The TecBlast Blog

This may come as a surprise… More than half of all adults that reside in the United States are overweight. That is 100 million people!

I personally have struggled with weight management. My weight has fluctuated almost 30 lbs. Can you believe it. One month I weighed 115 pounds and 6 months later I am up to 145 pounds.

Have you ever wondered what that mystery fat is? When a individual packs on 20 pounds what is happening inside their body? In this article I will explain what “fat cells” are and how they work

So where are all these fat (adipose tissue) cells located? Fat can be discovered in several places on your body. Most fat is located underneath your skin. Other spots are determined by whether you are a woman or man.

Most women tend to carry fat in their hips, breasts, buttocks, and waist. This gives you the pear shape syndrome.

On the other side of the spectrum adult men carry the fat in their chest, buttocks, and abdomen (gut) which gives you the apple shape (aka beer gut syndrome). Sex hormones dictate the different locations of fat tissue amongst man and woman.

Did you know that the human body contains two types of fat tissue? Most people are unaware of this.

Brown fat, which is found mostly in newborn babies, helps with heat insulation. There is also white fat. White fat is important for your metabolism and heat insulation. Fat cells are what make up fat tissue. Think of a fat cell as a small (very small) container that holds 1 drop of fat.

How does fat enter your body? When you eat fatty foods it goes through your stomach and your intestines. It is the job of your intestine to break down the fat into smaller parts. Of course this is a complex process that occurs. We could write a whole other article on this topic alone.

So let’s take a moment to talk about how your body actually breaks down fat. When your body sits idle it still needs fuel to run. Your body will go to your internal energy stores (not literally) of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Your body’s #1 source of energy is glucose (sugar).

So how do you gain or lose weight you ask? Your actual weight is determined by the rate you store that energy after you eat and the rate at which you burn this energy. So in general what you need to do to lose weight is as follows:

a. Eat a balanced diet, which balances the three ingredients I mentioned above (glucose, fat, and protein) b. Do not over eat. Keep your calories around 2000 per day c. Regular exercise, 3 to 4 times a week for 30 minutes.

In conclusion, you have learned that there are two types of fats. Also, if you burn less stored energy then you use, then you start to gain weight. You can prevent this weight gain by maintaining a healthy 2000 calorie diet per day mixed in with 3 days of exercise. Remember that each individual’s body is different. Try to customize a plan that works for you. I personally use an exercise bike while reading a book. I also play racquetball to mix up my workouts and to make the workout fun.

Personal fitness has never been more popular. This might be
because of recent health scares linked to obesity. It could also
still be due to the pressure and influence of fashion magazines
that only show pictures of sleek, attractive women and strong,
muscular men. It may even be driven by the simplest of desires
to loose weight, keep fit and healthy.

Whatever the reason, many recent studies have already shown that
more people then ever before are getting involved in personnel
fitness and more of them are choosing to purchase home exercise
equipment in order to achieve their goals rather than joining a
gym.

So what is stopping you from moving out of the gym and joining
the home exercise revolution? Here are six common excuses that
many people use for not purchasing home exercise equipment and why they are wrong.

Excuse 1: Home exercise equipment is too expensive.

It is true that some home exercise equipment is very expensive.
Of course, there is the very cheap end of the exercise equipment
market and many people are tempted to purchase products from it
thinking that they are saving money. But we would not recommend
this as cheap exercise equipment is typically poorly made and
will rarely keep pace with your exercising needs as your fitness
starts to improve.

The price of good quality home exercise equipment is falling
sharply and the range of features fitted as standard to help
with your exercise routine is increasing rapidly. In the future,
as home exercise equipment becomes more popular, this trend is
sure to continue.

If you are a member of a gym, you are probably already paying
out hundreds of pounds a year in membership fees. Could your gym
fees be better spent?

Excuse 2: Going to the gym is more convenient.

