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August 9, 2006 21:44 - 10 Best Disease Fighting Foods

I don't know what it is but for some reason it seems like every health and nutrition website I visit lately has a list of the "top foods" for this or that. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining - quite the contrary. I'm glad to see these quick lists because they're great for putting together grocery lists and meals plans. And if you're like me, seeing information in a simple list makes it so much easier to retain the information.
At any rate, a stumbled across this particular list on the MSN website and was floored by what I saw. I knew the foods on this list were high in antioxidants but I had no idea the number of antioxidants were in the thousands! It's hard to believe that there are over 9,000 antioxidants in just one cup of blueberries. That is amazing.
I urge you to include as many of these foods as a part of your daily diet. Aim to eat at least half of these foods on a daily basis. If you do, your body will be a disease fighting machine!
10 Best Disease-Fighting Foods
(number shown is the number of antioxidants per serving listed)
Blueberries (1 cup): 9,019
Cranberries (1 cup): 8,983
Blackberries (1 cup): 7,701
Raspberries (1 cup): 6,058
Red Delicious apple (one): 5,900
Red kidney beans, cooked (½ cup): 5,569
Pinto beans, cooked (½ cup): 4,983
Walnuts (1 ounce): 3,846
Navel orange (one): 2,540
Green tea (1 cup): 2,231

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August 10, 2006 21:18 - How Much Exercise You Really Need

For the past decade I have been working out just about every weekday. I would say my daily exercise routines were rather intense as they included strength training and vigorous runs on the treadmill. This worked well for me over the years until recently.
I guess age was finally catching up with me because I was experiencing nagging aches and pains. When we're young, we can get away with daily vigorous exercise. Once we leave the maintenance-free decade of our 20's, however, we have to be smarter about exercising.
That being said, I've had to step back and dramatically change my workout routines. The majority of my workouts now are moderate with just a couple intense workouts each week. Thankfully, the aches and pains have subsided and I haven't lost any of the gains I achieved over the years.
Jon Benson, author of Fit Over 40, wrote an article recently on this subject that I recommend. The article is titled, "Moderate-Intensity Exercise May Melt More Pounds," and in it he stresses the importance of blending moderate and intense exercise for optimal results. He cites a recent study that showed those who worked out moderately lost more weight than those that worked out intensely.

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August 11, 2006 12:33 - How Much Exercise You Really Need: Part 2

In yesterday's entry I talked about my need to change my workout routine so that they were more moderate and not so intense. I also recommended a great article by Jon Benson about the importance of blending moderate and intense exercise for optimal results.
Today I want to continue with this theme because I think it's so important for people to realize that regular exercise doesn't mean you have to spend hours in the gym. I think most people fail to stick to their workouts because they get so burned out thinking they have to train like a professional athlete to shed some weight. One hour at the gym is all you need - unless you are a serious athlete training for a specific event or sport.
Tom Venuto, a well-respected fitness trainer and author, wrote an article titled, "The Truth About How Much Exercise You Really Need." It's a long article but very motivating and worth the read. He discusses how everyone is looking for a quick fix to fat loss and how we all want results without exercising. He stresses the importance of daily exercise but emphasizes that doesn't mean you have to train like a professional bodybuilder or spend hours in the gym everyday. He says one hour is all you need and if you have an efficient workout, you can even get in and out of the gym in 30 minutes and still get the results you want!
What Tom recommends is challenging intense exercise a few days a week AND doing some form of moderate exercise - enough to break a sweat, get you breathing heavy and bring your heart rate up - almost every day of the week, most of the year. Ultimately, he concludes that the answer to how much exercise is necessary depends on what your goals are.
This is the best advice because we all have different goals. For some of you, it might mean you have to spend more than an hour in the gym everyday. Fortunately, for most of us it means moderate exercise most of the time with a few intense exercises for about 30-60 minutes per day with one or two days off per week!

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August 12, 2006 14:38 - Which One Should You Choose: Fish Oil or Flaxseed Oil?

