I had a lot of road blocks in my brain when I started trying to lose weight. One of the big things weighing on my mind was “healthy food is so much more expensive than fast food.” Last week I decided to take a trip to CostCo and a few fast food places around town and compare the cost of healthy food with fast food. The results of Cost of Fast Food project blew my mind! Here are some of my most interesting results.

1. My chart is based on a person eating 2,000 calories per day for a year.
2. I was shocked to discover that a diet of brown rice would cost me less than $320 for an entire year! The myth that healthy food is expensive that has been poisoning my mind is gone.
3. A Big Mac meal costs about the same per calorie as Taco Bell Tacos. I never would have guessed that a Taco Bell Taco costs the same per calorie as a Big Mac, Fries, and a Coke.
4. I always thought pizza was a lot more expensive than everything else. As it turns out, if you eat a reasonable amount of pizza it’s actually pretty cheap.
5. I rarely bought nuts because they seemed so expensive but I never gave a second thought to plopping down a buck for a couple Jack in the Box Tacos. Those tacos cost more than DOUBLE the price of almonds. I never thought healthy food was going to be half the cost of fast food!
6. Okay, ground turkey is up there in price. However, if you combine ground turkey with nuts, brown rice, and eggs it’s still a whole lot cheaper to stick with healthy food.
7. I would estimate that I ate fast food 2 times a day and probably consumed about 4,000 calories a day. That means I was spending between 8,000 and 10,000 per year on fast food! OMG! A healthy diet should cost less than half that.

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Someday, I will die. I don’t know how, but I can’t help but be perennially aware of the invisible variables floating above my head that represent the calculus of my life and death. Perhaps the variables of my death include the speed at which a tensely coiled Western Diamondback Rattlesnake can spring from tall grass and inject my ankles with excruciating death; perhaps not. My point is, I want to eliminate as many of those variables as possible; today I’m eliminating a creepy, murderous 6’3” pale-faced clown with red hair from my life and death equation. It’s time to get my health back!
My Vow: I will post something here on [1] /r/loseit/ every week to remind myself I’m rewiring my brain to eat healthy.

Losing weight sounds boring and dull. However, embarking on a quest to be faster, stronger, and come as close to immortal as a mortal can? That sounds like an epic adventure I want to be part of! My quest will have two components; improving my physical abilities and lengthening my lifespan.

This is a starter list of physical abilities I want to acquire:
Be able to jog 5 miles without stopping Ability: Do 100 pull ups
Current Status: Can’t do any pull ups
Ability: Do 100 pushups Current Status: Can do 2 pushups
Ability: Dunk on a regulation 120” basketball court
Current Status: Can reach 115” high
Climb the medium difficulty rock wall at a climbing gym using just my hands
Current Status: Pfff, I could hop over a single, medium sized boulder….maybe

Health Goals
Here is a summary of the “ongoing health conditions” that are being managed by my doctors at Kaiser Permanente. I don’t ever want to worry about these health problems ever again:
Hyperlipidemia (HIGH BLOOD FATS) Elevated Transaminase Measurement Diabetes – I have not been diagnosed with diabetes, but I’m as close as you can get without fitting the clinical definition of a diabetic

Alright, it’s time to get crackin! Also, does anyone have any other fitness goals you think I should try for? I’m 26 years old and I’m 6’1”.

Click Now for Verified User Reviews

The most comfortable $600 treadmill I have ever used

The most impressive thing about the Horizon T101-3 Treadmill is the shock absorption system. The PerfectFLEX shock absorption delivers an excellent combination of cushion and support. Many treadmills in this price range suffer from decks that either feel harder than pavement or feel like a trampoline. When I got up to jogging speed I could feel the deck give in a little as the shock absorption system did its job. The shock absorption system noticeably reduces the stress on my knees and spine. This is easily the most comfortable $600 treadmills I have ever used and even outclasses treadmills that sell for twice the price!