People today are living increasingly busy life styles. How many
times have you had to miss a lunchtime training session at the
gym for an important meeting at work or been exercising in the
evening as it is the only time available to you when you could
be out enjoying yourself?

With home exercise equipment, you can literally get out of bed,
perform your exercise routine, and dive in the shower all before
you go to work. Alternatively, use your exercise equipment in
the evening to unwind from the stress of the day.

Your home exercise equipment is always there when you need it
and at the times when it is most convenient for you to use it.
No more time wasted driving to and from the gym or waiting for
the item of exercise equipment you want to use to become
available.

Excuse 3: I do not have the space.

Another common objection to home exercise equipment is that
there is not the space available for it. Sometimes, this can be
a valid objection. If for example, you live in a small flat and
will have to move the table and a heavy sofa to get sufficient
floor space to set up your exercise equipment, then perhaps home
exercise equipment is not for you?

But if the issue is where to put your home exercise equipment
when it is not in use then this is no longer such a problem.
Most manufacturers can currently provide good home exercise
equipment that can be folded up after use. And as exercising at
home becomes increasingly more popular, home exercise equipment
is going to become even more compact and easy to store.

Excuse 4: I need my fitness coach!

Many people need the guidance and motivation of a fitness coach
to keep their exercise routine on track. But if 6am in the
morning is the most convenient time for you to exercise, where
is your fitness coach?

The Internet now provides you with the solution. Web sites exist
today that you can subscribe to for a small fee and obtain a
complete exercise program tailored to your exact personal needs
and current fitness level.

And why stop there. Everyone knows that exercise is not the only
thing that is important for a healthy life style! Diet matters
to. So why not get the help of an Internet nutritionist as
well?

You then get a complete exercise and diet program individually
tailored to your needs at a fraction of what it would cost from
a gym along with all the personnel advise and motivation you
could possibly need available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Excuse 5: I need entertainment when I exercise.

Boredom is one of the most common reasons why many people give
up on regular exercise. Some therefore say that they prefer the
gym because of the entertainment available there. They can run
on a treadmill while watching their favourite soap or cycle an
exercise bike listening to current chart hits.

But technology is advancing at an incredible pace these days.
Horizon already sells a treadmill with a built in monitor on
which you can watch TV, DVD’s or listen to your favourite music.
Very soon, other manufactures will follow and most home exercise
equipment will include such technology.

Excuse 6: I need company when I exercise.

Home fitness equipment does not only have to be for adults. What
better way to stay motivated and healthy then to involve the
whole family? How about purchasing a garden trampoline, outdoor
basketball system, football goal, skate board ramp or tennis
table.

All are good ways of exercising and getting all the family
involved so everyone can start to live a healthier life
style.

First of all, when buying your treadmill, always purchase any and all available manufacturer warranties. Sure, you may be trying to save money, but many treadmill models offer extended warranties for five years, ten years, or even lifetime warranties on all parts. Take advantage of them! Treadmill motor repair can be expensive, so by opting out of the warranty you are not really saving any money.

But if you have not purchased the manufacturer warranty, or if your warranty is up, then there are solutions to the problem of expensive treadmill motor repair. Start by calling the manufacturer. Even if your warranty is up, manufacturers often offer motor and parts exchange programs, whereby you send in your broken motor for a replacement motor at a discount (usually, a rebuild, but good as new).

Secondly, if your warranty is not up yet, then DO NOT attempt to open the machine to diagnose or repair the problem on your own. Even if you are electronically inclined, this type of action usually voids the warranty and thus no future repairs or parts replacements will be covered.

New technology is offering treadmill replacement parts that are inexpensive and compatible with most treadmill models. Another option is to check the local newspaper for people selling unwanted treadmills at rock-bottom prices. You may be able to get a treadmill with parts compatible to yours for less than the cost of the motor itself, and then you will have a back-up part for future problems.

