Commercial Fitness Home Fitness

Month: February 2020

Valentine’s Day gifts for fitness fanatics

Posted on by Angie Tinsley

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, there is still time to get your loved one the perfect gift. If you and your special someone are always staying active, how about getting him or her a gift that will support that lifestyle? And if you don’t have a Valentine, no worries – buy a little something for yourself! After all, you deserve it. Here are a few great ideas for the active person on your list:

Reusable water bottle
Alright, we know this isn’t the most romantic of all gifts, but it sure does come in handy when you’re exercising! And with TRUE’s fitness equipment, there’s always a cup holder for your convenience. Put aside those plastic water bottles and replace it with a reusable one. According to Ban the Bottle, plastic bottles not only cost you more over time, but they contain a harmful substance called polyethylene terephthalate, which is dangerous to your health. What better way to say “I love you” than to protect your sweetie from harm?

Training journal
According to Center Works, keeping a journal of your workout progress can help you to stick to those goals you work so hard to accomplish. You may not be immediately be seeing results on your body, but once you write all of your hard work down, your progress will be laid out right in front of you. This is great motivation to keep up the good work! You may even want to personalize the journal with your special someone’s name or maybe even their favorite motivational quote for an even more unique gift.

A massage
Preventing injury during a workout is essential to reach your fitness goals. And what better way to prevent injury than with a massage to work out trouble areas? TRUE’s home gym equipment is especially designed with comfort in mind so you’re never set back by injury. Whether you’re getting your cardio in on a stationary bike, elliptical machine or a treadmill, you can be assured that you’re getting the safest and most comfortable workout possible. The M50 Treadmill has an orthopedic belt designed specifically for reducing the impact on joints and knees, so you can retain the benefits of a massage or longer.

Chocolate
This ever-popular Valentine’s Day gift will never get old. Who doesn’t love getting chocolate? According to Women’s Health magazine, eating dark chocolate can help to cut your risk for heart failure by as much as one third. In fact, chocolate and exercise work quite well together. Every once in awhile, it’s okay to reward your efforts with a little chocolate. However, make sure that it contains at least 70 percent cacao to reap all of the health benefits of this sweet treat.

Whatever you decide to get your loved one for Valentine’s Day, they’re sure to love it because it came straight from you.

Training using your target heart rate

Posted on by Angie Tinsley

February is heart month! We are sharing tips on training using your target heart rate to improve your cardio experience.

When creating a training plan to use on your home treadmill or home exercise bike, there are a variety of methods to help you achieve your goal. You can alternate intervals, work in circuits, or keep your rate of perceived exertion on a scale of 1 to 10 in mind when designing your workout plan.

Another option you can try when exercising on your home fitness equipment is training in your target heart rate zone.

Target heart zone training

During a workout session, it can be a challenge to know if you’re working too hard, not hard enough or just the right amount. Using your target heart rate takes the guesswork out and allows you to adjust your intensity levels to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your fitness session every time.

Your target heart rate is a percentage of your maximum heart rate. To calculate the maximum rate, just take 220 minus your age. For example, if you are 30, your maximum heart rate is 190. Once you have that number, you can check your heart rate throughout your workout to determine if you need to ease back on the intensity level or push yourself harder.

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that people exercise in a target heart rate of 50 to 85 percent of their maximum heart rate. A range is offered because it depends on your fitness level. If you’re new to exercise or are just getting back into it, you’ll want to start working at the lower end of your target heart rate. Following our example, 50 percent of your maximum heart rate would be 95, so as your run on the TRUE ES700 Home Elliptical Trainer, you want to keep your heart rate right around that number. On the other hand, if you’ve been working out regularly for a while, you can push yourself to the higher end of the target heart rate spectrum. If you ride a TRUE ES900 Home Recumbent Bike at 85 percent of your maximum heart rate, you’ll want to be at 161.5. One benefit of exercising on the TRUE Fitness equipment is that you can take advantage of TRUE HRC Cruise Control. This allows you to lock in on your targeted heart rate, and once it’s entered, the Cruise Control will automatically adjust the speed and incline throughout your workout to ensure you maintain your target heart rate and get the most out of your session.

One way to determine if you’re in the zone is to test your pulse. Place your pointer and middle finger firmly but lightly on the inside of your wrist or on your neck below the angle of your jaw. You can also place your hand over your heart. Watch the clock for 60 seconds and count how many beats occur in that time frame. If it’s under the desired number, you need to push yourself harder and get your heart rate up, but if it’s over the number, you should ease off the intensity a little. Another option is to wear a heart rate monitor that will do the counting for you.