Best Elliptical Trainer - 5 Tips to Choosing a High Quality Elliptical Machine

Buying an elliptical? Looking for the best elliptical trainer on the market? This is a popular time of year for elliptical trainer shopping. But the problem is that it can truly be overwhelming with so many options on the market today (over 30 different brands with several models for each!). But not to worry. Follow these 5 simple tips to pick a well-made machine that will last you for years: #1 Heavy Flywheel A heavy flywheel will give you a more solid feeling machine and a smoother elliptical ride. You won't get the jumps and starts you sometimes get with cheaper ellipticals. I've seen flyweels from 12 pounds up to 40 pounds. The heavier the better. #2 High Unit or Machine Weight The flywheel does play into how stable a machine is. But you also want to find a heavier machine to increase stability. Most manufacturers will tell you the unit weight of the elliptical - and you can compare from there. A heavier unit weight (along with good design and construction) will give you a more stable machine. You'll be able to pick up the pace without feeling the machine wobble under your weight. There's no point getting a machine that you're too scared to really workout on! #3 Proper Stride Length The stride is the furthest distance between the pedals. Most strides range from 14 - 22". A longer stride will fully work your leg muscles and, again, give you a smoother feeling ride. Most people do just fine with a 18 - 20" stride. However, very tall people (over 6'2") may want to go for a 21 or 22" stride. Some machines even come with adjustable strides so everyone in the family can choose the right stride for them! #4 Good Warranty The warranty protects your investment and is a great sign of the quality of construction. Warranties vary across the board but most come with the machine - you shouldn't have to pay extra for warranty coverage. Look for an elliptical with an extra long warranty, especially on parts, brakes and labor! #5 Entertainment Options While construction, flywheel and warranty are important, you also want to actually enjoy using your elliptical trainer! These days you can get everything from iPod docks to celebrity trainer workotu programs to web browsers on your elliptical machines. If you tend to get bored easily, you'll want a lot of entertainment options to keep you interested as you workout. Here's one more tip: Buy direct from the manufacturer. They usually have the latest models - and you don't pay store markup which can end up saving you quite a bit! So those are 5 tips for choosing the best elliptical trainer. Want another tip? Here it is: Most brands come out with new elliptical trainers every year - and usually they are most advanced than older models, giving you more for the money. These new models tend to start coming out in early November. So make sure to get the latest models if you want more bang for your buck!

A Sure Guide on How to Get Rich With No Money

Wealth does not just come out of the blue. It takes years of dedication, hard work and perseverance—not unless you are born with a silver spoon. Many people aim to get rich, but they do not have the right mindset. They think that they will never get rich because they do not have the money to start with. That is not the right way to go. Here is a guide on how to get rich with no money. First of all, start with the right attitude. Have the motivation and the drive to succeed. If you have that, no matter how many failures you will encounter, it will never hamper your spirit. If you have this, then go ahead with the next step—planning. Every endeavor needs a concrete plan in order to succeed. Start by thinking on ways to get extra money in order to start with a sure money making venture. Be creative and use your talents. If your talent is writing, then go make blogs in the internet that generate income. If you have an eye for photography, then take pictures for a fee. You can sell products that you can make out of cheap materials. There are endless possibilities. What you just need is the ability to see potentials in your talents and learn how to use them to earn. Once you are already earning, do not stop. Keep the money coming. Save a portion of your income to accumulate wealth. Cut down on the expenses. Once you stop buying the unnecessary things that you can live without, you will realize that you have more available money than before. Know the difference between assets and liabilities. Your lifestyle should not be modified just because you are earning a little more. There are plenty of ways through which you can save more money. You can also try doing your own laundry rather than spending money to have it done for you at the laundry shop. Moreover, you can make your own lunch at home and pack a to-go back for yourself and for children instead of buying from the cafeteria. Small amounts saved can accumulate and add up to your capital in the future. Once you have already generated enough money, you can try investing. Investing is the key why wealthy people get richer. Investing in real estate and the stock market are two of the most popular ways through which people increase their wealth. It may take some time to generate income but these are reliable means and proven investment instruments. Have some patience. Do not be in a hurry to get rich. There are times when one venture will fail. This should not hinder you from pursuing your money goals. The “how to get rich with no money” mentality can very well be replaced with a “how to get rich with what I have now” attitude. Your talents, flexibility, and perseverance will take you to your destination. Hang on and never stop believing in yourself. These are just guides on how to get rich with no money. You hold the key to your success.

