Follow these steps to improve your performance.

1. Compete With Yourself – in this article you are the competitor. Just because you are exercising alone does not mean that there is no competition or motivation for you to be pushing the boundary to the next level. Constantly challenge yourself to run further, faster and more efficiently or cycle stronger and longer. By setting goals and using intrinsic motivation, you are improving your skills and fitness each time you exercise.
2. Listen To Your Competitor – by listening to your body, you should prevent injury and excess fatigue that will hamper performance. Exercising excessively may feel good during a specific session but the repercussions could be destructive. Muscle pain and stiffness may hamper the next session or an injury could stop training completely. When you feel discomfort in a muscle, you should stop exercising and apply ice to the affected area. By being tuned in to your competitor, that is your own body, you will be able to identify serious injury from fatigue and laziness, but exercise caution in the beginning stages of an exercise routine.
3. Develop Your Network and Supporter’s Club – just because you are exercising alone does not mean that you are immune to encouragement and support from others. Share your decision to invest in home exercise equipment with friends and family or share your experiences online with cyber shoppers who have had similar experiences. By sharing your workout details, you should gain a sense of accomplishment that will help to continue this new habit.
4. Consult Professionals – regular massages, reading health articles, consulting a dietician and seeking medical guidance will help on the road (or treadmill) to wellness. By developing these relationships, you will gain a variety of information regarding correct exercise, eating and lifestyle choices that will affect energy levels, health and activity.
5. Sleep with the Competitor – get plenty of rest and take time out from an exercise program. Beginners should take two to three days off from exercise per week. It is always best to exercise on alternate days with a rest in between as you build up to athlete status. The advanced athlete should still take at least one rest day per week with easy and hard days being alternated. Sleeping patterns should be regular with at least seven hours of sleep per night and do not feel guilty to have the occasional cheat in the diet.

Athletes have strict training regimes and lifestyle patterns and they have external competition, but they will tell you that their fiercest competitor is internal. You will argue with yourself to get onto the treadmill and tell yourself that you cannot push any harder, but you always want to beat the competitor.

Here are a few examples of those “non-exercisers” from the past: sometimes really inventive but hardly actually effective…

The Battle Creek Vibratory Chair

Invented in 1900 by Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (who was also the inventor of more successful product Corn Flakes) the chair was claimed to stimulate intestinal peristalsis as well as cure headaches and back pain and also increase the supply of oxygen to the body.

The chair shook rather violently and was painful to sit in – but it was supposed to stimulate the muscle tone and thus help you keep fit:

The MOLBY Revolving Hammock

The apparatus built in 1922 was supposed to stretch your spine and thus make you healthy and fit.

Make Your Spine Young! Stretch it with the Molby Revolving Hammock. Bring back health and vitality. Have a full chest and a small waist. Live longer and enjoy life more. All the keen relish of a healthful existence comes to the man or woman whoso spine is straight, strong and supple, with no tension on the sympathetic nervous system and with every spinal nerve relaxed.

Dr. Lawton’s Guaranteed FAT REDUCER

Invented in 1922 by Dr. Lawton the “fat reducer” was advertised as a simple device making any part of your body thinner within just a few days!

Whether you are 10 or 100 pounds overweight you can reduce any part you wish quickly, safely and permanently by using Reducer a few minutes night and morning. By a gentle manipulation the Reducer breaks down and disintegrates fatty tissue which becomes waste matter and is carried out of the system through the organs of elimination, thereby the blood circulation is improved.

Gustav Zander’s Abdominal Machines

1890s: Invented by The Swedish physician Gustav Zander (the developer of the first exercise gym ever) was supposed to raise “sunken vital energy” by hitting the body with perfectly rhythmic oscillating leather disks.

Zander argued that the key to health was not about exercising itself. Instead, one needed to practice “progressive exertion,” the controlled, systematic engagement of the body’s muscles in order to build strength.

