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Have you, just like most of us, thought about the standard New Years Resolution? The one that we all tell ourselves every year and still often miss the mark. Getting fit, healthy, skinny, muscly, faster, stronger, just over all happier with our weight and appearance. So many of us are at it again. Well there are many dos and don’ts. Lets start with the don’ts….
1. Do not think it all happens over night. It can take even an entire year to loose weight healthfully. So much depends on what you think you need to loose and if you go about it in the right way. Which is number 2.
2. Do not crash diet. It has been proven over and over again that you will almost always put the weight back on and often more than you had when you started. Your body goes into shock. It thinks you are not going to give it the nutrients it needs to survive and will store what ever it can once it feels some is being provided again. This does not mean you should not change your eating habits- just do not stop eating.
3. Do not think the change in your diet alone will ever give you the results you are hoping for. Exercise and Eat Right. They go hand in hand. Exercise is equally as important as the food intake. Couch potatoes eating only rice cakes are sure to be unhealthy.
4. Do not give up. Anything worth doing is usually hard. Find friends that may be trying to change their life styles and hang with them more. Make sure that everyone close to you is aware of what you are trying to do so they encourage you and understand why you say “no” to many evenings out. You will learn to eat right when you go but it will take some time.
Let’s get to the fun stuff…The Dos.
1. Do have fun with the new changes in your life. Just because you are changing your eating habits and your exercise routine does not mean you have to dread it. Particularly working out. So many different types of exercise out there that you can take advantage of muscle confusion as well as cardiovascular levels.
Let me explain what muscle confusion is first. Simple. Do not perform the same exercise on the same muscles and do not do them at the same time everyday or in the same order. Lift weights, climb, bike, walk, run, swim, dance, do it all. Just make sure you exercise. They say at least 30 minutes for 3-4 days a week. With all of the options and levels I say you can easily build up to as much as you are healthy to do.
2. Do watch your calorie intake. Not only do you want to watch the calorie in take you also want to watch where you are getting your calories from. Do eat healthful, fresh, local, organic, produce and meats. Try to avoid what comes in a box. Not very natural. Try to avoid the over load of carbs. You have heard this as much as you have heard eat right and exercise. It is true. It is hard too. So much of the really great tasting foods are in the carb zone. With all of this said- be sure and treat yourself to very small bites now and then. Just like starving you may give in too easily and go over board. A small treat now and then will actually help you stay on track.
3. Do Exercise, Exercise, Exercise. I can not talk enough about the immediate benefits as well as the long term benefits. Your entire life will change forever if you exercise on a regular basis for as long as you can. Bones will be stronger, blood flows better, skin is even healthier. Muscles are important and they can only get better and stronger if you work them. Once you work them they will work for you. Just like all good relationships you must work together.
I have not said anything that you probable do not already know I am just reminding you again. Have fun and have a healthful life. You will be so much happier when you feel better.
Thank you for reading. I hope you feel inspired.
ABDOMINAL EXERCISE
You can do abdominal exercises daily, one or more sets are ok, these muscles tighten up rather than bulk up the more you work them.
AEROBIC WORKOUT
The goal of an aerobic workout is to keep the heart rate up for a period of exercise. Aerobic exercises such as jogging, swimming or circuit training condition the cardio-vascular system to intake oxygen more efficiently. Aerobic exercise alone does not offer total fitness and should be combined with weightlifting to build and condition the muscles, tendons and bones.
AGE/FITNESS
If you are starting an exercise program after a period of inactivity, regardless of your age, it’s a good idea to check with your physician. We can send you a copy of our user guide to take along.
ANAEROBIC EXERCISE
When the demand for oxygen is higher than the cardio-vascular system can supply, such as when doing sprints or heavy weight training, the muscles can work anaerobically (without oxygen) for a limited time. Anaerobic exercise conditions and builds muscles, tendons, and bones.
BARBELL ARM SETTING
Approximate settings for most exercises are given in our user guide, setting will vary a little depending on height.
BEGINNERS
Begin you weightlifting program with light resistance. The first couple weeks your goal is not development but learning good form. Starting with a low number of reps allows you to do more exercises which is beneficial in the beginning. Once your muscles have been trained you”ll be able to increase the resistance. For beginners, doing one set provides the same results as doing two or three.
REPETIONS
Start with 5-6 reps if no delayed soreness
Try 8-9 reps if no soreness
Gradually work up to 15-20 reps. This can take up to a couple of months.
RESISTANCE
If your beginning resistance is too easy (when you can do more than 20 reps), increase the resistance in each workout until you reach the correct level (under 20 reps).
This program will give you increase strength, muscle mass and endurance. When this occurs you can then choose the goal of building muscle mass or to work on toning and fat burning.
