Fitness Professor Review.com
Ask the Prof
Here is where you will find answers to the most common questions regarding specialty fitness equipment and Fitness Professor Review.com ©
Q: How is Fitness Professor Review.com © different from the other reviews?
A: Although all equipment reviews offer a certain level of informational value, Fitness Professor Review.com © was created to be the leading source for complete, unbiased, and independent fitness equipment reviews. In order to accomplish this, we focus on three key points;
i) A complete and effective fitness routine requires cardiovascular, strength, core and flexibility training. This is why Fitness Professor Review.com © includes them all in our reviews.
ii) Reviews had to cover more than just the specifications of each machine. The overall construction, aesthetic design and ‘user friendliness’ all have to be considered. That is why the Fitness Professor Review.com © Review Board has such a diverse and extensive background.
iii) Fitness Professor Review.com © could not profit from the sale or service of the fitness equipment reviewed.
Q: If Fitness Professor Review.com © does not profit from the sale or service of the equipment reviewed, how are the reviews and website funded?
A: What is unique about Fitness Professor Review.com © , is that the livelihood of everyone involved is not dependent on this website or the sale of the equipment reviewed. This allows Fitness Professor Review.com © to focus on offering independent reviews. That being said, there are costs incurred with reviewing products and the continual operation of the site itself. Those costs are offset through donations from site visitors who appreciate our efforts, through the web links you find at the end of some of the review pages, through the licensing of our FIT PROF award logos and through the advertisements shown in the bottom left section of the site. It is important to note that all reviews are completed and posted BEFORE manufacturers are given the opportunity to participate in any of the above mentioned programs.
Q: How can I support the efforts of Fitness Professor?
A: For those who appreciate our efforts, they may choose to become a fan on Facebook or Twitter, download our iPhone application, purchase our Fit Prof FIT LOG or Donate via PayPal. Scroll to the bottom of this section to find the Donation option.
Q: Does Fitness Professor receive any payment from product manufacturers prior to the release of the reviews or from any sales directly attributed to the review?
A: All product reviews are completed and posted online prior to manufacturers gaining access to the links, logos or advertising. Furthermore, Fitness Professor Review.com does not gain from the sale of any product reviewed.
Q: Why are there pictures and bios of the Review Board members?
A: We at Fitness Professor Review.com © feel it important to be as transparent as possible with our website. It would be easy to sit in a room somewhere hiding behind a computer while posting reviews but that is simply not our style. We want the public to read our backgrounds, see our faces and know that we are fitness enthusiasts who live the fitness lifestyle everyday. If a consumer is going to base one of the most important purchasing decisions of their life on our reviews, we feel it important to honor that trust by being up front and personal.
Q: How do I know that the reviews on Fitness Professor Review.com © are fair and honest?
A: When Fitness Professor Review.com © was in its initial stages of development, many equipment manufacturers and specialty store personnel asked us that very same question. It would be easy to ‘swear on a holy book’ or ‘invoke scout’s honor’ as to the fairness of the reviews however those would just be words. Instead, consider this. Even though one of the review board members had his employment terminated by a certain company a few years back, that same company has received multiple BEST BUY Awards each year. Many people ‘talk the talk’ of fairness. Fitness Professor Review.com © ‘walks the walk’.
Q: Are the reviews found on Fitness Professor Review.com © the “end all be all”?
A: Absolutely not. No single review or opinion is the answer for everyone. This is why Fitness Professor Review.com © recommends that consumers use multiple sources of legitimate information to help them choose the best piece for their needs.
Q: Which member of the Review Board is a professor?
A: The ‘Prof’ is simply a name based on our cartoon character / mascot. This is similar to other such characters used in marketing commonly known as a Captain, Count, Doctor or King. Although each member of the board has their own unique background in various fields of expertise, none have received a Professor designation.
Q: Why are there no reviews of the fitness equipment sold in department / big box / online stores?