Before we dive into the differences between fish oil and flaxseed oil and which is the best for you, let me briefly tell you about omega-3. Along with omega-6, they are essential fatty acids (EFAs) that can't be produced in the body. They must come from your diet.
Essential fatty acids are the good fats, or healthy fats, that are crucial for optimal health. They support the cardiovascular, reproductive, immune, and nervous systems. A deficiency in essential fatty acids has been linked with a variety of health conditions such as aging, stress, illness, and disease.
While the typical American diet is rich in omega-6, it is deficient in omega-3. In fact, we consume way more omega-6 than we need. Most Americans need to cut back on omega-6 and increase their consumption of omega-3. For more detailed information on EFAs, visit my essential fatty acids page.
While I'm not a fan of Nature Made's products, they have a number of excellent articles on nutrition. A recent article they wrote is titled, "How to Choose: Fish Oil or Flaxseed Oil?" It provides an excellent primer on essential fatty acids and the basic differences between fish oil and flaxseed oil. The article does a good job of pointing out the various differences between these two rich sources of omega-3.
My only complaint is, after reading it you are still left wondering which source you should choose! I believe the best approach is a mix of both. I get the bulk of my omega-3 from flaxseed oil and flaxseeds. However, I still take fish oil supplements everyday as well. I just don't take as many as someone would have to if it was their only source of omega-3.
As you will read in the article from Nature Made, your body has to convert the omega-3 found in flaxseed and flaxseed oil, but that shouldn't be a problem for a healthy individual. That is why I make flaxseed oil my primary source of omega-3. Flaxseed oil is also much cheaper than fish oil supplements and it is much easier to get large quantities of omega-3 in a single serving of flaxseed oil than in fish oil supplements.

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August 14, 2006 11:58 - Fish Oil and Fat Loss

On Saturday I wrote about the differences between fish oil and flaxseed oil. I wasn't planning on doing another entry on fish oil, but I ran across another recent article about fish oil so I thought I would write about it once more. The article is written by Christian Finn, a certified personal trainer, and it's titled, "The Myth about Fish Oil and Fat Loss."
Christian discusses a recent article that appeared in a newspaper in the UK. The article details a study that was conducted that showed daily doses of oil containing omega-3 fatty acids, combined with moderate exercise, can result in significant weight loss.
The study claims that fish oil increases the elasticity of blood vessel walls and improves the flow of blood to muscles during exercise. In theory, this increased blood flow could accelerate fat loss via an increase in the delivery of lipolytic stimuli to fat cells. Sounds interesting but Christian is skeptical.
He says that while there is plenty of research demonstrating the effect of fish oil on fat loss in rats and mice, research showing a direct effect on body fat in humans is limited in both size and quality.
In conclusion, Christian says that despite the fact fish oil has a number of important health benefits, expecting it to be some kind of magic bullet for weight loss is a myth. Popping fish oil capsules without making any changes to your diet and exercise program won't do you any good as far as weight loss is concerned.

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August 15, 2006 21:34 - 6 Secrets to Reach Your Workout Goals Faster

Men's Health magazine, a favorite of mine, has an article on their website titled, "Double Your Muscle: Reach your workout goals faster with these 6 secrets." The main point of the article is that men should try training with a partner because a partner can motivate you, challenge you, and hold you accountable, according to the article.
While I can appreciate the benefits of training with a partner, it's just not for me. In fact, in the 10+ years that I have been working out, I've never trained with a partner. Why? Because I'd be in the gym forever if I trained with any of my workout buddies because they all like to talk too much. Sure I could hire a trainer, but at an average rate of $50/hour, I'd have to spend around $250/week! Sorry, it's not going to happen.
The truth is, I'm more efficient by myself and I don't have a problem pushing myself or holding myself accountable to my workouts. So if you're an independent person capable of pushing yourself, you probably don't need a trainer. However, if you're having difficulty sticking to a workout routine or can't seem to take your workout to the next level, a training partner might be perfect for you.
As for the six secrets to reaching your workout goals faster, the Men's Health article details six specific exercises you can do with a partner. The six exercises are:
Seated Medicine-Ball Throw
Seated Medicine-Ball Rotation
Back-Extension Throw
EZ-Curl-Bar Biceps Challenge
Kneeling Hamstring Curl
Leg Circuit Race

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August 16, 2006 11:40 - The Latest Treadmill Ratings by Consumer Reports

