Improve Your Blood Pressure And Cholesterol In 8 Weeks

To Lower Your Blood Pressure

• Eat fresh whenever possible or purchase low sodium or no salt added products.
• Use spices, as well as lemons and vinegar to flavor your food instead of using salt and prepared condiments.
• Reduce your intake of cured foods (bacon and ham) as well as brined foods (olives and pickles).
• Decrease your reliance on prepared foods, frozen dinners, pizza and packaged mixes.
• Limit alcohol consumption (less than 2 drinks per day for men and less than 1 drink per day for women).

Recommended Reading To Lower Blood Pressure

If you want to lower your blood pressure without prescription drugs, this book "The Blood Pressure Cure" will show you how you can lower your blood pressure in 8 weeks. This well-written, concise book by best selling author Robert Kowalski is a must-read for every person suffering from or treating high blood pressure.

To Lower Your Cholesterol

Training for a Triathlon

As we continue through the 2nd decade of the 21st century, some Schwinn enthusiast may have decided to achieve a greater advanced level of endurance by participating in a triathlon. A triathlon is a multi-sport endurance event consisting of swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances. Triathletes compete for the fastest overall course completion time, including timed transitions between the individual swim, bike, and run components.

According to the International Triathlon Union and the USA Triathlon, the main international race distances are Sprint distance (750 m swim, 20 km bike, 5 km run), Intermediate distance, commonly referred to as Olympic distance (1.5 km swim, 40 km ride, 10 km run), Long Course (1.9 km swim, 90 km ride, 21.1 km run), such as the Half Ironman, and Ultra Distance (3.8 km swim, 180 km ride, and a marathon: 42.2 km run); the most popular branded Ultra Distance is the Ironman triathlon.

Why You Should Consider An Elliptical Trainer

Great Upper And Lower Body Workout!

 Sole E 95 Elliptical Trainer
$2500 Category

If you've been thinking about getting into shape at home but not sure what exercise machine is best for you, you might consider an elliptical trainer. 

Ellipticals offer a great upper and lower body workout with dual motion and challenging diverse programs. Plus, it's a low-impact exercise machine that won’t strain sensitive joints. Elliptical trainers take up less space than other exercise machines such as treadmills or exercise bikes.

Elliptical trainers may not be suited for everyone. For those who have restrictions such as back or neck issues, you may want to read the article on recumbent bikes.

 Sole E 35 Best Buy
Under $1500.00

Elliptical trainers can provide great cardio workouts while at the same time tone your upper and lower body. Elliptical trainers with handles have an added benefit. To get the best workout on an elliptical machine with handles, set the resistance high so you have to use your arms as well as your legs. 

Elliptical trainers are designed to be forgiving on your joints by going through natural motions. Adjustable strides help you target different muscles. You can choose programs specifically geared toward burning calories for weight loss or manually adjust resistance levels for a controlled work out. 

Cycling For Runners?

Cross-training With Cycling

Cycling is one of the best ways to build overall fitness including cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength in your glut-es, quads and hamstrings and flexibility through your hips and ankles. The fitter you are overall, the stronger and faster you’ll be able to run! 

 5 specific benefits to cross-training:

1. Injury prevention: If you’re new to running, cross-training with cycling can help you establish a base of fitness and get your muscles and joints used to repetitive motion without the impact. As you begin to mix in more running mileage, you’ll be stronger and better able to handle the impact. This decreases the chance of injury and makes running much more fun! The same goes for seasoned runners. Cycling builds and helps maintain strength in the glut-es, quads and hamstrings, minimizing muscular imbalances that lead to injury.

Orange County Chopper And Schwinn-This Is Cool!

The popular TV show Orange County Chopper out of New York has been watched all over the  world since 1999. I remember watching Paul senior and his two sons getting in each others faces while facing a deadline for a chopper they were building. I loved it and so did the rest of the cycling world. Nothing like watching the average or not so average dysfunctional family in action.

Click photo to view
OCC Choppers on eBay.

Well, in case you didn’t already know, Schwinn invested on their popularity and came up with an OCC Chopper Bike designed especially for the Schwinn enthusiast. It was quite popular when it first came out in 2004. I have a red one with red fenders, saddle seat and a wide rear tire. I got it from eBay for about $200.00. Now I think you may be able to get one for around $100.00. It was kind of awkward to ride and became less popular after the first year. I’m going to keep mine a while and see what happens. Maybe it will be a collector someday. The OCC Chopper bike has since been discontinued by Schwinn.

