Before Buying Home Fitness Equipment

Now a day more than ever we're looking for easy ways to squeeze in a workout, for some of you, that means moving from the gym to your living rooms and basements. Exercising at home might be the answer for your busy schedule, but how do you know what fitness equipment you'll need. We have lots of choices out there for home exercise: free weights, weight training machines, home gyms...and then there's cardio equipment, which is a category all its own. Prior you buy anything, remember this, starting with something you've never tried before makes it harder to succeed. Purchasing equipment is no guarantee you'll use it, so research before you decide what to get. Must choose activities you enjoy. And if you hate riding a bike, don't get a stationary bike. Do invest in a good pair of shoes and some free weights or bands. Always try videos or group fitness classes to figure out what you like to avoid wasting money. While planning your gym, know exactly how much you have to spend, exercise gear doesn't need to be expensive, but it should be quality. And if you've got $50 burning a hole in your pocket, get an exercise ball, resistance bands and some dumbbells. But if you’re rich, go ahead and build a gym in the backyard of your million-dollar mansion and be sure to invite me over to use it.

We can see people in this world who will promise you anything to get you to buy their products. Do avoid any product that promises spot reduction (such as almost every infomercial product in existence). If you hear 'in just minutes a day' or 'guaranteed to lose inches,' you'll know to spend your money elsewhere. Don't be seduced by thigh gadgets. They're often expensive and you can get more effective workouts with a basic set of dumbbells and good, quality exercises. Most of us buy things or do things because of others. Meanwhile, you loathe jogging. Simple activity is as good as another, providing that you do it regularly and get your heart rate up. And if you like no-impact activities, try an elliptical trainer or bike, but make sure you lift weights so you get some type of weight bearing activity, enjoy swimming. It is often an overlooked issue, having a treadmill is cool, but what if there's nowhere to put it, and what are you going to do with that barbell set you just bought? Prior you buy anything bigger than resistance bands or a few dumbbells, figure out where you'll put everything, having an empty garage is great, but will you use it when it's 10 below outside.

Bekie Cohner is a health and wellness professional with 16 years experience helping people make the right decisions for everything from Exercise Equipment to nutritional supplements.