Are you in the market for a treadmill? Who better to turn to than Consumer Reports when trying to find the best treadmills. The latest Consumer Reports ratings for treadmills came out this month so I thought I would pass along the top performers - including those getting the "Best Buy" nod. I'll be providing more details on these treadmills including where to get the best deals on them over the next several days so be sure to add my blog to your RSS feed or bookmark this page!
If you are just beginning your search for a treadmill and have no idea where to start, be sure to read our treadmill buyer's guide and our treadmill recommendations.
NON-FOLDING Treadmill Ratings - The Top 3 Performers
The Landice L7 Series Pro Sports Trainer got the highest ranking with a score of 86 out of 100. It got an "excellent" rating (which is the highest rating) in all four categories: Ease of use, ergonomics, exercise range, and quality. The Landice L7 Series Pro Sports Trainer will set you back about $2,900.
The second highest ranked non-folding treadmill was the NordicTrack S3000. It got a score of 85 out of 100. It ranked "very good" in ease of use, "excellent" in ergonomics, "excellent" in exercise range, and "very good" in quality. The Nordic Track S3000 isn't cheap, however, with a price tag of $3,500.
The third highest ranked treadmill was the SportsArt 3110 with a total score of 82 out of 100. It ranked "very good" in ease of use, "excellent" in ergonomics, exercise range, and quality. The SportsArt 3110 retails for $2,900.
Consumer Reports Best-Buy Non-Folding Treadmill:
Vision Fitness T9500 Deluxe
Although it only had a score of 81 out of 100, it got the Best Buy nod for its affordable price ($2,000) and high rankings in each category. It got a "very good" rating for ease of use and "excellent" in ergonomics, exercise range, and quality.
The Vision Fitness T9200 Simple also got the Best Buy nod with a price tag of $1,300.
Poorest Ranking for a non-folding treadmill: Schwinn 820p scored 69 out of 100.
FOLDING Treadmill Ratings - Top 3 Performers
The Bowflex 7-Series was the top performer and got the "Best Buy" nod with a total score of 83 out of 100. It got a "very good" rating for ease of use, and an "excellent" rating for ergonomics, exercise range, and quality. The Bowflex 7-Series is very affordable too with a price tag of only $1,500.
The second highest ranking folding treadmill was the The NordicTrack S1900 with a score of 83 out of 100. It got an "excellent" rating in ease of use, ergonomics, exercise range, and a "very good" rating for quality. The NordicTrack S1900 retails for $2,600.

The Horizon Fitness Performance Series PST8 was the third top performer with a total score of 82 out of 100. It also got the "Best Buy" nod for its affordable price of only $1,600 and for its high ratings in the four categories. It got a "very good" rating for ease of use and quality, and an "excellent" rating for ergonomics and exercise range.
Poorest Ranking for a folding treadmill: Evo by Smooth Fitness scored 62 out of 100

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August 17, 2006 08:23 - The Best Rated Non-Folding Treadmill

Yesterday, I highlighted the recent ratings of the top performing treadmills by Consumer Reports. The Landice L7 Series Pro Sports Trainer was the highest rated non-folding treadmill with a total score 86 out of 100. This treadmill has been a popular choice among treadmill buyers for its quality construction and incredibly smooth operation. It's not cheap with an average retail price around $3,000, but it's worth every penny.
If you're looking for a durable treadmill that will give you years of use with very little maintenance, the Landice L7 Series Pro Sports Trainer is definitely worth a look. Read my latest review for a detailed look at this treadmill.
If you are just beginning to shop for a treadmill and have no idea where to start, be sure to read our treadmill buyer's guide and our treadmill recommendations.

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August 18, 2006 09:46 - The Top Rated Folding Treadmill for 2006

I know some of you might be getting tired of my treadmill entries, but I wanted to end the week with one more treadmill review. Today, I want to highlight the top rated folding treadmill for 2006 by Consumer Reports. It's the Bowflex 7 Series treadmill.
This treadmill is loaded with features, gets rave reviews, and is amazingly affordable. Read my full review of the Bowflex 7 Series treadmill.

