Although a stair-treadmill ergometer sounds like a high-tech piece of exercise equipment, it is actually another name for a stair climber or stepmill. An ergometer is an exercise machine that can measure your work output. A stair-treadmill is the combination of a standard stepper and a treadmill.

Revealing your toned abdominal muscles underneath that layer of fat is certainly possible by exercising on the treadmill. However, if you do the same routine, at the same intensity and for the same duration, you are out of luck. The length of time you spend on the treadmill depends on how hard your training is.

Lifting dumbbells can reduce the risk of sports-related injuries and help muscles work more efficiently. Teens should focus on lifting to build strength and tone rather than to build big biceps. Lifting weights that are too heavy can cause damage to the tendons and ligaments of still developing bodies.

Many people enjoy making homemade fudge, but the chocolate treat may not turn out as expected if you do not allow the fudge to harden correctly. Fudge becomes creamy when beaten and then begins to set up when cooking, but the cooking process is not complete when you take the fudge out of the oven.

If you’re tired of the same old gym routine, it may be time to try something different. You can often avoid the dreaded fitness plateau just by introducing a little variety in your routine. What’s more, you may be overlooking one of the best total-body workouts available.

Strength-training machines are ideal for isolating a certain muscle or muscle groups. The design of these machines position your body in such a way that only the body parts you are training move. The rest of your body remains still.

Punching bags for boxing come in a variety of sizes, materials and colors. Heavier bags provide more resistance -- the heavier the bag, the more difficult your workout. When it comes to choosing the right bag, size, level of fitness and the intensity you plan to train at all factor into your selection.

Ninety-six percent of trainers offer balance training as a session option, according to a 2008 survey by the IDEA Health and Fitness Association.

Inversion therapy or inversion exercises hang you upside down and are used to relieve lower back pain. Other potential benefits include improved circulation, improved posture and relief from exercises that compress the spine. If you're looking to try inversion exercises, choose from a variety of equipment.

Working out with a heavy punching bag can build coordination, body strength and endurance in a session that's surprisingly rigorous to anybody who's never done it. However, the forces involved in this kind of training put a lot of impact on some of the smallest bones in your body.

Most women, and many men, desire glutes that are tight, toned and give the butt a lifted and round appearance. Combined with a proper, clean diet and cardiovascular exercise, many machines in the gym can help round the glutes and lift the booty.

Dumbbells are made of cast iron but many manufacturers cover the iron with other materials to improve the look and feel of the dumbbells. Neoprene and vinyl are two of the most common dumbbell cover materials.