Research now shows that exercise improves the brain. Exercise is associated with an increase in the number of large diameter vessels in the cerebral region of the brain and with an increase in blood flow in the three major cerebral arteries, resulting in brain improvement, according to researchers of the Radiological Society of North America. The researchers noted, narrowing and loss of small vessels may contribute to cognitive decline. This area of the brain controls functions that include consciousness, memory, initiation of activity, emotional response, language and word associations.

Subjects exercised over 3 hours a week in aerobic sports on a regular basis, while others had exercised less than 1 hour a week. Age and cognitive ability were similar in the two groups and both groups were relatively healthy, with no significant cardiovascular or psychological conditions, including depression. The researchers used MRI and other methods to visualize cerebral blood vessels and determine cerebral blood flow. The results were, active subjects had more small blood vessels and greater cerebral blood flow than inactive individuals.


The total number of vessels with a radius of 0.2 to 0.3 millimeters was approximately 150 in the active individuals and approximately 100 in the inactive group.

“We found that as the blood vessel radius went up, the blood flow went up in the active group, while an increase in radius correlated with a decrease in blood flow in the inactive group,” Feraz Rahman, one of the researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, reported. “We also found that a loss of small vessels is not an issue in active adults, because the average vessel size increases and blood flow is positively correlated with radius. However, in inactive adults, the number of small vessels is an issue.” Rahman continued by stating, “An aerobic sports program may be a vital part of healthy aging by preventing the narrowing and loss of small cerebral vessels and consequent decrease in cerebral blood flow.” Click here to read more on brain improvement.

The Double Exercise Wheel will strengthen your arms, shoulders, abs, and back. The Exercise Wheel features comfortable grips which will help trim and tone your waist line. The wheels are made of molded plastic for smooth, even gliding. Each Exercise Wheel offers a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects. Click here to purchase!

With the Trikke 3 wheeled vehicle, you can now rip around in your driveway or ski your neighborhood. Now develop your ski training by turning any street, driveway, or town into a ski resort. Finally a home fitness machine which is affordable and a fun way to full body fitness. Join the TRIKKE revolution. Getting fit doesn’t have to be a bore anymore. Discover fun and a full body fitness while zipping around your neighborhood. Click here to “take a ride”!

The Precor EFX5.37 Elliptical is the most dynamic home fitness elliptical available. Engineered to move the way you move, the Precor Elliptical offers an incredible home fitness workout.  With 15 pre-set programs, 20 resistance levels, the Precor Elliptical allows users to switch back and forth between lower body and total body home fitness. A large scrolling window features enhanced program prompts and instructions for aerobic endurance, cross training, hill climbing, or a customized home fitness workout if desired. A heart rate monitor is included either on touch sensor handlebars or a wireless chest strap. With water bottle holders and data ports for music players, the Precor EFX5.37 Elliptical is the ultimate in home fitness equipment. Click here to Purchase!

The Star Trac Pro Elite Treadmill is the coolest new home fitness partner around. Unlike any other home treadmill, the Star Trac Pro Elite is loaded with two personal fans built right into the console. But that’s only the start of the breakthrough innovations. The Star Trac treadmill features a user friendly message window, 9 workout programs, 3 entertainment and data ports, multiple cup holders, and a 1/4 mile motivational track. A heart rate system monitors contact heart rate, dynamic heart rate and constant heart rate control. The Star Trac Treadmill readouts include speed, incline, time elapsed, calories, distance, and laps completed. All powered by a 5 hp motor, the Star Trac Treadmill has a soft running surface with triple cushioning for maximum shock absorption resulting in a smooth, reliable home fitness workout. Click here to Purchase!

With the Landice L870 Home treadmill, enjoy a health club quality workout in the privacy of your own home. Built to full commercial standards, the Landice treadmill offers the latest in engineering technology. The Landice L870 treadmill features a computer animated video display with state-of-the-art graphics. A 4 horsepower motor; wireless heart rate monitoring system; data storage for five family members; 15% electric grade elevation; and 0.5 - 12 mph speed range are only a few of the features found with the Landice L870 Treadmill. The ultimate home treadmill!
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The Precor EFX546 HR elliptical is the world’s most sought after exercise machine.  This premium, no impact elliptical is the same one found in health clubs but now affordable for your own home exercise room. The Precor elliptical features a forward or reverse elliptical stride that lets you adjust ramp and resistance for cross training benefits. The Precor EFX546 allows for smooth strides while holding the handrails or moving your arms in natural sync. Can be used with or without hand weights. The exclusive, electronically adjustable cross ramp lets you change the slope of your stride with the touch of a key to vary muscle emphasis. Click here to buy!

Does aging occur faster in sedentary individuals?

