With tens of millions of registered members and more
than 12,000 items listed, eBay is, without a doubt, the world's largest
Internet marketplace. And you can buy just about anything there - from
CDs, movies and vitamins to first edition books, new businesses and even
someone's last breath of air. But, what you want to know - is it the place
to shop for fitness equipment?
The answer is yes, but that's if you don't mind
sifting and, in most cases, bidding. On a given day in June 2003, there
were 1,026,771 items listed under the 'Sports' category; and there
were 344,705 items in the "Sporting Goods" subcategory,
which is broken down into more than three-dozen subcategories. Under
"Exercise & Fitness," 'Sporting Goods'
subcategory, there were 7,146 items. And that subcategory is divided up
into six subcategories. Hope you're not too confused.
On that given June day, I took a look at several fitness
products sold on eBay. I wanted to find out how low prices on new
(never been used) popular or quality products go on this mega auction
site. The good news: They can go pretty low.
One product I examined was Total Trainer, and
there are several models listed on eBay. I zeroed in on the 3000 model,
which is supposed to be comparable to the Brinkley - and Norris -
endorsed Total Gym 3000.
On eBay, Total Trainer is offered in two
pricing formats: Name your own or Buy It Now (skip the auction process)
for $277. Off eBay, Total Gym retails for, on average, $500.
But that should come as no big surprise, since any
highly unsaturated oil will do that, particularly if substituted
for saturated fats.
Studies show that Omega-3 fatty acids help lower
cholesterol and blood triglycerides, and prevent clots in arteries,
which may result in strokes, heart attacks and thromboses.
As a source of fiber mucilage, oral flaxseed (not
flaxseed oil) may possess laxative properties, although only one human
trial has been conducted for this indication.
But you should be drinking a lot of water after
consuming the seeds.
- Does Omega 3 Lowers Cholesterol?
- Does Flaxseed Oil Prevent Cancer too?
- The primary sources of omega-6 are corn, soy,
canola, safflower and sunflower oil; these oils are overabundant in
the typical diet, which explains our excess omega-6 levels.
I also compared a few other infomercial-marketed
products. One, a knock- off of the Fast Abs bodybuilding belt, an electronic
muscle stimulation device, runs for about $10 to $15 on eBay (with
free shipping). Off eBay, the real product will cost you around $30, plus
shipping & handling. Another, Smart ABS, is priced at $50 on
eBay; off, it ranges between $70 and $80.
A third product is a Fitness Quest glider
similar to the Tony Little Gazelle Freestyle Elite. Buy it on eBay and
you'll pay roughly $220, almost half of what you would spend at Little's
official site.
The last product I checked out was Jolie Weights,
one-pound attachable fitness shoe weights introduced this spring by
Jolie World. At JolieWeights.com, these weights cost $19.99. An independent
eBay seller was auctioning them for $14.99. That's a 25 percent
savings. Plus, shipping/handling charges are exactly the same.
The bottom line is: You will find some good deals on
eBay. But there are a good number of duds there too. The best advice? Do
your research before buying. Compare prices; read the fine print; ask the
seller whether it's a discontinued or irregular product; and be vigilant
of bloated shipping/handling charges (a common practice among eBay
sellers).
A final tip: before buying anything, read the
seller's reviews, where buyers post their positive or negative shopping
experiences. If the eBay seller has too many negatives, then you may want
to pass on the deal. If the seller seems legitimate, and you've confirmed
it's a steal, jump on it.
The truth is that although the odds of surviving bypass
surgery have improved since the operation was introduced, bypass
surgery kills anywhere from 2% to 4% of the patients on the operating
table, and more within a few months.
In this Omega-3 benefits and facts section you will
learn the basics about omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFA) from fish
oils and their function in our bodies.
These beneficial fats play important roles in brain,
nerve, glandular, and eye functions. In addition, they are involved in the
transport and metabolism of cholesterol and triglycerides.
Let me first address the issue of fat. Fat seems to
receive a lot of reprimand but the fact is we all need fat; fat helps
nutrient absorption, nerve transmission, maintaining cell membrane
integrity etc. However, when consumed in excess amount, fat contributes to
weight gain, heart disease and certain types of cancer.
Flax seed boasts a long history as a healing
herb. First cultivated in Europe, the plant's brown seeds were regularly
used to prepare balms for inflamed skin and healing slurries for
constipation.
About the Author
Why is Flaxseed called the Miracle
Food?
More at http://www.flaxseedfitness.com