Reconditioned exercise bikes offer great value for those on a limited budget who still want to expand their home gym. Used, reconditioned equipment provides an affordable and increasingly popular way to develop and outfit new or existing facilities at your home or office.

Used exercise bikes, especially top-end models, hold their value since the parts that are worn are replaced during the reconditioning process. If you buy from an established dealer (recommended), your exercise equipment will be examined by a qualified technician who will physically inspect all moving parts, and any bike part that shows more than 25% of wear will be replaced.

The old bike is taken apart and will have a new chain, drive belt, and hardware/clips installed. The exerciser is then put back together and cleaned, painted and polished. Finally the reconditioned bike is tested and shipped out or ready for pick up. Oftentimes you won’t be able to tell the difference between a used bicycle and a new one – except, of course, in the price you pay.

The top brands of upright and recumbent exercise bikes have a proven track record for durability and reliability, so in addition to their great features and ease of use, once the used bicycles have been reconditioned they are virtually maintenance-free.

You can choose a used stationary bicycle for your indoor exercising regimen, or hit the road on your two-wheeler when the weather is nice, but don’t miss out on biking as a complete exercise that goes easy on the knees and provides a good cardio workout. You’ll soon find that biking increases your endurance and energy level — and the pounds will melt away. Just like aerobics, an hour a day on your exercise bike will burn around 400 calories or more. No matter what your fitness level, you’ll add enjoyment to your home gym workout with the addition of a used or reconditioned exercising bicycle.

About the Author:

Kevin Urban is the editor for Best-Home-Gyms.com, a consumer guide to discount home gyms. The site features dozens of home gym reviews and consumer treadmill reviews on the major brands and models.

Horizon treadmills are well built and sturdy, and their durability is mentioned positively in Horizon treadmills ratings. It is inevitable, however, that any piece of fitness equipment will require maintenance at some point or another. And it is, in fact, this regular maintenance that will keep your Horizon treadmill running at its peak capacity for longer.

Maintaining your Horizon Fitness or Horizon Elite treadmill will reduce the need for any repairs down the line, so it is a good idea to incorporate regular checks of your treadmill into your workout routine.

Horizon Fitness treadmills are built to very high specifications, so it is unlikely that these checks will necessitate much action, but it is important to catch any potential problems at an early stage. This small amount of home maintenance can ensure the prolonged life of your treadmill, and reduce the likelihood that you might need to purchase replacement parts later on.

With careful maintenance, it is possible to avoid having to replace parts of your treadmill too soon. Special treadmill maintenance kits are available to help keep your treadmill in peak condition, but you can just as easily use a soft cotton cloth and a non-abrasive, non-acid based cleaner to keep your treadmill in full working order. As debris can build up underneath the running belt, it is important to check this area
regularly, and to wipe it down if necessary – this is a simple procedure than can prolong the life of your belt and ensure its continued safe and effective performance. Never spray your cleaning fluid directly onto the equipment however, as this can damage sensitive parts of your treadmill – instead, spray a small amount on your cloth. Treadmill mats are always a good investment – they can help prevent the uptake of debris into your treadmill belt or motor, and they can help reduce treadmill noise too. It
will be very much appreciated by your downstairs neighbour! Be sure to regularly check that your treadmill belt is properly positioned on the treadmill deck too – loose or ill-fitting belts can cause accidents.

Check the safety features on your Horizon treadmill on a regular basis – these are not something that you can afford to have fail on you in an emergency situation. Check your emergency stop feature and do not use your treadmill if it is faulty – your fitness is important, but safety must always be your primary concern.

Horizon Fitness treadmills come with good warranties, but you need to ‘activate’ them within thirty days of your original purchase. You can activate your warranty by mail or by logging on to the Horizon Fitness website. Horizon also offer great customer support – their contact details are also available on their website. If you are in any doubt about the safety of any of your Horizon treadmill’s component parts, contact the company immediately. The customer tech support department ask that before
you call, you have beside you the Horizon Fitness model number, the serial number, and a brief description of the problem you are encountering.

Horizon also offer useful troubleshooting advice on their website, so check their frequently asked questions if there is a problem with your treadmill – you might find a quick and easy solution with just a click of your mouse.

