| The TV is a low hum in the background, just loud | | | | letting you check yourself for good posture and |
| enough to wake you up. A glance at the clock shows | | | | warning you if you're doing something wrong, they'll |
| that you have four more hours of well earned | | | | also scare you into doing just five more minutes of |
| sleep--ye gods, Woe betide the thing that arrested you | | | | your regime. Unless you're already in shape, in which |
| from your slumber! You can't remember leaving the | | | | case... grr. I and the rest of the overweight world dislike |
| TV on, but you don't recall turning it off, specifically, so | | | | you intensely. Don't let that keep you from a healthy |
| you can't blame anyone. A homely but muscle-bound | | | | regime, though. |
| figure is squirming back and forth in some metallic | | | | Still, if you're determined to use one of those |
| demon they're calling an exercise machine while a | | | | gargantuan exercise machines, it's a better idea to go |
| voice over proclaims that thirty minutes a day in their | | | | to a gym that sports that sort of gear. Then you can |
| contraption is all you need to stay fit and lean. Your | | | | get a feel for what sort of workout suits you best, and |
| eyes wander askance to your belly, and for a | | | | you'll also have access to the gym-nutters floating |
| moment, however brief, that 1-866 number flashing | | | | around, who'll offer up their opinions on everything from |
| across the bottom of the screen seems attractive. | | | | the optimum weight load for someone in your "size |
| But how do you really know that this exercise | | | | bracket" to the best workout to help thin down your |
| equipment is going to do you any good? Sure, the | | | | problem areas. |
| gear looks nifty, but what elevates it above regular | | | | They key to losing weight, however, doesn't actually lie |
| working out? The grim truth? Not much. Those | | | | in exercise equipment. It lies in keeping your body |
| testimonials aren't lying, usually. The exercise equipment | | | | active during the entire allotment of time for your |
| works, and in the case of well established brands (like | | | | workout. Five minute breaks kill a workout. Thirty |
| Bowflex), it even works well. But the first, prime | | | | second breaks to quaff a bottle of water are fine. So |
| ingredient to getting in shape is motivation. For a lot of | | | | when you finish your arm curls, move immediately into |
| people, seeing a giant piece of exercise equipment | | | | your squat-thrusts, or whatever else you have planned, |
| two feet from the bed is all it really takes. For the rest | | | | instead of loafing around for a few minutes to get |
| of us... well... | | | | your wind back. |
| As exercise equipment goes, those giant machines | | | | Otherwise, your body just won't get the idea. And the |
| aren't always the best choice. Sometimes, all you really | | | | next time you wake up to one of those horrible |
| need are some free weights and a good thick, firm | | | | exercise equipment commercials, you'll still be tempted |
| mat to jump around on. Mirrors help too. Aside from | | | | to call that flashing yellow phone number. |