Great for jogging

This is definitely the best treadmill in this price range for jogging. The top speed is a heart-pounding mile every six minutes or 10 MPH. That’s pretty damn fast for long distance jogging! The treadmill handles pretty well at this speed, even with a 6’1”, 250 lb. man like me on the treadmill. The deck also gives in little more higher speeds to absorb the added impact. The frame of the treadmill felt like it was holding up remarkably well considering the size of my body and the speed I was going at. Jogging on the Horizon T101-3 Treadmill feels way easier on my body than running on a sidewalk or a track. This is definitely the best treadmill you can buy on a budget for jogging! 

Safe and secure treadmill deck

If your budget is in the $600 range you need to buy the Horizon T101-3 Treadmill for it’s high level of safety alone. Many treadmills at this price range have belts that scrunch up, decks that give in so much when you run your foot can get stuck between the deck and the rail, and noisy frames that feel like they’re about to fall apart. The Horizon T101-3 does not feel like some cheap machine you’ll find on sale at a big box store. The deck is stable and secure. The frame is welded tight and keeps noise down to a minimum. Even at 10 MPH you’ll feel very safe on this treadmill. Trust me on this one, don’t get a treadmill you see online because it went on sale. It just might end up being the most expensive pile of junk you ever buy!

One year worry free warranty

I’ve helped sell millions of dollars worth of treadmills over the years and one thing you learn pretty quick is that Horizon Fitness Treadmills hardly ever break down. However, in the unlikely case there’s a mechanical issue with your Horizon T101-3 Treadmill you can always get help from Horizon Fitness. Parts and labor are covered free of charge for a full year!

30-Day money back guarantee

Don’t like this treadmill? Don’t sweat! One of the reasons why the Horizon T101-3 Treadmill is #1 is because it comes with a money back guarantee. Just call up the nice folks at Horizon Fitness and get an RMA or Return Merchandise Authorization. They’ll get your money back pronto.

Cons

Not for running – While the shock absorption system and 10 MPH top speed are great for walking and jogging the Horizon T101-3 Treadmill is not really designed with running in mind. Consumer grade treadmills have a top speed range of 8-15 miles per hour. If you want a treadmill a good treadmill for running you’re going to have to spend a more money.

Ipod input / speakers – The speakers are decent. You can definitely hear music and podcasts over the whirring of the belt and motor. However, the speakers are not a proper substitute for a good stereo or set of headphones.

Where can I buy the Horizon T101-3 Treadmill?

You have two really good places to buy your Horizon T101-3 Treadmill. You can get it from Amazon.com and they’ll ship it to you in no time. Most people usually go with Amazon because Amazon is a brand they know well and trust. However, if you buy directly from Horizon Fitness you can usually get something extra thrown in like an extended warranty or a treadmill mat. I would personally buy from Horizon Fitness for the free stuff.

Buy Direct from Horizon Fitness
Current Special Free Offer: Free 1 year extended warranty and treadmill mat with any cardio equipment purchase until February 6, 2012. Yeah, that’s a pretty big deal. 
Click Now to buy the Horizon T101-3 Treadmill from Horizon Fitness

Buy From Amazon

Hello, I know it’s been a long time coming but I’m finally ready to get back in to reviewing treadmills. I took some time off from blogging and reviewing treadmills due to some personal issues I was having. My life is much less hectic now and I’m ready to jump right back in to things here on ProTreadmillReviews.com. Since the New Year has started I’ve taken several long trips to Sears to test out some new fitness equipment. Today I have a NordicTrack T5.5 Treadmill Review for you all. Let’s get started!

The NordicTrack T5.5 Treadmill on display had a belt that was in horrible condition. The belt had flayed edges, was very loose causing lots of slippage, and the sides were bowed upward causing me to trip a couple times. Even if the belt had been properly maintained there were still plenty of other things to steer me away from this treadmill. When I got up to a jogging pace there was so much shaking and squeaking I thought I was on the USS Enterprise during a major battle! The comfort level of this treadmill was just barely satisfactory for this price range. Walking on the NordicTrack T5.5 Treadmill is very easy on the body; however, I really started to notice the stiffness of the treadmill deck when I cranked up the speed to a jogging pace. I would not look forward to jogging on this treadmill on a daily basis, especially when I know I get something better for about the same amount of money.

