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| Fitness |
 Home Fitness -
Tips to Gettin Your Home Gym ActiveBy Lynn Bode owner of Workouts For You Many people think that creating a home gym is either too intimidating or too costly. Often they invest their money in a health club membership, not realizing that for the same amount of money (or even less) they can create a very effective gym right in their own home. For an effective home gym, all that is required is a little bit of planning. Don’t fall into the trap of purchasing random fitness equipment because of fancy infomercials or great sales at your local fitness store. That type of purchasing leads to a house littered with equipment, which is only used as clothes hangers or dust collectors. This often happens because the equipment is either useless, poorly constructed, or quickly loses its value because it doesn’t progress with your fitness level. To avoid having a basement filled with expensive, dust collecting equipment, keep these questions in mind when making a purchase: 1) What are your fitness goals? 2) How often do you think you will use the equipment? 3) Can the equipment adjust to an increased fitness level? 4) Does the equipment offer enough variations in use that you can prevent your body from hitting a plateau? 5) Will you enjoy the exercises or grow bored of them? 6) How much can you afford? Once you have answered all of the above questions, you are ready to make some purchasing decisions. Of course, how much you can afford may dictate what you purchase. Don’t get discouraged; even for as little as $35 you can create an effective workout that will tone your entire body. Regardless of what your fitness goals are, there is a plethora of equipment options to consider. For strength training you can choose from free weights, weight machines, resistance bands, benches, and even no equipment. For cardiovascular improvements there are even more options such as treadmills, elliptical trainers, and bikes. To help make your decision easier, following are several recommendations: For a total body workout with a budget of at least $1000, consider the following: 1) Treadmill - the best option for cardiovascular equipment because it can be used for running, walking, and even some leg strengthening training. 2) Dumbbells - for toning to advance muscle building. 3) Fitness Ball - provides exercise options for toning, strengthening and stretching. 4) Resistance Band - provides another option for strength training. 5) Step Bench - can be used for both cardio workouts and strength training workouts. For a budget around or under $100, try: dumbbells, fitness ball, resistance band, and a jump rope If you are limited to purchasing just one very affordable piece of equipment, consider buying a fitness ball, which costs roughly $35. It can provide a great upper and lower body workout, a very challenging abdominal workout, and a stretching/flexibility workout. Also, don’t underestimate what you can do with things that are already in your house, like stairs, chairs, milk jugs, etc. Many exercises require no equipment at all. As you can see, there are plenty of options available for creating a home gym that will meet your individual needs and will provide ample workout variety. Even on a shoestring budget, you can still make a wise purchase that will be invaluable in helping you get fit and healthy. Plus, the benefits of working out at home include no wasted time driving to and from a fitness club, no waiting in line to use the equipment, and you can workout on your schedule. Of course, you will need previous knowledge of how to use your home equipment, or be willing to learn. It’s not difficult. Most equipment will come with basic instructions and a few sample exercises. You may also want to enlist the help of a professional to provide additional exercise options and guidance that will ensure that you get the most out of your fitness equipment through every fitness level. Lynn Bode, owner of Workouts For You, offers affordable online personal training programs for weight loss, strength training, & nutritional planning. Get a free fitness evaluation at www.workoutsforyou.com or contact info@workoutsforyou.com |