.

    Fat burner weight loss creams also take different forms, such as ointments and vitamins. Many of these are readily accessible on the internet for online shopping. Most of these products promise quick, if not instant elimination of fats through to what they most commonly term as ‘burning.’ But just to reiterate for the purpose of emphasizing, fat burner weight loss creams are now becoming a smorgasbord, that anyone could easily be confused as to what may suit their need. In this aspect, there is no more a need to belabor the point that the internet also is a generous site of advice and consultation. Moreover, even if oral intake vitamins and creams are the most common forms of fat burner weight eliminators, some doctors are even offering the use of injectibles, cellulite eliminator shots, and even protein shakes. However, it must also be noted that a careful inquiry is necessary before using any kind of these medications. Customers should always be reminded that life and health are so much at stake here.

    In the end, people’s efforts to be healthy and in shape should not be compromised by a ‘bogus’ of fat burner supplements. Whatever consequences you reap in counting on these medications, it is always wise to bear in mind that we should be responsible enough for our own actions. Whether we decide or not to subscribe to these kind of way to eliminate too much stored calories in our own respective bodies, we must accept the fact that whether or not we like the outcome of our decisions or not, no one could be blamed but our own selves. Because in the first place, our own body is our own responsibility.

    About the Author

    Ready to drop 5 pounds in 3 days? Janet Sommers will show you how today using
    fat burner cream weight loss
    solutions! She gives every visitor to her website a free e-course compiled of her top weight loss tips. Visit
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    Rowing Machine: A Remarkable Fitness Equipment With Numerous Benefits

    The ubiquitous presence of rowing machine everywhere is an indication of its widespread popularity these days. Rowing machine yields impressive results with regular workout, more so than most other fitness equipments. Many of those who are still new to rowing machine, remains unconvinced but all doubts can be clarified upon consistently using the rowing machine. Rowing machine is a remarkable fitness equipment few other machines can match.

    One of the major benefits of the rowing machine is that it assists in strengthening the torso, the upper body where most of our main muscles are located. In addition to, legs is constantly work out although in the lifestyle of today, the area around the upper body is used more than the legs.

    The use of resistance to workout the area around the upper body significantly contributes to improving the core strength of the chest, shoulders and forearms. With improved strength, it gives rise to an upper body strength that is more stable and solid to carry out our day-to-day tasks easily. The legs are firmly workout as well although not as much as the upper body but you will be able to notice the difference when you work out consistently.

    One of the better benefits of a rowing machine is that of calories burning but few use it mainly for that purpose as other fitness equipments such as the Nordic Track, stationery bike and treadmills can do so effectively. In addition to, the rowing machine can help to improve lean muscle mass and given that lean muscle mass burn off more calories for a given size, the body will utilize more calories to nourish the muscle. As a result, rowing machine effectively increases metabolism so as to feed the lean muscle with the requisite calories.

    Very few people know that rowing machine help to reduce the stress level and anxiety through the frequent use of it. Exercising makes a person less depress and edgy and it is one of the most beneficial and least appreciated of all the rowing machine benefits. Keeping our mental faculties alert and well is as important if not more than physical aspect of our health.

    To derive all the benefits mentioned, we need to effectively make the most out of the rowing machine. The information that we gather here will be very relevant to utilize the most from the rowing machine. Fully understanding the machine itself and its functions can contribute to us getting a complete and beneficial workout.

    Rowing machine mimic the actual rowing experience of a boat for the sole function of aerobic and strength training workout as well as for those training for rowing. The machine has been in existence for more than a century but only in recent years that it gains in popularity.

    The market for rowing consists of a few types of resistance and they are the air resistance, piston resistance, water resistance and magnetic resistance. All are equally effective and none can claim to be better than the others. Each has their own admirer and the types of resistance you choose will hinge on the relevance of your exercise as well as the state of your fitness level.

    To derive the most out of the rowing machine, you need to know the different types of resistance levels and the air resistance will increase in resistance as you increase your pace. The piston resistance is the most popular as it is so small and compact that allows the machine to be foldable and move around as well as easy storage.

    Water resistance comes close to the actual rowing experience and the workout is as intense and the magnetic resistance makes use of electromagnets which make it very smooth and quiet in operation. With lesser noise, similar to air resistance, it provides a great workout without disturbing other.