Final Recommendation The NordicTrack T5.5 was simply too noisy, the bowing treadmill belt is a safety issue, and the feel of this treadmill was average at best. There are way better values out there inside the $550 – $650 price range. Hell, for $10 – $30 more depending on the Sears’ sale ad you can get the NordicTrack T5.7 which is leaps and bounds above the NordickTrack T5.5 Treadmill. Ultimately the choice is up to you. I hope you make a wise decision.

Specifications
• 325 lb. Weight Capacity
• 2.5 HP Continuous Duty DurX Motor
• 10 Timed Workout Apps
• 0–10 MPH 1-Touch Speed Control
• 0–10% 1-Touch Incline Control
• iFit Live Technology Compatible
• Intermix Acoustics 2.0 Sound System
• Lifetime Frame Warranty, 25-Year Motor Warranty and 1-Year Parts and Labor Warranty

Highly Recommended Alternatives to the NordicTrack T5.5 Treadmill
1: Horizon T101-3 Treadmill / Horizon T101
Read My Horizon T101 Treadmill Review 

NordicTrac 2: NordicTrack T5.7 Treadmill

Sincerely, John Bravo www.ProTreadmillReviews.com

Elliptical Trainer Review: Bladez Quantum Elliptical Trainer

Click Now to Buy the Bladez Quantum Elliptical Trainer

Hello,
I am broke. I have 40 bucks in my pocket that I must deposit in my savings account to cover my phone bill and maybe enough change to buy a 99 cent can of coke. I suppose that leaves me with two options: cultivate my garden or write some elliptical trainer reviews. Since I have the air conditioning on in my room I’ll write an elliptical review. The next elliptical on my list is the Bladez Quantum Elliptical.

How the Bladez Quantum Elliptical Trainer feels – Yes, I actually used it!

I could be totally wrong but I think I tried the Bladez Quantum Elliptical at a Sport Chalet, which takes you to the limit. I do not have a whole lot to say about the stride of this elliptical trainer. One phrase describes the stride of the Bladez Quantum Elliptical perfectly, “the floor drops out”. Once you get to the top of your stride it feels as though all support for your stride collapsed. Using this elliptical trainer feels like you’re stuck in stop and go traffic, especially if you use this elliptical trainer at higher speeds. My suggestion is to move on and keep shopping.
Save up to 40% on Treadmills. Free Shipping & No Sales Tax!

Features

After spending quite a bit of time examining this elliptical trainer I didn’t find anything jaw-dropping. The Bladez Quantum Elliptical Trianer has an 18 inch stride length but as I mentioned earlier the stride is troublesome. There are 12 fitness programs which is normal to above average for treadmills in this price range. However, this elliptical has heart rate control which is rarely seen in treadmills that retail for less than $1000. There is also transport wheels, a feature commonly neglected in many elliptical trainers. If you have ever been stuck in a warehouse moving demo elliptical trainer units around in the summer the you’ll appreciate transport wheels.

• 18” Stride length
• 12 preset fitness programs
• Anatomically correct foot pedal spacing
• Mutli-window LCD display
• Heart rate control

Conclusion

When I tried out the Bladez Quantum Elliptical Trainer the stride was distracting. I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride that slowly made its way to the top and free falls. The features list is pretty average too, with the exception of included heart rate control. In the end, I would definitely try to find an elliptical trainer with a smoother stride. They are out there in this price range, just got to look for them.

Elliptical Trainer Review:AFG 4.0 AE Elliptical Trainer

Hello,
What are you doing today? If you live where I live there’s a really good chance you’re cursing the hot weather and high energy prices. I decided that the best way to beat the heat and lower my energy bill was to head to my local mall and test out elliptical trainers. It was so cool and refreshing I lost track of the time I was spending testing out elliptical trainers. Now that things have cooled off a bit I think I can finally concentrate on writing some elliptical trainer reviews. I bring you a review of the AFG 4.0 AE Elliptical Trainer from Advanced Fitness.

