Very busy.Working with my fitness clients and athletes took up a lot of time, and frankly, I wasn't too thrilled about taking the time to drive to the gym anymore. I do have a life, you know. Then there was the fight for parking not to mention the fact that I had to wait to use the equipment while someone else finished up his or her workout. I didn't really like the music they played so loud I had to shout over it so my training partner could hear me, and the sales staff was constantly hounding me for referrals. But I have to tell you about my new favorite place in the world to workout.

My home studio. In fact, I like it so much that I recommend that everyone train at home if a gym membership isn't up your alley. It's got everything in it that I want, and everything that I need to successfully train. AND get this it didn't cost me an arm and a leg.Training at home has been so successful for me and some of my clients, I've set up an online facility that will allow me to personal train anyone in their home. You can give it a look at www.thebodymatrix.com.

The greatest part about it is you don't even need equipment if you don't have any. Bodyweight workouts are phenomenal for conditioning and weight loss. Obviously, if your goals are more specialized, some equipment may be necessary. Consider this. How much do you have to spend each year for a health club or gym membership? Now add up all the years you've gone to the gym and all the years you will go to the gym for the rest of your life.

That's a big chunk of change! When you think about it, it makes total sense to buy your own equipment and do it at home. There's no drive to the gym. No waiting. No annoying sales people. You can listen to the music that you want to (or put a TV in the gym for cardio training).

Oh, and the best part is that it's always open. Want to get in a good workout on Christmas day. You can.Here's the tricky part. You can't just go out and buy whatever equipment seems popular on TV or in magazines. Do that and you'll be unhappy in less than a month.

You need a plan to determine what you need in the way of equipment to successfully achieve your fitness goals.The following 6 points are MUSTS if you want to save time, money, and maximize your success in a minimum of time.1. Define your personal fitness goals as specifically as you can. For any fitness-related goal there are a number of methods you can use to be successful, but first you have to know where you're going. Do you want to get stronger? Do you want to build muscles? Lose weight or reduce your body fat? Increase endurance? Reduce stress? Are you preparing for a sport? All the above? Without knowing that you could end up spending more money than you need to on equipment that you'll never fully utilize. Not to mention you may fail in your attempts to achieve your goals.2.

How much space are you willing to devote to your home gym? If you've only got a 5 x 5 space at home, you're really going to have to be efficient. Don't expect to fit large pieces of fitness equipment into such a small space. Be realistic. Maybe it's time to clear out the room you're using for storage or that corner of the garage that is just wasted space. Maybe you've got some space, but you'll need to make your gym a little more portable so you can store it away when it's not in use.3.

Familiarize yourself with your options on types and brands of exercise equipment. Find out what you'll be comfortable with. Would you invest in a house or car without looking at several options or a test drive? Remember, this is an investment in you. There are all types of equipment from treadmills and crosstrainers, to selectorized weight equipment, to barbells and dumbbells. Check out equipment on the Internet or in catalogues.

Stop by the exercise equipment retailers and actually see it and even try it out before you even consider buying. Believe me this is time well spent. When the time comes to discuss equipment with the appropriate person, be it a salesperson or a fitness professional, you won't be completely in the dark when it comes to determining your wants and needs and end up buying something you hate or won't use.4. Consult with a fitness professional. Take advantage of a professionals "in the trenches experience" and educational background when it comes to matching your fitness-related goals with selecting the appropriate equipment for you.

Again, this saves you time and money by preventing you from wasting money on useless or poorly designed equipment. You may also find that your fitness professional may have relationships with fitness equipment retailers which will allow you to buy your equipment at a discount. 5. Always buy top quality equipment from a reputable retailer. Yes, it costs more money, but as the saying goes, "You get what you pay for".

This is so true when it comes to exercise equipment. Avoid the temptation of trying to save a couple dollars by buying equipment that may not be up to your required standards. Buying top quality equipment will last you a lifetime. If you have any doubt, compare how much you have or could have spent on gym memberships over your lifetime with the cost of your new fitness equipment. I have no doubt that you will always spend less money on your home gym than you ever would by purchasing a lifetime of gym memberships.6.

Utilize local retailers as much as you can. While it may seem logical to save money by purchasing equipment online or via a catalogue, shipping charges on fitness equipment can be outrageous. You end up spending more than if you shopped at your neighborhood retailer. There is also an issue of maintenance. Even the best equipment can experience the occasional breakdown.

