Make Your Own Back2life Exercise Machine

I was bad and stayed up a little later than usual last night, but just when I was about to switch the TV off and go to bed, I saw this contraption being advertised. It was so ridiculous, I just had to stick around for a few minutes and watch it. From watching the infomercial, I noticed that all the person does is lay on their back, put their feet on this machine and gently push down. That's it! I actually started laughing when I saw this. However, when they announced the price for this miraculous contraption, I started to choke on my diet Pepsi. Do you want to take a guess as to how much they are asking for this thing? Did you guess $19.95? Well, if you did, you would be ever-so-wrong. How about 2 easy payments (I love that term) of $19.95? Nope, keep guessing.

Try FIVE easy payments of $19.95. Can you believe that there are people out there that will rush to their phones and order this piece of junk? I have one question: where are these people? I would love to find out how I can lead these people to my site. I have a very easy-to-use Amazon link they can use and once there, they could go hog-wild and buy the place out. I mean, if they can throw away over $200.00 (including processing and shipping) on this thing, they can surely part with a few hundred at Amazon.

Now for the kicker: does this thing actually work? I have no idea, but if you truly cannot live without this machine, I will share something with you that will allow you to save $200.00...

1. Grab a pillow


2. Lay down in front of your favorite sofa or chair


3. With your butt against the edge, place your feet on top of the cushion


4. using your legs, gently press downward


5. repeat for twelve minutes

There, I just saved you $200.00. Now, might I interest you in...

How to Find the Right Exercise Equipment

Okay, you have decided to take the plunge and stick with this exercise thing, but you want to buy exercise equipment that will last past the 90 guarantee. We have all been there: you’re rocking-out to your tunes and pedaling away on your stationary bike, only to see yourself flying over the top of the bike and landing on the floor with a handle in your hand. What happened? Well, it was day 91 and the screw worked itself out from the handle. Your $99.00 Stationary Bike just became a weight lifting machine for the garbage men. Don’t worry, there is a way to avoid this scene. Not all exercise machines are built the same. Once you find out HOW you want to use the equipment, it will make it easier for you to choose the right one.

Probably the first question we all have is: why do they build machines that will fall apart so fast in the first place? It is very simple: Economics. They know that a majority of the people who go out and buy exercise equipment are not going to be using it after about six weeks. By this time the newness will have worn off and more likely than not, the machine will end up spending its remaining days as a clothes hanger. They count on the fact that most people will grow tired and bored with the whole routine. They know that the consumer has already seen a significant weight loss (close to 10 pounds, most of it water with 2-4 pounds in fat), and now that their body has adjusted to the routine, the weight will come off a little slower. Discouraged, the consumer will just quit and go on to the next item on their To-Do list.

To avoid these machines you will need to do two things: Research and Research. Yes, I said it twice because it is the most important thing you can do. If you are going to spend several hundred dollars on a QUALITY exercise machine, you need to know that it will be the right machine for you. Ask yourself some questions: What do I want to do with it? Do you want a treadmill, an elliptical Bike, a stationary Bike, a Weight machine, or a combination of several? Find out what type of workout you want to do. This is the first step.

Secondly, after you have decided on the machine or machines you want, go to places like Amazon and read the customer reviews on the equipment. This is a very important step, because these people are actually USING the product you want to buy. Learn from their experiences. Don’t get focused on just one name brand. Look at them all. Chances are the best one will come out on top.

Thirdly, after you have read customer reviews, checkout what the experts say about them. They will have the technical insight, which you will find very informative. They will give you information regarding the stability, construction, and comfort of the equipment. Look for items such as steel vs. aluminum construction. If you are searching for a treadmill, make sure that the motor is powerful enough for your intended use. A good 3.0 CHP (Continuous Horse Power, yes there is a difference) motor is a good baseline. Make sure that the deck is wide enough and long enough for you to have a comfortable stride (a good base line here is 20 inches wide by 55 inches long).