A: Generally speaking, most people do not trust their health to just anyone. They seek out a professional to get the best information and treatment possible. With that in mind, Fitness Professor Review.com © truly believes that a specialty fitness store is the best place to go for your fitness needs. Although the products offered in department / big box / online stores can be a good starting point for some consumers, simply reading the outside of a box or looking at a machine on website shelf is not enough. Specialty stores offer machines in all price ranges ready for you to try and most importantly, their staff is there to offer expert advice and answer your questions both before and after your purchase.
Q: How are products reviewed?
A: In those categories with a larger number of units, products are graded using a 1 to 10 scoring system with 10 key characteristics. When totaled, the maximum grade for any products is 100 (10 points X 10 different characteristics). Each score is based on the unit’s own merit as well as how it compares to other products in its category. The highest graded unit per category and/or price range earns our Head of the Class BEST BUY award.
Q: What is a Head of the Class BEST BUY Award?
A: The Head of the Class BEST BUY Award is the designation Fitness Professor Review.com © uses to indicate which unit we believe is the very best in its class / category. For example, this year’s Head of the Class BEST BUY winner for Treadmills under $3,000 is the Vision T9600 Premier. Depending on the quantity and price range of units available within a specific category, over one hundered units may be reviewed with winners selected at certain price points or a single unit will be selected to be our Head of the Class BEST BUY winner.
Q: How does a product win a Head of the Class BEST BUY Award one year and not the next even if the product remains unchanged?
A: The grading system used by Fitness Professor Review.com © is based on the merits of each individual unit as well as how it compares to other units in its category. Therefore, if a unit from Company A remains the same while a unit from Company B changes in size, shape, features, warranty and or published Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), the comparison between the two will be different.
Q: What is the BEST BUY section © ?
A: Although we prefer consumers to search through all of our various reviews, we also receive requests asking for a section that highlights some of the best products on the market. The BEST BUY was created to be a special section that allows manufacturers who have won a Head of the Class BEST BUY award to purchase a spot to showcase their products. Manufacturers who do not meet this criteria do not qualify for this section and cannot purchase a spot thereby ensuring that only the best is highlighted. Qualifying manufacturers may showcase products that have won an award or any new units that became available after our annual reviews have been completed.
Q: What is the FIT PROF FIT LOG © ?
A: The FIT LOG© was designed to help consumers in their quest for improved benefits from their workouts and nutrition. It accomplishes this by guiding them to consider different aspects of their efforts other than how many pounds they lifted or how long their walked for. Muscular intensity, cardiovascular effort and percentage of daily caloric intake are just a few parameters the Fit Prof FIT LOG © helps highlight. Only through examining of these points can people gain a better understanding of what is and is not working for them. The Fit Prof FIT LOG © does helps offset some of the costs incurred in operating Fitness Professor Review.com ©.
Q: I am looking for a review on a specific product I saw in a specialty store but cannot find it on your site?
A: As Fitness Professor Review.com © offers the widest range of equipment reviews and we do try our best to make sure we cover all of the bases. We also rely on the manufacturers to confirm certain product information to ensure our reviews are as accurate as possible. With the above in mind, it takes a great deal of time and effort to review so many different products in some many equipment categories. Therefore, be sure to check back on a regular basis to read our latest reviews or feel to contact us via email and we will do our best to expedite the posting of the review you are searching for.
Q: What is the difference between an elliptical and a cross-trainer?
A: When elliptical machines first hit the market in the early 90s, many were touted as ‘elliptical cross-trainers’ as their motion was a cross / hybrid between a stair climber, skier, and treadmill. However a machine is an elliptical where the primary motion is ellipse or oval shaped. Although various machines allow their ellipse motion to be stretched or tilted (with an incline), its base shape remains the same.
A true cross-trainer is a unit that allows for completely different motions to be performed on the same machine and or allow different body parts to be incorporated together or individually. Believe it or not, the ‘original’ cross-trainer is a dual-action bike as it allowed the legs and arm to work together or independently.
