Fitness
Fitness
How to Improve Your Running with Elliptical Training
She couldn’t believe her eyes when she crossed the finish line nearly five and a half minutes faster than she’d ever run a 10K race. Her season started like it always did with a challenge from her running buddies to race in her town’s fall 10K. This year she wanted to focus on two goals, […]
Fitness
What is Runner’s High and How Do I Experience It?
Question: I’m training for my first half marathon and I’m surprised at this point that I haven’t felt “runner’s high.” What does it take to get to that point where you can run forever? Answer: All good things in fitness are earned, but just because you haven’t felt your runner’s high, doesn’t mean you can’t […]
Fitness
How to Recover from an Injury and Maintain Fitness Using the Elliptical
When aches and pains cross our path, it’s easy to think our fitness will be lost as we heal, but in many cases, we can maintain and recover efficiently by employing a new paradigm of training called active recovery. Healing from knee pain. Take Emily, for example. She was training for her first half marathon […]
Fitness
8 Hot Fitness Trends That Are New This Fall
Let’s face it, the summer months can be brutal when it comes to your fitness routine! Not only do you have the constant temptations of picnics, vacations, festivals, etc., but throw in some good, hot steamy weather and you have a recipe for disaster when it comes to added weight and lack of motivation. But […]
Fitness
Start Doing Functional Fitness: What You Need to Know (Part I)
Whether you’re in love with functional fitness or admit it’s the sport you love to hate, you can’t deny its impact on today’s approach to physical training. Functional fitness provides constantly varied movements at a high intensity (this can be scaled for all levels) to ensure that by not specializing in one specific movement or […]
Fitness
Start Doing Functional Fitness: What You Need to Know (Part II)
Whether you’ve decided to participate in a local gym or make use of the extensive on-line Community, functional fitness provides powerful workouts to take your training to the next level. The style of workout is designed to push you to your limits, while remaining scalable for all levels of fitness. Assuming you’ve done your preparation through […]
Fitness
Use these Four Tricks to Power Through Tough Workouts
The mind is an effective tool when you know how unleash its power. This is especially important when you’re challenging yourself in a hard workout, or pushing in a race. Managing your mind is just as important as training your body, because the minute your thoughts go south, it affects everything from your how your […]
Fitness
What To Do After You've Run Your Race
You did it! You committed to run a race. You got up early and trained tenaciously. And you finished your race! Now what? It’s common to feel a little down after a race. I call it Post Race Syndrome, or an emotional condition that sets in after you finish reaching a goal. You spend weeks […]
Fitness
5 Reasons to Run Socially
Although running is an independent sport, when done in a social environment, whether with your buddy or a group, it can be highly beneficial. Here are five reasons to grab a buddy or join a group on your next run. Accountability Have you ever set your alarm for 5am with the best intentions of getting […]
Fitness
Stay On Track With ViaFit
Do you love the idea of working out at home, but struggle to stay motivated? Ever wish your food journal, training log, and pedometer could work together to provide you with a clear picture of your progress? ViaFit may be the solution you’ve been looking for. ViaFit keeps track of your workouts and integrates with […]
Fitness
How Passport Player Transformed My Home Workouts
Product Review: Passport Player with Virtual Active Technology The interactive workouts of the future are today’s reality. Virtual Active technology provides the experience of exercising in a beautiful setting with a changing terrain that mimics selected workouts. The Passport Media Player by Horizon Fitness offers a convenient and responsive way to experience Virtual Active Technology […]
Fitness
4 Fun Elliptical Workouts to Give Your Joints a Break
The elliptical machine is one of my favorite modes for both my personal training and as well as my training clients. It’s like the little black dress – it goes with everything and it’s multi-functional. I’ve been using my Horizon Elite Elliptical this summer to train to climb Mt. Rainier. I use the Peak Interval […]
Fitness
6 Exercises To Strengthen Your Core
Your core muscles work to stabilize the spine and hips and include the abdomen, back, glutes and upper legs. A strong core is key to improving your mobility, balance, posture and strength. Most of us think crunches and other exercises done while lying in a supine position are best for increasing core strength. This is […]
Fitness
Am I A Real Runner?