Schwinn also has an electric OCC chopper bike for about $460.00 on Amazon. Just as well, it is a cool looking bike and I’m sure it has a place in the world of the Schwinn enthusiast….

See the Schwinn S2938 250 watt Electric Stingray Bike on Amazon.

Exercise Your Brain

Sharpen Your Intellect

We all know that regular daily exercise is a great way to take care of ourselves. We may choose to utilize exercise equipment, such as a Treadmill, Recumbent Bike or maybe the Total Gym. We could go for a walk, jog or ride a bike. Our reward is a healthier, stronger, more physically fit body. And that is a great accomplishment! Just like our body, our brain needs to exercise also.

I have had little lapses in memory from time to time and I think it would be safe to say you have also. Things like not remembering a familiar PIN for your bank account that you always use, forgetting someone’s name or missing an appointment, just to name a few. Most of the time it’s due to a lot going on in your brain. You have so much on your mind that you’re stressed out. Or maybe you didn’t concentrate enough on what it was you were supposed to remember.

Research shows that brainpower can increase with mental activities in seniors. Aging does not mean automatically losing mental capacity. The National Institute of Aging has conducted a series of tests that prove most dramatic memory loss occurs around age 70, if it occurs at all. Even though memory may fade with time, thinking ability remains strong. Vocabulary and reasoning skills often improve with age.

Unicycle Club or Circus-Which Is It?

Schwinn 20″ Unicycle

 Click For More Details On
This 20" Schwinn Unicycle

Improve your balance while enjoying a whole new exercise experience on a unicycle. Schwinn has been manufacturing their unicycles for about four decades. If you would like to venture into the unique art of unicycling, the Schwinn 20 Inch Commuting / Touring Unicycle is the smart choice.


Based on the original design and updated with current technology, it features a 3 piece cantilever design for superior strength. It is very attractive with chrome forks and a 20x1.75" white wall, classic brick tread design tire with a steel wheel. The Schwinn 20 Inch Commuting / Touring Unicycle is just right for 9 year old's to adult.

Schwinn Unicycles On eBay

The safest way to learn unicycling would be to join a Unicycle Club. There are Unicycle Clubs all across the country and throughout much of the world. Do a search here "Google search on Unicycle Club" to find a club near you. So, if your up for the challenge and want to try something extraordinary, unicycling is definitely in the running.

Leagal Disclaimer: If you do try unicycling, keep in mind that injuries can happen and that we recommend wearing all of the necessary safety gear which includes, but is not limited to, a helmet, wrist guards, knee pads, elbow pads, gloves, and shin guards. Unicycling is a fun and challenging skill that maybe should be left to skilled individuals, clowns and other professionals. It is not recommend that everyone try unicycling. It is a very difficult and dangerous skill that should be taken on with extreme care.

Getting Started On Your Unicycle

How To Go Forward

Why Recumbent Exercise Bikes Beat The Competition

Exercise bikes continue to be popular options for home exercise despite the competition from trendy new fitness inventions. They offer the same aerobic benefits of riding a bicycle. And you can use it any time, in any weather, without leaving the comfort and safety of your home.

Exercise bikes don’t take up much space, require little or no balance or coordination, and can provide an effective workout for users of any level, from beginners to seasoned competitors. While the same could be said for a number of other types of home fitness equipment, the exercise bike is one of the few that allows you to watch television or read a magazine while you work out.

   5 Reasons Recumbent Bikes Are A Smart Choice 

1.) Recumbent Bikes Work for All Fitness Levels - Even the most inactive person will find a recumbent exercise bike easy to use. You can adjust the settings to offer little or no resistance as you pedal. People who are overweight will definitely find the seat much larger and more comfortable than other exercise bikes. Athletes will find the recumbent exercise bike a challenge. The resistance can become incredibly difficult. The bike can simulate pedaling up hills. Most recumbent bikes offer various programs that will require you to sprint and tackle hills. If you want an upper body workout as you pedal, you can easily add weights and do repetitions as you sit back in the recumbent bike seat.

Are You Considering Clipless Pedals?

The Shimano American Corporation has been providing quality bicycle parts since 1961.

About Shimano

With the popularity of the 20-inch wheeled bikes and the high rise handlebars (mostly Schwinn), there was a great demand for multi-speed hubs. Shimano was producing an affordable and reliable version that caught the attention of the industry. Since then, Shimano has been producing quality drivetrain parts for bicycles including these clipless pedals. The rest is Shimano history.

