Month: May 2022
The best way to evaluate your fitness is through taking a test that will evaluate your physical strength and which will help you check the true relationship between strength, performance and your condition. No doubt, you will come across many tests that will help to show your true fitness level; however, one that you must check out is the one known as Kraus-Weber Test (K-W Test).
Six Separate Components
The K-W test of Minimum Muscular Fitness consists of six different components and it is a test that will help to measure a number of different muscle groups with regard to their strength and flexibility. The more the ratings are the greater is your level of fitness and the better will the muscles in the body function.
This test of fitness was at first used to evaluate how treatment being meted out to treat low back pain was progressing. It is surprising to learn that as many as, it is believed, more than eighty percent of those tested failed to pass the test! However, these people, when exercising were nevertheless able to perform better and the complaints of back pain too steadily became fewer.
The first of six K-W Tests to evaluate fitness is to keep both feet on the ground; maintaining a lying down position on the ground and with hands held behind your back doing sit-ups. The second K-W Test requires that you maintain the same posture as in the first test but your knees must be bent and the ankles positioned as close to your buttocks after which you must do a single sit-up.
In the third K-W Test you will need to lie flat on your back and keep your hands behind your neck and your legs must be straight and lifted about ten inches off the ground for ten seconds. The fourth test requires you to lie on your stomach; a pillow should be placed beneath your lower abdomen and also your groin. With feet held down you need to lift up your head and shoulders as well as the chest off the ground for about ten seconds.
Test number five requires that you maintain the same posture as in test number four; with chest down you need to lift your knees straight off the floor for ten seconds. Finally, in test number six you will need to stand erect and barefoot and both your feet must be placed together; then, with knees straight you need to bend slowly to touch the ground with your fingertips and you must hold this position for three seconds.
You might also want to know more about the right kind of fitness equipment including the treadmill that is ubiquitous item that every fitness fanatic is found using today. The K-W Test may seem to be a simple one; however, when you try this test, the results achieved will truly amaze you and it will also do a world of good as far as your fitness is concerned.
Horizon Fitness is fully owned by Johnson Health Tech., a Chinese manufacturer that has been in business for over 25 years. They also are the majority stockholders in Vision Fitness, Matrix Fitness, and AFG.
Horizon Fitness elliptical trainers are manufactured in Johnson’s factory in China, the same factory as the Vision elliptical trainers. They compete head-to-head with lower priced Vision and Icon elliptical trainers.
The Importance of Horizon Fitness Elliptical Trainers
Horizon Fitness manufactures nine different elliptical trainers that are almost the same design. These trainers are rated at the low end of the quality scale, and are referred to as cheap by some people because of the cheap particle-brake drive systems which are disguised by Horizon’s referring to them as “ECB.”
Horizon Fitness elliptical trainers are sold in the United States by Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sears, and The Sports Authority. A big problem is in the design of the trainers is cheap rollers that roll on tracks along the ground and collect dirt over time, resulting in a bumpy and uneven ride.
The mechanical braking system is known to have frequent problems and requires replacement of cheap components. This problem also wastes the user’s time and money.
On the positive side, most Horizon Fitness elliptical trainers have some nice amenities built in, like fans and iPod docking stations.
Horizon Fitness Elliptical Trainer – E1200
This trainer is priced at around $2,600. Granted, this is one of the best elliptical trainers Horizon Fitness makes, but comparing apples to apples with competitive machines, they are way out of their price range here.
The best things about this trainer is that it comes with 16 different resistance levels, 16 different fitness programs, no-slip foot pad, and two amber LED windows with long alpha numeric display. Thankfully, it comes with a lifetime warranty on the frame.
Horizon Fitness Elliptical Trainer – E900
With an asking price of $2,200, this trainer is a bad value because of the numerous problems with the braking system and a resistance level that adjusts very slowly. Avoid this trainer at all costs.
Horizon Fitness Elliptical Trainer – CX-66
Users report that the feel and movement is very poor on this machine. The overall cost of this machine is $1,400.
Horizon Fitness Elliptical Trainer – EX-76
Price tag on this machine is around $1,200. This trainer also receives poor consumer ratings because of the cheap components used to build it. On the bright side, it does have more resistance levels and brighter displays than the other Horizon Fitness elliptical trainers.
Horizon Fitness Elliptical Trainer – SXE-7.7
This trainer has very nice non-slip articulating foot pedals. The bad news is that it has a very awkward looking display and uses the old roller track elliptical design.
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Most people who want to burn off some excess pounds and tighten and tone their bodies simply don’t have 2 hours each day to spend in the gym performing the bodybuilding style workouts that most “fitness experts” recommend.
Plus, these workouts consist of exercises and techniques that do not exercise the body in the way it is normally used so they end up building a somewhat unusable strength. In my opinion, most people, unless their main objective is body building, shouldn’t perform the traditional style workouts
While I do still believe that machine and free weight strength training is the best choice for body building, it is NOT the best choice when it comes to general fitness goals like strength, flexibility, endurance, etc.
I don’t know about you, but I can barely fit in 15 minutes for exercise let alone 2 hours… and I personally am not interested in muscle size alone (which doesn’t mean strength and usually leaves you stiff and inflexible)! I’m sure your schedule is probably the same. The good news though is you don’t have to… you can burn fat, increase flexibility, build unbelievable strength and endurance, reshape your body, and build a level of fitness that is truly functional.
I want to share with you a workout that I do personally that delivers a great combination of strength, flexibility, cardio and muscular endurance, and fat burning.
WARNING: The following workout will not only surprise you, but it will likely go against everything you ever thought to be true about fitness. Also, it is recommend you consult your physician before beginning any exercise program.
Are you ready? Good, here it is:
The following exercises should be performed with little or no rest between and you may need to adjust the number of repetitions or time depending upon your current fitness level.
Jumping Jacks -1 minute Bodyweight squat (one-leg squat for advanced) – 15-20 reps Push-ups (slower reps for advanced) – as many reps as possible Kick butts (jog in place and kick your rear with both heels) – 1 minute Hamstring floor bridge (use swiss ball or one leg for advanced) – 15-20 reps Superman (lying on stomach w/ arms out to side, lift legs and chest off floor) – 15-20 reps High knees (jog in place lifting knees as high as possible) – 1 minute Stationary lunge – 15-20 reps Torso rotations/twists – 20 reps each direction Side bends/reaches – 20 reps each direction Mountain climbers – 1 minute (if you can J) Wall sit – as long as you can hold it Dips (use chair/bench/stairs) – as many reps as possible
There you have it… sounds easy, right? That couldn’t possibly do anything, right? I personally challenge you… try it… no, try it right now! Drop what you are doing and give it a shot and see for yourself. If you find it a bit easy, which I doubt, perform it 2-3 times through without rest.
This workout will deliver more usable fitness results and benefits than any traditional gym or health club workout. Now, you can of course implement this type of workout in the gym and make it even better, but the beauty of this is you can do it anywhere!
Also, this is just one example and as you can imagine, there thousands of other exercises you can add or replace… I actually recommend switching the exercises every 2-4 weeks or even better is to put together 3 or 4 different workouts and then rotate them.
If you are not familiar with one of the exercises just replace it with one you know that works the same part of the body. You can also learn all of these exercises along with dozens of others in my soon to be released video which will consists of several workouts like this that you can do anywhere to build and maintain awesome levels of fitness, even workouts with dumbbells, swiss balls, medicine balls, and more… watch for it in coming months.
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