Horizon Treadmills should supply replacement parts, such as the running belt, free of charge if your machine is still under warranty. Should your Horizon treadmill require a part after the expiration of your warranty, the manufacturer will be able to provide the part for you for a fee. Be sure to quote the serial number of your treadmill when contacting Horizon for a replacement part, and ask for it to be fitted by an expert if
necessary – Horizon offer ‘in home’ service. The proper fitting of any repair part to your treadmill is absolutely essential to ensure the continued safe use of your fitness equipment.

With some regular maintenance you will hopefully never have any need to contact Horizon Treadmills for assistance with any aspect of their treadmills, but if you do, you can be sure that you will dealt with in a friendly and helpful manner.

Find out more about Treadmills as well as Folding
Treadmills used treadmills, and treadmill maintenance at Peters website, Terrific Treadmills.

© 2005 Peter Clark

When loosing weight, most of us don’t have the time to
drastically change our lifestyles. We need a practical and
convenient way to integrate effective habits into our daily
lives. The following steps are easy and practical ways to get
you on the track to loosing weight and feeling better.

1. Drink Water! Water doesn’t just help quench your thirst. All
metabolic processes within the body utilize H2O and drinking
plenty of it helps your body function optimally. It also helps
you feel your best—many of the common daily headaches and
fatigues we experience can result from a lack of water intake.

2. Eat Breakfast! Many Americans fail to realize the true value
of a morning meal. It not only boosts energy for the long day
ahead, but keeps your metabolism regulated. Skipping a meal can
put the body into “survival mode” which means that it actually
begins storing and saving fat as opposed to burning it.

3. Exercise! There is no easy way around it: successful and
sustained weight loss requires a commitment to physical
activity. The best way to be loyal to physical activity is to
work it into each day. Take a small part of each day to go for a
walk, do aerobics, do yoga, or whatever other type of activity
you enjoy. Mix it up so that you don’t get bored with it. Soon,
you will not only get used to it, but you will feel better too!

4. Choose Variety! Don’t let popular dieting trends fool you:
Carbs are good for you too! In fact, carbohydrates are what your
brain run on and are very important for proper body functions.
Following a high-protein diet over a long period of time can not
only cause headaches, but also places considerable stress on the
kidney. The important thing is to eat a variety of foods. This
includes fruits, vegetables and even carbs. Just remember to be
smart about the types of carbs you eat:: whole wheat instead of
white.

5. Eat Slowly! We all get in a hurry from time to time, but it
is important to take the time to listen to our bodies. Eating
quickly doesn’t give our bodies time to tell our brains that we
have eaten enough. Consequently, we continue eating and are left
filling stuffed and bloated. Eating more slowly allows us to
recognize when we actually have eaten enough and stop—it also
helps us savour and enjoy the food we do eat.

Essential to loosing weight is giving our bodies what they need.
This means drinking plenty of water, eating timely and proper
meals, staying active, and giving our body the time to tell us
when it is full. Our bodies will reward us for our attention.

The treadmill vs elliptical debate has been prevalent for some time. The treadmill vs elliptical debate isn’t valid since selection of either one depends upon the needs, wants and desires of users in terms of workout programs. The treadmill has its own set of benefits and elliptical trainers have its own set of benefits so it can be a tough decision.

The question arises in regards to which is better. The treadmill vs elliptical superiority question is not answerable because both serve different purposes and are beneficial to a workout program.

The most asked question by everyone is which one burns more calories? The difference between the treadmill and elliptical trainer during workouts and exercise is very obvious. The elliptical trainer has a smooth natural motion machine with foot pedals that contact at all times with the feet as they walk. In treadmill vs elliptical, treadmill offers to run, walk and jog on the flat or inclined surface. The treadmill causes high impact to the ankles, knees and hips.

On the issue of burning more calories, studies and practical exercises have shown that treadmill burns more calories for a person during workouts. The treadmill causes more weight bearing than elliptical trainers. The user can generally set different intensity levels for both, but because working with both the upper and lower body with an elliptical, the user effectively increases heart rate at a faster pace which will burn more calories. In weight loss measure, more weight loss and fat burning takes place using the elliptical trainers. Workouts yield results which compliment elliptical trainers. Elliptical trainer workout for 20 minutes achieves results which treadmill accomplishes in 35-40 minutes.

