Archive | Recent Blogs

Take a look at our most recent blogs posted on our website! Whether it’s the latest news about Primo Fitness, tips on working out, or our suggestions for the best fitness equipment on the market, our blog is a great resource for our guests. As we update fairly regularly with new content, this category will be updated accordingly.

5 Things You Must Know About Certified Pre-Owned Fitness Equipment for Sale

By Jeremy Fremont on 06/19/2018 in Recent Blogs

Opening a new gym on a limited budget? Purchasing equipment is one of the most significant costs for any new fitness center, and buying new can often add a huge amount to your startup costs.

Luckily, there’s an easy way to save money when setting up your gym — by choosing certified pre-owned equipment. Buying pre-owned lets you save money, all while benefiting from the same high-quality engineering, manufacturing, and design that you’d get from new products.

From wear and tear to refurbishing, there are several factors to look for when comparing and choosing pre-owned fitness equipment for your gym. Below, we’ve listed five essential tactics that will help you avoid bad deals and get the best possible value for money as a customer.

Avoid Cheap, Heavily Used Equipment

Shopping for a used car? If so, you’ll know it’s best to avoid heavily used, extremely cheap options and instead look for a vehicle that’s been cared for, maintained and kept in fantastic condition by its previous owner, even if it costs a little extra.

Pre-owned workout equipment is no different. While cheap equipment can seem like a great deal, it often comes with a history of poor maintenance, lack of care, wear and tear and other issues that make it a less than optimal buy.

Go for the cheapest available option and not only will you potentially miss out on better deals, but you also risk having to spend a significant amount of your budget on repairs, maintenance and other costs that wouldn’t occur with equipment that’s been maintained properly.

As a result, it’s best to study the market before you purchase and look for pre-owned exercise equipment that’s been lightly used, cared for and well maintained. While it might cost ever so slightly more in the short term, this strategy can produce serious savings over the long term.

Understand Pre-Owned Equipment Conditions

Pre-owned gym equipment is sold under three different conditions. When you see fitness equipment for sale, it’s usually sold either as is, serviced and cleaned, or remanufactured.

While these conditions can seem identical at first, they’re actually very different. “As is” fitness equipment is usually sold in the same condition as it arrived in the storage facility or shop, with little to no cleaning and no extra maintenance.

In short, it’s exactly what you’d expect — equipment that’s sold “as is,” with the task of restoring and servicing it up to you.

Serviced and cleaned equipment is pre-owned exercise equipment that’s been serviced for key moving parts and points that require maintenance. It’s also cleaned, giving it a newer look that can make it more suitable for your gym or fitness center environment.

Finally, remanufactured equipment is pre-owned fitness equipment that’s been entirely rebuilt, from new bearings, cables and other moving parts to new grips, powder coating, and aesthetic components. In short, it’s as close to “new” as you can get, without actually being new.

Each option offers its own advantages and disadvantages, meaning there’s no “one” optimal solution for your business. However, by knowing which condition you’re looking for, you can avoid buying equipment that doesn’t meet your standards and optimize your spending.

It’s Always Best to Plan in Advance

Exercise equipment is an investment — one that can have a significant effect on your fitness center’s results — making it important that you plan ahead before you start shopping for the items you need for your gym.

Before you start comparing brands, prices, and suppliers, make a list of the items you need for your fitness center. List items individually, with quantities for popular machines like treadmills and generic items such as dumbbells and weight plates.

Doing this gives you several advantages over other customers. First, with a list of equipment and specific quantities prepared ahead of time, you’ll find it easier to estimate the amount of money you’ll need to spend to fit out your gym.

Second, you’ll gain negotiating leverage with suppliers — by showing them a list of what you need, they’ll see that you’re a serious customer and potentially offer better pricing in order to earn your business.

Finally, planning ahead helps you avoid going over your budget by buying exercise equipment you don’t need, buying too many units of specific equipment or forgetting about items that you need to operate your fitness center effectively.

Consider Buying a Pre-Owned Equipment Package

There are tens of thousands of gyms across the United States, meaning that businesses are constantly selling off old equipment, whether due to the need to upgrade to new equipment or changes to their business conditions.

This means that you’ll often see lots of gym equipment available sold as packages. These lots usually contain several machines — for example, an entire set of strength training machines or an entire spin room’s worth of stationary bikes.

Since these packages are sold as bulk lots, they’re usually competitively priced, with special discounts that are rarely available on individual items.

If you’re opening a new gym and want to buy equipment in bulk, buying a certified pre-owned equipment package is a great way to get the equipment you need at a far lower cost, all while saving time by avoiding having to select machines, racks, and other equipment individually.

Keep Shipping Costs in Mind

Finally, it’s important to keep shipping costs in mind when you’re shopping for pre-owned gym equipment.

Buying local has its benefits, one of the biggest of which is low or no transportation costs. If you spot a great deal on fitness equipment for sale across the country, there’s a good chance it may end up costing more than buying more “expensive” equipment locally.

If you do opt to buy pre-owned equipment from a merchant in another city or state, make sure you have a complete, accurate shipping quote available before you confirm your purchase.

This will help you avoid any last-minute surprises when it’s time to calculate the cost of shipping your pre-owned gym equipment to your location, all while ensuring you have a reliable delivery option to your fitness center or warehouse.

Shop Online for Certified Pre-Owned Exercise Equipment

Are you searching for well maintained, high-quality pre-owned equipment for your new fitness center, studio or training facility? We stock a wide range of certified pre-owned machines and training equipment from the world’s top brands.

For more information about our pre-owned machines, pre-owned equipment packages, new exercise equipment and other products, please contact us now.

