Choosing and Buying Home Fitness Equipment
How many people do you know who have treadmills,
stationary bikes, weight benches or other bits of exercise
sculpture littering their houses? How many people actually
use them? (You can tell by looking at the number of
sweaters hanging from the handles of the bike, or the
stacks of overdue library books on the weight bench).
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It's a sad truth that a majority of the workout machines
bought sit around unused, lonely and gathering dust, while
their owners sit guiltily on the couch, eating potato chips
and watching reruns of The Sopranos. Don't let this happen
to you!
1. Try one of everything. Don't just buy a machine and bring
it home having never used it. You can try all sorts of
machine on a day pass to a local fitness center, or by
visiting friends with treadmills, stairmasters, bikes or
Pilates sets. Sample from a wide variety of the equipment
out there so you know
what you like and what you hate.
Never buy a piece of equipment if you
dislike working out on it (you'd be
surprised how many people do just that,
figuring that having spent all that money
will make them more appreciative of the
machine. It doesn't.)
- Get it for free or for cheap. There
are so many unwanted weight machines out
there! The trick is finding one is
practically new condition, along with
the user manual and someone who knows
how to set it up and use it properly.
Look at yard sales, ask your friends.
Pay a personal trainer to teach you to
set it up and use it safely.
- Don't blow it all on bells and
whistles. The best piece of equipment
you could probably buy is a good pair of
walking shoes. You don't need things
that are programmable, that light up
when you're done or tell you how many
fat cells may have been redistributed
during your workout. Don't be seduced by
expensive bonus items; get something
solid that works. Use the extra money
for those shoes.
- Buy new equipment from a specialist.
You may get a cross trainer a little
cheaper at a department store, but from
a store that specializes in sporting
equipment, you should also get
knowledgeable and helpful salespeople.
They may even have a staff that does
at-home repair if your machine should
run into trouble.
- Get a good return policy and a long
warranty. See if you can get a 30 day
return policy that won't cost you
anything. If at the end of 30 days,
you've only used the piece a few times,
send it right back and there's no damage
done to your wallet or your morale.
Don't ever keep a piece of exercise
equipment out of guilt.
Types of Equipment
Aerobic or cardio fitness
Stationary bikes
Treadmills
Elliptical trainers like the Tony Little Gazelle
Rowing machines
Cross country ski machines
Stair climbers or steppers
Strength Training or Weight Lifting Equipment
Free weights, dumbbells or barbells
Home gyms like the Bowflex
Rubber bands or tubing for resistance
Exercise Ball |