How the 4.0 AE Elliptical Feels – Yes, I’ve actually used this ellipitical trainer
The first thing you’ll probably notice about the AFG 4.0 AE Ellipitical is how widely the handlebars are spaced. The handlebars bow out like a heart and make you feel like you’re riding a Harley with gorilla bars. The stance I had on this elliptical trainer felt very awkward to me. Much of the uneasiness went away after a couple minutes of striding, but my strides still felt awkward towards the end of my test run. If I bought the AFG 4.0 AE Elliptical Trainer I would definitely be able to use it every day but knowing there are better elliptical trainers out there I would much rather put my money into a more natural feeling elliptical trainer.

Features
Features come up weak compared to most other elliptical trainers in this price range. I do like that Advanced Fitness includes a wireless heart rate monitor with purchase, especially considering wireless heart rate monitors can cost $50 or more when purchased separately. However, I’m not too impressed with the 8 fitness programs that come with the AFG 4.0 AE Elliptical Trainer. At the very least I like to see attempts at innovation in the high end elliptical trainer price range. There is nothing out of the ordinary or eye-catching in the fitness program department. The warranty coverage is significantly below average. For the $1500 and up price range I would expect 2 years of labor coverage at a minimum. Unfortunately, the AFG 4.0 AE Elliptical covers labor for just one year.

Conclusion
There are much better elliptical trainers out there in this price range. I was not impressed in the slightest by the stride. There are very few fitness programs compared to price. The warranty kills this elliptical trainer for me. One year of labor coverage is simply too little warranty for the price. Do some research and shopping, you’ll easily find a better deal on an elliptical trainer.

• 16 degree range of incline
• 23 lb. flywheel
• Magnetic brakes
• 20 resistance levels
• Adjustable stride length; 20-22 inches
• 8 Fitness programs
• Wireless heart rate monitor with Polar receiver and chest strap
• 2 year motor, 3 year parts, and 1 year of labor warranty coverage

Welcome to Treadmills on Sale: The Cheaters Guide to Buying a Treadmill.

Hello,

This is the official Cheater’s Guide to Buying a Treadmill. You will find that this treadmill guide is unlike any other on the internet. I’m a fitness industry veteran with many years of experience buying, selling, assembling, and repairing treadmills. You won’t find no brainer headlines like “stick to a budget”. I’m pretty sure you already know you can’t spend more money than you have. I would rather spend my times answering questions other treadmill blogs can’t. What’s the profit margin on a treadmill? When are salesman most desperate for a sale? Does customer service make fun of me after I hang up? After reading Treadmills on Sale: The Cheaters Guide to Buying a Treadmill you will have so much insider information you will feel like you’re cheating companies out of money.

Know the Profit Margins
Treadmills under a $1000 have a 20% profit margin built in to the price. Treadmills over $1000 have anywhere between 20% and 25% of profit margin. The secret you need to know is retailers shoot for a 20% profit margin but will often let equipment go for a 15% – 17% profit margin. That means you can usually negotiate $30 to $50 off a $1000 treadmill. If you buy a high end treadmill that normally sells for about $1500 or more you can usually get a hundred dollar discount right off the bat.

Buy in the Summer
When are salesman most vulnerable to discount requests? That’s easy! Between the months of June and August sales slow down for the fitness industry because, well, its summer. People swim, play basketball, hike, and BBQ. People don’t stay inside and run on treadmills. When people asks for discounts in the summer they usually get one. Many salesman would rather sell something for less profit than not sell anything at all. Hit ‘em where it hurts! Ask for a discount in the summer, you cheater!

Last Year’s Models
Ever have something sitting in your garage taking up space and you just want it gone? Well, Amazon and a whole lot of other retailers hate it when last year’s model just sits around the warehouse gathering dust. Retailers put older treadmills on sale in the summer to make way for next generation treadmills. You can usually pick up an extra 10% off or more if you buy last year’s model.

One summer I found a forgotten treadmill that got placed behind the shop owner’s old furniture. The treadmill was 2 years old but had never been opened. We sold it for about $400 and when it should have been sold for $599 just to get the space back!

