In a recent article in the LA Times, the author asked three trainers what high-tech gadget or device they’d recommend above all others. Gina Lombardi, respected LA-based personal trainer, recommended a vibration plate and demonstrated the LifeSpan VP1000 Vibration Trainer. Below is the excerpt from the LA Times story.

“I’ll ask someone to keep their legs straight and touch their toes and they can’t do it, but they’ll get on the vibration plate for 30 seconds and they’ll be able to do it. Most people are inflexible in their hamstrings and lower back. I’ve also had people get on there and do fairly easy yoga poses and it tremendously increases their flexibility.”

“I recommend using it just twice a week to start and beginning on a low frequency — don’t do it with every workout because you have to get used to it. Ideally you should first try it with a trainer who knows how to use the machine. The most obvious improvement people usually see is in flexibility. Second is strength. I had one female client who couldn’t do one regular push-up after weight training for a couple of months. After I put her on the platform, she could do ten push-ups after one week. Women are always the underdogs when it comes to upper-body strength, so it’s nice to get the upper edge.”

Studies have shown that people who used the plate increased their power output and their strength. That’s huge, and it can apply to the average Joe who goes into the gym and wants to get more flexible and get stronger. Just by doing a few 30- to 60-second intervals on the platform they’re able to increase their strength and power, and it gives them that instant gratification that everyone wants.

Also, a lot of my clients do their own stunts, and it’s tremendous for getting them in top shape in a short amount of time. These are lasting effects but just like anything else, if you don’t use it you’re going to de-train.”

LifeSpan Vibration Trainer Key Features

• Three-Way Vibration — Experts recommend buying a vibration plate with three-way vibration. The LifeSpan VP1000 platform design provides multi-directional vibration, with movement up and down, side to side, and front to back.
• Versatile — In addition to achieving whole body vibration by simply standing on the VP1000 Vibration Trainer, you can also use it while it is vibrating to enhance several exercises. You’ll get a more intense workout as you perform lunges, squats, calf raises, pushups, situp twists and more. Exercises are easy to perform, yet you’ll feel the difference doing them with the VP1000.

LifeSpan Fitness has teamed with Kraft Foods in a promotion to introduce a new fitness beverage to consumers. Crystal Light Pure Fitness is a low calorie, naturally sweetened drink mix that contains electrolytes to aid in hydration during light physical activity.

Over 10 million Crystal Light Pure Fitness samples are being handed out nationwide over the next few months at LifeSpan authorized dealers, as well as health clubs such as Gold’s Gym, Bally’s and LifeTime Fitness; Jazzercise and Yoga centers; and wellness seminars, health fairs and area marathons and 10K fun runs. Samples will also be included in fitness and outdoor catalog orders, and in packages of Nabisco Wheat Thins and 100 Calorie Packs.

Each sample includes a promotional card with directions on how to enter a drawing for a LifeSpan Fitness TR1200i treadmill or S4 Indoor Cycling Bike (grand prize), or a LifeSpan Heart Rate Ring. The promotion also includes a link to a survey webpage where consumers can get a coupon for 10% off the MSRP of LifeSpan fitness equipment at participating retailers.

LifeSpan is proud to support new Crystal Light Pure Fitness drink mix. Look for your free beverage sample and make sure to enter the sweepstakes to win a LifeSpan treadmill or exercise bike!

• Superior Performance – 3.25 HP Continuous Duty Motor, 15 percent incline and speeds up to 12 mph. Backed by a commercial warranty and excellent service.
• Commercial Grade Running Platform – 20” x 60” performance running belt supported by 8 independent compression shocks for ideal support with cushioning. 1” thick deck, large tapered rollers, aluminum side rails, and 800 lb thrust incline motor.
• Solid, Secure and Stable – Fully boxed-in, welded frame with six brackets, and a unique design to keep handlebars and console from shaking, create the same solid feel of more expensive non-folding treadmills.
• Easy to Use Console with Challenging Exercise Programs – Large soft touch buttons, simultaneous display of exercise program profile and motivating readouts. Preset programs for runners include Interval, Fartlek, and MyZone Heart Rate Control. User defined programs vary speed and incline to simulate outdoor running.
• Exercise Logging – LifeSpan Fitness Club membership included! TR4000i automatically logs your miles and saves other workout data to a USB device so you can focus on your run. Upload results and track your progress in your personal online account. Simple and automatic!

Media Recognition

Featured in the Feb 2010 issue of Runner’s World magazine. “Most from the Smallest Space” and “Solid and Secure” are how Runner’s World describes the LifeSpan TR4000i folding treadmill.

The LifeSpan TR4000i treadmill also received the prestigious Best Treadmill award
from Health Magazine. Rated #1 by experts over all other treadmills.