On issues relating to popularity of treadmill vs elliptical, the answer comes from the usage level. The elliptical trainer is a low impact machine and easy on the joints and back. The treadmill has become a household product and lets person perform workout in the same spot.

In treadmill vs elliptical the question arises relating to the working superiority between the two. Superiority in terms of working cannot be answered for the reason that both work differently and have a different working principle. The elliptical combines movements and benefits of biking, cross country skiing and hiking. Elliptical exercise offers an elongated circular motion and makes the feet to move back and forth around in an oval pattern. On the treadmill a person can jog, run or walk in the same spot on a conveyor belt.

Treadmills have been around for much longer than elliptical trainers. In the treadmill vs elliptical issue, treadmill remains hugely popular for cardio exercises, since it simulates jogging and walking.

In terms of variety, the treadmill allows people to add variety and challenge to workouts by increasing the incline on many treadmills and targets other muscles in their lower body more directly. Elliptical trainers in relation to variety in treadmill vs elliptical don’t offer much variety in terms of inclination or workouts.

Treadmill vs elliptical in terms of stress comparison offer different stress functionality. Elliptical trainer in treadmill vs elliptical stress measure offers more grace and less stress during exercising. Treadmill in terms of stress measure in treadmill vs elliptical offers more stress and exertion during exercising. Many people agree that in treadmill vs elliptical, elliptical trainer is less boring than treadmill.

The treadmill has more exposure in the marketplace than elliptical trainers. Elliptical trainers don’t sell much since they have less exposure in the treadmill vs elliptical race. In terms of space consumption in treadmill vs elliptical race, both acquire enormous amount of space.

Body workout results favor elliptical trainers in the treadmill vs elliptical, but the treadmill offers a full and effective body workout that give great results. Treadmills offer workouts that give only a lower body workout.

In treadmill vs elliptical race, personal preference is what decides which of the two machines fit personal needs more.

Saurya Ghosal for http://www.treadmill-walking.com
Read more about Treadmills http://www.treadmill-walking.com/treadmill-weight-loss.html
Copyright 2005 http://www.treadmill-walking.com

With fast paced lives and the continuous chase to meet
deadlines, the tired mind and body tends to seek out for a
stress buster. People bogged down by stress find it affecting
not only their minds but their bodies as well.

Massage helps you eliminate stress to bring about a relaxed you.
It is a relaxing experience by artistic hand strokes on the body
to rejuvenate the mind and body and eliminate stress
scientifically.

To give a back massage, follow these steps.

- Ask the person to lie face & belly down on flat surface with
his/her head turned to one side. Avoid straining your back when
you giving a massage. Stand or kneel beside the lying person

- Start off gently by spreading oil over the entire back, so
that your hands dont’ stick to the massage receiver’s back.

- Begin with light strokes at the base of the neck. Move your
hands on the either side of the spine, applying gentle pressure.
Rub up and down the length and sides of the back. Repeating this
several times starts the relaxation process.

- Apply the fleshy part of your thumbs to the shoulder blades on
either side of the spine at mid back. Move up to the base of the
neck by applying small outward strokes. Apply pressure away from
the spine.

- After the warm up, move to the spots that feel tight or hard
under your hand. Again with the fleshy part of your thumb, work
in small circles. Adjust the pressure accordingly to serving the
purpose of relaxation. This will loosen up the tight spots.

- Next pay full attention to the shoulder area. Place your palm
on one of the shoulder blades, shaking it gently by moving your
palm back and forth. This will create a nice loose movement of
the shoulder blade and arm. Repeat on the other side.

- Next move to the bottom of the shoulder blade, near the spine.
With your thumb, push all the way across the shoulder blade from
the spine applying pressure suitably. Cover the entire shoulder
area with the horizontal stroke. Switch to other side and repeat.

- Knead gently in small circular motions with the fleshy part of
your fingers the tender spots along the top of the shoulder and
collar bone.

- Use the heel of the hands to apply pressure down the sides of
the spine, starting from upper shoulder and moving down to the
lower back.

- Apply soothing finishing strokes by gently rubbing your hands
up the center of the back on either side of the spine and down
the sides of the back.

You can put in an aerobic workout in almost any everyday
activity. Aerobic exercise is good for your heart and it doesn’t
need to be boring at all. Here are just a few activities you can
do.

