Like taxes, stress is a part of everyone’s life. The experts?tell us that some stress is good because without it there would be no motivation to do anything! However, if you are like me, serious stress and anxiety makes me feel bad physically ?I am unable to eat. This can’t be good!
For most of us, stress is low-level most of the time. Our daily tasks and relationships give us a bit of stress but not major anxiety. The body’s response to low-level stressors is designed to motivate us to action with a slightly raised heart rate and increased mental clarity similar to the response to caffeine.
In times where stress levels go higher, the responses are what many people call the fight or flight?response. The body sends blood to the extremities to get ready for action! These responses are normal and good for you ?except when the stress levels remain high for a long time. When the body perpetually stays in a stressed state, the systems begin to break down. Think of it like a car engine where the throttle is stuck and the engine is constantly fevved up? Not only will it consume A LOT of gasoline, but the mechanical parts will wear out faster.
So what to do to protect ourselves from this? RELAX of course?and EXERCISE. Exercise helps us relax both physiologically and, if it’s enjoyable, provides a mental escape from the stressor. The physiological effects of exercise include release of morphine-like chemicals (which include beta-endorphins) that give us a sense of well being. Have you ever heard the term Runner’s High? This is caused by the release of endorphins?into the blood. Since these chemicals stay in the blood for several hours after stopping the activity, the feel good?feeling remains for a while. Read more…
One of the most crucial features to consider when purchasing an elliptical trainer is the warranty. The extent of the warranty speaks volumes as to the quality and the durability of the machine.
There is a relative new player in the elliptical trainer industry, Sole Fitness. They are defining their niche by offering one of the most extensive warranties available at any price range. This includes 5 year coverage on parts and electronics, and 2 year labor. (Excludes the E25)
Why is the warranty so important when purchasing fitness equipment? First, it reduces your liability if the machine breaks down. Replacing parts and hiring someone to service your elliptical trainer can be very costly. Second, the warranty generally reflects the quality of the machine.
When you think about it, a warranty is based on simple economics. If an elliptical trainer is built to last then the manufacturer can offer a generous warranty. On the other hand, if the machine is of questionable quality, it would be cost prohibitive to support it with a lengthy warranty. The company would go broke with service costs.
Why do you think cheap elliptical trainers come with a 90 day parts and labor warranty? It’s because the manufacturers do not have much faith the machine will last much longer than that.
Beyond their warranty coverage, Sole Fitness is building some excellent elliptical trainers. In a recent test I very impressed with the smooth elliptical motion, and how quiet it was, even when I cranked up the resistance. I also liked the 20?stride. Most ellipticals are built with a 16?18?stride. With a smaller stride you often feel like your workout is constrained, and the elliptical motion bouncy. For someone who is over 6?the longer stride is a must, but even for people of average height the 20?stride feels natural and comfortable. Read more…
Buying an elliptical? You may want to look at several elliptical trainer ratings before buying to get an idea of which elliptical trainers are best for you.
Before you look at elliptical trainer ratings however, here are a few things you should know about how elliptical trainers are rated:
#1 Elliptical Trainers are Rated in Specific Price Groups
There are really 3 categories of elliptical trainers: Economy Buys, Mid-priced and Commecial Grade ellipticals.
Economy buys range from about $300 to $1000. Mid-priced ellipticals range from $1000-$2000. High End or Commercial elliptical trainers range from about $2200 and above.
When experts go to rate elliptical trainers they usually compare the elliptical trainers within price class.
So just because an economy elliptical trainer gets 5 stars and a mid-priced elliptical gets 4 stars, that doesn’t mean the economy elliptical is better than the mid-priced elliptical. It just means that compared to other economy elliptical trainers, that one is superior.
#2 Experts Value Elliptical Features Differently
Ever wonder why certain elliptical trainers get rated highly by some experts and not by others? It’s because different elliptical trainer raters value some features over others. Read more…
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