Ask for a Free Gift
Online retailers usually have a giant cardboard box filled with pedometers, heart rate monitors, or weightlifting gloves sitting in a warehouse somewhere. I know this is true because I used to be the guy who hauled that damn box up a flight of stairs in a sweltering warehouse. If a customer asked us to sweeten a deal we usually offered them a free gift. These gifts usually cost the company between $10 – $20 to buy and ship. Sometimes we ran out of our cheaper gifts and handed out something even more expensive. If nobody offers you a free gift, ASK FOR ONE! Most salesman will throw something in just to make sure they snag a sale.

Coupon Code
The easiest way to find a treadmill on sale is finding coupon codes. Go to a search engine like Google and type in the name of the retailer. For example, I did a search for Big Fitness on Google and I found tons of coupon codes for BigFitness.com. If you’re buying a $1500 treadmill you’ll save $75 bucks and it only took 30 seconds!

Free $30 Amazon Gift Certificate (For Real)
Above all else a cheater gets something for nothing. You can cheat Amazon out of a hefty $30 by signing up for an Amazon credit card. My parents, brother, sisters, and several friends have used this offer and I think we’ve bilked Amazon for nearly a $1000 and we’ll never be prosecuted either! Get the details here.

That’s about all I have on the subject for now. If something else crosses my mind I’ll post it. OH! If you have any questions at all about treadmills, home gyms, or elliptical trainers go ahead and send me an email: johnny@protreadmillreviews.com

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Welcome to Treadmills on Sale: The Cheaters Guide to Buying a Treadmill.

Hello,

This is the official Cheater’s Guide to Buying a Treadmill. You will find that this treadmill guide is unlike any other on the internet. I’m a fitness industry veteran with many years of experience buying, selling, assembling, and repairing treadmills. You won’t find no brainer headlines like “stick to a budget”. I’m pretty sure you already know you can’t spend more money than you have. I would rather spend my times answering questions other treadmill blogs can’t. What’s the profit margin on a treadmill? When are salesman most desperate for a sale? Does customer service make fun of me after I hang up? After reading Treadmills on Sale: The Cheaters Guide to Buying a Treadmill you will have so much insider information you will feel like you’re cheating companies out of money.

Know the Profit Margins
Treadmills under a $1000 have a 20% profit margin built in to the price. Treadmills over $1000 have anywhere between 20% and 25% of profit margin. The secret you need to know is retailers shoot for a 20% profit margin but will often let equipment go for a 15% – 17% profit margin. That means you can usually negotiate $30 to $50 off a $1000 treadmill. If you buy a high end treadmill that normally sells for about $1500 or more you can usually get a hundred dollar discount right off the bat.

Buy in the Summer
When are salesman most vulnerable to discount requests? That’s easy! Between the months of June and August sales slow down for the fitness industry because, well, its summer. People swim, play basketball, hike, and BBQ. People don’t stay inside and run on treadmills. When people asks for discounts in the summer they usually get one. Many salesman would rather sell something for less profit than not sell anything at all. Hit ‘em where it hurts! Ask for a discount in the summer, you cheater!

Last Year’s Models
Ever have something sitting in your garage taking up space and you just want it gone? Well, Amazon and a whole lot of other retailers hate it when last year’s model just sits around the warehouse gathering dust. Retailers put older treadmills on sale in the summer to make way for next generation treadmills. You can usually pick up an extra 10% off or more if you buy last year’s model.

One summer I found a forgotten treadmill that got placed behind the shop owner’s old furniture. The treadmill was 2 years old but had never been opened. We sold it for about $400 and when it should have been sold for $599 just to get the space back!

Ask for a Free Gift
Online retailers usually have a giant cardboard box filled with pedometers, heart rate monitors, or weightlifting gloves sitting in a warehouse somewhere. I know this is true because I used to be the guy who hauled that damn box up a flight of stairs in a sweltering warehouse. If a customer asked us to sweeten a deal we usually offered them a free gift. These gifts usually cost the company between $10 – $20 to buy and ship. Sometimes we ran out of our cheaper gifts and handed out something even more expensive. If nobody offers you a free gift, ASK FOR ONE! Most salesman will throw something in just to make sure they snag a sale.