With a little research and some common sense, you should be able to get the best deal and have your treadmill back up and running in no time.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Treadmill-Solutions.com He provides more treadmill reviews, treadmill ratings and treadmill buying information that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

For more and more people, home exercise and fitness equipment has become a must-have item. The convenience of having access to exercise equipment in their home is a big factor, as is the cost savings of home fitness equipment in comparison to gym or fitness club memberships.

But what is the best home exercise equipment on the market? The answer is “it depends” because each person has different needs, different space available to hold home fitness equipment, and different budgets available to spend.

In generally, the simplest equipment is the most likely to be used on a regular basis. If you select home fitness equipment that is too complicated, too hard, or just not something you like to do, chances are it will sit in a corner somewhere collecting dust. Think carefully about what kind of equipment you are most likely to use, and whenever possible, try it out ahead of time to make sure you really like it.

Home Gyms

A common piece of home fitness equipment is the home gym. This type of equipment is primarily used for building muscle, shaping, and toning the body. There are three main types of home gyms:

• Traditional

• Power rod

• Gravity resistance

Traditional home gyms may have free weights and barbells, or be machine-type gyms with several stations and functions attached to a single steel frame. A free weight system is good for exercise enthusiasts who are knowledgeable about proper form and technique for lifting weights. For less experienced users, though, a machine-type gym offers most of the same benefits while helping to ensure good technique by using prescribed motions. A traditional home gym usually requires quite a bit of space to hold the equipment and also allow enough room around the perimeter to access the stations and perform exercises.

Power rod home gyms have surged in popularity over the last decade, driven primarily by the Bowflex brand of home fitness equipment. A power rod machine uses flexible rods of varying stiffness connected to a cable and pulley system. When the cables are attached to different rods the user can either increase or decrease the resistance they will experience. Power rod equipment typically requires less space than a traditional home gym and is usually less expensive. The materials are not as durable, though, and this type of home fitness equipment is not suitable for serious athletes who require sturdier equipment with a greater range of weight resistance.

Gravity resistance home gyms are typically the lightest weight and least expensive type of home gym. This home fitness equipment uses an adjustable metal frame and a gliding board or bench to perform exercises. The user lies on the board in various positions, and by pulling on a cable and pulley system, the weight of their body creates the resistance they experience. This type of system is often quite compact, folding up for easy storage. The disadvantage to that feature, though, is that equipment kept out of site tends to be out of mind and not used on a regular basis.

Treadmills

Another popular type of home fitness equipment is the treadmill. While this tends to be a large piece of equipment and can be quite expensive, it is also a very versatile piece that is suitable for exercise enthusiasts of varying fitness and skill levels. The most expensive models are extremely durable and can handle a great deal of intense use by serious runners. More mid-range models are not quite as durable, and the low-end models are generally best suited for walking and light uses.

Treadmills can take up quite a bit of space so you should make sure your home can accommodate the size and weight of whichever model you select. Do not put your treadmill in a garage or any other space that is not climate controlled, because the motor and other parts are not designed for outdoor or semi-outdoor use. Look for a treadmill that has at least a 1.5 horsepower motor, and preferably one that is 2.0 horsepower or more. The belt should be long enough and wide enough to accommodate the length and width of your stride, and it should be constructed of at least two-ply material to withstand the friction and impact of your activity.

Elliptical Trainers

This type of home fitness equipment first appeared in the 1990’s, and it has gained tremendously in popularity ever since. Modern elliptical trainers provide motion and exercise to both the upper and lower body, making it an effective and efficient full body workout.

When looking for an elliptical trainer, whenever possible opt for a rear drive system rather than a front drive system. Rear drive machines are far sturdier, more reliable, and provide a smoother motion for the user. The resistance system will vary according to price, with the least expensive models using a manual system, mid-range models using a motorized brake system, and the most sophisticated high-end models employing an eddy current brake system. Stride length is another important thing to keep in mind, because different people have different natural strides. Look for an elliptical trainer that allows you adjust the stride length to suit your own body style and stride length.