Top 3 Things To Look For in Gym Equipment for Sale

By Jeremy Fremont on 06/14/2018 in Recent Blogs

Looking for equipment for your gym? Whether you’re buying new or used, it’s important to do plenty of research before you invest part of your gym set-up budget on weights, racks, cardio machines and other equipment.

Gym equipment is available from a large variety of brand and retailers. It ranges from cheap, simple and lightweight to expensive, expertly crafted and durable, with no shortage of other options in between.

As a result of this, knowing what to look for can be a challenge, especially if you’re opening or renovating a gym as a first-timer.

Below, we’ve listed the top three things you should look for when comparing gym equipment for sale. From user reviews to maintenance, wear and tear, pricing and more, use these tactics as you shop to get a better deal on more dependable equipment for your new fitness center.

Great Reviews From Other Customers

Reviews from real customers are the best indicator of whether a product is worth buying or not, and commercial gym equipment is no exception.

Because gym equipment is often subject to heavy use, design, construction, and material issues can present themselves fairly quickly like a stepmill. If a rack, machine or other pieces of equipment doesn’t live up to the manufacturer’s promises, it’s far from unlikely that its problems have gone unnoticed.

One of the best ways to protect yourself against buying gym equipment that isn’t as good as you might think is by looking at reviews from existing customers.

If you’re buying your gym equipment from an online merchant, check the existing reviews from previous customers. If your preferred merchant doesn’t have any customer reviews, Google the name of the product — you might be able to find customer reviews on another website.

If you’re buying the equipment from a local merchant, call them and ask if they can provide the contact details of a previous customer. This way, you’ll be able to get a first-hand review of the equipment before you consider purchasing it for your gym.

Alternatively, another approach is to look for another gym — preferably one that’s outside your local area and not in competition with yours — and ask for their opinion on the equipment they purchased. This gives you first-hand data on a specific brand from a real gym operator.

Whichever approach you choose, the theory behind this tactic is simple — getting first-hand, authentic customer feedback can help you avoid equipment that isn’t worth your money and focus on the equipment that deserves your attention.

A Solid, Reliable Manufacturer’s Guarantee

Buying gym equipment isn’t just a purchase — it’s an investment. Like any investment, it’s vital that you buy gym equipment that’s built not just for six months or one year of reliable use, but with the long-term in mind.

High-quality fitness equipment manufacturers know that durability and reliability are important factors for their customers, which is why they’re normally happy to back up their promises with an extensive guarantee.

When you’re comparing different brands of gym equipment, don’t just look at specifications or pricing — instead, look at the amount of confidence the manufacturer has in their product.

Does one product come with a longer warranty period than another? Does the manufacturer cover more factors in their warranty (for example, the frame of the equipment, motor (a major component of many cardiovascular exercise machines) and electrical components)?

Also, look at the terms of the guarantee. If the machine breaks, where can you return it? Will you receive a replacement, or will you need to wait several weeks or months for the original equipment to be repaired and returned to you?

These factors might seem minor, but they can all have a real impact on your fitness center if your equipment breaks, malfunctions or stops working as it should.

Finally, if you’re purchasing fitness equipment outside the United States, it’s important to see how this could affect the warranty. Many manufacturers may only offer limited international support, meaning you might need to consider different brands based on your location.

Fair Pricing That Makes Sense for Your Business

Finally, the third factor to look for in gym equipment for sale is pricing. While we’d all like to be able to invest in the very best commercial gym equipment, pricing is a major concern for many gym owners and operators.

As a general rule, it’s never a good idea to invest in the cheapest available equipment for your gym. While low-cost gym equipment can save you money in the short term, it often costs more over the long term in maintenance fees, repair bills and lost revenue.

Instead, the best approach is to look for high quality, reliable exercise equipment that’s priced fairly. Ask yourself:

Does this equipment offer fair value for money?
Is it built to last? Will I have to rebuy this equipment after two, three or five years?
How does the pricing for this equipment compare to other offerings from competing brands?
Are there any special discounts available if I buy this equipment as part of a complete gym package?

It’s important not just to look at the purchase price of gym equipment, but the amount you’ll need to pay over the long term.

If you’re financing your gym equipment, calculate the total amount you’ll spend over the long term on repayments. Often, if you have the cash available, it can be significantly cheaper to purchase your gym equipment in a lump sum.

If you’re leasing your gym equipment, take note of the details of the lease agreement, such as how long you’ll need to keep the gym equipment before you can upgrade to newer models and other items.

Finally, take the cost of customizing your gym equipment into account. If you plan on branding your gym equipment with your logo or decorating it in your company’s color scheme, make sure this cost is accounted for in your total equipment budget.

Talk to Our Fitness Equipment Experts

Are you in the process of opening a new fitness center? Are you renovating or expanding an existing gym? We specialize in high quality new and used fitness equipment for gyms of all types and sizes, from commercial fitness centers to private workout facilities.

Our experienced team can help you with every aspect of choosing fitness equipment for your gym, by comparing brands to recommending specific equipment. For more information or to request a quote, please contact us today.

How to Choose The Best Commercial Gym Equipment for Your Fitness Center

By Jeremy Fremont on 06/08/2018 in Recent Blogs

Are you shopping around for new fitness equipment for your gym? Whether you’re opening a new gym or renovating an existing fitness center, new equipment can make all the difference between success and failure.

From determining the amount of space you have available for calculating maintenance, leasing costs, and other financial factors, there are numerous choices that go into picking the right gym equipment for your fitness center.

Below, we’ve listed several tips, techniques, and tactics that you can use to make the process of buying the best commercial gym equipment for your fitness center simpler, helping you cut your costs, save time and get the best possible value for money.