    Besides understanding resistance levels to fully utilize the rowing machine, the other extras are as important. The computerized digital display that provide all the functions of the rowing machine such as calories burned, distance covered, time and speed to better gauge our training. All these may come at an additional price but all is worth it. Rowing machine remains one of the best fitness equipments out there and with regular workout, the results are there to see.

    About the Author

    Cindy Heller is a professional writer. Visit Rowing Machine Reviews to learn more about portable rowing machine and rowing machine instructions.

    exercise

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    exercise

    The Top Ten weight Training Exercises for Building Muscle

    Author: Jason Ferruggia
    Bodybuilding Expert and Author of Muscle Gaining Secrets

    1) Deadlift- Not many weight training exercises work as many muscle groups and build muscle as fast as the deadlift. The neck, traps, upper, middle, and lower back, glutes, hamstrings, quads, biceps, forearms, and abs are all utilized in the deadlift. No other exercise is a better test of overall body power. While uninformed people always ask, “how much can you bench,” the question they really should ask is, “how much can you deadlift?” A deadlift is the most basic exercise anyone can do. Bending down and picking a weight up off the floor is the one weight training exercise that mimics everyday real life situations. Most people will rarely find themselves on their back needing to push a heavyweight off their chest but everyone has to bend down and pick things up. If you could only do one exercise to build muscle this would be the one to do.

    2) Squat- The squat has been known for years as the “king of all muscle building exercises” and for good reason. I’m not talking about sissy boy half squats either; I’m talking about real below parallel, full squats. If you don’t at least break parallel it’s not a squat. Like deadlifts, squats involve an enormous amount of muscle mass and stimulate the release of anabolic hormones such as testosterone. This is great for building muscle fast. The squat is probably the most revered exercise among serious lifters and the power rack is considered our sacred ground. If you ever want to develop any kind of real lower body strength and build muscle fast, you have no choice but to squat.

    3) Chin up- Not many exercises will build muscle in the upper body like chin ups. Known as the upper body squat, chins stimulate nearly every muscle from the traps down to the abdominals. Any exercise that allows you to move your body through space as opposed to moving a weight or fixed implement around you has a much higher degree of neuromuscular activation, and therefore a much greater potential to elicit gains in size and strength. Look at the development of male gymnasts and you will see for yourself what years of chin ups and dips can do for the upper body. If you want tobuild muscle fast, be sure to include chin ups in your weight training program.

    4) Parallel Bar Dip- A close second to chin ups as one of the best upper body exercises for building muscle fast, and for all the same reasons. If you want big arms you had better include dips in your training program. No otherweight training exercise will add slabs of muscle to the triceps as effectively as dips. A huge chest and enormous pair of front delts are also a pleasant side effect that comes with regularly performing this outstanding muscle building exercise.

    5) Hang Clean & Push Press- A total body muscle building exercise which hits the calves, hamstrings, glutes, quads, lower and upper back, traps, shoulders, biceps, triceps, and forearms. Although it is, by definition, an Olympic lift, it can be done in more of a strict manner to really target the traps, upper back, and shoulders. When done in this manner, it is not performed solely with the intention of developing explosive speed like most Olympic lifts are performed. Doing the clean and push press in this manner is a form of power bodybuilding and will really blow up the traps and shoulders. If you could only pick oneweight training exercise for building muscle, this might be the one. It’s a shame you don’t see this in more bodybuilding programs.

    6) Bench Press- This is one of the three powerlifting exercises and along with Military Presses, is the greatest of all pressing movements for building muscle in the upper body. When looking at the effectiveness of an exercise, the questions to be asked are what will allow the lifter to use the most weight and what exercise involves the most muscle mass. The bench press meets both of these prerequisites and besides being incredibly effective as amuscle building exercise, it is one of the best measures of upper body power.

    7) Military Press- Also known as the front press, this was once considered the number one measure of upper body power and was the premier muscle building exercise for the upper body. In the old days of strength training most people didn’t even do bench presses; every weight training exercise was done standing up. Bench pressing was looked down upon as a show lift and real men only did overhead presses to build muscle. Bench pressing took over with the development of powerlifting and bodybuilding and the military press took a back seat. It is still however, a great measure of upper body power and should be done by anyone interested in building an impressive set of shoulders and building overall muscle mass throughout the upper body. Even though some uninformed doctors will have you believe that overhead pressing can be dangerous, old time strong men argue that there would not be as many shoulder injuries as there are today if the military press had remained the upper bodyweight training exercise of choice. Equally effective variations of the military press include the push press, push jerk and split jerk.