Research shows those with a more active lifestyle, including regular exercise, seem to be biologically younger. Researchers from a Kings College study, on over two thousand twins, found DNA pieces known as telomeres were much shorter in sedentary individuals. Researches believe that shorter telomeres may be linked to faster aging. In fact, the study findings indicate that most active individuals had telomere length that was comparable to the telomere length of inactive individuals who were a decade younger.

What does all this mean? Individuals who are active are less vulnerable to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Study results seem to indicate that individuals with an active lifestyle do not age as fast as sedentary individuals. In fact, study results pointed to a quicker aging process for inactive individuals. The Kings College study proves that adults with a regular exercise program are biologically younger than sedentary adults.

However, not all physicians are sure of a direct link between a regular exercise and an anti-aging effect. Dr. Jack Gurainik, of the National Institute of Aging, believes that more research will be needed to prove a direct correlation between regular exercise and aging. He went on to suggest that there are other biological factors that may explain the differences found between active and inactive study participants.

So while the medical profession does more research to reach an agreement on the exact effect exercise has on aging, all medical professionals seem to agree that regular exercise and healthy diet are important to overall health.

In maintaining an effective home fitness program, there is a formula which has assisted me. The formula is called the Paradox Principle. The Paradox Principle has four areas which must be honestly addressed in the development of any home fitness program. Those four steps are Awareness; Vision; Strategy; and, Execution. Below find a brief overview about each step of the Paradox Principle:

1. Paradox Principle - Awareness: The main question to ask yourself is “Do I get it”? In other words, do I have a complete understanding of what is involved in maintaining a home fitness program? Do you fully understand that this must be a regularly scheduled activity? What home exercises best meet your health needs?  Be aware you will never totally “get it” so always keep learning.

2. Paradox Principle - Vision: Here your question should be “Can I see it”? Do you have a vision of what the end, or outcome, looks like with your home fitness program?

3. Paradox Principle - Strategy: “Do I know what to do?” is the question to ask in this home fitness step. Here a few of the questions you need to answer? Make sure you have your home fitness program written out for you to physically see.  Don’t leave it to your memory to recall all the details. More importantly, the success rate is statistically proven to increase when your home fitness program is in writing.

4. Paradox Principle - Execution: “Will I get it done”? Having completion dates for each of your strategies is essential. Too often strategies are written but no date of when it will be executed is stated. By not putting a completion date on any of your home exercises, you will find that many will never get completed because there is no “urgency” placed on it and improvement in your home fitness will suffer.

Obviously, there are many more questions within the Paradox Principle that must be addressed but that will be saved for another article. The main point now is to know if these four steps are followed your chances of having a successful home fitness program will increase dramatically.

Self-Esteem Improvement
Start now before it is too late!

One of the most important traits to maintaining a consistent home fitness program is to have a strong self esteem. Having a home fitness program has many ups and downs each day. If you are not confident in yourself and the goals you are striving to achieve, your home fitness program will not last long. The way you think about yourself impacts how you interact with others. If you are determined to improve your self esteem, you are on your way to great achievement and improved health.

What are some examples of low self esteem and ways to improve?

1. Nothing you do seems to go right?
How often do you feel a decision made is the wrong one. So what? You are going to make decisions from time to time that are not the best ones. Learn from them, don’t dwell on them. Expect to make mistakes! If you don’t make mistakes, you are either the luckiest person alive or you aren’t doing anything. The same is true with a home fitness program. Make a plan on what home exercises you will do each day and stick to it. After a time, if you find some of the home exercises are too hard or don’t meet what you are attempting to accomplish, then modify your home workout. Study what is working and what is not, and make adjusts accordingly. You will see dramatic changes in the success of your home fitness program and in your self esteem.

2. You feel swallowed up in a whirlpool of frustration.
Stop thinking that the world is closing in on you. Get determined to achieve what you desire, including with your home fitness program. Stop blaming other people for your misfortunes. Take responsibility and improve your self esteem. The world is not your problem, you are your own problem. A good motto is, “Don’t be part of the problem, be part of the solution”. If you look to find solutions, the whirlpool of frustration rapidly disappears and your self esteem will soar.

3. I could never accomplish that!

From this moment on, begin the process of self esteem improvement. Think the right way, be determined to win, and win you will.  This includes a consistent home fitness program. Just remember success never comes easily and that is why determination is its counterpart. One often gets to the brink of success and with just a little disappointment or setback, they lose heart, give up too easily and too soon and their self esteem plummets. You will find this true as you progress with your home fitness program.  Stay with your home exercises! Who knows what great things might have been achieved if you only had persevered. Without a high self esteem, your life will be rather boring. You have to seriously decide either to remain in a miserable state of low self esteem, or acquire self esteem improvement and develop a high self esteem with good character and self image. Change your thinking, begin to see yourself on top of the world, no matter what it takes and your self esteem will soar.