How did you know when you had truly become a runner? I’m working on running but I’m wondering what it will take to feel like I am a real runner? ~ Tiffany The moment I became a runner in my mind was the moment I finished my first 5K. Up until that point, I felt […]
Fitness
The Real Differences Between Running on Roads, Trails and Treadmills
One of the greatest reasons running is a fabulous activity, is that you can do it in so many different places. You can take in nature on the trails, run a specific hill or speed workout on a treadmill or hit your neighborhood streets. But before you venture off, it’s important to know the differences […]
Fitness
5 Stretches You Need To Do After Every Run (Including One You've Never Heard Of)
Maintaining a healthy range of motion in your muscles, joints and tendons is vital to a runner’s life. Regular flexibility work reduces the incidence of aches, pain and injury due to muscle imbalance and tightness, and can increase the efficiency of running form and recovery by improving blood flow to the working muscles and range […]
Fitness
Product Review: Elite U7 Upright Exercise Bike
The Elite U7 is a good fit both for athletes who need a low impact form of active recovery, as well as those who are getting started on a workout program. I recently brought home a Horizon Fitness Elite U7 Exercise Bike to take through a few, very fun workouts. The bike is loaded with […]
Fitness
Why You're Not Losing Weight: Part II
Last month I wrote about 10 common eating and drinking mistakes that hold many people back from realizing their weight loss goals. After cleaning up your diet, if you are still not seeing the results you expect, it is likely that one or more of these 5 bad habits could be preventing you from getting […]
Fitness
3 Go-To Workouts to Get You Through Your Week
When you’re just getting started, your home workouts probably consist of jumping on your favorite piece of equipment and seeing what you can do for 20 minutes at a time. While that approach will support your cardiovascular health and help you to burn a few calories, for improved performance and fat loss, it’s important to […]
Fitness
Stay Motivated while Working Out at Home
Nothing beats the convenience of working out at home. No commuting, no heavy gym bags, and no crowded locker rooms. Unfortunately, even committed athletes can find themselves struggling to get started when there’s no one keeping score. Need a few tips to maintain your motivation? Give these a try! Create a Space: While it’s convenient […]
Fitness
Train Smarter, Not Longer
It’s not uncommon for potential clients to contact us asking questions about our training programs. In fact, I always try to thank them off the bat for taking the time the do so. I think it’s important that people do more research before jumping into any type of new fitness program. I recently had a […]
Fitness
This running mom found the perfect "nap-time" treadmill
I recently bought a new treadmill and couldn’t be happier with my decision. As an extremely busy mom of three young children, running is my sanity during nap time. I previously had a treadmill from another manufacturer that “got the job done,” but nothing more than that. It was loud, clunky and the manufacturing was poor. […]
Fitness
Ask an Expert: How to Heal and Prevent Shin Splints
I’m new to running and experiencing painful shin splints. Is there anything I can do to prevent this? – Kelly Shin Splints are a common condition for runners and walkers. The symptoms can include both a muscle tightness in the area around the shin that subsides post workout, or pain along the tibia bone both […]
Fitness
How one man lost 45 lbs with this fun treadmill feature
My fitness journey began back in January 2014, I decided it was time to lose some weight. I had lost a close friend to a heart attack six months prior. And over the Christmas holidays another close friend (a few years younger) had a quadruple bypass. I wanted to get healthy. A new gym […]
Fitness
How to Fuel Before, During and After a Long Run
The long training run is the bread and butter for a long distance runner, and developing your personal fueling recipe will aid in stocking your muscles with plenty of energy to prepare for the run, supplementing energy, fluid and electrolytes during the run and provide the nutrients necessary for efficient recovery post run. Although there […]
Fitness
Transitioning From Indoor to Outdoor Cycling
Making the switch to outdoor cycling takes more than just adding a long ride over the weekend. While regular workouts on your indoor bike have left in you a great position for outdoor rides this spring, there are a few things to keep in mind to keep the transition smooth. Here are a few tips […]
Fitness
Meet Ken Grall