Before You Shop, Calculate Your Floor Space

One of the most important factors in choosing the best equipment for your gym is matching the amount of floor space you have available for your equipment.

Outfitting a gym isn’t like decorating a retail store — from changing areas to smoothie bars, front desks, and other furniture, you’ll need to set aside space for a range of non-exercise spaces and items.

This makes it essential that you calculate the amount of floor space you have available before you start shopping for fitness equipment.

On average, fitness centers use about 60% of their space for cardio machines, weights, cable machines and other fitness equipment. The remaining 40% is usually spent on areas unrelated to fitness, ranging from lockers to reception desks.

In short, the space you have available on paper won’t necessarily be the space you end up with to install your gym equipment. Before you start shopping, calculate the total amount of space in your gym that you can devote to equipment, then base your shopping around these limitations.

Make a List of Essential Equipment

Worried about spending more than you need to on gym equipment? The key to keeping your budget in control is easy — instead of treating equipment purchasing as an open-ended project, make a list of essential equipment before you start comparing and buying items.

Because every fitness center is different, your list of essential items might not be the same as that of another gym.

If you’re developing a gym aimed at a general audience, make a list of all of the most important cardio machines, resistance machines, weight racks, dumbbells and other equipment you need.

If your gym is aimed at an enthusiast audience (for example, a dedicated CrossFit, powerlifting or bodybuilding gym), make a list of the equipment your target audience would look for when choosing a fitness center.

Finally, set a specific quantity for each item on your list. While you’ll only need one unit of some machines (for example, you might only need one power rack or smith machine), you’ll probably need several of the most popular cardio machines.

Create a Floor Plan for Your Gym

Got your list ready? Then it’s time to move onto the next step — creating a floor plan of your gym that features all of your equipment, exercise areas, reception desk, changing rooms, F&B areas, waiting for space and other areas.

One of the most common gym outfitting mistakes is calculating floor space and buying exercise equipment without a clear layout in mind. The end result is often a fitness center that has all of the best commercial gym equipment, but a cluttered or illogical layout that feels unnatural.

When you’re creating a floor plan for your fitness center, group similar machines together. Most gyms categorize equipment by its purpose, with dedicated zones for cardio, weight training, and resistance machines.

This approach makes it easier for people to work out within one “zone,” reducing movement in your gym and preventing crowding. Between each zone, layout clear pathways for people to move around your fitness center without having to constantly avoid equipment or other items.

In short, design your fitness center’s floor plan like you’d design any other space — for efficient use, minimal obstacles and optimal convenience — while it might not seem obvious, the people that use your gym will notice the difference.

Calculate the Long-Term Cost of Equipment

There’s more to buying gym equipment than just setting aside a budget and buying the items outright. From financing to leasing, maintenance and more, there are numerous costs involved in running and maintaining a commercial gym.

First off, there are several ways to buy fitness equipment. You can purchase your equipment in a lump sum, paying it all at once using cash.

While this is possible for established businesses, it can be a major hit to cash flow for small or startup gyms. As a result, to get the best commercial fitness equipment for your gym, you may want to use a financing or leasing agreement.

Leasing your equipment has several advantages. First, you can trade in your equipment every few years for newer replacements, letting you keep your gym new, fresh and modern. Second, the monthly payments of a lease can be beneficial from a cash flow perspective.

Financing equipment, on the other hand, means that you can reduce the cash flow hit of buying equipment outright, all while making sure you own your gym equipment once the financing term reaches its end.

All of these tactics have advantages and disadvantages, meaning there’s no “best” solution for every gym owner. For optimal results, it’s best to sit down, go over your financial situation and come to a logical, long-term focused solution on which payment option is best for you.

Avoid Cheap, Cut-Price Exercise Equipment

Commercial exercise equipment can vary hugely in price. Search online and you’ll find a wide range of cut-price items, ranging from budget stationary bikes to power racks so inexpensive they seem almost unbelievable.

While these items might be okay for a home gym, they’re generally not the best choice for a commercial fitness center.

The best commercial gym equipment is built to a high standard, as manufacturers understand it’s going to be used again and again, day after day, by thousands of people. Cheap equipment usually isn’t built to the same standards — instead, it’s designed for occasional use at home.

This means that while buying cut-price equipment might save you money in the short term, it can often cost you significantly more than buying more expensive, higher quality equipment over the long term due to maintenance, replacements, and repairs.

When in doubt, remember the golden rule: “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” As tempting as it can be to stock your gym with cut-price equipment, you’ll almost always spend less over the long term by investing in reliable, high-quality commercial fitness equipment.

View Our Commercial Fitness Equipment Online

Are you searching for high quality, competitively priced equipment for your fitness center? We stock a complete range of fitness equipment from the world’s top brands, with options for gyms of all types and sizes.

View our entire range of equipment online, as well as our customization options. You can also contact our experienced team directly to learn more about how we can help you find and buy the best equipment for your new fitness center.

Customize Your Gym Equipment

By Charles Aguilar on 10/23/2017 in Recent Blogs, We can equip your gym

Did you ever wish you could pick the color theme of your gym facility and fitness equipment? You can! We are experts in transforming used machines into ones that are remanufactured in the custom colors you want, even adding your logo. We can powder coat the equipment frames, paint the frames, pads and shrouds any color you want, paint designs on the equipment and we can customize the upholstery with your company logo as well.

Upholstery

Having the upholstery match the color theme of your gym facility and/or equipment, along with the company logo stitched in the upholstery, leaves a lasting impression with whoever uses the equipment by reinforcing the brand and colors.