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August 19, 2006 10:33 - Size Matters When it Comes to Weight Loss

Don't worry guys - it's not what you think. You can lose weight regardless of the size of your family jewels. What I'm referring to is the size of your plates, bowls, and utensils.
One of the easiest things you can do to lose weight is control your food portions. The best way to do that is to count every calorie you eat or measure and weigh your food. The reality is, nobody is going to do that - at least not over the long term anyway. The next best option is to use smaller plates, bowls, and utensils.
The idea behind this technique may seem obvious - smaller plates, bowls, and utensils hold less food. While that is certainly true, there is more to it than that. It seems that most people are unaware of just how much food they are serving themselves. And nutrition experts aren't exempt!
A recent study cited in an article on MSNBC.com consisted of 85 nutrition experts who were asked to attend an ice cream social. They were randomly given large and small bowls and serving spoons. They were asked to serve themselves during the social. Those who used large bowls and large serving spoons served themselves - and ate - nearly 57 percent more ice cream than those with smaller bowls and spoons.
So the next time you head to the refrigerator for some grub, grab a small plate and bowl first. You'll serve yourself less food - and eat less - without even thinking about it. No more counting calories or weighing your food. Portion control doesn't get any easier than that!

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August 21, 2006 09:16 - Hundreds of FREE Workout Routines

Have you hit a plateau or are your workouts just getting boring? Maybe it's time to mix things up a little and try something new. The best thing you can do to keep your workouts interesting (and keep you motivated) and to keep those muscles growing is change your workouts on a regular basis. Opinions vary on how often you should change your workout routine, but most trainers recommend every three months at a minimum.
Changing your routine regularly can be challenging but it doesn't have to be. You can always hire a personal trainer but why pay someone $50 an hour or more when you can easily do it yourself? Bodybuilding.com has a workout program center that is loaded with hundreds of FREE workouts, articles, and exercise videos. You can quickly find workouts that are customized to exactly what you want by taking a simple questionnaire. You can print out workouts and a workout log to take to the gym with you. What I also like about this resource is they have high quality videos of numerous weight lifting exercises. It truly is one of the best free resources on the Internet. Visit the workout program center and see what you think.

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August 22, 2006 11:27 - Lose Fat and Keep it Off with this Natural Food

It's one thing to lose excess body fat, but it's another to keep it off. What if I told you there is a natural food that may help accomplish both? Several recent studies have looked at the role that protein plays in helping you lose fat and keep it off, and the results of the studies look very promising.
The studies show that eating lean protein foods are important for regulating body composition because it decreases your appetite. In addition to being an effective appetite suppressant, studies show eating more lean protein foods are effective in helping burn fat and keeping it off because of dietary thermogenesis (the energy, or calories, required to digest and process the food you eat).
Tom Venuto wrote an article titled, "Burn Fat and Curb Your Appetite with this Metabolism-Boosting Food," where he highlights these recent studies and provides his own recommendations. One study in the article is particularly interesting. It showed that those in the study that took as little as 30 additional grams of protein per day, or just 20% above traditional protein recommendations, were less likely to regain any lost weight and any weight they did gain was lean tissue - not body fat!
If Tom's article isn't enough to motivate you to include more protein in your diet, check out the article written by Will Brink titled, "The Whey to Weight Loss." In it, he discusses in great detail how whey protein may be very effective in shedding unwanted body fat.

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August 23, 2006 11:06 - The Creatine Report: Everything You Need to Know

Considering creatine? Before you plunk any money down on creatine supplements, be sure to get a copy of our FREE 43-page creatine report. This is not a report to convince you to use creatine, nor is it an attempt to sell you specific creatine supplements. This is just a straight forward guide to give you all the facts before you start taking it. In the report you'll learn:
What creatine is and how it works

What creatine may do for you

How safe is creatine

How to use creatine properly

Loading and maintenance phases

Importance of creatine purity
Click here to request your free report instantly.
*The creatine report doesn't provide information on specific creatine supplements. If you decide that creatine is right for you and need advice on specific supplements, read our page on Creapure creatine. I explain what Creapure is and why it's the only brand of creatine you should take.