    8) Bent Over Rows- When it comes to building muscle in the upper back and lats, bent over rows are hard to beat. This weight training exercise can be performed many different ways; palms up, palms down, wide grip, close grip, to the abdomen, to the sternum, with an ez bar or with a straight bar. However you do them, nothing will develop thickness in the back like rows will, and anyone who has been involved with bodybuilding for a while will tell you there is nothing more impressive than a well developed back, muscular back.

    9) Good Mornings- Although they are a rarely performed weight training exercise by a large majority of bodybuilders, good mornings remain one of the staples of a good size and strength gaining program. Powerlifters seem to be the only ones who know about the muscle building properties of this outstanding exercise. The reason thismuscle building exercise is often avoided is that good mornings are brutally hard work. But that hard work brings huge rewards. Good mornings will build muscle fast and pack tons of size on your lower back, glutes, and hamstrings. They are also one of the best weight training exercises to help improve your squat and deadlift, which is the main reason they are a mainstay in powerlifting.

    10) Pushup- Yes, you read that right, I said pushups are one of the best weight training exercises to build muscle fast. For a beginner pushups are the absolute best muscle building exercise to do for the pecs, delts, and triceps. However, as you make progress and get stronger pushups become too easy and are usually forgotten about. That is a huge mistake. There are several varieties of pushups that can be used by intermediate and advanced lifters such as elevated pushups on pushup handles, dumbbells, or chairs. Pushups can also be done on gymnastic rings hanging from chains and suspended a foot or so above the ground to make them even more challenging. When either of these versions of this awesomemuscle building exercise becomes too easy you can have a partner hold weight on your back, use a weighted vest or even drape heavy chains across your back. If you are looking for more variety, Hindu pushups are another great version of this exercise and can sometimes humble even the strongest of men.

    So there you have it, the best weight training exercises for building muscle fast. All the food and supplements and drugs in the world are worthless if you train like a Nancy boy. Machines and isolation movements are as effective as running on a treadmill when it comes to getting big and strong. Stick with the weight training exercises above; make them a staple in your training, and start saving up for a new wardrobe. Its time tobuild muscle fast!

    About the Author

    www.Muscle-Exercises.com
    A complete Free guide to gaining weight and building muscle. Muscle building exercises, weight training programs, training tips and advice.

    best fat burning exercise

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    best fat burning exercise
    What is the best fat burning exercise to do without using your legs?

    I am a 28 year old guy. I had a serious knee operation 4 weeks ago and I will be on crutches for another 4-5 weeks as I can’t put any weight on my left leg. I can’t run properly or ride a bike for a few months either. I have noticed that I am putting on weight (I have started to have excess body fat on my waist, chest and face for a few months but I have never been fat). What are the best fat burning exercises to do at home without using my knee?

    How about swimming – it’s a very gentle excercise – so might not harm your knee?

    diet lose weight fast

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    diet lose weight fast
    How do I diet and lose weight fast?

    Please help me lose 10 lbs in 2-4 weeks I am very over weight so if possible tell me how to loose more. Also dont direct me to some site. Hoy do YOU do it? And dont be all like I have a high metabolism.

    If you need to know some good ways to lose weight fast, (and safely), then make sure you read these 3 essential steps to to lose weight very quickly without starvation, bland diets or hard workouts!

    In fact, using this method can and often DOES produce visible weight loss results in as little as 10 days or less.

    If you need to know how to lose weight quickly then this article will be your saviour. But before I set you in the right direction, I must say that quick weight loss (aka yo-yo dieting) is NOT a healthy way to carry on eating.

    Lecture over! Now let’s shed those pounds off your body so that you’re left with a lean, sexy shape in ultra quick time, ok?

    There are actually several approaches that people take to lose weight very quickly. Celebrities use very dangerous yo-yo diets where they go from normal calorie consumption to things like Lemon Tea for breakfast.

    Well, forget that. Too much torture!

    So instead, I am going to share with you and focus on the single most effective fast weight loss technique that, when combined with a proper system can see you lose A LOT of weight in as quickly as 10 days or less, but more to the point, it will not be anywhere near as difficult as those flimsy and bland celebrity diets…

    It’s called “carb rotation”.