All Sorts of Roller Massagers

Roller massagers were advertised as vibrating or massaging the fat off – the theory being that fat would be loosened from its moorings enabling the body to flush it out.

Well, the truth is, it is really possible to benefit from that energy – all you need is a bike generator that will help you get green by saving electricity and will give you another reason to exercise!

Bike Generators

The Pedal Generator designed by David Butcher charges batteries, that run an inverter, that produces 110v AC, that powers lights, the monitor on my computer, and many other small battery-powered things. It is the most inspiring workout you can imagine:

A few more instructions on creating a bike generator:

• BikeGen (a small power generator, mounted to a bike, that recharges two AA batteries while you ride);
• Powerbike (a solar system booster during the cloudy days)
• DC bicycle pedal generator (free plans and instructions)

Cycling Cinema

The participants set up a tent with a platform for the bikes, a central console for managing the power generation, a projector and a pair of speakers. And here you go: if you want to watch a movie, go ahead and generate some power for that!

Images via Flickr set

Cyclean Machine

Cyclean is the pedal powered washing machine created by Alex Gadsden. A washing machine is eco friendly and also helps you get fit. According to the inventor, it took about twenty weeks to create it but all in all it is not that hard to do that. All you need is: (1) an old washing machine to strip down – just the drum and shocks, (2) a frame for the machine to sit on, (3) a universal joint which connects to the back of the machine which is attached to a wheelbarrow wheel.

One more pedal-powered washing machine (via The Human Powered Home):

And here’s also a video demonstrating a pedal-powered washing machine at work:

Pedal-Powered Laptop

Pedal-powered laptop desk: work AND get fit. A must-have for all Internet addicts: now you can save on electricity by using your exercise bike to power your laptop.

Here are more photos:

Bike iPod and Cell Phone Charger

Two reasons why do you need it: first, you charge your phone without electricity from a power plant, obviously, because you are creating electricity by riding; secondly, it gives you a reason to ride to wherever you want to go, reducing your carbon footprint drastically. Well, actually three reasons: third, it is free to create, here’s a detailed instruction with photos.

More Bike-Powered Devices:

Pedal powered blender (designed by Maya Pedal organization (pdf)):

Bike-powered apple grinder

Bike-Powered Christmas Tree

Human Powered Electric Blanket

At last: Human-powered gym:
“The Green Microgym is one of the only fitness facilities in the world running on some of its own power”

Body-Solid G10B Home Gym Description

The overall weight of the entire unit is 941 lbs, which includes two 210 lb. weight stacks. So, the G10B is a little bit on the heavy side but is certainly not unusually bulky as it is about average in comparison with other multi-station units. It features a frame that is best described as very sturdy, with a true powder finish for a professional look and feel. The most compelling feature of the set is the “Bi-Angular” technology, which allows for a more realistic bench press (chest press) exercise with a focus on developing triceps as well as other muscle groups without putting any unnecessary strain on the back. The result is a safer and more efficient work out. The Body Solid G10B also incorporates lat pull-downs, seated rows, leg extensions, and ab crunches, among other workouts, to the tune of over fifty different exercises. Pulleys are available in fiberglass or nylon, though the fiberglass pulleys are the obvious better option and help to make resistance realistic and smooth as in free weights. Body Solid doesn’t skimp out on the little things, either: the G10B features upholstery and padding with a lifetime warranty, a towel holder, and even a wall chart to help you keep track of the myriad of exercises available on the set. It’s easy to see that regular and correct use of the G10B could present visible, noticeable results in a short period of time. It’s truly a  “complete package.

5 Key Features:

• Bi-Angular Technology for intense, results-oriented workouts
• Duralast padding with lifetime warranty
• “Perfect Pec” station
• Dual 210 lb. weight stack
• Over 50 different exercises

Strengths:

• Excellent craftsmanship and construction
• Industry-leading warranty and support
• Many different exercises and features

Weaknesses:

• Weight stack may not be enough for advanced users
• A little bit cramped with multiple users

Overall Rating: 5/5