After you have read all the reviews from both consumers and experts, you should have a pretty good idea as to which piece of exercise equipment you want to purchase; However, there is one more step you should take: go to a store which sells the model you wish to purchase or a gym and try it out (again, if it is a treadmill, something else you might want to do is ask the Cardiologists in your area which type they use for stress tests). Take a look at it and actually try it out. If you like what you see and feel, then you are ready to make your purchase.

Again, we are back at the internet. Now that you know the make and model, search for the most inexpensive price. As you search, be sure to make note of the warranty information. Make sure that it is the same one from the manufacturer Also, check for shipping costs. Some companies will include the shipping cost in the price of the machine. Check those that offer it separately and compare the two. Sometimes you may be getting free shipping, but paying more in the end. I hope that this has given you a few ideas as to where to start your search for quality exercise equipment. If you have additional questions, let me know and I will be more than happy to help you in your quest.

Now, if you just want to work your upper body, then here is something that I have been using for the past several months. It's called the


As you might be able to tell from the photo, it fits in your doorway and you use if to do pull-ups and chin-ups (you can also get a great ab workout using it). Just be sure to measure your doorway, to make sure that it will fit. As I said, I have been using it for several months, along with the Total Gym, and the results have been fantastic.

Related articles:

Tips on How to choose a Treadmill

My Total Gym and Me

My Total Gym and Me:Part-2

As you can see from the picture, the gym consists of two frames that are attached to each other. One frame holds the bench, which slides up and down on rollers. The other frame acts as the incline and allows you to raise and lower the bench. The Total Gym also includes other attachments that are used for a variety of exercises: a Pilate's Bar(the U-shaped bar at the base), which can be used for...Pilate's, but can also be used for Lunges and reverse pull-ups, Dip Bars, a Press-Up Bar (not shown), Leg Pulley Accessory (not shown,but attaches at the top of the vertical column), a Wing Accessory, and a Weight Bar, which can be used to attach additional weights for added resistance (up to 75 pounds).

Length:
folded...51"
in use...94"

Height:
folded...10"
in use...44-1/2"

Width:
With Weight Bar... 24"
Without Weight Bar... 16-1/2"

Weight:
Unit Weight...69lbs.
Max User Weight...275
Max Additional Weight...75
Total Weight...350

As you can see, the Total Gym 1700 can be folded when not in use, which is a great
space-saver for small residences.

** These observations are written based on my usage of the machine at 4-5 times a week for just over 13 months.


The Bench:

As mentioned, he bench slides up and down on the lower frame. It can be used either with or without the pulley/cable attached. So far, I have had no problems with the bench or the rollers. I have had to lubricate the rollers recently, but other than that, just a general weekly wipe-down will keep the bench rolling smoothly. To lubricate the rollers, it is suggested by the manufacturer to use machine oil. Cables:

OK, here is where I ran into some problems. After about 8 months of use, I noticed
that the outer, protective coating on the steel cables was started to crack. Although, this would cause no problems with the integrity of the cables, I did not wish to take any chances. This is when I discovered the Total Gym does not support its older models. However,after a great deal of searching, I was able to find a company,Huck Products which supplies ALL the items (at a higher quality) you may ever need. It supplies cables, rollers, benches, ropes, pulleys, hardware, etc. I purchased the replacement cables and have been using them ever since with no difficulties.

Rope/pulley and Foot Harness:

This is used for a variety of exercises that target the leg, thighs, buttocks, and the lower back. I have used this attachment for several months. However, as of last month the stitching on the foot harness has been tearing away. I will also need to
replace this before I can continue with these set of exercises.

Dip Bars and Pull-up Bars:

I have had no problems with these attachments.

Leg attachment:

The only problem I have had with this attachment, is the padding has just
recently started to tear.

All in all, I have been very happy with my Total Gym 1700. The problems I have mentioned have occurred after extensive use over a long period of time. The results I have obtained through the exercises has been phenomenal. If used as described, 3-4 times a week for 20 minutes a day, you WILL see results within the 6-week time period.