Try getting a mail-order company to service your equipment. It's not easy. Your local retailer can usually resolve your problems in no time at all.There you have it. These recommendations will help you tremendously. Please keep in mind that it's just not as easy as it seems, but it is worth the extra time especially when you're making such a serious investment in yourself.

That's why I encourage you to seek the help of a fitness professional.If you're sick, you go to the doctor. If you've got a tax problem, you see an accountant (or an attorney!). Have a toothache? You're off to the dentist. Leaky pipes result in a call to the plumber. So why is it that so many people attempt to solve their health and fitness problems without consulting an expert? I don't know exactly, but I encourage you to make the investment in yourself ? in your quality of life ? by hiring a qualified professional to educate you and help you get started.If I can be of any assistance to you, please don't hesitate to call me.

I'm happy to speak with you and give you my recommendations without any sales pressure (I hate it when people try to "sell" me, so I wouldn't try that on you).Please visit my web site at www.personaltrainingfitness.com and subscribe to my newsletter, or call me to schedule an appointment at (775) 224-7155 to obtain any additional information you may need. Thank you.Yours in good health,Tom Storms, CPT, Personal Trainer, Fitness Consultantwww.personaltrainingfitness.com(775) 224-7155info@personaltrainingfitness.comP.S. If you would like a FREE consultation to determine your fitness equipment needs don't hesitate to call me. I'd be happy to help you. If you purchase some home fitness equipment, I'll also give you a FREE consulting session to introduce you to your new home fitness equipment.NOTE: This publication is not intended for use as a source of medical advice.

You should obtain medical advice from your private healthcare practitioner. Before beginning any exercise or dietary program, consult with your physician to ensure that you are in proper health and that this or any exercise or dietary program will not put you at risk..

I've seen the wedding photos so I know it to be so! I can also remember my mother putting on weight over the years. I'm sure my mother will read this, so I must choose my words carefully! When I think about it though, I know why this can happen to a lot of mothers. Life gets in the way and fitness takes a side seat.It can be truly hard to find time for fitness as a mother when you have a child, or even two for that matter! The amount of running around and chores that need to be done can make you really tired at the end of the day and the last thing you're thinking of is fitness.If you're a working mother, you can add a whole other dimension to the busy factor. Needless to say, with the build up of things expected of a mother, fitness is not on your mind at the end of the day. You get very limited time to yourself except for that cherished time once the gremlins are put to bed or are in school.

That's a small window of opportunity if you want to incorporate fitness into your lifestyle and be a good mother to boot.Its tuff to get the time to work out but it's even tougher to be happy when your self image is at an all time low. Fitness makes mothers feel good about them selves. Your self-image plays an important role in how close you can be with your spouse also. I don't think I'll get into this too much, but things heat up between partners when they feel confident about their bodies. I mean, sometimes the spark can fade a little if a couple drops fitness and their bodies slide.You owe it to your self to have "me time" also.

It's important to your well being as a mother. Schedule it in. Get fitness into your life. All activity in life involves fitness, and anything can be made into a workout. Go for a walk.

Hire a fitness trainer to come to your home to put you through a workout.You should also talk to other mothers that are into fitness. I've found that in almost every situation that life can offer, that if you want to achieve something, the shortest route to success is to ask someone who is already there. The other thing is like my mother said, "You are who you hang around with". It's so true. If you want fitness in your life, hang around with mothers that think fitness is important.Making fitness part of your life is so easy when your friends are into it too.

They eat healthy so you eat healthy. You can go for walks together, support each other and on and on. It's an upward spiral of fitness mayhem! Now that is a great thing..

Responding to the rising epidemic of obesity, Ward, also a certified Guidance Counselor, personal trainer, and group exercise instructor, takes pride in developing fun children's fitness programs; as well as meeting the specific wellness needs of various organizations. "An organization is as great as the people it employs. Much like the Olympic games or other competitions, proactive companies require a healthy, strong, vibrant, energetic, competent, and alert team to execute daily objectives. Many companies have great teams already in place, but realize in order to go to the next level, to be competitive, and employee oriented, certain interventions must be made. Life has become a true SURVIVAL of the fittest.