BENCH PRESS
Sit sideways on the bench. Lie back and swivel your neck under the barbell arm. Then scoot into position so barbell arm is just touching chest. To exit, do the reverse. Keep your elbows out to make your chest do the work.
BREATHING
Exhale on the power (positive/concentric) stroke and inhale on the return (negative/eccentric) stroke.
BUILDING MUSCLE MASS
To gain muscle mass you will have to gradually reduce the number of repetitions while increasing the resistance and number of sets.
When doing heavy training for maximum muscle build you will perform fewer reps and rest 3 minutes between sets. Warm up with a moderate weight and do 1 set of 12-15 reps. Then perform 1-2 sets to total muscular failure in the 6-10 repetition range. When you are able to perform more than 10 repetitions, add additional weight to bring your reps back within this range.
Never sacrifice proper form for weight increases, it only invites injury and slow progress.
CALIBRATED RESISTANCE
A standardized measure of resistance such as a free weight or a Soloflex strap. Pulley or hydraulic systems do not offer calibrated resistance so you never really know exactly how much weight your are lifting.
CALORIE
A calorie is a unit of heat, producing energy. The amount of energy a food contains is measured in calories. Any calories you do not use through activity are stored at fat.
Our workouts can help you burn an additional 250 calories or more a day while you are exercising. Each pound of muscle you build burns an additional 50 calories a day even while you are at rest.
CARDIO-VASCULAR FITNESS
An increased efficiency of the heart and circulatory system achieved through specifically designed exercise, such as circuit training.
CARDIO-VASCULAR SYSTEM
The heart and blood vessel system. A fit heart pumps 25% more blood per minute when at rest and 51% more blood during exercise than an unfit heart. A fit heart beats 60-70 times per minute. An unfit heart beats 80-100 time per minute.
CIRCUIT TRAINING
Exercise consisting of several sets of a number of different exercises during a timed period such as our workout routines.
NUTRTION
Use low fat sources of protein like chicken or fish. Complex carbohydrates are essential in providing workout-sustaining energy. Potatoes, whole grain breads, whole grain rice, fresh fruit and vegetables are good sources. Drink plenty of water.
ORDER OF EXERCISES
We recommend you stick with the order as given in our user guide for the most efficient workout. It is usually recommended that you work the larger muscle groups before you work smaller ones, for example, you should do your bench presses before your curls. If you do the curls first your biceps may be too tired for you to do as many bench presses as you should.
Some people like to rearrange their routines to do less changing of barbell arm positions and attachments. Although this will not give you the most efficient workout, it is better than not doing your workout.
PEAK CONTRACTION
To “peak your physique” focus on squeezing or flexing (forcefully contracting) the muscle group you are training at the top of the power stroke (concentric phase) for 2 seconds. Then slowly lower the weight back to starting position. Adding the peak contraction on each repetition will add to the strength, shape and definition of your muscles.
The user guide specifies on each exercise where the peak contraction is recommended, they are: Upper body-back of neck press, bench row, bent over row, bicep curl/lat pull down, dorsi bar pull down, haney shrug, negative pull-up, shoulder shrug, standing bicep curl, tricep press, tricep pushdown, upright row, butterfly, rowing with leg extension; Mid body-(all) body curl, incline sit-up, leg bend, roman chair sit-up, crunch; Lower body-calf raise, donkey press. Exercises not listed do not lend themselves well to doing at peak contraction.
PLATES
Always stack plates evenly, with the heaviest ones closest in. When loading and unloading don’t off balance by more than 25lbs to avoid tipping.
POSITIVE RESISTANCE
The resistance provided on the power stroke (concentric phase) of an Isotonic press. Positive resistance is required to provide the concentric muscle contraction necessary for muscle development as part of a complete two part repetition. It should always be followed by a slower return stroke (negative resistance). The load that’s lifted must be lowered for maximum muscle gains.
REPETITION
A single performance of an exercise movement.
REST
We recommend that you rest 30 seconds between sets and 1 minute or less between exercises. Short rests keep your heart rate up. When doing heavy training to increase muscle mass, rest 3 minutes between sets.
RESULTS
You will feel a difference in tautness of your muscles in a couple of days, and will notice a visible difference in a couple of weeks. In a couple of months you won’t believe the progress you’ve made.
SET
A number of repetitions of one exercise movement performed in sequence.
SPORTS
The Soloflex programs are great for any sport and will build a balance of stamina, flexibility, bulk and strength.
THIGHS
To work the inner thighs, point your toes outward while doing squats and leg presses. To work the outer thigh, point your toes slightly inward.
TIME OF DAY
Any time of day is fine to workout, just give yourself a couple of hours before or after eating a meal or participating in a sports activity.
