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Equipment Buying Advice

Investing in the right fitness equipment for your home is an large and important decision. You've taken the first step by visiting us at Anytime.

We stand by all of the products on our website and are here to help at all steps. It can be a confusing process as the web is full of different options. We've tried to minimise the confusion by only offering the best equipment on the market. It's often helpful to have a price range in mind and some features that you would like the equipment to offer. Let us know if you'd like to discuss any of these details.

Choosing the right equipment type

Our broad range of fitness machines and gym accessories will help to achieve your goals. But, what are they? Do you want to:

  • Build up, tone and strengthen your muscles (strength training)
  • Lose weight (cardiovascular with a mix of strength training)
  • Complement your training for an event (cardiovascular, strength and flexibility)
  • Improve your overall level of fitness (a mix of cardiovascular, strength and flexibility)

Once you know what you want to achieve, then it becomes easier to choose the right equipment. To help you choose the right training tools, we give you a brief explanation of the three main types of training and give you some advice on which equipment is best suited for each type of exercise. :

  • Cardiovascular
  • Strength
  • Flexibility

Remember, it's important to note that if you want to achieve any of these fitness goals, then you need to make sure you follow a balanced nutrition plan.

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Cardiovascular workout

Cardiovascular exercise involves raising your heart rate (cardio) and pumping blood around your body (vascular), making your heart and lungs stronger. The benefits of this form of exercise are:

  • Increased metabolic rate
  • Burns calories
  • Reduces risk of cardiovascular disease
  • Decreases stress levels

In order to find out if you're getting the most out of your cardio training you should monitor your heart rate while you exercise.

Our current range of cardiovascular fitness equipment includes:

Strength training

Weight and strength training is when you exercise with resistance to increase muscle mass and strength. However, strength training isn't all about building big muscles; using lighter weights with more repetitions (eg. lift 1kg 20 times, instead of 10kg 10 times) will increase your metabolism and encourage fat loss without making you look like a body builder! However, if you do want larger muscles and increase strength, then you need to use heavier weights with lower repetitions. The benefits of this form of training are:

  • Helps support bones and joints
  • Improves coordination, muscle control and mobility
  • Increases muscle mass and tone
  • Improved metabolic rate
  • Decreased risk of injury

Our range of strength training equipment includes:

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Flexibility

To get the most out of your fitness programme and avoid injury it's vital to include some flexibility training before and after your workout. Reasons for doing flexibility training:

  • Reduces the risk of back pain and muscle damage
  • Improves your posture
  • Helps you to relax
  • Tones and strengthens your muscles
  • Easy way to get into shape

Our range of flexibility training equipment includes:

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Treadmills

Treadmills are the most popular cardiovascular equipment, because they are so easy to use and versatile. They can be used for a light walking session to training for a gruelling marathon, and can be used whatever the weather! And to save on space, many treadmills fold up for easy storage.

The best treadmills provide a solid but cushioned running deck, high powered, smooth motors and a console with plenty of feedback. Look out for models with motorised incline levels and a good choice of speeds too - inclines can make a huge difference to the amount of effort required and if the console offers programs you'll find that the incline angle plays as much a part of the built-in programs as the speed does. Programs can range from fat burning to intervals, and if the treadmill comes with heart rate measurement can often tailor the program to your heart rate.

Features
Elevation - To create resistance and increase the intensity of your workout simply adjust the level of elevation. Most treadmills have a maximum level of elevation of 10-15%.

Belt size - It's important to make sure that the belt size suits your stride length.

Folding - A lot of treadmills are designed to fold up to make storage easier. However, this does mean that it's taller when folded, so make sure your ceiling is high enough.

Console - Most models are fitted with either a LCD or LED console (see Console tab for more info).

Benefits

  • An easy way to start a new fitness programme; begin with walking, the most natural exercise, and gradually build up to a gentle jog or run
  • More expensive models have better cushioned running beds, super smooth motors and excellent feedback. A more cushioned running deck will absorb the impact to your joints more effectively, and smoother motors give a quieter and more comfortable workout
  • Most treadmills have an adjustable incline level; the steeper the incline, the more resistance is offered and the greater the effort required
  • Preset programs assist your workout routine. Programming options run from basic cardio and fat burning to workouts which simulate outside terrain, such as on some of the top end machines
  • Heart rate tracking and heart rate programmes allow you to monitor your effort level and train more safely
  • You can track speed, time, distance, calories burnt and energy used to measure your progress, and so specifically tailor exercise to your own personal fitness
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Elliptical Trainers (also called Cross Trainers)

Elliptical trainers are low impact, which makes workouts less stressful on your joints. They also burn more calories in less time and offer total body conditioning, helping to control weight, build lean muscle and reduce fat. To save on space, many elliptical trainers fold up for easy storage.

Features

Stride length - This is generally between 16"-19". Taller people should opt for a larger stride length.

Folding - Some elliptical trainers are designed to fold up to make storage easier. However, this does mean that it's taller when folded, so make sure your ceiling is high enough.

Console - Most models are fitted with either a LCD or LED console (see Console tab for more info).

Benefits

  • The versatility of an elliptical will keep you motivated.
  • You can work your upper and lower body together, or you can focus your efforts on one at a time.
  • They provide a full-body workout and are great for improving overall fitness quickly.
  • They are simple to use and require little practice.
  • The smoothness of motion and adjustable foot plates help to make your workout more comfortable.
  • A number of preset programs assist your workout routine.
  • A number of resistance levels allow you to exercise at different intensities.
  • Heart rate tracking and heart rate programs allow you to monitor your effort level and train more safely.
  • You can track steps, time, distance, calories burnt and energy used, to measure your progress. Therefore, you can specifically tailor exercise to your own personal fitness.
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Exercise Bikes

Bikes and Spin® Bikes give you a cardiovascular workout while putting less strain on your back, knees and leg joints, improving your stamina and promoting great lower body conditioning.