A Back-to-School Adventure

Much of the country has been “back to school” for a few weeks now. In Michigan, however, today is the Official First Day of School. My family decided to beat the back-to-school blues that typically creep in over Labor Day weekend and went on a very special Michigan adventure. We walked across the magnificent, five-mile long, Mackinac Bridge! (Pronounced “mack-i-naw.”) It is a Michigan tradition to open the bridge one day a year, on Labor Day, to foot traffic. We were joined by 35,000 other people who were all eager to enjoy this special scene, too. The Mackinac Bridge is a breath-taking form of architecture that connects Michigan’s two peninsulas. It was an engineering marvel as the longest suspension bridge of its time, and is still incredibly impressive today. It is built to withstand 70 mph winds and 30-foot ice floes that come pounding across the Straits of Mackinac, where the Great Lakes of Michigan and Huron meet. Many who are from Michigan, or have visited, know there is a breath-taking moment when you drive north on I75 and suddenly see the stately towers of the bridge come into view. The view from atop the bridge, 200 feet above the Straits, is nothing short of majestic! 360-degree views of glorious blue and aqua fresh-water seas sprawl as far as the eye can see, interspersed with two massive peninsulas and seven islands. When my daughter was 15 months-old, she had been trapped her car seat for eight long hours due to a freeway closure that added a couple extra hours to our drive. She was screaming and screeching, trying to play “Houdini” and squirm out of her car seat. But, as we reached the bridge and gradually angled up, high above that magnificent land and water-scape, she became entranced… Her body was still. Her tears stopped. She leaned forward and stared. At her tender young age, she understood the magnificence of what was beneath her. “Wooooow! Oooooh!” she squealed in total wonderment. And, that’s the moment I knew that the Mackinac Bridge does not just have magical powers over me…it’s simply magical! Our trek today was about eight miles, by the time we walked from our car on one end of the bridge to the shuttle stop on the other end. I won’t lie; we are tired, hot, and weary as we begin our six-hour drive home. But, we soaked it all up and received our certificates for crossing the “World’s Greatest Bridge!” We are satisfied from our adventure…my husband and I are happy to have experienced something we’ve always wanted to do…and something our children instinctively know is special. Meanwhile, we completed our back-to-school preparations just before the weekend. The supplies, clothes, and shoes have all been inventoried and purchased. The backpacks are by the back door and food for lunches is in the fridge. I’m looking forward to a fresh start this year. Last year was a bit of a challenge for us. On one hand, it was a positive year because of many positive things: my son was healthier, my daughter was a year older and getting a bit “easier,” and my husband was on leave from his teaching job to provide much-needed assistance with SOAR® and the children. But, every single one of us was in a transition. The kids were each in a new school. Brian was in a completely new role as the “family manager.” I was in a new role as the primary bread-winner…and having to relinquish my tight-gripped control of our day-to-day routines. (That’s not easy for my type-A self.) These transitions meant that we had some disastrous times with school and homework! Let me tell you, it is no fun being a “homework and study skills expert” and having to explain to your child’s teachers that you dropped the ball. Yes, my children need to take responsibility for their work, but we were ALL having trouble keeping track of things. It wasn’t always graceful, but the good news is that we figured everything out. Ironically, it required a perspective much like that from the Mackinac Bridge…to pull myself above my day-to-day reality in which I am immersed. Sometimes, the frustrations got the best of me, but anytime I paused to ask myself, “What do I teach others to do that I am not doing, myself?” I always had an answer. I even pulled out my own “Scorecard” a couple of times and am very pleased to say that the Scorecard led me to my own solutions. (Thank God! I couldn’t live with myself if I was a hypocrite. My mother subscribes to these newsletters, too; she wouldn’t *let* me live as a hypocrite.) As this new school year begins, I’ve done my best to look at things from a “200-foot view” so that we can get off to a solid start. I have also reminded myself that the next “homework frustration” must be a signal to step back and reevaluate. We can always fix problems…if we are aware they are there to be fixed. Our walk over the Magnificent Mackinac Bridge was not just an adventure to celebrate the closing of summer; it was a metaphor for the perspective that will help us have a successful school year! The architect of the Mackinac Bridge, David B. Steinman, was also a poet. He wrote a poem about his beloved bridge and I think the last two lines capture the feeling I get when I am on that bridge… There it spans the miles of water, Speeding millions on their way- Bridge of vision, hope, and courage, Portal to a brighter day. The Mackinac Bridge stands for optimism and all that is possible! On this back-to-school eve, I feel very optimistic for this school year and for the future we are working to build for our children. I wish you and your family a wonderful school year, too!