TONING
If you want to enhance fat burning, toning, and overall muscular endurance you should increase the number of repetitions to 20-25 for on exhaustive set. To increase your activity level even more you can do an abdominal exercise, walk or jog on your off days.
To lose fat you need to take in fewer calories than you burn. Eat smaller, more frequent (balances) meals.
VERTICAL SIT-UP
Grasp lever arm and walk your feet up the main frame. Hook legs over one at a time. Hook toes under pins on lever arm, if your toes do not reach pins, cross ankles under lever arm. (We do not recommend using the flip technique).
WOMEN
Women will develop 1/10 the mass of a man doing the same program. Because of the difference in hormones, a woman’s body won’t grow as fast or as large as a man’s, it will firm up. Bulky female body builders usually get that way from working out while taking steroids. Women can perform any of the exercises in the user guide.
WORKING TO FAILURE
Working to failure is completely fatiguing or tiring a muscle or muscle group by using resistance and repetition until you can’t do any more repetitions.
CONCENTRIC MUSCLE PHASE (power stroke)
The contraction (shortening) of the muscle when working/pressing against positive resistance as in the power stroke of a press. Both positive AND negative resistance are necessary for significant muscle development. You need to do the complete repetition. A weight that is lifted must be lowered for maximum benefit.
ECCENTRIC MUSCLE PHASE (return stroke)
The lengthening of the muscle when working against negative resistance as in the return stroke of a press. It is responsible for a large part of the strength and lean tissue development you are striving for. Both positive AND negative resistance are necessary for significant muscle development.
Concentrate on slowly lowering the resistance (3 seconds) on the return stroke of every repetition. Performing each exercise in this controlled fashion will also minimize unnecessary stress to joints and connective tissue. So “SLOW DOWN”.
FREQUENCY
Our user guide has programs for 3 days or 5 days a week programs for beginning, intermediate and advanced.
GAINING WEIGHT
Use the Soloflex program for building muscle mass. A good balanced diet will supply all the protein you need. There is not need for protein supplements.
HEIGHT
The Soloflex can usually accommodate anyone up to 6’6″. If you are long in the torso the bench may be a little short for the bench press or leg press. The bench is 40″ long. Pull ups can be done with knees bent if necessary. You can measure from the top of your head to your tail bone.
INERTIA
The tendency of an object to remain in motion once it is in motion. For example, you can cheat with free weights by using a burst of momentum to throw the weight up vs a controlled lift and return.
ISOKINETIC EXERCISE
One-way Isokinetic exercise provides only half a workout because it does not provide the negative (eccentric) resistance needed for significant muscle growth.
Some Isokinetic resistance is relative to the degree of exertion ie resistance increases as muscle pressure is increased. You have to push quickly and really hard to get maximum resistance and this can shock joints and muscles. Isokinetic exercise can provide some increases in muscle strength.
ISOMETRIC EXERCISE
Muscles are put into a state of contraction against the resistance of other muscles or an immovable object. There is no movement at the joints (such as when pushing against a door jamb). Isometric exercise can increase muscle strength.
ISOTONIC EXERCISE
Isotonic exercise, like Soloflex, provides both positive and negative resistance using progressive weight. Both positive and negative (concentric and eccentric) resistance are necessary fro significant gains in muscle size, strength and endurance. (Free weights and Soloflex).
KIDS
Heavy weight training is not recommended for kids under 13 as it may affect the growth of developing muscles and bones. Kids can do the Soloflex free body exercised where they work against their own weight. For other exercises we recommend very light resistance, or that they just work against the weight of the barbell arm (about 8 pounds).
LOAD PINS SETTING
Usually there are 2 empty holes between the load pin and the barbell arm. For some pull down exercises, you may prefer to leave one empty hole between the pins, for more consistent resistance throughout the entire range of motion, which ever you like the best (can double the number of straps). Ex. bench row – end of rep difficult with 2 holes.
METABOLISM
The chemical and physical processes of the body. Exercise increases your rate of metabolism ie the efficiency of your body processes. Improved organic efficiency reduces the risk of heart disease, increases lung capacity. An efficient metabolism allows us to work harder for longer with less effort and less fatigue.
When you have more muscle, you metabolism is increased. Your muscles are your metabolism. To reduce fat you have to increase muscle. Each pound of muscle burns 50 calories a day at rest.
Muscle weighs more than fat, so when you loose fat you not loose weight but will look leaner and fit. Muscle does not turn into fat.
NEGATIVE RESISTANCE
Resistance provided on the return stroke (eccentric muscle phase) of a repetition in Isotonic (Soloflex) exercise. Negative resistance is required to provide the eccentric muscle phase needed for significant muscle development. Almost all muscle hypertrophy (growth) happens as a result of the eccentric, or return stroke coming directly after the priming of the power stroke (concentric). Many pulley and hydraulic systems do not offer negative resistance.