Frames

Powder coating and painting the frames to match your company/team colors gives the equipment an impressive professional look due to its sleekness, and it can demonstrate your school spirit.

Shrouds

Show off your company’s individuality by differentiating your club from the rest with a complete paint job of your fitness equipment. A painted design on the shroud equipment can really bring out the “wow” factor to your facility.

Logos

Logo designs can be personalised to an individual, a club or facility and totally unique in both design and style.

See the pictures of past projects to get an idea of what we can do for you.

What are the Advantages of Leasing Fitness Equipment

By Charles Aguilar on 10/20/2017 in Recent Blogs, We can equip your gym

When opening a new gym, not only do you have to think about the equipment that you want, but you also have to figure out the costs behind acquiring that equipment. A lease term can help you nail down exactly what it is you can afford. Let’s take a look at the advantages of leasing gym equipment.

Maximize your cash flow

Entering into a fixed monthly contract that matches your income to your expenditure is a smart way of helping preserve your cash flow. By keeping low monthly payments, that leaves room for investing your funds in other areas of your business that need growth. Also, you will know exactly how much your payments will be every month, so you can plan ahead for your expenses. You don’t have to deal with one large lump sum to purchase what you need, making it easier to budget for the equipment over a longer period of time.

Tax Benefits

Section 179 states that you can deduct the full amount of the equipment, without paying the full amount this year. The amount you save in taxes can actually exceed the payments.

Always have updated equipment

If you would like to keep updated gym equipment to remain competitive, leasing allows you to avoid being stuck with outdated equipment. When your lease ends you can replace the equipment you currently have with newer equipment. With leasing, you don’t pay for maintenance. If something breaks or has issues due to normal wear and tear, the leasing company is in charge of fixing the equipment.

We are now offering commercial and consumer financing for our fitness equipment through our leasing partner Geneva Capitol LLC. This is a great option for customers looking to buy a large quantity of equipment.

Must Have Equipment for a Home Gym

By Charles Aguilar on 09/18/2017 in Recent Blogs, Health and Wellness, We can equip your gym

If you want to burn fat and build muscle from the comfort of your own home, you must have these essential pieces of workout equipment to achieve just that.

Dumbbell

Dumbbells are essential for any gym. There are a variety of exercises you can do with dumbbells to attack all the major muscles of your body. If you are on a budget and/or lacking space to store sets dumbbells, you can always purchase adjustable dumbbells. Adjustable dumbbells are great because you can add or remove weights from the same dumbbell.

Adjustable Bench

Once you have your dumbbells, the next move to make is acquiring an adjustable bench. With an adjustable bench, you can use your dumbbells to do bench presses, triceps curls, shoulder presses, ab workouts and more. To get the full effect, make sure to get one that can be adjusted for incline and decline use.

Barbell

Dumbbells are great, but if you want to lift a heavier load, buy a barbell. You can do just about every exercise with a barbell that you can do with a dumbbell, but with better balance.

Weight Plates

Weight plates are absolutely necessary if you are going to use a barbell or adjustable dumbbells. They usually are sold in sets that come in different sizes. You don’t necessarily need a barbell or dumbbell to use weight plates, there are a number of weight plate exercises that can get you in shape.

Pull-Up Bar

One of the cheapest and most versatile pieces of equipment for a home gym is the pull-up bar. You can either buy the type that can be screwed onto a wall or fits into a doorway. You can do a variety of exercises with a pull-up bar; chin-ups, leg raises, windscreen wipers and more.

Benefits of Having a Home Gym

By Charles Aguilar on 09/14/2017 in Recent Blogs, Working Out, We can equip your gym

Gym memberships can be expensive, being locked into a contract can be annoying, not having the time to go to the gym or having the desire to leave your house after a long day of work can all be a pain, especially if you live far away from your gym. Then, once you do get to the gym you might have to wait to use the machine that you wanted to use because it is being occupied by someone else, and you have to deal with wiping off every machine you use before and after. This is why having a home gym can be so much better than going somewhere to workout. Here are a few reasons why having a home gym is awesome!

Save Time

Instead of spending time on the road going to the gym and back, you can use that time for things that require your attention at home, like your family, pets and the meal you’re cooking for dinner. What if there’s traffic on the road? That would waste even more of your precious time.

Save Money

Save yourself money by not buying a gym membership. The average gym membership costs between $40 to $50 a month, but when you add the initiation fee, you’re looking at as much as $800 a year. Some gym memberships contracts are almost impossible to break from since they are legally binding contracts. Which means, you will continue paying for them even if you don’t show up to the gym anymore. Then, there’s the price of gas to get you from point A to point B. Gas prices always fluctuate, so there’s not telling how much money you would spend in a year going to the gym and back.

Convenient

A home gym will eliminate most of your excuses for not working out. You can listen to your own music on your stereo instead of listening to whatever music is being played at the gym. No need to mess up your eardrums by using earphones in order to listen to your favorite music while working out. You can decorate your home gym anyway you want, it’s your house. Your home gym is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, never a closing time.

Should Women Lift Weights?

By Charles Aguilar on 08/21/2017 in Recent Blogs, We can equip your gym

The short answer is, “Yes, women should lift weights.” There are so many benefits that gym goers can utilize to get in the best shape of their lives. The benefits that could interest women the most are weight loss and body shaping.

Weight Loss

By adding muscle through weight lifting, metabolic rate goes up to feed the newly added muscle, burning more calories throughout the day.

Body Shaping

Lifting weights also helps shape the body. If all you do is cardio, then you will simply end up getting a smaller physique. Adding muscle to the right places will help shape out the body with a more fit appearance.

