Cheap Exercise Equipment

Written by Diet Bites

Three Exercise Tools That Are Not Only Effective, But Cheap

Are you serious about losing weight but just can't get with a weight loss program? If so, then you're likely participating in activities that exert significant anguish on the body rather than those that contribute to harmonious results.

We will address effective, inexpensive exercise equipment in this article, but let's talk about common types of dieting phases. Why? Because the more you learn about the dieting process, the more likely your plan will succeed.

Knowing what's lurking behind that next corner can mean the difference in a successful diet and a failed diet.

Stages of Dieting: Alpha/Beta/Omega

So many individuals start a weight loss plan and hit the floor with steel-toed boots, working as hard as they can to lose the fat as quickly as possible. This is what we define as the 'Alpha' stage of dieting. The beginning of a weight loss excursion.

In the process individuals embrace a daily eating plan filled with boring foods and a plethora of grueling exercises.

What happens next is very predictable. They enter into the 'Beta' phase and because they are seeing little results in relation to pounds lost, they amp-up their activity level and often slip into a fasting phase.

This phase becomes old quite quickly and the individual goes into the 'Omega' state, otherwise known as the end of the diet plan.

The last two phases could have been easily avoided with smarter techniques - such as building the plan upon the healthy Food Pyramid and Food Groups as well as exercising wiser and putting activity into balance with relaxation time.

That brings us to three ancient weight loss tools which can etch a lot of fun into your diet plan without creating an exhausting overload.

The Jump Rope, a Cheap & Effective Exercise Tool

Kick off those high-heels. Also, remove all heavy gold chains from your neck and coins from your pant's pockets.

Next, you'll want to do a few breathing exercises so as you don't blast off into hyper-ventilation mode once the jumping begins. 

As to the stretching, hold off until after your workout. New studies indicate that later works best and poses less risk to the body than stretching before certain activities.

This exercise is excellent!

Cheap, Easy to Find

1. Jump ropes are inexpensive and almost any piece of rope will work.

Jumping for Improving Muscle Health, Strength & Balance - in addition to assisting with weight loss.

2. Jumping strengthens the legs and improves balance.

An Exercise That's Heart-Healthy

3. Jumping also strengthens the heart muscle and lungs.

Do NOT overwork those muscles or you will be very sore come morning.

Skate Your 'Weigh' to Fat Loss

Personally speaking, I've never gotten used to the roller blade-type skates. For me, probably due to my advanced age, I prefer the metal four-wheeling type that makes use of a skate key.

These are basically metal plates that the shoe fits into, then the front of the skates are adjusted on the side via large metal clips. A key assists in locking the metal securely around the shoe.

This is an excellent activity for dieters because:

1. Enhances balance which is particularly important to the ageing body.

2. The muscles in the legs are strengthened significantly.

3. This activity can be enjoyed both outdoors and indoors and the cost of the gear - including the helmet and knee pads are relatively inexpensive.

4. This activity can work positively to increase the metabolic rate, causing the body to burn stored fat as a faster rate. And as muscle mass increases, it will require more kcals to support than fat mass.

Calories Burned Skating

You can burn quite a lot of calories via skating.

- A 150 pound individual will burn about 120 calories for every fifteen minutes of skating.

- A 175 pound person will burn about 140 calories during the same amount of time and a 200 pound person, about 160 kcals.

Keep in mind that the more a person weighs, the more energy [calories] will be burned.

Using a Pedometer for Weight Loss

Although the pedometer isn't exactly an ancient tool, it's been around for a few years - perhaps as early as the days of Kane & the wonderful old series, Kung Fu.  

Kane certainly looked healthy and they didn't call him Grasshopper for nothing.  Yes, perhaps a pedometer was partially responsible for that.

A pedometer will help you monitor your Personal Foot Traffic throughout the day.  

The best thing about this exercise tool is that there is very little preparation time involved!

There is nothing to else needed - and nothing to remember throughout the day. This is a simple, humble, and effective fat loss tool.

How to Use a Pedometer

Although it's pretty straightforward, we'll walk you through the simple steps.

Begin by setting your stride as directed in the product instructions. This is basically the distance between each foot as you step forward.

Next, clip it on as you would a pair of sunglasses, only on your waistline area or on the top of a pant's pocket. As you move, the steps will register. In addition, you will also be able to see the distance you've walked.

Personally speaking, 4,580 steps equals about a mile and a half. So a little over 3000 steps for myself would equal a mile of walking. I try to walk at minimum three times per week - two miles per outing and every other day, about a mile.

Setting a Distance to Walk Each Day, Fitness Goals Add Up to Healthy Weight Loss & a Toned Body

We suggest that you target a specific distance that you'd like to set as a daily goal - just as I have above.  For example, you might wish to walk 1 extra mile per day in order to assist in your weight loss success.  So at the end of your 'NORMAL WALK DAY' simply tack one mile onto that and aim for that distance in the future.

You'll find that it's very easy to get in that extra mile.

In Summary

Total fitness involves a bit more than 'just moving about'.  

Often times, you may hear The Medical World preaching about the benefits of aerobic exercise.   

In simple terms, what you want to do is to get your heart rate up - which among other things - strengthens the heart, the lungs, and muscles. And those new muscles will burn more calories than fat.

One way to accomplish getting the heart rate up, is a solid 10 - 15 minute walk.  Do this 3 - 4 times a week and you'll do your body good - just like milk does.

Related Articles

Your Height, Your Weight | Setting Goal Weight

Weight Gain Causes | Weight Loss Plan

Diet Bites  |  Site Disclaimers

Diet Bites is a Trademark