The Total Gym 1700 comes with all the accessories mentioned above and also includes a workout DVD (which did not work on our DVD player or computer), a workout manual, which illustrates the various exercises you can do, and a convenient workout Flip Chart, which can be mounted on the gym itself.

If you are a serious weight lifter, than this system is not for you. You would be better-off looking into a BowFlex. However, if you are just a person wishing to supplement their cardio workout with strength training, I would highly recommend this system.


Where to get...

If you decide that you want all the bells and whistles...




Now, if you just want to work your upper body, then here is something that I have been using for the past several months. It's called the Iron Gym.

As you might be able to tell from the photo, it fits in your doorway and you use if to do pull-ups and chin-ups (you can also get a great ab workout using it). Just be sure to measure your doorway, to make sure that it will fit. As I said, I have been using it for several months, along with the Total Gym, and the results have been fantastic.

I hope this answers any questions you may have about my Total Gym. As I said before, I have been using this system for over 13 months now and the results have been outstanding. However, you will only get out of the system, what you put into it. If you are faithful and exercise on a regular basis, you WILL see the results. If, however, you decide to give-up on your exercise regime, than I have to say that you just purchased an expensive clothes rack.

Good luck and I hope that I have given you the information you need to make an educated decision. If you have any further questions or require additional information, please leave a comment and I will get back to you.

See also...My Total Gym and Me:Part-1

My Total Gym and Me:Part-1

As you may know, one of the pieces of equipment I use in my exercise routine is the Total Gym. Well, over the course of a few months, I have had several people (OK, 3 people) ask whether it really works. So, in response to those "several" comments I will, over the course of the next few days, give you my review of the Total Gym.

When I first started seeing the commercials for the Total Gym, I didn't think it would work. I mean, you lay down on a bench and use pulleys to slide up and down on a frame. Gee, how tough is that? Yes, you can increase the height of the bench, but I didn't think it would give you enough resistance to do any good. Now, during this time I was looking into purchasing a BowFlex; I was looking very seriously, that is until I saw the price...$1,900 to start. Since I do not have that type of money lying around (hence all the little ads on my site), I needed to look elsewhere. What I needed was something that I could use; something that would work; something that was cheap.

I checked-out the official Total Gym site and I noticed that they wanted over $700 for one of their models. Naturally, this caused me to look around elsewhere and I soon discovered that Amazon sold an older model for much less. This is why I purchased my Total Gym 1700 through Amazon. I later learned that Total Gym does not support its older models, but I will talk about that later.
So, I purchased my gym and a week or so later, it arrived and the fun began.
I got the gym inside and opened the box. After reading the instructions (yes, I know I lost several Man Points for reading the instructions), I set it up and just had to try it. From the lowest setting, I tried an arm pullover. I didn't expect it would take much effort to do the exercises...boy was I wrong. I couldn't believe how tired I got after just a few reps (at this time I was a total couch potato). Then and there, I decided that I had made a good purchase. No, it wasn't my coveted BowFlex,
but it would do.


See also:My Total Gym and Me:Part-2

** These observations are written based on my usage of the machine at 4-5 times a week for just over 13 months...

Tips on How to Choose a Treadmill: Part-Three

Belt Size

I was just talking to someone who had just purchased a treadmill and they were complaining that they have to watch how they walk, because the tread was to short and they had to alter their stride. After all, the last thing you need to do during your workout is to have to alter your stride. You will need to make sure that the treadmill you choose has a tread that is at least a 50-inch in length and 18 inches in width. If you are tall or have a large stride, try to find a machine that has a 55-60 inch length and 20-22 inch width. The belt itself should consist of a two-ply construction of polyurethane as the top layer and a nylon-polyester weave as the under-layer.

Snapshot

• Length: Min: 50 inches Preferred: 55-60 inches


• Width: Min: 18 inches Preferred: 20 inches

Construction

”A steel frame you will feel a more spring-like feel when your foot strikes the deck, and generally the steel frame lends itself to a tighter, quieter unit. Aluminum frames are strong and last just as long as steel, but those aluminum units have a deadpan feel which is really bad for runners (why?). Understand that companies that use aluminum rivet the frames, and that is just not as good as a unibody steel-welded frame.” ²

These are just a few of the main items that you should look for when purchasing a treadmill. For a more detailed analysis on some other components, please visit one of the sites below. I hope that this has given you an idea of what to look for when comparing machines. Good luck in your purchase and happy “treadmilling.”