There are other benefits that come from weight lifting, like increased mobility, preventing muscle loss, fixing posture and alleviating back pain. The only catch is, you need to lift heavy. Lifting those 3 pound dumbbells isn’t going to cut it. You need to lift strong to look strong. Don’t worry about getting too bulky. Women actually have difficulty putting on muscle mass because of the lack of the muscle-building hormone, testosterone, when compared to men. So go out there and don’t be afraid to pick up those barbells!

What is the purpose of foam rolling?

By Charles Aguilar on 08/07/2017 in Recent Blogs, We can equip your gym

BodyTone Foam Roller

The popularity of foam rolling has grown, and many people want to know what is it about foam rolling that has gained so much attention.

What is foam rolling?

First, for those unfamiliar with foam rolling, foam rolling is a form of self-myofascial release (SMR). It’s often done with a roller, which comes in different materials and densities, or done with a rolling stick and dense pressure balls, like a tennis or lacrosse ball. The goal of SMR is to put pressure on your muscles and fascia, which is the connective tissue that permeates the muscle. Doing so might release deformities in the fascia or muscle fibers, release supposed trigger points, and improve blood flow.

Does foam rolling have any benefits?

Most people use foam rollers to improve flexibility and mobility without the performance detriments that static stretching has shown to hinder performance. Studies have found that foam rolling might indirectly aid in performance by improving recovery and soreness.

How it’s done

A foam rolling session should last at least 10 to 20 minutes after a workout to improve recovery and soreness. It’s also best to foam roll at least 10 minutes before exercise to reap acute mobility benefits. Make sure to target each muscle at least for 10 to 20 seconds. The pressure applied should be moderately forceful, invoking tolerable pain. A medium density foam roller will work for the majority of people to hit larger muscle groups like your hamstrings, gluten, and back. Foam rolling can be a game changer for you in your fitness goals.

Free Weights vs Selectorized Machines

By Charles Aguilar on 08/01/2017 in Recent Blogs, We can equip your gym

Going to the gym, but don’t know what equipment to use? Free weights or selectorized machines, which one is better? Let’s look at the benefits that each bring.

Free Weights

barbell

The instability of free weights helps build stabilizing muscles, which is great for improving balance, coordination, and athleticism. Unfortunately, selectorized machines usually have you seated or placed into a fixed position that takes instability out of play. Free weights also lets you follow a natural bar path, meaning you can move the weight in a pattern that comes natural to you, making it great to replicate functional, real-life movement. Therefore, free weights are great for performing a wide variety of exercises. Whether you want to do olympic lifts or deadlifts, free weights are the way to go.

Selectorized Machines

Selectorized machines are also good in their own right. Stability from machines are great for your form to reduce the risk of injury, or when going through rehab. Since most machines provide a fixed movement pattern, the learning curve drops way down, making it perfect for beginners and the elderly. Fixed movement patterns also means you can isolate muscle groups much better. For example, if you want to workout your biceps, try using the bicep curl machine.

Both free weights and machines have advantages that the other doesn’t. They both can do a good job in building muscle and strength, depending on what you’re striving for.

Free Weights vs Calisthenics

By Charles Aguilar on 07/26/2017 in Recent Blogs, We can equip your gym

The use of free weights and calisthenics for exercising have plenty of benefits, but is one better than the other?

It depends, calisthenics are better suited to improve functional body movements that are used in daily life because the basis of calisthenics is to move your body through space without any restrictions. For example, doing pull-ups and push-ups. Free weights, on the other hand, are mainly static loads, where you stay in a single place and manipulate the weight from point A to point B. For example, using bench presses and dumbbells. If you’re intention is to pack on muscle, free weights are for you. If you want to improve your capabilities in moving your body through space rather than lifting weights, calisthenics is for you. At the end of the day, do want you enjoy. I like to do both! Below, I have provided some benefits of using free weights and calisthenics.

Advantages of Free Weights

Free weights have an advantage when it comes to simplifying progression. If you want to build strength, you simply have to lift heavier weights. The same thing goes for building muscle, by increasing volume through increasing repetitions. calisthenics doesn’t improve strength and muscle growth easily since it lacks the increase of volume. For example, if you want to achieve a more defined chest, push-ups can only do so much for you since there is not much you can do to add progression. With free weights, you can simply progress by adding more weights to the bar for bench pressing, or lift heavier dumbbells while laying on a bench. Another advantage of using free weights is the ability to target specific muscle groups for making that specific muscle larger or because you’re recovering from an injury, isolation movements are best achieved with weights. While calisthenics consist of many natural and functional movements that require multiple muscle groups to be targeted at the same time.

Advantages of Calisthenics

Body weight exercises, for the most part are free. Free weights have to be bought or you must have a gym membership to use them. For calisthenics, you can always go to a local park that calisthenics bars to exercise, or you can do your push-ups and sit-ups at home. At the very most, you can purchase a pull-up bar or a suspension training system. Which comes out to be a lot cheaper than buying free weights. With body weight exercises, the possibility of you getting injured is less than with free weights, since some people lift weights with improper form.

Easy Maintenance Tips for your Treadmill

By Charles Aguilar on 05/02/2017 in Recent Blogs, We can equip your gym

Get the most out of your home treadmill with easy to do maintenance tips that can extend the life of your treadmill for many years. Preventive maintenance will keep expensive service calls to a minimum.

Treadmills

Cleanliness

For your treadmill to work effectively you have to keep it clean. Make sure to pass a dry towel underneath the walking belt to gather up all the dust, dirt and debris that has accumulated over time. Also make sure to raise the deck and vacuum underneath to get rid of the dirt and dust around your treadmill because when you are using your treadmill the belt creates a vacuum under the treadmill as it rotates which picks up dirt and dust, and distributes it into the motor controller area.