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Total Fitness Plan Free Fitness Tools Body Basics Macronutrients Micronutrients Nutritional Supplements Home Fitness Equipment Men's Total Fitness Blog	Men's Total Fitness Blog Men's Total Fitness Home Page : Men's Total Fitness Blog : August 2006 August 9, 2006 21:44 - 10 Best Disease Fighting Foods I don't know what it is but for some reason it seems like every health and nutrition website I visit lately has a list of the "top foods" for this or that. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining - quite the contrary. I'm glad to see these quick lists because they're great for putting together grocery lists and meals plans. And if you're like me, seeing information in a simple list makes it so much easier to retain the information. At any rate, a stumbled across this particular list on the MSN website and was floored by what I saw. I knew the foods on this list were high in antioxidants but I had no idea the number of antioxidants were in the thousands! It's hard to believe that there are over 9,000 antioxidants in just one cup of blueberries. That is amazing. I urge you to include as many of these foods as a part of your daily diet. Aim to eat at least half of these foods on a daily basis. If you do, your body will be a disease fighting machine! 10 Best Disease-Fighting Foods (number shown is the number of antioxidants per serving listed) Blueberries (1 cup): 9,019 Cranberries (1 cup): 8,983 Blackberries (1 cup): 7,701 Raspberries (1 cup): 6,058 Red Delicious apple (one): 5,900 Red kidney beans, cooked (½ cup): 5,569 Pinto beans, cooked (½ cup): 4,983 Walnuts (1 ounce): 3,846 Navel orange (one): 2,540 Green tea (1 cup): 2,231 To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink) August 10, 2006 21:18 - How Much Exercise You Really Need For the past decade I have been working out just about every weekday. I would say my daily exercise routines were rather intense as they included strength training and vigorous runs on the treadmill. This worked well for me over the years until recently. I guess age was finally catching up with me because I was experiencing nagging aches and pains. When we're young, we can get away with daily vigorous exercise. Once we leave the maintenance-free decade of our 20's, however, we have to be smarter about exercising. That being said, I've had to step back and dramatically change my workout routines. The majority of my workouts now are moderate with just a couple intense workouts each week. Thankfully, the aches and pains have subsided and I haven't lost any of the gains I achieved over the years. Jon Benson, author of Fit Over 40, wrote an article recently on this subject that I recommend. The article is titled, "Moderate-Intensity Exercise May Melt More Pounds," and in it he stresses the importance of blending moderate and intense exercise for optimal results. He cites a recent study that showed those who worked out moderately lost more weight than those that worked out intensely. To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink) August 11, 2006 12:33 - How Much Exercise You Really Need: Part 2 In yesterday's entry I talked about my need to change my workout routine so that they were more moderate and not so intense. I also recommended a great article by Jon Benson about the importance of blending moderate and intense exercise for optimal results. Today I want to continue with this theme because I think it's so important for people to realize that regular exercise doesn't mean you have to spend hours in the gym. I think most people fail to stick to their workouts because they get so burned out thinking they have to train like a professional athlete to shed some weight. One hour at the gym is all you need - unless you are a serious athlete training for a specific event or sport. Tom Venuto, a well-respected fitness trainer and author, wrote an article titled, "The Truth About How Much Exercise You Really Need." It's a long article but very motivating and worth the read. He discusses how everyone is looking for a quick fix to fat loss and how we all want results without exercising. He stresses the importance of daily exercise but emphasizes that doesn't mean you have to train like a professional bodybuilder or spend hours in the gym everyday. He says one hour is all you need and if you have an efficient workout, you can even get in and out of the gym in 30 minutes and still get the results you want! What Tom recommends is challenging intense exercise a few days a week AND doing some form of moderate exercise - enough to break a sweat, get you breathing heavy and bring your heart rate up - almost every day of the week, most of the year. Ultimately, he concludes that the answer to how much exercise is necessary depends on what your goals are. This is the best advice because we all have different goals. For some of you, it might mean you have to spend more than an hour in the gym everyday. Fortunately, for most of us it means moderate exercise most of the time with a few intense exercises for about 30-60 minutes per day with one or two days off per week! To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink) August 12, 2006 14:38 - Which One