Coupon Code
The easiest way to find a treadmill on sale is finding coupon codes. Go to a search engine like Google and type in the name of the retailer. For example, I did a search for Big Fitness on Google and I found tons of coupon codes for BigFitness.com. If you’re buying a $1500 treadmill you’ll save $75 bucks and it only took 30 seconds!

Free $30 Amazon Gift Certificate (For Real)
Above all else a cheater gets something for nothing. You can cheat Amazon out of a hefty $30 by signing up for an Amazon credit card. My parents, brother, sisters, and several friends have used this offer and I think we’ve bilked Amazon for nearly a $1000 and we’ll never be prosecuted either! Get the details here.

That’s about all I have on the subject for now. If something else crosses my mind I’ll post it. OH! If you have any questions at all about treadmills, home gyms, or elliptical trainers go ahead and send me an email: johnny@protreadmillreviews.com

Top Treadmill 2010: Sole F63 Treadmill

Price: $999 delivered
Quick Review: It’s comfortable, reliable, and has an excellent folding system and plenty of fitness programs
Read Amazon.com User Reviews
Click Now to Buy Direct from Sole Fitness

My second top treadmill 2010 pick is the Sole F63 Treadmill. The Sole F63 Treadmill has been around for many years and I have sold more over the years than I care to remember. The Sole F63 Treadmill is the best treadmill I’ve have ever used at the thousand dollar price point in my entire fitness equipment career. Not only is the Sole F63 Treadmill reliable and comfortable, it’s backed by excellent warranty and has a robust set of features to boot. You will not be disappointed with the Sole F63 Treadmill! Let me explain why.

Comfort
as always I am sorry for repeating myself, but it is a must. Comfort on a treadmill is everything! If your treadmill is not comfortable you will never use it! That’s why this review is so important. I’m letting you know as a professional treadmill reviewer that I found this treadmill to be an excellent mix of firm and cushion. When I used the Sole F63 Treadmill it was definitely easier on my back then running at the tractor running on pavement. I felt like my workout could be much more intense as opposed to running outside, pounding asphalt. Hands down this is the most comfortable treadmill I have ever used in the thousand dollar price range. It is great for walking, jogging, and some running. If you buy the Sole F63 Treadmill you will not be disappointed. And, if you are disappointed you can take advantage of Sole’s 30 Day Money Back Guarantee. If the Sole F63 Treadmill is not all I said it would be just send it back, no questions asked.

Reliability
I often go to more than one store to try out the same treadmill. There are several reasons for this but the most important one is consistency. Before I decide to slap a rating on a treadmill I need to know that my results are consistent. I have a little notebook I take with me every time I go to trap treadmills that gets scribbled in. When I get home I compare the results and if I have the same result as I did the last two or three times I tried out that treadmill, I go with. I have tried out the Sole F63 Treadmill at more than one location and it has been consistently free of mechanical defects. I can’t say the same of other treadmills or even entire brands of other treadmills. With very few exceptions, sole treadmills work in are free mechanical defects. In my personal experience these results are very consistent and typical of all sole treadmills. When you choose to buy a sole treadmill it is going to arrive your house in pristine condition and ready to use on day one!

Features
In my opinion features on a treadmill are just the frosting on the cake. But there is plenty of frosting to go around on the Sole F63 Treadmill. There are eight fitness programs which will help you do anything from lose weight to run a marathon. You can fold the Sole F63 Treadmill up and keep it out of the way. The speed can be increased and half mile per hour increments which allow you to fine-tune that mile run or slowly build up your cardiovascular endurance. There’s also a built-in speaker system that is compatible with iPods so you don’t have to plug your ears into earbuds and give yourself an ear ache.

If you’re looking to get the best treadmill you can possibly afford on the thousand dollars budget I have found it for you. This is the very treadmill that I would buy if I were going to buy the thousand dollar treadmill. Once again, that the Sole F63 Treadmill is not for you to send it back and you’ll get a refund; it’s that simple.