Personal health and spiritual well being, mental and emotional stability, along with longevity and quality of life for everyone lay in the balance and we must make some changes immediately. We are the best at what we do, and that is providing great employers and groups with dynamic expertise in the areas where their people are challenged the most," explains Ward. Butler Innovative Solutions, Inc. (BISI - www.bisibiz.com) is on the move again expanding its Relocation Management and Professional Service practices into the thriving Atlanta market. The BISI organization is one of the many corporate entities currently taking advantage of this growing trend of employee wellness in corporate America and has enlisted the expertise of the professionals at HP to assist."Our people are very important to us.

They are our greatest asset. Each one is key in the growth and development of this company. Our expansion is at an all time high and we need to balance ourselves and reinforce our values and standards of excellence to meet the demands of our rapidly growing clientele. Bringing in a team of experts like HP, has already given our staff a fresh perspective and a level of enthusiasm that can be felt throughout the organization," says a BISI spokesperson, Denita Conway..

You don't have the wasted energy and pollutants of machinery to cut down trees and the manufacturing plants. Go ahead and breath in that fresh air.They also take up less space or should we say give us more space on our bookshelves! Think of the books in your home, a friend's house, your parent's, etc. If you could take all of those books, put them in your computer wouldn't it be cool? Think of how many times you or someone you know says only if I had more shelf space or storage. Ebooks to the rescue! I'm not saying throw out those old books or don't buy anymore new ones, I'm just saying if you could get what you want in an ebook what would it hurt?Ebooks are for everyone. You can get sports ebooks, home business, cooking, fitness, business, marketing, how-tos, resource, society, culture and the list goes on.

Some are already in different languages. Ebooks are very affordable to. Some come with a feature to where you can upgrade them or get a new version for free. Have a hard time seeing, just enlarge the text or zoom in. If you were a space alien there would be an ebook for you.

They are very convenient too. If you carry a palm pilot, wallet, purse or laptop, you can carry an ebook with you. You could take a walk in a park and sit on a bench under a tree enjoying an ebook on that palm pilot or laptop of yours and not have to mess with that wonderful breeze turning your pages. Ebooks come in different formats like PDF, Palm, Microsoft Reader, etc. Couldn't make it to the library? Try one on the net.

View it on line or just download it. Doesn't get any better than that!Technology is now in your hand with usability, readability, affordability, and accessibility. You can do everything and anything with an ebook that you can do with an ordinary book, even write one yourself. Now that's what an ebook is.I hope I was able to enlighten you and help you with understanding ebooks better. Try a free ebook or if you have any comments or questions just contact us..

But this comes with a cost. You are paying for two costly expenses. First, you have to pay for the retail overhead costs. Most retail fitness equipment stores are in prime locations. This cost of the building adds significantly to the price of the treadmill.Second, when buying a treadmill you are paying for the commission to the salesperson.

And since he is on commission you can't always be certain he is going to provide you with objective information. Together the retail costs and the salesperson's commissions can add up to 10% - 15% to the cost of your treadmill. If you feel a need to try it out then you just need to factor in that cost. Buying a Treadmill OnlineWhen buying a treadmill online you can save considerable money, but you have to be an educated buyer. But the reality is treadmills are like computers.

They are composed of many of the same features and components. If you know what you are looking for in a treadmill, and you are familiar with the features you want, then you can easily shop and compare online. In the process you avoid having to travel all over town comparing prices and features. The whole process can be done at your desk.These are considerations when buying a treadmill online:Check to make sure the treadmill is a name brand, backed buy independent ratings and reviews. Also, check for customer testimonials, if available.

Make sure when buying a treadmill, it is built with quality components. Like computers, treadmill manufacturers built using similar parts. Make sure that the parts are reputable and that the overall construction meets or exceeds the standards required for your needs.A warranty says a lot about the quality of a treadmill. Companies are not going to offer an exceptional warranty if the machine tends to breakdown in a short period of time. Warranties are a consistent factor in the quality of a treadmill.

If the warranty is exceptional then it makes sense that the treadmill is built to last. Make sure you buy treadmill that comes with a reasonable in-home repair warranty. A one year repair warranty is a good indication. If you plan to buy a budget treadmill consider an extended warranty. Make sure your treadmill is backed by exceptional customer service.