Should You Choose: Fish Oil or Flaxseed Oil? Before we dive into the differences between fish oil and flaxseed oil and which is the best for you, let me briefly tell you about omega-3. Along with omega-6, they are essential fatty acids (EFAs) that can't be produced in the body. They must come from your diet. Essential fatty acids are the good fats, or healthy fats, that are crucial for optimal health. They support the cardiovascular, reproductive, immune, and nervous systems. A deficiency in essential fatty acids has been linked with a variety of health conditions such as aging, stress, illness, and disease. While the typical American diet is rich in omega-6, it is deficient in omega-3. In fact, we consume way more omega-6 than we need. Most Americans need to cut back on omega-6 and increase their consumption of omega-3. For more detailed information on EFAs, visit my essential fatty acids page. While I'm not a fan of Nature Made's products, they have a number of excellent articles on nutrition. A recent article they wrote is titled, "How to Choose: Fish Oil or Flaxseed Oil?" It provides an excellent primer on essential fatty acids and the basic differences between fish oil and flaxseed oil. The article does a good job of pointing out the various differences between these two rich sources of omega-3. My only complaint is, after reading it you are still left wondering which source you should choose! I believe the best approach is a mix of both. I get the bulk of my omega-3 from flaxseed oil and flaxseeds. However, I still take fish oil supplements everyday as well. I just don't take as many as someone would have to if it was their only source of omega-3. As you will read in the article from Nature Made, your body has to convert the omega-3 found in flaxseed and flaxseed oil, but that shouldn't be a problem for a healthy individual. That is why I make flaxseed oil my primary source of omega-3. Flaxseed oil is also much cheaper than fish oil supplements and it is much easier to get large quantities of omega-3 in a single serving of flaxseed oil than in fish oil supplements. To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink) August 14, 2006 11:58 - Fish Oil and Fat Loss On Saturday I wrote about the differences between fish oil and flaxseed oil. I wasn't planning on doing another entry on fish oil, but I ran across another recent article about fish oil so I thought I would write about it once more. The article is written by Christian Finn, a certified personal trainer, and it's titled, "The Myth about Fish Oil and Fat Loss." Christian discusses a recent article that appeared in a newspaper in the UK. The article details a study that was conducted that showed daily doses of oil containing omega-3 fatty acids, combined with moderate exercise, can result in significant weight loss. The study claims that fish oil increases the elasticity of blood vessel walls and improves the flow of blood to muscles during exercise. In theory, this increased blood flow could accelerate fat loss via an increase in the delivery of lipolytic stimuli to fat cells. Sounds interesting but Christian is skeptical. He says that while there is plenty of research demonstrating the effect of fish oil on fat loss in rats and mice, research showing a direct effect on body fat in humans is limited in both size and quality. In conclusion, Christian says that despite the fact fish oil has a number of important health benefits, expecting it to be some kind of magic bullet for weight loss is a myth. Popping fish oil capsules without making any changes to your diet and exercise program won't do you any good as far as weight loss is concerned. To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink) August 15, 2006 21:34 - 6 Secrets to Reach Your Workout Goals Faster Men's Health magazine, a favorite of mine, has an article on their website titled, "Double Your Muscle: Reach your workout goals faster with these 6 secrets." The main point of the article is that men should try training with a partner because a partner can motivate you, challenge you, and hold you accountable, according to the article. While I can appreciate the benefits of training with a partner, it's just not for me. In fact, in the 10+ years that I have been working out, I've never trained with a partner. Why? Because I'd be in the gym forever if I trained with any of my workout buddies because they all like to talk too much. Sure I could hire a trainer, but at an average rate of $50/hour, I'd have to spend around $250/week! Sorry, it's not going to happen. The truth is, I'm more efficient by myself and I don't have a problem pushing myself or holding myself accountable to my workouts. So if you're an independent person capable of pushing yourself, you probably don't need a trainer. However, if you're having difficulty sticking to a workout routine or can't seem to take your workout to the next level, a training partner might be perfect for you. As for the six secrets to reaching your workout goals faster, the Men's Health article details six specific exercises you can do with a partner. The six exercises are: Seated Medicine-Ball Throw Seated Medicine-Ball Rotation Back-Extension Throw EZ-Curl-Bar Biceps Challenge