See also:

Tips for Choosing a Treadmill: Part-1

Tips for Choosing a Treadmill: Part-2


^1,2http://www.smoothfitness.com/treadmill-buying-guide/treadmill_buying_guide-2.htm

Tips on How to Choose a Treadmill: Part-Two

Warranty

There should be a warranty for the treadmill itself and another one for the motor (depending on the company, there may also be a one-year in-home service contract). The warranty for the frame and parts should be between 3 and 5 years. If the warranty is for 1 year or less, then you can be sure that the treadmill was not built to endure regular use. As a guideline, you can say that the longer the warranty, the better the machine. Ask yourself this question: If I build a treadmill that I know is not built to last, I’m I going to want to put a long warranty on it? If a company is going to build a treadmill and then back it up with a 3 to 5 year warranty, then you know you are getting a high-quality piece of equipment. The warranty for the motor is extremely important as well, this should be a minimum of 10 years. Again, the longer the warranty the better the motor.

Snapshot

Frame & Parts: min: 3-5 years
Motor: Min 10 years
In-Home Service: 1 year
Extended Warranty: Would not purchase

Motor

This is the heart of your treadmill, so let us choose wisely. First, look at the Horsepower of the motor. You will want one with a minimum of 2 HP, although 2.5 and above would be better. Here is a table that will help you to choose how many horses to get.

• Walking: 2chp +


• Jogging: 2.5chp +


• Running: 3.0chp +

If you weigh over 200 pounds, you may want to add .5 to the above values.

You will come across two terms, which can be confusing. They are Peak Horse Power and Continuous Usage Horse Power or Continuous Duty (CHP).

• The Peak HP is the maximum horsepower that the treadmill can reach.


• Continuous Horse Power is the measurement that is consistently delivered during heavy usage over an extended period of time.

When you are comparing different treadmills, make sure you find out what the CHP is for each machine and use that number for your comparisons. Unfortunately, there is no industry standard with regards to horsepower. The measure of the horsepower of any particular motor is determined by the manufacturer itself so I would also advise you to choose a manufacturer that has a good reputation and know you can trust. (the length of the warranty offered can be your best gauge as to this question). ¹

Next time: Treads and Belt Size.

See also:
Tips on How to Choose a Treadmill: Part-1

Tips on How to Choose a Treadmill: Part-3

¹http://www.smoothfitness.com/treadmill-buying-guide/treadmill_buying_guide-2.htm

Tips on How to Choose a Treadmill: Part-One

I know what you’re thinking, “What can be so hard about choosing a treadmill. Just find the cheapest one you like and then buy it.” Unfortunately, this is exactly what my sister-in-law did and I must say, they regret it. Before you venture out into the shark-infested waters of eager sales people and second-rate equipment, you need to ask yourself: how serious are you about actually using the treadmill?

Strange question to ask, isn’t it? Well, the reason I have you ask yourself that question, is even though you may be gun-ho about working-out on your treadmill in about six weeks, after the novelty has worn off, you may find yourself with a very expensive clothes hanger. If you have it in mind that you just want to have one for the occasional workout, then you may be better off with a less expensive alternative. However, if you are serious about your commitment, then be prepared to shell out between $700 and $3,000, for a quality machine.

I realize that this sounds like a lot of money, and it is, but you have to remind yourself that you will be buying a machine that will last for many years. The less expensive machines are good for the occasional user, but for something that will be used on a regular basis, you need to invest the money for a top-quality treadmill. Now, I’ve wasted enough of your valuable time, so let’s get to the root of the matter: how do you choose a quality treadmill?

Next Time: Warranties and Motors.

See also:

How to Choose a Treadmill: Part-2


How to Choose a Treadmill: Part-3