    Carb rotation is a short term diet strategy that consists of three key elements:

    1. Huge CUT on your usual fat intake

    2. Limiting your overall carbohydrate consumption

    3. Boost your protein consumption

    We all know the first element is pretty obvious, because fat will have no place in our temporary quick weight loss plan. Lose the skin on chicken, put oil to one side and leave out the butter whilst losing the weight this way.

    Next, you’ll see that I mentioned limiting you carbohydrate consumption. Again, this sounds obvious…but it’s important that it is done right because by properly limiting your carbs, you will suppress the release of insulin in your body.

    Insulin helps the body to store fat more quickly, so by limiting carbohydrates you shut down the supply of insulin, therefore increasing fat loss rather quickly and rather effectively!

    (And who said weight loss was hard work huh?)

    Finally, you’ll notice I mention adding extra protein to your diet. Now this is actually more important than you might think. Because during your quick weight loss, if there is no added protein, your body will start eating into your muscle tissue.

    This is BAD NEWS because it can not only make you weak but will also give a very unhealthy, un-toned appearance of contours around your body due to a slight loss of muscle tissue.

    You might feel weak during the first few days to weeks, because the body will go into a stage of ketosis. This is due to the sudden loss of protein and fats.

    This can be avoided with proper expert guidance, but as we’re not in a position to hire a personal nutritionist or have the time to mess around scouring advice from each corner of the internet and desperately trying to build a safe plan to lose weight quickly and safely, there is a better (and even quicker and more effective) option available to you!

    Because if you’re serious about losing weight in as little as 10 Days, then you need to see how to make this carb rotation diet work for you via a proper easy and super quick system.

    Therefore, I would suggest taking a look at my #1 recommendation for the internet’s best selling carb rotation program online here:

    http://trustusreviews.com/carbrotation

    See for yourself how it can easily take you by the hand and make you lose weight VERY quickly…but more importantly, safely too.

    Ultimately, what the carb rotation system does is to take your body through a system of switching your carbs around on predefined days, so as to somehow “trick” your body temporarily to keep wanting to burn fat instead of getting used to the changes and storing it.

    You can trick your body by switching things up for one day and keep your metabolism and fat burning in high gear. Increase your carbohydrate intake to 80% of normal (this is 400 grams for the referenced 200 pound male). This increase will fool your body and keep your metabolism high while also providing you with much needed energy at this point.

    P.S.

    Don’t forget to increase protein. During your reduced carbohydrates you will need additional protein to keep your body from using your muscles as fuel. Follow the schedule below for protein intake to avoid this problem.

    If you decide NOT to use this new carb rotation system, make sure (at the very least) that you :

    * Eat six meals a day (to keep metabolism at peak level)

    * Drink at least 64 ounces of water daily

    * exercise daily

    However, if you truly want to know how to lose weight very quickly then the carb rotation diet at http://trustusreviews.com/carbrotation is easily your best bet by far. I personally guarantee it.

    The other options are to attempt the celebrity style bland endurance for a few weeks, or to simply go flat out at the gym whilst eating regular foods.

    I know which I would prefer, don’t you?

    Again, make sure you at least check out how easy it can be to lose weight very quickly, and more importantly safely too. Go and see for yourself right now at http://trustusreviews.com/carbrotation

    Above all, good luck in your weight loss mission whatever you decide!

    exercise to burn fat

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    exercise to burn fat

    What Are the Best Exercises For Burning Fat?

    The most effective method for losing weight, replacing fat with muscle and maintaining fat loss is hardly a secret. Everyone knows that the only real way to lose weight in a healthy manner is to take in fewer calories than you expend. More specifically, losing weight means eating a nutritional diet high in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low in saturated and trans fats. It also means engaging in several hours of moderate to intense physical activity each week. Eating healthy foods and exercising regularly will naturally lead to weight loss. However, depending on the degree to which you cut calories and increase physical activity, your weight may come off much slower than you desire. If you struggle with limiting calorie intake, weight loss could come very slowly, which can quickly get frustrating.

    Fortunately, choosing the right types of exercises will help you burn off fat quickly, even if your calorie intake isn’t extremely low. Intense cardiovascular exercises burn calories and build muscles, and while doing so, they increase the body’s metabolism. Three of the most effective fat burning exercises are running, swimming and cycling. There is a reason that tri-athletes have amazing bodies!