Walking Belt

The number one reason for treadmill failure is not lubricating the walking belt every three months or so. Almost everyone that owns a treadmill does not know that they need to do this very important maintenance step. There are plenty of lubricant and lube kits to choose from that you can find on the web; many of them come with instructions or you can just follow the instructions from your owner’s manual. Many owners manuals are available on the web as well.

We now offer gym equipment maintenance!

Gym equipment is a large expense for both an individual and gym owner. We now offer fitness equipment repair, service and preventative maintenance packages throughout Southern California (Los Angeles County, the Inland Empire, Orange County and San Diego County). Treadmills, elliptical cross trainers, exercise bikes (upright, recumbent and indoor cycles, steppers and stepmills and other cardio machines can last for many years when maintained well. Protect your investment by scheduling routine check ups. Click on the link below to request service.

https://primofitnessusa.com/fitness-equipment-repair-now-offer-gym-equipment-maintenance/

Tips for Buying Used Fitness Equipment

By Charles Aguilar on 04/03/2017 in Used Fitness Equipment, Recent Blogs, We can equip your gym

Buying used fitness equipment can be a great way to save money when you are building your home gym on a limited budget. With the high retail prices that fitness equipment is going for nowadays, you can save lots of money by buying used cardio and strength equipment. As with everything else that you purchase, make sure to do your due diligence when buying used fitness equipment.

Understanding the Terminology

With so much jargon used to describe fitness equipment such as “refurbished,” “remanufactured,” “as is,” “serviced and cleaned,” “pre-owned,” “demo,” “reconditioned” and more, it is important for the buyer to understand what the terms mean. It is your responsibility to ask the salesperson exactly what those words mean. Some used fitness equipment have had parts exchanged for new ones, some equipment have simply been cleaned and tested for proper function, and others are sold in the same condition they were acquired.

Research the Brand, Model, and Seller

Purchasing name brands will generally save you more money in the long run. I once purchased a new treadmill for a really cheap price from a rather unknown brand. I immediately noticed how fragile the frame was; I could hear it creek whenever I moved it around. I remember almost falling on my face while running on it because the belt felt like it was slipping, but later I found out it was the motor that was giving out. Now I know that I could have spent roughly around the same amount of money on a used quality name brand treadmill and still have it working to this day. Reputation of a brand goes a long way when purchasing something that you expect to be durable. Finding a reputable seller is also essential when shopping for fitness equipment. Go on review websites like Yelp to get a sense of what you will expect from the seller in terms of the quality of the equipment they sell and their prices..

Try Before You Buy

Avoid purchasing something just because you believe you are getting a good deal. You should always try out the equipment that you are buying. The salesperson should not be able stop you from getting on the treadmill you are interested in purchasing, walking on it and pushing all the buttons to make sure they work. It is your duty to make sure you are investing your money in something that will not end up unusable in a couple of months. If you are looking for longevity and durability, then a commercial grade fitness machine would be perfect for the rigorous day to day use that it was created for.

See These Machines and More at our Warehouse in Orange County, California

Local customers will enjoy walking in to browse our large collection of both used and new fitness equipment. We are happy to help those who need assistance deciding on the right equipment for their home or gym. International dealers, wholesalers and gym owners looking for the best prices and service are more than welcome to visit as well; we ship to all parts of the world. Our team members are prepared to help in putting together special gym packages that best suit their needs.

Come take advantage of our expert sales staff and their expertise with designing home and professional gyms with fitness equipment within your space and budget. Our team has over 100 years of combined fitness industry experience in all types of new and used gym equipment from repair and remanufacturing, to moving and installation, to what gear is best for your home, apartment complex or gym. You can also email us at [email protected] or call with any questions at (714) 957-2765. However, we encourage you to come in person and see one for yourself.

We are open Monday-Friday from 9-5, as well as Saturday by appointment only. Our friendly and informed staff are ready to help you in any way regarding fitness equipment. We serve local fitness enthusiasts and gym owners from all over Southern California, from Orange County, San Diego, Los Angeles – and beyond. Come on by!

What is CrossFit?

By Charles Aguilar on 03/31/2017 in Recent Blogs, Working Out, We can equip your gym

The textbook definition of CrossFit is the functional movements constantly varied at high intensity, but for many people that do CrossFit, it is seen as not just a workout but also a lifestyle. CrossFit has changed people’s lives by making them feel physically and mentally better about themselves. CrossFit has become so popular that it is now considered a sport.

What does CrossFit consist of?

Functional Movements – Squatting, deadlifting, overhead press. These are movements that your body is naturally designed to perform using all your muscle groups full range of motion.

Fundamental Exercises – There are typically nine fundamental movements to CrossFit. The air squat, front squat, overhead squat, strict press, push press, push jerk, deadlift, deadlift sumo high pull and a medicine ball clean.

Gymnastics – A lot of skills in CrossFit are gymnastics. You have your handstand push-ups, pull-ups and muscle-ups that are all part of CrossFit.

The Environment – Unlike a typical gym where you usually don’t say a word to the people there, the CrossFit gym is a place where people of all ages and physical abilities interact with each other through motivation and encouragement.

Equipment for CrossFit

Primo Fitness carries quality equipment for CrossFit at great prices. Here are some CrossFit equipment that we have in stock.