Types of exercise bike

Upright - most closely mimic outdoor bicycles.

Recumbent - the seat is positioned parallel to the ground with the pedals in the front of the user, while a back support offers more comfort to users who suffer from knee or back problems.

Semi-recumbent - an inclined seat between that of an upright and recumbent, making it easier for elderly or disabled users to dismount.

Spin®Bikes - The super popular bikes used in Spinning® Classes across the world. Heavy Duty and built to last, these bikes use a large flywheel to generate inertia (momentum) which simulates real bike riding and allows for enjoyable sessions in classes or at home with lots of variety to your exercise.

Benefits

  • They are simple to use and require little practice - an ideal starting point for your exercise routine.
  • Because there is less movement you can watch TV or read a magazine whilst working out.
  • Preset programs assist your workout routine.
  • A number of resistance levels allow you to exercise at different intensities. Look out for models with permanent magnetic resistance pedalling motion (which allows for a quieter action) and electromagnetic braking systems, which are virtually silent, found on the more expensive machines.
  • Heart rate tracking and heart rate programs allow you to monitor your effort level and train more safely.
  • You can track speed, time, distance, calories burnt and energy used, to measure your progress. Therefore, you can specifically tailor exercise to your own personal fitness.
  • Adjustable seats and handlebars, cushioned seat pads and more robust frames help to ensure a more comfortable workout.
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Vibration Training

Vibration training is a relatively new exercise technique that's designed to train, tone and strengthen your muscles by using short bursts of intense vibration. It's claimed that a 10-minute session on a vibration plate is equivalent to an hour of conventional exercise.

How it works

You adopt a particular pose while the platform rapidly vibrates underneath you, making your muscles tense and relax to keep you in the correct position. This type of muscle movement is similar to the way they behave when you lift weights.

Benefits

  • Tones and strengthens your muscles, to improve mobility and to help maintain bone density.
  • Improves circulation, flexibility and balance.
  • Helps to keep your overall fitness level high.
  • Increase muscular strength and power.
  • Can alleviate chronic pain.
  • Reduces cellulite and body fat.
  • A 10-minute session provides a full-toning workout.
  • Increasing bone density and preventing bone mineral density loss related to ageing.
  • Improving general wellbeing, fitness and daily life functioning in patient populations.
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Rowing Machines

Rowing is a seated aerobic pursuit suitable for all users. It helps remove all the body weight from the ankles, knees and hips, moving the limbs and joints through a full range of motion, from completely extended to completely contracted. Also, a number of models can be folded to half their size, saving on space. The main thing to look for when buying a rower is the type of resistance it has.

Types of resistance

Magnetic - Controlled by electromagnets, this type of resistance provides a smooth, almost silent motion. It also allows you to control the level of resistance, creating the perfect workout for you.

Air - The resistance on these models is determined by your pace, which means that the resistance increases when your pace increases. This allows you to have some control over your workout.

Benefits

  • It's beneficial for the back, improving suppleness and developing strong posture, through recruiting the muscles of the torso in equal proportions to the other major muscle groups of the legs and arms
  • Very low impact on joints.
  • Once your technique is developed, the motion is flowing and overstraining is unlikely
  • Form your own resistance, so the more energy you put in, the tougher the workout you give yourself
  • Strengthens the heart and improves circulation
  • Heart rate compatibility means that you can monitor your performance and pace yourself at the required level, be it for fitness or fat-calorie burning
Multi Gyms

Multi gyms may be large in size, but they do provide a workout for the whole body. So whether you want to tone up, strengthen, build muscle, get in shape or a combination of these, then a multi gym can do all of this effectively.

Benefits

  • Provides a variety of exercises from just one piece of equipment, so you can have a full-body workout.
  • Helps to strengthen and build muscles, as well as condition major muscle groups.
  • Allow you to concentrate on certain muscles, including leg extension/curl, lateral pull-down, chest press and low pulley.
  • Despite being a large piece of equipment, many parts fold for easy storage.
  • Some multi gyms allow two people to use them at the same time.
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Consoles

Most cardiovascular equipment features sophisticated computerised training programs that will motivate, mentally stimulate and most significantly provide you with meaningful workouts and great results.

Typically the more expensive models normally reflect more sophisticated console technology, including advanced heart rate control features, but this is worth paying for if you are serious about achieving optimum fitness results. We list the types of console available for each model with a close up alternative image.

The software automatically adjusts resistance (ellipticals, bikes and steppers) or speed/elevation (treadmills) to ensure you are working within your given training zone.

When selecting which type would be most suitable, pay particular attention to the number and type of programs on offer, and whether it has an LCD screen (Liquid Crystal Display), which digitally displays information, or an LED screen (Light Emitting Diode) showing profile performance with easy to read lights.

Some equipment also offers options on integrated or embedded TV screens. Integgarted screens are attached above the console, while embedded screens are built into the consoles themselves and are touch screens.

Disclaimer

Before starting a new exercise programme we recommend you consult your doctor or other professional medical adviser, particularly if you suffer from:

  • A heart condition
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Asthma
  • Joint, muscular, or back problems
  • Any similar conditions

Or you are:

  • Pregnant
  • On any prescribed medication
  • Currently under the care of your doctor
  • Convalescing

Please note: This advice should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor; and, if you are in any doubt as to your fitness or are concerned about your health, then you should ask your doctor or any other health care professional for more information.

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