My Workout
By Nancy Dow – The Oregonian
Who: Jill LaTray, 43, Aloha; 5 feet 4 inches, 110 pounds
Workout: LaTray is a mother of five children ranging in age from 7 to 18. A car accident in mid-2008 left her with chronic pain in her shoulders, back and neck. She couldn’t stand, sit or walk for long, or lift much of anything. She coundn’t take walks or work in her garden. Her life became very limited, but her kids, she says, did an admirable job of taking up the slack.
She had tried various methods of obtaining relief when, last March, her chiropractor recommended the BStrong4Life program. It’s designed to increase the core strength, bone density and muscle tone, and strengthen the spine using (deep-breath) BioDensity Neuro-Musculoskeletal Stimulation and Measurement Technology. Total treatment time is 10-15 minutes a week. The program is approved for ages 12 and up.
LaTray begins with a two to five minute warm-up on platforms that vibrate quickly, causing muscles to contract. She moves to four isometric exercises. The core pull, chest press, vertical lift and leg press. Each exercise lasts five seconds.
Feedback: LaTray says, “Before starting the program I didn’t have any pain-free moments; now it’s the opposite. It’s just little bits of instead of little bits of no pain. It’s very exciting.” She says improvement was immediate; by the second week of treatment she was able to garden for two or three hours without much pain. She also could walk pain free for an hour three or four times a week. She feels stronger and notices muscle definition in her arms, legs and abdomen.
As the weather makes walking less feasible, she’ll sometimes walk in a mall, but she loves nature trails. She’d like to get back to biking and cross-country skiing but is taking it slowly and carefully. In the meantime, her daily routine is much easier.
Nutrition: She and her family eat mainly gluten- and dairy-free and low -sugar because of her children’s food sensitivities. They eat a lot of produce, and she makes a lot of soup. They avoid processed food in favor of beans, rice noodles, grass-fed free-range beef, chicken and turkey. She uses brown rice syrup and applesauce as sugar substitutes. Dessert might be a fruit crisp or crustless pumpkin pie. “You just have to more creative.” She makes her own flour blends and is grateful for the Bob’s Red Mill store. The family tends a garden and orders food monthly from a co-op. LaTray orders fish when eating out. She drinks tea and water, but no coffee. Her kids like to cook, and the whole experience has taught them how to fend for themselves.
Soloflex was established in 1978. Soloflex is a brand synonymous with quality, originality, beauty and fitness. Soloflex pioneered infomercial advertising on cable TV, forever etching the brand name into Americans minds. A survey done in 1992 indicated a brand recognition of 92%, the same as Bill Clinton’s that year. Alone, Soloflex created the home fitness industry and most of the direct-response marketing strategies still used today. Soloflex has always been family owned. Our products are built to last a lifetime, all made in America. Over one and a half million Soloflex exercise devices have been sold. Total sales to date are approximately $1 Billion. We have never had a recall.
Soloflex equipment has always met the demands of serious bodybuilders. Many home gyms on the market today have a poor reputation, lacking quality and durability. We never understood the wisdom of lifting heavy weights with flimsy equipment. The whole point of a weightlifting machine is safety.
The original Soloflex home gym.
The Soloflex machine has broad appeal because it makes weightlifting safe to do at home, alone. Not spotter is required while using the Soloflex. The Soloflex machine is weight plate adaptable for those who want to safely add free weights to the resistance straps. The machine allows proper form and range of motion on all exercises. The free floating barbell arm recreates the natural movement free weights offer which is important for proper form and balance. The Soloflex machine has been endorsed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank Zane (3 time Mr. Olympia), Nordine Zouareg (Mr. Universe), Gale Sayers (NFL running back), and Mitch Gaylord (Olympic gold medalist). The Soloflex Muscle Machine is priced from $1250 to $1550 + freight.
The Soloflex WBV Platform.
Our Whole Body Vibration Platform, unlike the others, was designed to exercise on. We have been in production with the WBV platform for approximately 6 years. We have sold over 75,000. One only need stand on the platform for short periods a few times a week to see improvements. After research at SUNY with funds provided by NIH, NASA and the U.S. Army, WBV has demonstrated its effectiveness for the treatment of osteoporosis, an alternative to drugs like Fosamax, (a $5 billion/yr market). WBV works as advertised. Ours is affordably priced for home use at $445 + freight.
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Efforts to make hospitals safer are proving ineffective. A large study conducted between 2002 and 2007 found that harm to patients was still common, and that the number of incidents was not decreasing over time.
Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by porous and fragile bones. It affects 44 million Americans, striking 1 in 3 women, and 1 in 5 men. Those with osteoporosis are at increased risk of height loss, fractures of the hips, wrists and vertebrae, and chronic pain.