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Instructor credentials:If the teacher is certified by one of the legitimate professional organizations, you can bet that the co ...

The music: Much of the music you hear on exercise DVDs is bland, syn- thesized garbage. In fact, the music reminds us of a ’70s ...

Video Fitness (www.videofitness.com): This Web site doesn’t sell DVDs or videos, but you can trade with other videophiles throu ...

Combination DVDs These circuit-training or boot-camp DVDs combine an aerobic workout with a full-fledged muscle-toning routine. ...

Chapter 19: Choosing an Exercise Class or DVD 301 Beginning/intermediate Try a beginning/intermediate-level workout tape from on ...

Even if the instructor doesn’t do it on the DVD, gauge your intensity by checking your heart rate or taking the talk test durin ...

Chapter 20 Chapter 20: Designing a Home Gym ............................................................................ In This ...

ceilings, racks of shiny weights, and space-age machinery. A complete home gym can consist of a rubber tube, a step, and a handf ...

Chapter 20: Designing a Home Gym 305 the side. You don’t want to bump your head against the ceiling when you press the incline b ...

If you know the exact make and model you want, you may save money by calling the manufacturer directly. Some manufacturers let y ...

Looking for safety features Consider buying equipment with safety features, especially if you have chil- dren. For example, to s ...

machines — riders, gliders, and such — has come to a near halt. (Infomercial producers seem to have switched from hawking schloc ...

A motor to move the walking belt: Make sure that the belt moves fluidly. Safety features: Don’t look twice at any model that d ...

An incline capability:Walking uphill adds intensity and variety to your workouts. With most machines, you either turn a crank o ...

comes in a distant but acceptable second. On the cheaper end, Vision Fitness has a $1,500 model that isn’t nearly as sturdy as t ...

Whichever style you prefer, don’t buy a bike from a department store, because quality isn’t normally a big consideration in the ...

Our favorite bike brands Here’s a brief list of our favorites, but be sure to test-ride any model you’re considering to make sur ...

prevent your feet from slipping. Look for Lego-type inserts called risersthat snap on underneath to increase the height of the s ...

of sets and jumps per set while decreasing the time you spend marching. Eventually, you’ll be able to jump 10 minutes or more co ...

Buying Strength Equipment There’s no shortage of great gadgets to build your muscles at home. There’s also, regrettably, no shor ...