Dancing is Fun

Dancing is so much fun and whether you enjoy a slow, ballroom
dance or a nightclub packed with people all moving to
heart-pumping techno, as long as you are moving, it really does
not matter what type of dance or music. The whole idea is to
move your body. Dancing has long been recommended as an avenue
to fitness. And it’s fun and enjoyable as well

Workout Tapes

If you have a VCR or DVD, rather than just using it for your
favorite comedy or action-packed movie, try sticking in some
good workout tapes. Even taking 15 minutes or so every day to
workout will get you started. Try that for two weeks and you
will be surprised at the results. Once you see that 15 minutes a
day makes a difference, you will be encouraged to increase the
time spent.

Running in the Sand

If you live in a geographical area, where you have the luxury of
sandy beaches, why not take a walk or a running session along
the beach. Is feels great to run or walk where the waves of the
ocean and the beach meets. The sound of the waves against the
shore will make you feel even better.

Walk Your Dog

Instead of just opening the back door to let your dog out, put
it on a leash and go for a nice walk. Your dog will appreciate
the new scenery and you are doing yourself a great justice.

Have You ever tried Bowling?

Get some exercise by joining a bowling league. You can find a
league for just about every level of bowler as well as any day
and time of the week. This is a great way to get out and have
some fun while also exercising. Yes, bowling does count as
exercising, no doubt about that.

If you have poor eyesight and you have worn eyeglasses or
contact lenses all your life, then you might want to consider
LASIK eye surgery.

LASIK is the acronym for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileuses.
This is a procedure where the patient has to undergo surgery to
reduce or totally eliminate a person’s poor eyesight.

There are certain eye imperfections that cause poor eyesight.
Examples of these are:

- Astigmatism

A person with astigmatism sees ‘distorted’ imaged which is a
result of deformities or irregularities on the lenses of the
eyes.

- Nearsightedness

A person who is nearsighted has a condition called myopia. Here,
the patient experiences difficulties seeing objects at a
distance.

- Farsightedness

On the other hand, a person who is farsighted sees far objects
without difficulty but the same does not apply to near objects.
This condition is also called hyperopia.

To treat these ailments, LASIK eye surgery is used, and this is
the most common method of refractive surgery performed for
patients nowadays.

‘The Procedure’

In LASIK surgery, there is a knife-like tool that is mainly used
for the procedure: the microkeratome.

This is used to produce a very thin and rounded flap in the
clear, outer layer covering the front or the eye which is the
cornea. A more technologically-advanced way to create this flap
is by the use of laser.

The shape of the cornea is changed permanently once this surgery
is performed.

After the flap on one side of the eye is produced, this is
folded back to reveal the stroma. The stroma is the mid-section
of the cornea.

Afterwards, the microkeratome or the laser beam will vaporize a
part of the stroma by producing computer-controlled pulses.

Then, the flap is put back into place after making the necessary
corrections.

There are other types of refractive surgery that may be
performed on a patient,depending on the degree of visual
disability.

‘The Pros & Cons’

This type of surgery that aims to correct poor vision is very
popular. Why do you think this is so? Here is a list of the
advantages of LASIK eye surgery:

1. You will not feel pain while undergoing the procedure.

2. The results are immediate. Right after the surgery, you will
experience an improvement with your eyesight. At the very least,
you will get to literally “see” results a day or two after the
operation.

Still, there is a downside to this type of medical procedure.
Take a look at some of them and decide for yourself if
undergoing the surgery is worth the risk:

1. Complications may arise.

Different patients respond differently to treatment. If there
are certain health issued that your doctor is not aware of, the
procedure may not have positive results.

2. There are certain jobs or profession which prohibit an
employee undergoing LASIK eye surgery.

Be sure to check with your employer first if you think that this
surgery might in any way inhibit you from doing your work.

3. The procedure is quite costly.

Over the years and because of its gaining popularity, the costs
have gone down considerably.

However, it is still quite a hefty amount to squeeze out of your
pocket if you are on a budget.

If you plan to undergo this type of surgery, ask your doctor
about the rates.

‘Should You Do It?’

If you are not the type of person to boldly take risks,LASIK eye
surgery may not be right for you.