Kneeling Hamstring Curl Leg Circuit Race To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink) August 16, 2006 11:40 - The Latest Treadmill Ratings by Consumer Reports Are you in the market for a treadmill? Who better to turn to than Consumer Reports when trying to find the best treadmills. The latest Consumer Reports ratings for treadmills came out this month so I thought I would pass along the top performers - including those getting the "Best Buy" nod. I'll be providing more details on these treadmills including where to get the best deals on them over the next several days so be sure to add my blog to your RSS feed or bookmark this page! If you are just beginning your search for a treadmill and have no idea where to start, be sure to read our treadmill buyer's guide and our treadmill recommendations. NON-FOLDING Treadmill Ratings - The Top 3 Performers The Landice L7 Series Pro Sports Trainer got the highest ranking with a score of 86 out of 100. It got an "excellent" rating (which is the highest rating) in all four categories: Ease of use, ergonomics, exercise range, and quality. The Landice L7 Series Pro Sports Trainer will set you back about $2,900. The second highest ranked non-folding treadmill was the NordicTrack S3000. It got a score of 85 out of 100. It ranked "very good" in ease of use, "excellent" in ergonomics, "excellent" in exercise range, and "very good" in quality. The Nordic Track S3000 isn't cheap, however, with a price tag of $3,500. The third highest ranked treadmill was the SportsArt 3110 with a total score of 82 out of 100. It ranked "very good" in ease of use, "excellent" in ergonomics, exercise range, and quality. The SportsArt 3110 retails for $2,900. Consumer Reports Best-Buy Non-Folding Treadmill: Vision Fitness T9500 Deluxe Although it only had a score of 81 out of 100, it got the Best Buy nod for its affordable price ($2,000) and high rankings in each category. It got a "very good" rating for ease of use and "excellent" in ergonomics, exercise range, and quality. The Vision Fitness T9200 Simple also got the Best Buy nod with a price tag of $1,300. Poorest Ranking for a non-folding treadmill: Schwinn 820p scored 69 out of 100. FOLDING Treadmill Ratings - Top 3 Performers The Bowflex 7-Series was the top performer and got the "Best Buy" nod with a total score of 83 out of 100. It got a "very good" rating for ease of use, and an "excellent" rating for ergonomics, exercise range, and quality. The Bowflex 7-Series is very affordable too with a price tag of only $1,500. The second highest ranking folding treadmill was the The NordicTrack S1900 with a score of 83 out of 100. It got an "excellent" rating in ease of use, ergonomics, exercise range, and a "very good" rating for quality. The NordicTrack S1900 retails for $2,600. The Horizon Fitness Performance Series PST8 was the third top performer with a total score of 82 out of 100. It also got the "Best Buy" nod for its affordable price of only $1,600 and for its high ratings in the four categories. It got a "very good" rating for ease of use and quality, and an "excellent" rating for ergonomics and exercise range. Poorest Ranking for a folding treadmill: Evo by Smooth Fitness scored 62 out of 100 To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink) August 17, 2006 08:23 - The Best Rated Non-Folding Treadmill Yesterday, I highlighted the recent ratings of the top performing treadmills by Consumer Reports. The Landice L7 Series Pro Sports Trainer was the highest rated non-folding treadmill with a total score 86 out of 100. This treadmill has been a popular choice among treadmill buyers for its quality construction and incredibly smooth operation. It's not cheap with an average retail price around $3,000, but it's worth every penny. If you're looking for a durable treadmill that will give you years of use with very little maintenance, the Landice L7 Series Pro Sports Trainer is definitely worth a look. Read my latest review for a detailed look at this treadmill. If you are just beginning to shop for a treadmill and have no idea where to start, be sure to read our treadmill buyer's guide and our treadmill recommendations. To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink) August 18, 2006 09:46 - The Top Rated Folding Treadmill for 2006 I know some of you might be getting tired of my treadmill entries, but I wanted to end the week with one more treadmill review. Today, I want to highlight the top rated folding treadmill for 2006 by Consumer Reports. It's the Bowflex 7 Series treadmill. This treadmill is loaded with features, gets rave reviews, and is amazingly affordable. Read my full review of the Bowflex 7 Series treadmill. To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink) August 19, 2006 10:33 - Size Matters When it Comes to Weight Loss Don't worry guys - it's not what you think. You can lose weight regardless of the size of your family jewels. What I'm referring to is the size of your plates, bowls, and utensils. One of the easiest things you can do to lose weight is control your food portions. The best way to do that is to count every calorie you eat or measure and weigh your food. The reality is, nobody is going to do that - at least not over the long