Stationary Bikes

Stationary bikes have been around for several decades, yet they remain popular as simple, easy to use home fitness equipment. Modern stationary bikes come in many shapes and sizes, so it is fairly straightforward to find one that fits in the available space inside your home. While traditional bikes have the user sitting upright, just as they would on a regular bicycle, more and more exercise enthusiasts are turning to recumbent seating instead. A recumbent exercise bike allows you to sit in a slightly reclined position while pedaling with your legs in front of you. The benefit of this type of bike is that is places much less strain on the back, making it well suited to people who are prone to back soreness or pain. Some models also come with the option of arm motion, too, usually accomplished with handles or a cable and pulley system.

Summary

Whatever type of home fitness equipment you choose, the most important thing to do is select something that you will find enjoyable, convenient, and easy to use. If you don’t, it is likely that you will gradually stop using it and it will become just another item sitting unused in the corner. The best home fitness equipment is that which you use regularly, so make your own comfort level the most important consideration when making a selection.

About the Author:

Julie-Ann Amos is a freelance writer for Fitness-N-Exercise-Equipment.com, a
consumer guide to the
best home
exercise and fitness equipment. She frequently writes
home gym
reviews and has contributed articles on

elliptical trainers and exercise bikes.

Copyright 2005 Fitness-N-Exercise-Equipment.com

Permission is granted to publish this article on your site only if the
author’s byline is included and all links are hyperlinked.

Ironman Treadmills - For The Guy Who Does The Ironing

Ironman Treadmills are produced by Keys Fitness Products, which also produces Keys, Alliance, Discovery, Healthtrainer, and Encore treadmills. Ironman treadmill models are in two series, the newer Ironman T Series and the substantial Ironman M Series.

The Ironman Triad, a very recent model made exclusively for Costco, the discount retailer, combines features of both machines.

The two Ironman Series include models more suited for general fitness and health conditioning, like the t150, t220, t320 and the m2, m3, and m4, but they also include heavy weight machines like the m5, which, like the other models listed, folds away, and the m6, which has a conventional frame for greater stability in training.

Ironman prices its treadmills from under $1000 to around $2000.

A Full Range Of Choices

The Ironman Triad treadmill has the modern design of the T Series but shares features with the M5, judged a Best Buy in at least one online review.

Its weight capacity is that of the M5, 375 lbs, but its motor–3.0CHP, maximum speed (10MPH), Touch Button controls, remote controls, heart rate monitoring and control, and number of preset, customized, and heart rate programs, fifteen, are all like the M6.

Unlike the rest of the M Series which incline to 12%, however, the Triad inclines to only 10%.

The Triad running surface actually exceeds that of the M6 in length at 60″.

Ironman treadmill models carry a warranty that covers for lifetime on the frame, 10-years on the motor, two-years on parts and one-year on labor.

The Ironman Triad sells for about $1400, occasionally discounted by Costco.

Those who review treadmills generally rate Ironman very good.

See Consumer Reports review in January 2005 for a look at the M4, and some point out the excellent value found in the M5, see the TreadmillDoctor.

More information and reviews on a full range of leading treadmills can be found at Best Treadmill Guide

Those of us who have so-called “genital herpes” are caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand we are ostracized by the minority of the population (about 40%) who don’t currently have herpes simplex in their body, which is bad enough, but more cruelly we are often isolated by our fellow members of the herpes community who have so-called cold sores (heroes simplex 1 of the mouth and face). Frankly the lack of support form the majority of population who has cold sores bothers me far more than the stigma placed on me by unsympathetic members of the uninfected population. After-all they don’t know what it feels like to have herpes so I can cut them some slack. But for those of you who have cold sores and continue pretending that you don’t have herpes and who distance yourselves from those who have their outbreaks genitally rather than facially- shame on you. If it wasn’t for your unwillingness to come to terms with the reality of your herpes infection, the herpes community would be a more united majority of the population far more empowered to boldly go out into the community and reject the unjust and irrational stigma placed on people with herpes.