With the above in mind and now that more companies continue to create new and innovative machines (other than ellipticals), Fitness Professor Review.com © felt that it was time for cross-trainers to have their own category . . . be sure to check them out.
Q: What ever happened to the stair climber?
A: In the 80s, stair climbers were the hottest machine in the health clubs. Nearly 30 years later climbers are still around however with the introduction of elliptical and cross-training technology, they have fallen from favor both in the clubs and from the home market.
Stair climbers can offer a very intense, heart pumping workout and depending on their biomechanical design, they may also play havoc on those with sensitive knees. This coupled with the introduction of new machines resulted in most manufacturers stopping production of stairclimbers however the golden standard remains the Stair Master. Read our review here.
Q: What is the difference between a home gym and a functional trainer?
A: The original home gyms used a weight stack attached via a cable to a fixed path moving handle / apparatus. That is, pressing bench press handles along their fixed path and they lifted the weight which was pulled by the cable attached to them.
The primary downfall with this type of design is that it forces a person to move within the machines path and not their own natural path. Unfortunately, the human body does not move in a straight line. It arcs and rotates and every body moves in a slightly different way. Designers have spent years trying to create machines that mimic this natural motion. The result has been to remove the machinery and simply have the user pull on the cable itself.
They are now numerous cable driven machines that allow the user to dictate where and how their limbs move the cable handle and therefore the weight. However these machines fall into one of two categories; cable driven home gyms or functional trainers.
The two main differences are that functional trainers can be used with an exercise ball, weight bench or nothing at all and their pulley positions can be adjusted vertically and or horizontally. These differences allow for a wider scope of exercises and can be used for more sports specific and rehabilitation based workouts than a basic free cable machine which has fixed or less pulley positions / versatility.
Q: Why are the different types of vibration plates (vertical, oscillating, and elliptical) not discussed in the reviews?
A: Each type of vibration is generally recommend for different training / therapeutic benefits. That said, most manufacturers do not produce units that offer all three and focus solely on the one they believe is best. Fitness Professor Review.com© recommends that anyone considering investing in a vibration product research the various types and discuss them with their health care professional
Q: Why do the reviews for vibration products include “As with any new exercise regime, please consult your health care professional before beginning vibration training”?
A: Although the history of vibration training is lengthy and there have been numerous studies on its benefits, there are those who may not feel it appropriate for everyone. This is why we recommend anyone considering investing in a vibration product research the various types and discuss them with their health care professional.
Q: After reading your reviews and visiting a few local dealers, I am still unable to decide between two different machines. Do you have any suggestions?
A: A great way to help you decide between two comparable machines is to find out how well each manufacturer’s service department operates. Simply pick up the phone and call the manufacturers of both units you are considering and ask to speak with service. Make note of whether you speak with a ‘real person’ or if you are directed to voicemail. If you are directed to voicemail, be sure to leave a message and see how long it takes to receive a call back. How well and how quickly a manufacturer responds to service calls / issues is indicative of their overall business and something that should be a very important aspect of your purchasing decision. (Please note: Most product sold in specialty fitness stores is of good quality and should last for many years without any problems however, fitness equipment is mechanical in nature and may need service on occasion.)
Q: I am having a hard time improving a certain area on my body. What can I do?
A: There are countless techniques for stimulating those stubborn areas to improve. Check out our Fit Prof FIT TIPS© section or download our free Fit Prof FIT TIPS © iPhone application for a few ideas.
Q: How do I donate to help keep quality unbiased, and independent fitness equipment reviews coming for Fitness Professor Review.com ©.
A: Simply click the link below, donate what you feel will help, and accept our thanks in advance. Please note that the donation form will show Fuzzyface LLC as this is our primary operating company.
If you have a question that is not answered here, feel free to email your question to
asktheprof@fit-prof.com
- our apologizes for not having an automatic email link however although we may enjoy a tasty protein drink, we do not like SPAM -