Why Clipless Pedals

Shimano has been making clipless pedals since 1990. Clipless pedals have a cleat acceptor and are used with Shoes that have cleats affixed. Their main benefit is that they keep your foot in the best position for power to the pedal, meaning more of the pressure from your legs is going straight to propelling the bike.

One advantage of clipless pedals is that you can pull up when you pedal and can manage your cadence (the rate at which you pedal), more efficiently. By pulling back straight in the bottom of your pedal stroke (like you are scraping something off the bottom of your shoe), you can keep your cadence smoother and more efficient. Clipless pedals (like well-adjusted toe clips) allow you to do this without pulling your foot off the pedal.

Shimano M324 Clipless Pedals, Combo Platform and SPD

There are many choices of clipless pedals but I particularly like the  Shimano Combo Platform. The benefit of the Shimano Combo Platform is you can ride on the flat side when in heavy people/vehicle traffic, then clip into the pedals for a powerful open ride. The Shimano M324 Clipless Pedals are not as light as the cheaper pedals of this type, however, the SPD attachment is top quality and wont break. The outer area of the pedal is very strong steel. The pedal’s alloy core is colored exactly like the LX group which has the strongest materials. These pedals have the same theme as a trekking/touring bike. These pedals work perfectly all the time and are designed to last at least as long as a bike or two.

What Can A Hybrid Bike Benefit Me?

Hybrid Bikes

Some of you may be considering a hybrid bike and would like to know some of the benefits a hybrid offers. Hybrid bikes are becoming more popular on the road and trail and are an alternative to the typical road and mountain bikes that you may be use to. A hybrid bike is one that blends the best characteristics of both road and mountain bikes into a bike that is sturdy, comfortable, fast, and ideal not only for riding on the road, but also the trail.

Features of a hybrid that come from mountain bikes are a more upright frame, offering a more comfortable riding position, a stouter frame that can handle more weight, as well as absorb the day-in and day-out shock of bumps, potholes, etc. that you might encounter in a commute and it has slightly wider tires for better traction and stability.

Features that come from road bikes are lighter rims for faster riding, lighter components and taller gearing for going faster.

Schwinn Hybrid Best Seller

The wheels on a hybrid bike are a true combination of what you find on road and mountain bikes. Wider, like a mountain bike for greater stability and durability, but able to sustain higher air pressure that puts them in the same level as a road bike when it comes to inflation level. The higher air pressure allows them to go faster by reducing rolling resistance.

Bike Shoes And Clipless Pedals-Are They For You?

Shoes are the power transmitting devices on your bike. Cycling shoes are stiff so that the feet are protected from the strain of pedaling. This stiffness also allows more of your power to be transmitted to the rear wheel. Whatever shoes you decide to go for, be sure to have compatible pedals. Several systems are available that allow cycling shoes to more efficiently connect to the pedal.

Are Bike Shoes For Me?

You can ride a bike in just about any shoes, and that may be fine for someone that rides only minimal. But anyone who rides distance or for competition can benefit from shoes specifically designed for bicycling. The more comfortable your feet are while you ride can only benefit your over-all riding experience. Shoes with cleats referred to as “clipless” provide continuous power to the driving wheel.

Compared to typical athletic shoes, cycling shoes are designed with stiffer soles to provide more efficient energy transfer to your rear wheel as you pedal. These stiff soles also protect your feet while riding and support the full length of each foot to reduce cramping and fatigue. The uppers are also relatively rigid for extra support.

Cycling shoes can be “clipless” or not. The clipless shoe pedal combination offers unmatched control and greater transfer of power to the rear wheel. If you are a casual rider or prefer shoes without cleats, the typical platform pedals are all you need. Another choice is the combination clipless/platform pedals that gives you the option of clipless or platform.

Choosing Bike Shoes

While deciding on the right bike shoes for you, keep in mind proper shoe/pedal compatibility. There are many different types and styles of cycling shoes designed for all categories of biking and rider preference.

Which Pedal system is Best?

Each type has pros and cons. There is no "best" system - simply one which works best for you. Take some time to decide the ones that are right for you.

 Protruding Cleats
Can Make
Walking Difficult.

