Exercise Machines used at home can offer fitness and injury prevention

Exercise machines are a must for nature enthusiasts who are weekend warriors.  Weekend warriors are an ever growing population who live at or near sea level and venture into the alpine elevations (sometimes as high as 8000 feet) for the weekends.  They dose up on nature for the weekend and return to their urban lifestyle.   Some have maintained their fitness for their nature excursion whether it be backcountry camping, mountain biking, hiking, alpine skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, or telemark skiing or using an at home exercise machine.   However, others have not maintained their personal fitness prior to their nature fix and end up suffering from various injuries and ailments ranging from broken bones, to dehydration.  If these individuals had maintained their fitness level, with at home exercise machines, injuries may have been prevented.

Owning and consistently using an at-home exercise machine can help “weekend warriors” and over-worked parents build their aerobic ability, bone density and overall body strength to support the demands of busy lives and nature excursions. 

Here are two at home exercise machines that, if used consistently (I can’t stress this enough) can promote: weight loss, overall body strengthening and cardio vascular fitness and prepare you for the next 10 mile backpacking trip, mountain biking extravaganza or eight hour ski days.

1. Stairmaster Steppers:  they strengthen the legs, tone the butt (love that) and give a good overall aerobic work out.  They’re ideal training for hiking and if your plan is to carry a backpack into the backcountry, train on your Stairmaster with one on.   This type of exercise machine can be collapsed and portable and moved with ease.  More info
2. Nordic Track’s elliptical trainer mimics the motions of cross country skiing and rowing, by working both your arms and legs at the same time which makes your heart rate increase and creates the burn factor.  It also minimizes the impact on your joints, knees, back and hips so you can experience the benefits without injuries. For more info on this exercise machine click here

Remember to be consistent with your exercise machine. It’s a tough day to get outside.  The weather’s crummy, your child has chosen a surprise time of the day to nap, your phone won’t stop ringing, or your schedule just didn’t work out accordingly.   Pull out your choice of exercise machine: the Stairmaster or hop on your Nordic Track Elliptical Trainer.  Your body will thank you for it.

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