Before deciding to undergo the procedure, make sure that you
know about the costs, health risks and take all the necessary
precautions.

Also, talk with your doctor about what you should do before,
during and after the surgery.

Ask them what you can expect to feel and the results that you
will get right after the procedure.

We see children playing, and they have no limit to what they are willing to do. They run and jump and climb. They fall and then they get up again. You might feel like telling them to slow down, but you never have to tell children to speed up.

But things change when you get older, at least for most people. Somehow many people get the idea that they are too old to exercise. You see it in many people soon after high school. They just aren’t active anymore. They think that their running and jumping days are behind them. It just isn’t true.

You can be active at any age. And you can use exercise, heavy exercise, to help you get the lean body that you want.

Now, before you strap on the gym shoes and start sprinting you have to know a few things. One is that if you have let yourself get too out of shape you will need a gradual approach to vigorous activity.

Too much, too soon, and you can injure yourself. Or you will be too exhausted to continue, and you will give up. Neither one will lead you to a successful outcome.

So what do you do if you are no longer a kid, but you decide it is time for you to get into some kind of shape? The answer may not be what you would think. The best answer for you is resistance training.

Now, what is resistance training? There are many kinds of resistance training, but the kind that would be most familiar to you, and the kind that you could do and should do, is weight lifting.

Weight lifting, at any age, is the safest and most effective way to get in shape. And especially if you are getting older, stiffer, heavier, and out of shape, weight lifting may be ideal for you.

That may not seem logical at first glance, but here is why. One example of the benefits of weight training is found in the research done at the University of Arkansas. (Exercise training guidelines for the elderly. Evans WJ, Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999 Jan;31(1):12-7.) This is one of many studies which showed the benefits of heavy weight training in all ages.

They studied the group that you might guess would be most prone to injury and least likely to be able to exercise. They picked elderly nursing home residents and had them do high intensity resistance training.

What the researchers found was that the frail elderly develop increased muscle mass and dramatically increased strength in a few short weeks. Further, they became more active in their daily lives after they got more fit.

They defined high intensity resistance training as movements involving greater than 60% of the one repetition maximum. For example, if the maximum that you could lift one time was 100 pounds, then high intensity resistance training would require you to lift at least 60 pounds.

Sixty percent of your one repetition maximum is enough resistance to cause muscle growth. It requires movement of muscle against resistance to cause muscle growth, and that is why most people get so little benefit from their treadmill workouts and why they often give up. Plodding on the treadmill does not stimulate muscle growth, and it will not give you the changes in your body you are hoping for.

What is true for the elderly is true for people of all ages. Resistance training in any form will give you all sorts of benefits. It increases muscle tone and it increases muscle mass. The increased tone gives women a shapelier figure and men a more powerful silhouette, and the increased mass burns calories and aids weight loss.

There are many forms of resistance training. Any exercise which will cause you to exert yourself at least 60 percent of your maximum exertion will do. But if you are out of shape it is very difficult to do a lot of resistance activities. Climbing trees might work well for you if you are already in excellent shape, but if not you have to find something that you can actually do. That is why weight training is the ideal resistance exercise for most people.

The weights come in all sizes, from the 8 ounce soup can in your cupboard to 150 pound dumbbells at the gym. The variety of exercises is infinite and limited only by your imagination. There are many excellent books, videos and magazines available on the subject.

The gains you make are easy to see, because the numbers are right there in front of you. So you don’t have to wonder if you are making gains. You will make gains, and you will see so yourself in a very few weeks. Especially in people who have let themselves get out of shape, weight lifting can bring dramatic changes in a very short period of time if done right.

And perhaps most importantly weight lifting can be fun. You will see after you try it. It is fun when you see yourself becoming strong and lean.

So give it a try. You have tried every gimmick “fast weight loss” diet that has come around, and look where you are now. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

If your grandmother can do it, so can you.

Dan Curtis, M.D. is an author, lecturer, and university professor. He is the author of Dr. Dan’s Super Weight Loss Plan. Sign up for his free newsletter: Dr. Dan’s Super Weight Loss Tips, Tricks and Secrets. Click here http://www.superweightlossplan.com/newsletter/

Hair loss treatments are usually divided into two groups:
natural hair loss treatments and all the other hair loss
remedies. Unfortunately, many people that experience hair loss
are not aware of the natural hair loss remedies. They usually
get frustrated after having side effects of the hair loss
remedies or spend too much money on ineffective hair loss
remedies.