The LifeSpan TR4000i treadmill was featured as one of the best treadmills for runners in the latest issue of Runner’s World. According to the premier magazine for runners, the LifeSpan TR4000i folding treadmill gives runners the ‘Most from the Smallest Space’. It is sized perfectly to save space in your home, while providing the power, durability, and performance runners need.

The TR4000i meets all the criteria experts recommend in the article for runners looking to buy a treadmill – 1) large motor, 2) spacious running surface, 3) easy to use controls and a deck that feels good underfoot, 4) great mix of hill and speed interval programs, and 5) solid warranty supported by quality service.

In addition, the TR4000i includes a USB data port to save workout data as you exercise, for easy uploading to a personal online health and fitness management account. View and track all your exercise (indoor and outdoor), and your vital stats in one place. You’ll see daily, weekly, and lifetime accomplishments too.

Most elliptical machines provide a total body workout exercising both the arms, legs and glutes with little impact on your joints.  The upper and lower body movement involves several muscle groups during exercise, resulting in less perceived exertion for calories burned.

Treadmills are less intimidating due our familiarity with walking, jogging, and running.  Exercising on a treadmill forces you to keep moving due to the motorized belt.  Treadmills also provide impact to your body which is offers bone density benefits.

The Bottom Line is that both elliptical machines and treadmills provide superb cardiovascular workouts.  It really comes down to personal preference.  The best choice for you is the one for they will use!

You can also track and monitor your heart rate and blood pressure online, using your personal LifeSpan Fitness Club account.  A LifeSpan Fitness Club membership is included with purchase of any Lifespan i treadmill, elliptical or health monitor.  The LifeSpan Blood Pressure Monitor includes a USB data port, enabling users to save blood pressure and heart rate readings to a USB device, then quickly and easily upload the results to their online fitness club account.  LifeSpan i treadmills, elliptical trainers, and exercise bikes also saves heart rate readings to a USB device, every 20 seconds as you exercise.

By tracking your heart rate and blood pressure readings in your online LifeSpan Fitness Club account, and using heart monitoring and programming features on LifeSpan fitness equipment, you can become more aware of your heart health and make good daily decisions that impact your life.

The Appeal of Indoor Cycling – You get the feel of riding outdoors, and simulating mountain and road bike conditions.  Indoor cycling lets you ride up hills and through valleys.  Users stand up and pedal thru difficult sections, and sit back and recover on easier sections.  With indoor cycling bikes such as the LifeSpan S2 Indoor Cycling Bike now available to home exercise enthusiasts, you can bring your indoor cycling class into your home and enjoy the comfort, convenience and security of riding in your own home.

Upright Bike vs. Indoor Cycling Bike – An upright exercise bike is designed for the user to sit on the seat and use built in programming.  When the flywheel spins the pedals don’t move without pedaling.  An indoor cycling bike is designed to simulate outdoor cycling on a mountain or road bike.  When the flywheel spins, the pedals will move.

Checkout the full line of LifeSpan exercise bikes:  upright, recumbent, and indoor cycling bikes.

The LifeSpan TR200 Fold N Stor treadmill quickly and easily folds into an ultra compact size so you can store it under your bed or couch, in a closet, or behind a door.  And it compes fully assembled and is ready to use in minutes right out of the box.  It has other great features like incline so you can walk uphill, and a large, intuitive console display with six exercise programs, motivating readouts, and professional sound system for your favorite tunes.

Check it out at www.lifespanfitness.com

Looking for a way to track your exercise to help you stick with your fitness program? Here’s a new online health and fitness management solution that will help you achieve your goals.

The LifeSpan Fitness Club takes you to a new world of health management, empowering you to take control of your health and fitness, by increasing your physical activity and helping you make good daily decisions that can have a positive impact on your life.

Getting started is easy. Just plug in the USB storage device that comes in a membership kit and create your personal online account. Set your health and fitness goals, and select a fitness program best suited for you!

Your customized fitness program tells you which days to exercise, for how long, and at what level of intensity. You choose the physical activities you enjoy, whether indoors or outdoors, at home or at the gym.

When you exercise on certified LifeSpan fitness equipment and use LifeSpan health monitors, your results are automatically saved to your USB for easy uploading into your account. You can also directly enter additional exercise results and vital stats.

Once your data is in your account, you can view it in a variety of ways that will help motivate you to stick with your exercise program. Share the information with your fitness professional, family, or support network, and most importantly, use the results to re-establish your health and fitness goals.

Now is the time to take control of your life! Lose the weight you’ve been trying to lose. Lower your stress level. Manage your blood pressure. Run that marathon you’ve always wanted to.

The LifeSpan Fitness Club is like having a personal trainer with you at all times. When you purchase select models of LifeSpan treadmills, ellipticals, and health monitors, you automatically receive a membership in the LifeSpan Fitness Club.

Enroll in the LifeSpan Fitness Club today!