UltraPing Blog

Mirrors, mirrors, mirrors… One thing that you’ll notice about any health club is that they’re full of mirrors! In the weight room, change room, cardio room and everywhere else you’ll find walls of large, full length mirrors. Mirrors allow members to view their reflection and inspect their exercise form, and determine whether they’re progressing with their workout program. Mirrors for home gyms are less common, but they can serve as a valuable evaluation and motivational tool as well.

Exercising in your home gym that is equipped with mirrors allow you to view your exercise form to make sure that it is correct. With a mirror you can visually determine whether you’re cheating during an exercise, rounding your back or anything else that you shouldn’t be doing. As you’re performing your set, a mirror provides a visual feedback where you can check your form and posture, and make any necessary corrections. If you’re exercising at home and you don’t have a mirror, it can be difficult to determine this by feel alone.

Mirrors in your home gym can also serve as a tool to track your progress. Consistently working out over time will produce noticeable results, and if you see that in the mirror, you’ll be more motivated to push harder! You can always wait until you’re finished your exercises and look at yourself in the bathroom mirror, but this does not have the same effect compared to seeing yourself in the mirror while working out. Additionally, just seeing your muscles pumped from lifting weights and noticing the progress you’ve made inspires and motivates you to keep on going.

Overall, a mirror in your home workout room can help you with your form during exercise, allow you to visually track your progress and motivate you to achieve greater results. Don’t workout at home without one!

About The Author

John Phung is a certified personal trainer and writer for http://www.quick-change-adjustable-dumbbells.com, your online resource for Power Block adjustable dumbbells, Bowflex dumbbells, and more.

Copyright 2005 Joe E. Atlas, Inc.

You buy them and they don’t get the job done. Anti cellulite
pills, lotions, gadgets, rubber tights and other silly money
wasters that sell you hope and nothing else. The truth is, your
best weapons in your battle against unwelcome cellulite are a
smart nutritional routine and a consistent, properly structured
workout program.

I’ll assume you have a pretty good handle on the nutritional
component.

As for the properly structured workout program, which you may
indeed have, I’ve put together a butt, hip and thigh routine
which you can incorporate into your current workouts. This
routine specifically targets the areas where the appearance of
cellulite tends to show up.

Keep in mind, I’ve been training people since the late eighties.
Speaking strictly from experience, I can tell you that the
following routine is responsible for helping many women
dramatically change the appearance of their cellulite areas.

Lying on your side, do 10 reps of each exercise: 1) Bring both
knees forward so your hips are at a 90 degree angle. Then
straighten your top leg out in front of you, still keeping 90
degrees at the hip. Lift the top leg slowly about three feet off
the ground & down.

2) Straighten both legs so your body is in a straight line. Tilt
the hips forward slightly. Lift the top leg about three feet off
the ground & down.

3) Put your top leg out in front of you, on the ground. Move
your bottom leg forward slightly. Lift the bottom leg about 8 -
12 inches off the ground & down.

4) Repeat all 3 on the other side.

On the elbows and knees, do 10 reps of each exercise:

1) Extend one leg straight back with your toe on the ground.
Lift that leg up toward the ceiling & down. Then switch legs.

2) Lift your knee off the floor. Extend that same heel back and
up so your leg is pointing toward the ceiling & then bring the
knee back into you. Then switch legs.

Standing up, do 10 reps of each exercise:

1) Start with your feet together. Step out in front in to a
lunge position. Touch the ground with opposite hand. Come back
up & step back to the starting position. Then switch legs.

2) Put one foot up on a step (12 - 18 inches high). Slowly step
up and down with the other foot. Then switch legs.

If this routine is easy try going through it twice. If you still
need more of a challenge, increase the reps to 15 or 20 per set.