Do Vibration Plates Really Work?

When it comes to vibration plates, many people, including me, often ask if they are actually useful? Do they work?

Vibration plates are platforms that you stand on, or you kneel on them or rest your elbows or hands on them – you can use them how you wish. The platforms themselves vibrate, the vibration intensity is something you can control using the panel – you can turn the intensity up or down depending on the level and type of workout you are doing.

Along with the platforms that vibrate – or vibrating plates – many models out there also have straps that you can hold onto using your hands (or ankles) by wish you vary your workout positions and actions working different muscle groups.

The vibration, some experts believe, when activates in the right setting – promote fat loss and muscle toning. By vibrating your body as a whole while you stand in certain positions can give you the feeling of having worked out.

In my professional opinion, I am convinced yes they do work. Of course for them to be fully effective, you would still need to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle.

They certainly will not burn as much calories as a run or an hour or so on the cross trainer would. But the vibration plate would be a very good post workout exercise so I would always leave it until right at the end when I am really fatigued and then burn the last few calories on the vibration plate. The workout will not be near as intense as other machines in the gym but as a finisher to your workout session, this is a good way to end the day.

Another good idea to use it is having one at home and using it while you watch tv in the evenings. Find the best vibration plates at bestvibrationplates.co.uk.

So, what are your thoughts people, do you think vibration plates work? Have they worked for you?

I would love to hear what you guys think.

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Why Buy A Cross Trainer?!

Why Not Walk Or Bike?

When we think of working out, we immediately think running or riding the bike. Both of which are great physical activities and really good forms of cardio vascular exercises.

In addition to the treadmill and exercise bikes in the gym, there is also the cross trainer. The cross trainer, also known as an elliptical trainer is the ultimate in low impact cardio while maintaining a high intensity workout.

The cross trainer will give you a full body workout, where the bike and treadmill predominantly target the legs and the lower body in general. You hold on to the handles where you push and pull with your arms. This activates the muscles in your arms, shoulders, chest and back. At the same time as peddling activating your legs, abs and glutes.

Toning It

While traditionally people use the cross trainer for cardio, it is also often used for toning purposes. So if you wanted to shape your legs and glutes, you could set the machine so you hone in and work on those areas exclusively. In the same instance, if you wanted to workout your arms, you would follow suit.

There are many different types of cross trainers on the market today, the best cross trainers have an in-built console with various settings, resistance levels, heart rate sensors, user profiles and many other features. Check more out at toprevs.com.

Things To Consider When Buying

It is always advised to first workout what it is you want in a cross trainer, also look at your budget and the physical space you have in your home to store and use the trainer, it is wise to check the warranty period as well – to make sure the cross trainer will be seen to if something were to go wrong with it. Most of the top manufacturers offer an in-home service and repair within their warranty period.

Here are some good points to consider when buying a cross trainer. While it is a decent sized investment, it could be your best investment this year! (that is if you’re serious about keeping fit!).

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Electric Bikes – The Ride Of The Future!

Electric Bike Riding Benefits

Riding a bike is one of the best forms of cardio you can do. For leg toning, the workout is pretty amazing.

In all there are many benefits to riding your bike, this site here shows 10 and I will expand on some of the more crucial ones in this article that are more focused on electric bikes.

Low Impact

Compared with running, riding the bike is extremely low impact (some would even argue that it is in fact no impact!). The reason being, your feet are constantly moving in a circular motion as opposed to up and down when running.

This low impact movement will save your joints an enormous amount of stress to your joints.

Take A Break!

One of the biggest, if not THE biggest advantage to having an electric bike instead of a conventional bike is that fact that if you get tired, you simply switch to battery mode and let the bike ride you, rather than you riding your bike. You simply cruise along and enjoy the ride.

Depending on the capacity of the battery, it may even have enough juice in it to take you all the way home!

Put The Fun Back In Cycling!

Most people will not cycle, or workout for that matter, because its an effort on their part. This is the number one reason why people refuse to work out. They choose the path of least resistance.

With an e-bike, it seems that people are a lot more willing to use it. The fact that it is fun is a huge motivator and people actually want to use it.

Charge Wherever You Are!

Most people commute to and from work using their electric bikes. They simply take the charger with them and charge the battery whilst at work. This makes sense as they will then have enough power for the journey home.

These are some of the benefits of having an electric bike. Here is a video for you to enjoy.

For more information on ebikes, reviews and such, check out e-bikereview.uk.

 

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Why Your Locks Are Important

Locks & Locksmiths

Having a good set of locks in your home or office is one of the best investments you are likely to make in your life.

Think about it, it is the locks that will keep your personal possessions safe.

We take for granted the security of our environment. Whether it is the home, office or any other place.

It is where we keep our valuables such as laptops, PC’s, TV’s jewellery and even the priceless possessions such as memories like photos, videos etc. things that simply cannot be replaced.

With the security of these areas comes peace of mind that you are guaranteed to be safe and sound and the things we cherish the most will always be with us.

Good locks are supplied and fitted by good trustworthy locksmiths. Epsom Locks are one such company. They value their customers and are always on par when it comes to value for money.

Epsom Locks will visit your home or business premises and give you a customised quotation with exactly what work needs to be carried out, they will also advise you on how they intend to do the work so you know exactly what you are getting for your money.

If you are looking for quotations from different locksmith companies – always make sure to ask for references, also ask what works they have done before. Qualifications and insurance certificates are always good to ask for as well. If a lock smith doesnt have the right insurances then the job may cost more than what you get quoted for.