Treadmills are complicated pieces of machinery. They do break. Whether if you buy online or at a retail store, make sure the company has an excellent customer service record. Online company reviews can be found at Shopping.com and BizRate.com. When buying a treadmill do not get caught up by the salesperson.

Do your research. Compare prices, features, reviews, ratings and warranties. That will give you a good indication on what to buy whether online or off..

You can purchase an elliptical cross trainer for as little as $200 and as much as $3,500 or more. The type you choose will depend on the frequency in which you intend to use your elliptical cross trainer and the intensity and additional features you desire. If you intend to perform intense workouts with your elliptical cross trainer then you should expect to spend at least $100.Elliptical cross trainers have replaced many of the more traditional types of fitness equipment found in gyms and in homes. You can get a highly effective workout with one simple machine instead of needing several items to achieve your fitness goals. There are several brands of elliptical cross trainers and a large price range from which to choose.

Make sure the brand you choose is a well-known manufacturer and includes an excellent warranty..

Peak Physique boasts of one of the extensive line of sophisticated gym facilities in the region and provides their club members with a healthy supply of supplements to keep them fit and healthy. Taking the cue from their members, the owners of Peak Physique decided that it is only logical for them to make their health supplements available to other fitness enthusiasts everywhere else in the world!Website: http://www.peakphysique.com For more details: e-mail protected from spam bots, Unit 3-5 Periwinkle Court, Church Street, Sittingbourne, KENT, ME10 2JZ, TEL01795 479545.

This years event is scheduled for September 28 October 1, 2006, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This award allows the customer to vote on which supplements they think are the highest quality and most effective in helping them exceed their shape and fitness goals

"This award allows the customer to vote on which supplements they think are the highest quality and most effective in helping them exceed their shape and fitness goals," said Ryan DeLuca, CEO of Bodybuilding.com. The top selling products in each award category, out of the 5,900+ products Bodybuilding.com carries, were selected as this years nominees. The winners will be selected by votes cast online at Bodybuilding.com (http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/supplementawardpage.htm) by visitors to the website, industry experts, and employees of Bodybuilding.com. This years Bodybuilding.com Supplement Award categories are:"???Supplement Of The Year"???Brand Of The Year"???Muscle Builder Of The Year"???Fat Loss Product Of The Year"???Protein Powder Of The Year"???Creatine Product Of The Year"???Protein Bar Of The Year"???New Product Of The Year"???New Brand Of The Year"???Nitric Oxide Product Of The Year"???Glutamine Product Of The Year"???Multi-Vitamin Of The Year"???Joint Supplement Of The Year"???Energy Supplement Of The Year"???Best Labels Of The Year"???Best Ads Of The Year"???Tanning Product Of The Year NEW for 2006"???Break-Out Brand Of The Year NEW for 2006Anyone can cast their vote for their favorite supplements by visiting Bodybuilding.com.

This is Bodybuilding.coms second year offering the distinguished Bodybuilding.com Supplement Awards. Last year more than 65,000 votes were cast. View last years Supplement Award winners here: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/supplementawardwinners.htmFor more information visit: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/supplementawardpage.htm.

You can work your arms, shoulders, legs, abs, chest and back all with that little iron cannonball. Also, anyone who knows anything about weight training will tell you that working out with a free weight is far superior to using a motion that moves along a track.Using Pavel Tsatsouline's techniques (Pavel is a former physical training instructor for the Soviet Special Forces) and a common sense diet you will see your strength increase rapidly and the fat come off quickly by using kettlebells.Another benefit is the small size of kettlebells... no hunting for a spare room or extra closet space to store them, or having an eyesore like a treadmill or universal gym (soon to be used as a clothing rack) in the middle of your bedroom.So if you think that kettlebells are too expensive, think again..

"I couldn't even tie my shoes," explains the now-size 4 fitness coach. "I want to help people get started and become motivated. There are so many myths and fads out there." Maietta maintains her 82 pound weight loss with regular workouts and overall healthy eating. But she does eat chocolate - a little every day. "Balance is the key," says Maietta.

Any serious exercise or fitness question will be considered. Include your first name and last initial. Note that your e-mail address will not be captured, stored or shared.Helen Maietta is an ACE certified personal trainer and certified Spinning? instructor..