Out-soles are available in smooth and lugged patterns with rigidity ranging from stiff to very stiff. Casual riders and commuters do fine with basic rubber soles while mountain bikers require aggressively lugged soles for maximum traction while walking. These soles offer grip on rocky or unstable surfaces. Road cyclists typically prefer shoes with smooth soles for minimum weight and wind resistance and some offer carbon-fiber soles to maximize power transfer. Clipless style out-soles come with 2 hole(SPD-style), 3 hole(Look-style) and 4 hole(Time-style) with cleats protruding from or recessed into the sole.

Browse - SPD Road Shoes - Look Road Shoes - Time Road Shoes.

Burn More Calories On A Treadmill

Your goal when engaging in physical activity is to burn down calories and keep yourself physically fit and healthy. Compared to just 500 calories per hour on the exercise bike, the average medium-intensity treadmill workout burned 700 calories per hour. Dr. Hoffman said that one reason for this difference is the amount of muscle mass that is used in both exercises. Apparently, when you walk or run on a treadmill, you use more muscles than you do on a bike, stationary or otherwise.

The greatest benefit of treadmill exercise is burning calories. However, it is not the only reason why you should consider this type of workout. For people with certain health conditions, engaging in vigorous physical activity can be detrimental to their lives and their health. People such as those with osteoporosis, hypertension, and back pains are recommended to do no more than walking when they exercise so as not to overexert themselves. The treadmill, therefore, provides them with an exciting alternative to just plain walking outside.

A treadmill can add consistency to your walking workout. Most models have programming in them that allow you to maintain speed and intensity throughout your entire workout. They also have an incline device that would let you control the inclination of your walk, exactly as though you are walking up or down a hill.

Walking for 45 minutes, five times a week can cut your chances of getting a cold or flu in half, according to a research conducted by the Harvard Medical School. But you can’t really walk, can you, if it’s raining outside? That is why the treadmill, where climate changes don’t matter, is great to have around.

Furthermore, the treadmill can be used by anyone, young, old, male, female, pregnant, not pregnant etc. Let’s take pregnant women, for example. While some aerobic activities can be risky during pregnancy, walking is actually beneficial to both the child and the mother. Hormonal changes caused by pregnancy can loosen ligaments. In order to tone muscles down and strengthen the joints that support the growing baby, walking is recommended for pregnant women.

The treadmill also helps prevent injuries that could happen when you run outside on uneven or even wet ground. Gravity can have very nasty effects, however beneficial running and sunlight might be. A treadmill with good cushioning on the belt will help support each foot-strike you make, making your running or walking easier.

Finally, if you are just looking to get in shape, walking or jogging on a treadmill improves muscle tone and not just in your legs, but all over your body. Strengthened muscles means the heart can pump more oxygen-rich blood with each step you take.

How To Burn Calories and Lose Weight By Doing Interval Training:

Schwinn 860 Treadmill

The Schwinn 860 Treadmill is designed to help you move from the place you are to the place you want to be. With a generious running surface, powerful motor, integrated heart rate programming (chest strap included), multi-color dual screen consoles, and optimally cushioned running surfaces, these treadmills are your ticket to ride (or walk or run!) Learn more about the Schwinn 860 Treadmill.

See the Schwinn 840 Treadmill which is very simular to the 860 but with a few less features and at a moderated price.

Morning Exercise Is Great!

Jump Start Your Day

To be healthy, fitness exercise must be included in your overall daily activities. Beginning in the morning with an exercise program is the greatest habit to obtain.

Whatever type of exercise you choose to do will certainly benefit your overall health. Whether you like exercise videos or prefer to utilize fitness equipment such as a treadmill, recumbent bike or any other fitness product, the choice is yours.

The key is getting exercise whenever you can, whether it’s morning, afternoon, or evening. And by starting your morning with physical activity, you set the day’s pace. You get your exercise in before any other distractions can lure you away to something else.

When you exercise early in the morning, it jump starts your metabolism and keeps it elevated for up to 24 hours! Wow! That means you’re burning more calories all day long, just as a result of morning exercise.

When you exercise in the morning, you’ll find that because of the increased intake of oxygen and circulation of blood in your body, you’ll stay energized for the whole day. It will automatically put you in a healthy frame of mind. Whatever you may have on your schedule for the day, you will have the extra energy and drive needed to take it on.

Being a morning person gives you a good jump start to a more productive day. Research has proven that people who exercise in the mornings tend to be the ones who are the most consistent in their fitness routines and diets. So get yourself going and have a great day!