See These Machines and More at our Warehouse in Orange County, California

The Difference Between a Water Rower and an Air Rower

By Charles Aguilar on 03/17/2017 in Recent Blogs, Cardio Fitness Equipment, Working Out, We can equip your gym

If you are in the market to buy a rowing machine, it is essential of you to do your research on what kind of rowing machine you should get. Two of the most popular rowing machines are the Water Rower and Air Rower. These are the major differences between the two machines that people look for when buying a rowing machine.

	Water Rowing Machine	Air Rowing Machine
Price	Found in higher-end price range: $700 – $1,100+	Found in every price range: $300 – $1000+
Noise Level	Relatively quiet- Water makes a splashing noise inside the tank.	Fairly loud- Fan makes a loud “whooshing” noise while rowing.
Monitors	Advanced but not equal to the best air rower monitor.	Ranges from basic to highly advanced- Has the #1 rowing machine monitor.
Stroke Feel	Strong resistance at first, then light in the end.	Light resistance at first, then strong in the end.
Aesthetics	The natural wood looks amazing in any room in your home or any home office setting	Ideal for a gym or garage.
Storage	Upright storage with wheels.	Foldable seat rail with wheels.
Weight	Heavier due to filled water tank.	Fairly lightweight depending on amount of steel or plastic used in the design.

If interested in purchasing your own rowing machine, take a look at our Water Rower and Air Rower.

See These Machines and More at our Warehouse in Orange County, California

What is a Fan Bike?

By Charles Aguilar on 02/24/2017 in Recent Blogs, Cardio Fitness Equipment, Exercise Bikes, Working Out, We can equip your gym

Are you looking for an indoor bike that is low-price and durable? Well, fan-powered exercise bikes are just that. Thanks to their simple design and construction, fan-powered bikes typically rank at the low-end of the price range and can endure years of regular use, despite the low price.

How does it Work?

Unlike other indoor exercise bikes, fan bikes don’t have push-button resistance, nor pre-programmed workouts. You are completely in charge of how much resistance you want to work with. The main difference maker of a fan bike is that it gets its resistance from the wind. Resistance increases by how fast you pedal. The faster you pedal, the faster the fan blades spin and the more resistance they generate. Slow down and the fan blades automatically slow down too, easing off on the resistance. Another difference from its stationary contemporaries are the elliptical handles that the user moves back and forth while pedaling.

Benefits

Aside from the benefit of being able to burn calories, fan bikes create a circulation of self-sustaining flow of air throughout any room to keep the user cool while they exercise. The combination of pedaling and arm movement give the user a total body workout. The coordinated pushing and pulling action of the arms and the pushing action of the legs, combined with the air resistance from the fan, challenges your heart to pump blood to both upper and lower body regions. Fan bikes are also typically lighter in weight than the average exercise bike, which makes it easier to move. The simplicity of the fan bike makes it perfect for home use.

If you are interested in purchasing a fan bike, click on the links below to see the fan bikes we have in stock.

https://primofitnessusa.com/product/schwinn-ad2-airdyne-bike/

https://primofitnessusa.com/product/stairmaster-airfit-bike/

See These Machines and More at our Warehouse in Orange County, California

IHRSA 2017 in Los Angeles is Just Around the Corner

By Charles Aguilar on 02/09/2017 in Primo Fitness News, Recent Blogs, We can equip your gym

If you haven’t registered for the 36th Annual International IHRSA Convention, please do so now by clicking on the image above to direct you to the registration page. The International Convention and Trade Show of the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center this year with over 350 exhibitors from around the world to showcase their products and services throughout March 8-11, 2017.

IHRSA 2017 will be a fun and educative experience for people who are looking to network and learn about the latest innovations in the fitness industry. There will be an array of speakers on business and corporate culture, educational sessions, networking events, group workouts and a trade show throughout the event. IHRSA 2017 is the place to be for people who work in the fitness industry.

Photo courtesy of IHRSA

Primo Fitness will be in attendance at IHRSA 2017. We encourage dealers and club owners that are attending the event to come visit our showroom and warehouse. Our owner and salespeople are available to show you our equipment that can fit your needs. Primo Fitness will also be available to meet at IHRSA 2017 to answer any questions or inquiries you may have.

Come see our Fitness Equipment and More at our Warehouse in Orange County, California

What is an AMT?

By Charles Aguilar on 02/09/2017 in Recent Blogs, Precor Fitness Equipment, Ellipticals, Cardio Fitness Equipment, We can equip your gym

Adaptive Motion Trainer (AMT)

Ellipticals have been a staple in gyms since they came out in the 1990’s, but recently a more advanced cardio machine similar to an elliptical has taken over. Precor’s Adaptive Motion Trainer (AMT) is everything an elliptical is and more.

What Does it do?

The AMT is a self-generating machine that turns on only when in use. The AMT adapts to your body motion whether you are walking or running. The platforms follow your feet in whatever direction you want them to go. You’re not on any particular track, so you’re not bound on a pre-determined ellipsis as you would be on a traditional elliptical machine; you can use it in a stair-master type way if you like, and you can even kick your feet up behind you to really work your hams and glutes. It’s totally responsive! The AMT blends the benefits of a treadmill with the low impact motion of an elliptical. This is why the AMT is considered to be a combination of a treadmill, stepper, and elliptical machine.

A Total Body Workout

The AMT’s versatility of motion and resistance make it a great option for all types of exercises. The AMT has several pre-programmed workouts that can be selected for a full-body resistance training circuit. You can also select Quick Start button and use the manual adjustments to increase the stride length and resistance until it fits your individual abilities. During your cardio work you can utilize the backward motion of your foot pedals to switch up the muscle groups being used. You can also incorporate pushing and pulling movements by using your arms.