Herbal hair loss treatments have been proven effective for
decades and in some cases even centuries. They cause no side
effects, cost less than any other hair loss treatment and bring
good results in preventing hair loss, stopping hair loss and
regrowing hair.

Here are some of the most common herbs for hair loss:

1. Rosmary (Rosmarinus in Latin) - known for stimulating hair
growth and for enhancing dark hair.

2. Dong Quai - A Traditional Chinese herb that contains
phytoestrogens that reduces the formation of DHT. Hence, Dong
Quai is beleieved to stop hair loss and even regrow hair.

3. Saw Palmetto - A small creeping palm - Also known as Serenoa
repens. It contains free fatty acids and phytosterols, which
block the formation of DHT and by inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha
reductase that contributes to androgenetic alopecia. and has
shown to be more effective than Finasteride in some cases.

4. Aloe Vera - Taken from the inner leaves of plants, it is a
substance in a gel formation that is known for its ability to
calm irritated skin. It protects the scalp and hair and also
known as a good remedy against Alopecia.

5. Capsicum - A type of hot peppers which stimulates hair growth
by at least half and increases blood flow to the scalp. This
herb is good for regrowing hair.

6. Lemongrass - A pale green stalk about 18 inches long. This
herb stables oil product in the scalp. It also increases
fullness and body to the hair.

If you suffer from hair loss or thinning hair or just want to
keep your hair healthy and strong, it is recommended to use
herbal hair loss treatments.

Several lung cancer treatments are currently available and the
determination as to which one is prescribed depends on the lung
cancer stage that has been diagnosed, the location of the
cancer, and the patient’s health. The most common treatments for
lung cancer include Surgery, Radiation, Chemotherapy, and
Targeted Therapy.

Surgery

Surgery involves cutting away a cancerous tumor and a portion of
the tissue that has surrounded the tumor. Sometimes the surgical
treatment involves removal of the entire affected lung. Surgery
is often effective, but recovery time can be long. Because the
surgeon will have to cut through the rib cage to get to the
lungs, there will be pain and bed rest for one to two months
after the procedure.

In addition to traditional surgical methods, other types of
surgical procedures can be used depending on the location of the
tumor and also the patient’s physical condition. A craniotomy,
which is basically surgery performed through a hole made to the
skull can be prescribed to tumors located in the brain. For
small tumors, a procedure whereby a video camera is inserted
into a tiny incision helps the surgeon zero in on a tumor.
Because the incision is small, pain is generally reduced.

Radiation

Radiation can either be used by itself or in conjunction with a
surgical procedure. Radiation can be beamed directly at the
cancerous tumor from the outside of the body using a laser, or
radiation can be delivered directly to the tumor via a small
pellet. When a patient’s overall state of health is poor,
radiation is a better alternative than undergoing a surgical
procedure. In cases where surgery has been performed, radiation
might also be prescribed as a way to remove the cancerous cells
that for whatever reason could not be surgically removed.
Radiation to remove brain tumors can result in changing the
brain’s functionality later on, but may be the only option.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is actually a drug that works to remove cancer by
way of the bloodstream. Chemotherapy drugs can be taken either
orally or administered via an injection into a vein. Because the
bloodstream can carry the drug throughout the body, Chemotherapy
is often the preferred treatment when lung cancer has spread
well beyond the lungs. One problem associated with chemotherapy
is that it can also cause damage to healthy cells and the cells
that produce blood that reside within the bone marrow. Low blood
counts can lead to a number of different problems so
Chemotherapy treatment must be closely monitored.

Targeted Therapy

Targeted Therapy is a relatively new treatment option that does
show promise. Instead of focusing on destroying damaged cells
(which can also damage healthy cells), these drugs instead are
designed to interfere with a cancerous cell’s ability to grow.
Right now, Targeted Therapy drugs are given to patients only
after other treatment options have been attempted. And
unfortunately, Targeted Therapy has not been effective for all
patients.

Each lung cancer treatment option has benefits, risks and
frequently, side effects. Deciding which option is best is
something that only a doctor and patient can determine.