Sixty percent of the population has herpes. We are living in a herpes nation. There is no reason for us to be a despised minority. If we were more united and more out of the closet we would be in a so much better position to inspire understanding and support from those who do not have herpes. We would be better able to educate young people on herpes prevention and herpes awareness. We would be better able to reach out to the people with herpes who have had their self-esteem devastated.

So-called cold sores are herpes. I have had too many people in my clinic and through the Internet say to me, “I don’t have herpes, I’ve never had an STD, but I do get these cold sores on my lips”.

Herpes is herpes whether you get your outbreaks above the waist or below the waist. It’s true that people with type 1 herpes of the mouth and face often have fewer outbreaks than people with herpes type 2 of the genitals, but it is also true that herpes of the mouth and face is just as contagious if not more so than genital herpes. It is also true that many people with type 1 herpes of the mouth and face shed virus without symptoms and are giving many people type 1 herpes on their genitals from oral sex. It is also true that herpes of the mouth and face can spread to parts of the body that genital herpes rarely ever spreads to including the nostrils and into the brain, the hands and fingers, down the esophagus and into the stomach, into the eyes, and elsewhere.

For those who don’t have herpes and give people with herpes a rough time, I really have no words for you. If you believe that having genital herpes is an indication of promiscuity or moral deficiency then you are probably too far-gone for anything I say here to reach you. And for the record I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong with promiscuity. I got my herpes in the context of a monogamous relationship but I wouldn’t feel bad about myself if I had been infected by herpes through promiscuity. How you got herpes is irrelevant. Herpes is a virus. Viruses have different strategies for gaining access to our bodies. A virus that chooses sex as it’s preferred method of infection is less scary to me than an airborne virus that indiscriminately devastates huge populations in a matter of days.

Jesus said “let he is who is without sin cast the first stone”. I say let he or she who is without a virus cast the first stone. Between the Chicken-Pox virus (a member of the herpes family), the Epstein-Barr virus (another member of the herpes family), the HPV virus (genital warts and cervical dysplasia) and Herpes Simplex there is virtually no adult reading this article who doesn’t currently have a virus in their body and except for the HPV virus, these viruses are lifelong infections and that’s without even discussing bacteria, fungi, yeast, and protozoa.

Herpes has been around since the time of the dinosaurs and affects akmost every animal with a backbone including cats and elephants and many animals without a backbone. In fact cats and elephants are dying of herpes. I know that cats can be randy but I have never heard of anyone accusing elephants of being promiscuous. If anyone has ever seen an elephant orgy let me know so that I can print a retraction.

When someone has the integrity and courage to tell you that they have herpes they are making themselves vulnerable to you. How you react can often either crush them or help set them free from a prison of shame. I believe that most people are intelligent and compassionate. Please treat people with herpes with the compassion and understanding we deserve. We are the same people we were before we got herpes. We are no less moral, no less attractiv, just as good in bed, just as good of a friend or son or daughter or brother or sister as we were before we got herpes. When someone tells you they have herpes if you treat them unsympathetically it only discourages them for telling others about their herpes in the future, which isn’t a good situation for anyone. When someone tells you they have herpes it’s an opportunity and challenge to you to show that you are not prejudiced and mean-spirited. It is a chance for us all to create more love and understanding.

For those of us who have genital herpes - don’t buy into the lies and myths that make you ashamed and marginalized. You can choose not to let herpes define you and dominate your life. No one can take away your power and dignity except for yourself.

When someone gives you a bad time for having herpes instead of dwelling too long in anger or sadness, just “forgive them for they know not what they do”. Embrace all the beauty and love around you and if there isn’t enough beauty and love, create it. You are a human being equipped with infinite potential for loving and appreciating the wonders of this world.

Christopher Scipio Homeopath/Herbalist Holistic Herpes Treatment Specialist