The AMT is more than just a cardio machine. You can set up the machine to transition from striding to resistance training moves like squats, single leg curls, and leg raises. You can even incorporate upper body strength and core training into your workouts by placing your hands on the foot pedals to do push-ups or to create a plank while staying balanced at the same time since the foot pedals will move if too much pressure from one side is applied. The AMT will pause automatically to allow time to complete your resistance moves. Your pause time can be adjusted up to 300 seconds. All of these exercises help to improve overall strength in your larger muscle groups. As you can see, the AMT is a stand-alone total body workout machine.

Click on the image below to see all of our AMT’s in stock.

See These Machines and More at our Warehouse in Orange County, California

Top 5 Reasons Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail

By Primo Fitness Staff on 01/04/2017 in Used Fitness Equipment, Recent Blogs, Health and Wellness, Working Out, We can equip your gym

This New Year give yourself the gift of fitness and a healthier you!

New Year’s Resolutions are always trending at the start of a new year. Improved health is usually one of the primary categories these fall under. Better health resolutions can include losing weight, eating better, or dropping a bad habit. However, people typically have not been so good at keeping them, with over 80% failing. To succeed against such odds, it’s important to understand why New Year’s Resolutions fail in the first place.

1. Unclear goals

New Year’s Resolutions are often created rather vaguely. If a resolution is too basic such as losing weight, then it will likely fail with little way to measure progress. Framing a goal with defined markers of time and progress is a great first step in making a resolution. Losing 10 pounds in a month is a good example. It provides a goal that is measureable yet not unrealistic. A specific and attainable resolution makes it easier to focus your efforts.

2. Lack of strategy

It’s easy to fantasize when our goals are achieved, but it’s much harder to put a process in place to accomplish them. For losing 10 pounds in a month, strategies could include going to the gym 3 times a week, or limiting desserts to once a week. Again, a clear plan can guide how you make a resolution become reality.

3. Giving up too early

Failures will happen along the way. Too often however, people will use a setback as an excuse to give up entirely. Missing a day in your resolution’s timetable just calls for greater dedication. It’s okay if you don’t quite meet a certain goal your resolution calls for. Even if you didn’t quite lose 10 pounds in a month, it is worth celebrating those seven you did lose. Standards are meant to be bars to aim for, not restraints to prevent us from our goals.

4. No accountability

If you’re the only one holding yourself accountable, chances are you won’t get far on your resolutions. Instead, try including an accountability partner. A partner can call you out when you’re slacking, encourage when you’re struggling, or even tag along your workout and get reps in.

5. Lacking the means to meet New Year’s Resolutions

If your New Year’s Resolutions aren’t taking off due to lacking proper equipment, we can help with that! Our fitness equipment is durable and affordable. Whether it’s strength or cardio you’re after, we’ll have the right machine for your goals.

Local, walk-in clients and gyms are welcome to visit our brand new 10,000 square foot fitness equipment showroom within our 100,000 square foot warehouse. We have very competitive prices on the highest quality new and used fitness equipment. Or if you are not in the local Southern California area, call us at 1-714-957-2765 or fill out our contact form for more information.

How to Practice Healthy Holiday Habits

By Primo Fitness Staff on 11/18/2016 in Recent Blogs, We can equip your gym

Jogging can help burn calories during the holiday season

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching and Christmas and New Year’s not far behind, the holiday season is a great time to destress. It is too easy to relax with the abundance of food. Perhaps now more than any other time of the year is when carefully-laid diet and exercise plans are ruined. Despite this, it is still possible to maintain a healthy lifestyle during this time.

Don’t skip meals before a holiday feast

While it might seem smart to pass on breakfast to eat more later, this actually has a negative impact on metabolism. If the body skips meals, it is more prone to overeating when food is available. In addition, this causes the body to tap into energy reserves in muscles and lowers blood sugar levels, draining energy and thinking ability. Eat a light breakfast that includes protein and whole wheats before a feast. This will keep the body satisfied until the big meal.

Eat slowly and properly

During the holidays the temptation to overeat is rarely higher. Getting smaller initial portions and chewing slowly can cause the body to feel full sooner. Instead of eating a second helping, those leftovers will be better off as a later meal.

Limit consumption of fats and sugars

It’s understandable to want to enjoy a traditional holiday meal. Simple preparation changes can allow holiday meals to be eaten with less guilt. For instance, try fat free chicken broth when cooking turkey, or reduce the amount of oil and butter in recipes. Even these small changes can make a difference.

Drink plenty of water

Drinking water is important everyday, but it becomes even valuable during the holidays. It’s a great way to stop overeating by satisfying the body faster. Drinking enough water also helps limit drinking other beverages such as champagne and eggnog.

Engage in some exercise

Getting some exercise during the holidays helps in maintaining a healthy weight. A leisurely stroll around the neighborhood or tossing a football around will help burn calories after a hearty meal. This is even better if the whole family joins. Another option is the Turkey Trot; many communities offer this on Thanksgiving to help burn calories before the big meal. Even chores such as raking leaves or cleaning the dishes after meals can be helpful.

The holidays are a time to enjoy family, friends, and food. By making the right choices, they don’t have to ruin your fitness goals. Instead of slacking off and making a New Year’s resolution to do better next year, end the year on a high note for your health.

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Understanding the Terminology

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Try Before You Buy

What does CrossFit consist of?

Equipment for CrossFit

1. Unclear goals

2. Lack of strategy

3. Giving up too early

4. No accountability

5. Lacking the means to meet New Year’s Resolutions

Don’t skip meals before a holiday feast

Eat slowly and properly

Limit consumption of fats and sugars

Drink plenty of water

Engage in some exercise