Take a moment to meet one of our Horizon Fitness experts, Ken Grall! Ken is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength & Conditioning Association, as well as a Youth Fitness Specialist (YFS) through the International Youth Conditioning Association. He has trained and coached in the fitness and sports performance fields since […]
Fitness
Meet Joli Guenther
Take a moment to meet one of our Horizon Fitness expert bloggers, Joli Guenther! Joli is a certified personal trainer, yoga instructor and clinical social worker practicing in and around Madison, Wisconsin. She especially loves working with clients on holistic health issues, work-life balance, and fitness for joy and function in daily life. When not […]
Fitness
Ask an Expert: Motivating Others
Question: I’ve recently started a new fitness routine, but my friend has been more reluctant. How do I go about motivating others around me to be active, too? Congratulations on your enthusiasm for sharing your new fitness program! While you’re excited about the benefits of your routine, you’ve already realized that different factors motivate different […]
Fitness
Selecting the Yoga Practice That's Right for You
With so many styles and benefits of yoga available, sorting out the yin from the yang and the power from restorative can be pretty daunting. Looking for a little guidance on finding the right fit for your first class? Here’s an overview of some of the benefits of yoga as well as the styles that will emphasize […]
Fitness
The Best of Ask an Expert
The Horizon Fitness experts have answered a lot of great questions over the years, ranging from how to clean smelly workout clothes to incorporating more strength into fitness routines. They’ve helped new moms wanting to return to fitness after giving birth, to advanced runners looking to improve their half marathon time. Do you have a […]
Fitness
Meet Coach Jenny Hadfield
Take a moment to meet one of our Horizon Fitness expert bloggers, Coach Jenny Hadfield! Coach Jenny is a published author (her books include Marathoning for Mortals, Running for Mortals, and Training for Mortals), a coach, public speaker and endurance athlete. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology, a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science […]
Fitness
Understanding Heart Rate
After running shoes and a source to play music, a heart rate monitor is usually the first piece of equipment runners add to their workouts. If you aren’t using one now, you’ve most likely at least played with them in the past, calculating whether you’re working too hard or not hard enough, estimating your total […]
Fitness
Reaching a Fitness Plateau
We’ve all been there. Whether we’re trying to lose weight, add muscle, or even develop a new skill, we hit that point in our progress where everything seems to stall. Do any of these sound familiar? “I’ve been losing a little bit of weight each week for months, and yet I’ve been stuck the past […]
Fitness
Technology to Inspire Your Workout Routines
Stuck in a workout rut? Don’t panic. Everyone has been at one time or another. If you are wondering where to start, why not let technology give you a hand? Try a few of these tips to give your workout routines a new life: Recruit a Buddy. Whether you meet up in person or use an […]
Fitness
Passport Media Player
What if you could run through the American Southwest or Northern Italy any time you stepped on your treadmill? Or cycle through an Alpine meadow without leaving your living room? With the Passport Media Player, featuring Virtual Active technology, you can! Passport makes every workout an adventure. With high-definition destination footage and coordinated ambient sounds, […]
Fitness
Consistency in Workouts
Working hard, eating right, having a plan and doing one thing every day that will get you closer to who you want to be is a fool-proof way to improve your health. However, the fitness industry tends to not be upfront about this, instead promising quick fixes and overnight results. For example, I learned this past year […]
Fitness
Running to Relax
In addition to the fitness benefits of running, many use it as a way to unwind, relax and focus. Lace up your shoes, head out, and before you know it, you’ve created your to-do list, made dinner plans and decided to ask your boss for a raise. While this free-flow of thoughts can keep our […]
Fitness
Horizon SixStar Elliptical Frame
We’ve all been on an elliptical machine that just feels…off. The handles are just a little too low, the pedals make your knees bend just a little too much, making you count the minutes until your workout is complete. But it doesn’t have to be that way. It comes down to proper ergonomics. Simply put: […]
Fitness
Ask an Expert: Staying Motivated
At the beginning of every year I hit the ground running, only to struggle with my workouts a few weeks later. Do you have any tips on staying motivated through the winter? -Meghan Congratulations on your strong start for the year! To keep your fitness efforts strong this winter (and continue rolling throughout the year) there […]