A good locksmith will always show you and be proud of their certificates and endorsements as they will naturally be proud of them. You will also usually see these on their business websites.

So, once again, if you are looking for a good locksmith, give Epsom Locks a visit – you can find them at EpsomLocks.co.uk.

 

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Bike Riding – Not The Motor Kind!

As you will have seen from the previous article about keeping fit, I cover cross training and weight lifting. The exercise I didnt cover is riding your bike.

Like working out on the cross trainer, riding a bike is also a very good and effective low impact movement. It works your legs, abs and glutes. Unlike the cross trainer, however, it will not give you a full body workout; rather a lower body workout.

I actually love riding my bike, it keeps me in shape and its just a fun activity (although still doesnt beat my dirt bike in having fun!).

Riding my bike actually has done wonders for toning my legs. I try to ride at least a few times a week.

When its raining, its not ideal riding the bike, well not outdoors anyway. This is why I have bought myself one of the best turbo trainers on the market, by TacX.

A turbo trainer is a very cool device that your bike sits on to allow you to ride your bike stationary indoors. Your rear wheel is fixed onto the trainer, your front wheel is stabilised using a bracket.

Magnetic cycle trainers allow the user to get a great bike workout in the comfort of their own home. Whether its raining, snowing or just plain windy, now you have no excuse to ride you bike.

Sure you could buy an exercise bike for around the same amount of money as a decent trainer but the downside is, now you have two different specifications of the bike to workout on. The exercise bike is, of course, very different in terms of resistance, seating and handle bar position and the stride length when compared to your outdoor bike. So to keep things inline, a turbo trainer is your best option.

 

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Why it is important to keep fit

I love keeping fit, I play football, baseball, and basketball and is keeping fit is not just a hobby of mine but it is also a way of life.

When I’m not working out playing the sports above I am always in the gym or outside on the circuit running or lifting weights. At the end of the day if we don’t have our health, our bodies what do we have?

I have also gotten into training with a cross trainer of late I love the cross trainer because it is a low impact exercise. While it is still a high intensity movement you are not impacting on your joints as much as if you were running. With a cross trainer you get a full body workout so is much more efficient than running.

Another sport which I love is swimming because, again, it is extremely low impact and a full body cardiovascular exercise. It works at every muscle in your body. Swimming is freakin’ awesome.

While I still run,I can feel the pain in my joints after a long run. Where when I am working on the cross trainer I can easily work out double the time that I do running and I feel no pain at all. this is the beauty of a low impact workout.

I also left weights. One of my favourite weight lifting exercises has to be the dead lift. The dead lift is an amazing upperbody and lower body lift.

The dead lift works out every muscle from your forearm to your shoulders to your biceps to your back and your glutes and it increases the strength in your back and stabilises your spine. And this is the reason why I love the dead lift.

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Winter Riding - Your Dirt Bike

As soon as the first major snowfall hit, I'd pack away my dirt bikes along the side of the garage wall and have to look at them daily as I waited for spring. Once I realized a few die-hard dirt bike riders were still at it in the winter, I started looking into it. Other than dressing warm -- which I mentioned in a previous article – your dirt bike is the biggest consideration. Those knobbies may be great in the dirt – but not as much help on ice or 3-foot drifts.

The prime tire for winter riding – if you can afford it – is one with the spikes permanently installed. If you can, get the carbide-tipped spikes – they'll last much longer, giving you more riding for your dirt bike buck. Speaking of price – it'll seem a little steep at first, but sit back and realize that they'll last for years, and then think about how much it's worth to get all that extra dirt bike time.

If you just can't afford the ready-made tires for riding in the snow, or on ice, you still have a homemade option. Visit your local hardware store or building centre and pick up a bag of hex-head metal screws. If you're okay with spending a little bit more, check your local dirt bike shop, or online, for ice riding screws or tire traction screws. As I mentioned, they're a little more expensive than the hardware store option, but tend to stay in the tire longer and grip a little better.

When you're making your own set of winter or ice tires for your dirt bike, it's going to feel a little strange screwing a sharp object into your tire on purpose. Ideally, you want to install as long a screw as possible so it stays put... but not so long that it punctures your inner tube. If you can, use newer or brand new tires since the knobs will be taller/thicker and try not to use screws shorter than half an inch.

If riding your dirt bike in the snow turns out to be a regular and frequent event, keep your eyes open for an extra set of rims for your machine. If you have your winter tires pre-mounted on rims, swapping tires can be done in less than an hour.

If you're going to ride your dirt bike in the snow for more than a few minutes, you'll want to install a shield or protector for the carburetor – otherwise your carb will ice up, and your dirt bike's performance will suffer. If you look around long enough, you can find commercially made shields for some bike models, but a homemade solution is fairly easy to come by. I've seen protectors made from cutting plastic bottles or milk jugs to shape... inner tube pieces zip-tied to the carburetor... and a modified hand guard complete with its own mounting screws. Avoid using any kind of tape to hold the shield in place – it'll often lose its grip in cold and/or wet conditions, and any fuel and oil drips will loosen up the adhesive. The carb area is also an awkward place to clean tape goop out of.

Also, depending on your bike and the day's conditions, keep an eye on your air box to make sure you're not sucking in snow and plugging it up.

Visit the full blog post here at  Winter Riding - Your Dirt Bike