    Running

    Many beginning runners take up the sport in hopes of losing weight quickly. It is widely accepted that running is one of the top fat burning exercises, because the intensity of the activity causes the body to use calories quickly.

    Cycling

    Cycling offers variety: bike outdoors on roads or trails, take a spinning class, or use the stationary bike while watching television.

    Swimming

    Swimming may not necessarily burn calories at the same rate as running or cycling, but it is a superior way to build muscle in the legs, arms, back, shoulders and stomach. Also, this low-impact activity is much easier on the joints than pounding pavement.

    If you really want THE solution for Fat burning then I highly recommend you try one of these top 3 recommended weight loss plans.. These diets work amazingly well. Check out my review of these top 3 Quick weight loss diets.

    About the Author

    If you really want THE solution for Fat burning then I highly recommend you try one of these top 3 recommended weight loss plans.. These diets work amazingly well. Check out my review of these top 3 quick weight loss Diets

    personal trainer

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    personal trainer

    Personal Trainers: Not Just for Hollywood Anymore

    Obesity has been declared a national epidemic and cardiovascular disease is maintaining its spot as America’s number one killer, so the case for living a healthy lifestyle has already been built. Why then do so many of us shy away from turning to a professional for help with our workout regime? In many cases, the answer is quite simple. We assume that personalized fitness programs are an expensive treat reserved only for the rich and svelte Hollywood crew. And while this may have been true in the past, personal trainers are now helping ordinary women make celebrity-sized life changes.

    Certified Personal Trainers (CPTs) are an affordable option for those without the benefit of an expensive entourage of top-notch health gurus, personal chefs, and daring designers. Convinced that the secrets to becoming a “red-carpet diva” should be available to the masses even when dirty laundry, crying babies, and tight budgets run rampant, many of today’s hottest CPTs can help you reach your fitness goals by developing and implementing realistic and actionable fitness plans.

    What Is Personal Training?
    You’ve all heard of CPTs, but do you really know exactly what they do? While styles and programs vary widely, you can typically expect the following:

    1. Fitness assessment
    Comprised of various tests designed to assess cardiovascular fitness, body-fat percentage, flexibility and muscular strength and endurance.
    2. Individualized fitness program
    A personalized exercise program based on your individual assessment results and personal fitness and health goals.
    3. Supervised workouts
    Personal attention during exercise is the primary function of personal trainers. During these workouts, you will be educated about the fundamentals of strength and aerobic training, as well as the proper and safe use of various types of equipment.

    Finding a Certified Personal Trainer
    You’ve made the decision to hire a personal trainer, but now what? Working with a trainer is a very personal experience, and much like a hair stylist or gynecologist, what works for your friend or co-worker might not work for you. Your CPT is charged with motivating you to reach new heights and will often see you during your most vulnerable times – grunting, sweating and possibly looking a “hot mess.” Given this, make sure your trainer is someone that you respect, trust and feel that you can get along well with.

    Personal training is not a regulated profession, so it’s up to you to gain assurance that you’re working with a trainer who has the knowledge to provide you with a safe and effective workout. Do your homework, and stick with one who has been certified by a reputable organization (Choose “Find an Ace Professional” on www.acefitness.org or the “Personal Trainer Locator” on www.ideafit.com for starters). Be sure to ask for references, and verify that the trainer has liability insurance and provides business policies in writing.

    How Much Will This Cost?
    Rates vary, depending on the trainer’s experience and the length and location of the workout session. Most personal trainers typically charge $50 to $80 per hour for their services, and many provide a discount if you pre-purchase a package of sessions. If this price is a bit steep for your budget, consider sharing a trainer with 1 or 2 of your girls because this will drop the per-person rate substantially.

    While you may not be up for an Academy Award any time soon, you could easily be taking home a lot more than a little gold statue. By working with a Certified Personal Trainer, you can get a whole new lease on a fabulous life.

    About the Author

    Amber O’Neal is a fitness & nutrition expert and owner of Cafe Physique. Her business specializes in nutrition & wellness coaching, personal training, and yoga/pilates training. Cafe Physique is headquartered in Atlanta and offers coaching services nationally via phone and email. Visit www.CafePhysique.com for more information.