No matter what gym you belong to, regardless of the time of day, if you’d look really hard enough, you are sure to find a fitness fiasco right before your very eyes.
Independence Day is right around the corner and it could be so much more than having a chance to spend time with family and friends for barbecues and fireworks displays.
On a day where America celebrates the annual commemorating of the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence…I’d like you to celebrate another “Declaration of Independence.”
Starting today, adopt a personal declaration to avoid certain needless, pointless and absolutely useless machines in your local gym.
If you want to speed up your metabolism, reduce your waist line every week and drop some unwanted pounds, then it’s time to free yourself from what I see as the “Four Fat Loss Failures.
1.) Abs Machine
Do you want ‘rock-hard’ abs? Then stay away from this machine. Nothing good can be gained from sitting in a chair, having your neck and back unsupported on equipment that that forces the muscles of the front part of your body to cave in on itself.
An additional disadvantage is that they will not provide the stabilization actions your core muscles really need to work optimally, improve your posture and prevent injury.
A simple alternative is to grab a stability ball, lie face down placing the tops of your sneakers on the center of the ball and draw your knees into your rib cages.
2.) Leg Extension Machine
Are you looking to burn calories, get thinner thighs and a toned butt? If that’s goal, then there really isn’t any good reason to get on this ridiculous exercise machine.
It’s true that you are isolating the quadriceps muscles, but you are also speeding up the chances of patellar tendonitis, possible knee surgeries and arthritis too. Simply put, it’s really bad for your knees.
Bodyweight squatting will eliminate any need for isolating any lower body muscles. You will get more ‘bang for the buck’ and quicker and more noticeable results.
3.) Elliptical Machine
This machine has been promoted as substitution for people using a treadmill. Sure, it lessens the impact on the hips, knees and ankles, bit it truly should be only used for someone who is significantly de-conditioned or massively overweight (new exercisers and obese individuals.)
If you are within 10-20 pounds of your ideal body weight, why not try interval training on a treadmill, a stationary bike and a set of free weights. Better yet, unless you are training for a marathon or need massive improvement for your cardio vascular system, step away from anything that promotes long, slow, steady cardio as the answer for weight loss.
4) Ab/Ad-ductor Machines
If there was any reason to run away from a machine at the gym, this could be it. If you are looking to work your outer hips and thighs why would you even 
consider strapping yourself into this “gynecological” wanna-be of a machine in the first place?
Ask yourself, what purpose does it serve to be put in a position that doesn’t resemble how those muscles will actually work in real life.
If you want to tone your inner and outer hips and thighs, GET ON YOUR FEET! Start to mimic the movements that you would have to do when you pick things up at your sides (side lunges). This will not only target those muscles, but as an added benefit it will tone your butt too.
The big question you should be asking yourself is why are you sitting down isolating individual muscles in the first place? In order to burn fat, you need to activate as many muscles at one time as possible. If you aren’t trying to be a body builder, then stop training like one.
Get off the machines, pick up some light weights and incorporate bodyweight training into your routine. You will lose pounds, you will lose inches and ou will lose all the weight you want and keep it off for years!
© 2009 BCFitness, Inc. All Rights Reserved
***For those of you in the south Florida area who are looking for a fast and efficient way to lose pounds, lose inches and learn how to become fit and healthy for the rest of your life click here:
http://tinyurl.com/bodymakeoverfitcamp
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