Show Your Heart Some Love This February

The hearts we most commonly think about during the month of February are the bright red ones filled with chocolates. However, at Expert Fitness Supply, we think February is a great time to think about the most important heart – your own.

Keeping your heart healthy may seem like a daunting task, so we’ve broken it down into some easy to follow tips:

Get Physically Active

Being physically active is one of the most important things you can do for your heart. Cardio workouts, in particular, are a great option because they strengthen your heart and blood vessels, improve the flow of oxygen throughout your body and help to lower your blood pressure and cholesterol.

What Type of Equipment Should I Use?

This is a common question many people have. When it comes to heart health, gym equipment that focuses on cardio are excellent choices. These machines will get your heart rate up and provide you with a great total body workout. Two great options are:

Elliptical trainers

Elliptical trainers provide a circular up-and-down motion that’s a cross between a ski machine and a stair-stepper. They are a great choice because they are low impact, which means they are easy on your joints. Users can adjust the resistance, grade, and speed to their specific needs. The Life Fitness Elevation Discover SE Elliptical is a great choice for this type of machine.

Rowing machines

Rowing machines work the back, arms, and legs simultaneously, creating another excellent total-body workout. We recommend the Body-Solid Endurance Indoor Rower R300. This machine utilizes user-controlled air resistance that makes for a balanced and coordinated workout.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Being overweight increases your risk for diabetes​, high cholesterol, high blood pressure​, as well as, cardiovascular disease. In fact, research shows that losing just 5-10% of your body weight can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke greatly.

Quit Smoking

We all know smoking is bad, but it is particularly bad for your heart because it damages the lining of your arteries, which can lead to a build-up of fatty material. This in turns narrows the artery which can lead to angina, a heart attack or a stroke. The carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke will also reduce the amount of oxygen in your blood.

Get a Physical

Getting an annual physical will tell you vital pieces of information you have no way of knowing otherwise. Is your blood pressure high? How about your cholesterol? Are you at risk for diabetes? All of these issues can directly affect the health of your heart which is why it’s important to have an understanding of where you are healthwise.

Maintain a Healthy Diet

Maintaining a healthy weight and not being overweight does not automatically mean that you’re healthy. In addition to getting a yearly physical, it’s also important to take a look at the foods you are putting into your body. Are you choosing foods low in saturated fats and trans fats? What’s your cholesterol, sugar and salt intake like? How many servings of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are you eating daily? More than calorie counting, it’s important to take a look at your diet as a whole and examine the quality of the foods you are eating and how it can affect your heart.

To celebrate our hearts this month we are offering an exclusive one day sale on February 14th. Subscribe to our mailing list and we will send you a coupon for 14% off this Valentine’s Day!