term anyway. The next best option is to use smaller plates, bowls, and utensils. The idea behind this technique may seem obvious - smaller plates, bowls, and utensils hold less food. While that is certainly true, there is more to it than that. It seems that most people are unaware of just how much food they are serving themselves. And nutrition experts aren't exempt! A recent study cited in an article on MSNBC.com consisted of 85 nutrition experts who were asked to attend an ice cream social. They were randomly given large and small bowls and serving spoons. They were asked to serve themselves during the social. Those who used large bowls and large serving spoons served themselves - and ate - nearly 57 percent more ice cream than those with smaller bowls and spoons. So the next time you head to the refrigerator for some grub, grab a small plate and bowl first. You'll serve yourself less food - and eat less - without even thinking about it. No more counting calories or weighing your food. Portion control doesn't get any easier than that! To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink) August 21, 2006 09:16 - Hundreds of FREE Workout Routines Have you hit a plateau or are your workouts just getting boring? Maybe it's time to mix things up a little and try something new. The best thing you can do to keep your workouts interesting (and keep you motivated) and to keep those muscles growing is change your workouts on a regular basis. Opinions vary on how often you should change your workout routine, but most trainers recommend every three months at a minimum. Changing your routine regularly can be challenging but it doesn't have to be. You can always hire a personal trainer but why pay someone $50 an hour or more when you can easily do it yourself? Bodybuilding.com has a workout program center that is loaded with hundreds of FREE workouts, articles, and exercise videos. You can quickly find workouts that are customized to exactly what you want by taking a simple questionnaire. You can print out workouts and a workout log to take to the gym with you. What I also like about this resource is they have high quality videos of numerous weight lifting exercises. It truly is one of the best free resources on the Internet. Visit the workout program center and see what you think. To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink) August 22, 2006 11:27 - Lose Fat and Keep it Off with this Natural Food It's one thing to lose excess body fat, but it's another to keep it off. What if I told you there is a natural food that may help accomplish both? Several recent studies have looked at the role that protein plays in helping you lose fat and keep it off, and the results of the studies look very promising. The studies show that eating lean protein foods are important for regulating body composition because it decreases your appetite. In addition to being an effective appetite suppressant, studies show eating more lean protein foods are effective in helping burn fat and keeping it off because of dietary thermogenesis (the energy, or calories, required to digest and process the food you eat). Tom Venuto wrote an article titled, "Burn Fat and Curb Your Appetite with this Metabolism-Boosting Food," where he highlights these recent studies and provides his own recommendations. One study in the article is particularly interesting. It showed that those in the study that took as little as 30 additional grams of protein per day, or just 20% above traditional protein recommendations, were less likely to regain any lost weight and any weight they did gain was lean tissue - not body fat! If Tom's article isn't enough to motivate you to include more protein in your diet, check out the article written by Will Brink titled, "The Whey to Weight Loss." In it, he discusses in great detail how whey protein may be very effective in shedding unwanted body fat. To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink) August 23, 2006 11:06 - The Creatine Report: Everything You Need to Know Considering creatine? Before you plunk any money down on creatine supplements, be sure to get a copy of our FREE 43-page creatine report. This is not a report to convince you to use creatine, nor is it an attempt to sell you specific creatine supplements. This is just a straight forward guide to give you all the facts before you start taking it. In the report you'll learn: What creatine is and how it works What creatine may do for you How safe is creatine How to use creatine properly Loading and maintenance phases Importance of creatine purity Click here to request your free report instantly. The creatine report doesn't provide information on specific creatine supplements. If you decide that creatine is right for you and need advice on specific supplements, read our page on Creapure creatine. I explain what Creapure is and why it's the only brand of creatine you should take. To reference this entry please copy the url in this link: (Permalink) April 2006 « » October 2006 RSS Feed For This News* Men's Total Fitness Home Page \| Men's Total Fitness Blog \| Archives \| Category Index \| Recommended Fitness Resources	FREE Fat Loss Report! 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