Home Exercise Equipment ? Choosing the Proper Equipment For Your Workout Routine

The fitness industry has become big business as more and more people work out to get in shape. Many companies have gotten onboard the bandwagon, and the number of different types and brands of home exercise equipment available is amazing. While it is great to have options, trying to figure out which piece of home fitness equipment is right for you can be an overwhelming process. One way to help manage all this information is to identify what type of exercise or training you plan to do. Add in other factors such as your personal fitness level, budget, and space available and pick the equipment that best fits your criteria.

What Is Your Goal?

Before purchasing an exercise bike, treadmill or other type of home fitness equipment, it is important to decide what it is you hope to accomplish. Are you trying to lose weight? Perhaps you want to get in shape, tone your muscles? Maybe you want a good cardio workout? Or you may have several of these results in mind. Exercise equipment varies in its effectiveness in certain areas and by knowing what you want from your workout, you will be able to focus on those that do what you want.

Assess your Fitness Level

Also do an assessment of your comfort level with different types of exercise or movement. Do you have weak knees or a bad back? Would you rather sit than stand? How is your balance? Each type of home fitness equipment requires you to use different posture and movements and you don't want to pick something that will cause injury or irritate an existing condition. You also don't want equipment that is uncomfortable to use because it will be difficult to stick to your routine.

Space Considerations

The fact is, if you live in a small apartment or have limited space in your home, you may not have room for a large piece of equipment like a home gym or weight sets. Many pieces of equipment fold up for storage, but if you have to move the coffee table or love seat every time you want to fold out the treadmill, you are less likely to exercise on a regular basis.

What's In Your Wallet?

Some exercise equipment can be quite expensive, especially for a quality product. On the other hand, you can purchase some equipment off TV ads or special promotions for a very reasonable price, but does the stuff really work? And will it last for more than a few weeks? Most experts recommend that you wait to purchase home fitness equipment until you can afford to purchase something that has good customer satisfaction ratings and is made by a respected fitness equipment manufacturer. Also be aware that some types of equipment cost more than others and may not fit your needs or your budget no matter how long you save.

Consider Your Choices

Once you have assessed your needs and situation, you can evaluate the different types of equipment against your criteria.

Exercise bikes have been around for decades and have improved in design and function over the years. They have been proven to provide weight loss and health benefits if used consistently and correctly. They offer a good cardio workout as well, while limiting impact and injury to knees and other leg joints. They typically do not fold up and can tend to take up space. Exercise bikes fall in the economy or moderate range for price in comparison to other types of home fitness equipment, although some can be quite expensive, especially if they are computerized.

Recumbent exercise bikes, which put users in a slightly reclined position, place less stress on the back and knees but tend to cost more. Some people find the position and motion uncomfortable if they are used to traditional bike riding.

Treadmills are another type of fitness equipment that has been around for some time. They also provide a good cardio workout if properly used, and many come with built in features such as an adjustable platform and computerized workout to help enhance the effects of your exercise routine. There is some jarring and joint stress involved with running, on a treadmill or other surface, so this equipment may not be a good choice for those with knee and hip concerns.

Some treadmills fold up for storage, making them a good choice for those with limited space. Treadmills run the gamut in price range, and can usually fit in any budget, but in most cases you get what you pay for and a very inexpensive model may not be safe or effective.

Elliptical trainers are the latest craze in home fitness equipment. They provide the exercise benefits of walking or running while eliminating the impact on hips, knees, or ankles. This can be good for those with injuries or weakness in those areas. But others who are concerned about building or maintaining bone density may prefer a different type of equipment.

Some elliptical machines fold up to save space when not in use. They generally fall in the mid to higher price range compared to other types of fitness equipment, and again, price often reflects quality.

A stair stepper provides another choice for those who want to burn calories and get a good cardio workout with reduced impact to knees and hips. Stepping height can be adjusted to accommodate different body sizes and fitness levels, however, it can be easy to put too much stress on ankles and back when using a stair stepper. Both size and price are in the moderate range.

Some people prefer the variety and intensity provided by a home gym or weight training station. People are more likely to exercise if they have several different options to choose from, and a selection of different or adjustable equipment provides the opportunity to target all areas of the body. However, home gyms tend to take up more space than other equipment and will almost always cost more for quality equipment. It may also be important to have instructions before using some features of the gym to avoid injury.

There are many other types of home fitness equipment, including free weights, ski machines, ab machines, and hybrids like exercise riders. Be sure to research a piece of equipment before buying and avoid those that make claims that sound too good to be true ? they probably are.

Many fitness experts and trainers recommend that you try out a piece of equipment before purchasing to be sure it feels comfortable. If buying online, try to find a gym or exercise store that has the equipment and give it a test ride. Most companies charge shipping and handling to return online orders if you return an item for reasons other than manufacturer defects or damage.

With all the choices for home fitness equipment available, you are sure to find a machine that fits your needs and budget. It just takes a bit of realistic planning.

About the Author:

C.J. Gustafson is a successful writer for Fitness-N-Exercise-Equipment.com, your complete guide to home exercise equipment, the best treadmill reviews, ab machines, weight training equipment and more.

Copyright 2005 Fitness-N-Exercise-Equipment.com

Permission is granted to publish this article on your site only if the author's byline is included and all links are hyperlinked.

---

t Blow Your Nose In The Water Fountain

We all know the general rules of the gym: don't drop the weights, wipe your sweat off the machines when you're done, etc. But do you know all about the more "colorful", lesser... Read More

How Can I Find The Treadmill I Want?

Treadmill ratings are published in lots of places. If you are thinking of buying a treadmill and want to find some treadmill ratings you should have no trouble.You can find treadmill ratings in... Read More

Treadmill Reviews ? Helping You Find The Best Treadmill For YOU!

With a multitude of different treadmills available today, it can be extremely difficult to know which one might be the best one for you ? it can be so overwhelming that you simply... Read More

Mobility Scooters: An Introduction

Mobility scooters are designed for people who have some mobility but are challenged by slopes or distances. A wide variety of mobility scooters, in various price ranges, are available to fit your needs... Read More

Exercise Bikes ? No Excuses, 30 Minutes A Day On A Bike Will Change Your Life

Exercise bikes are the ideal home exercise equipment. We are all advised to exercise for 30 minutes per day to stay healthy combined with a good balanced food intake. Most people complain of... Read More

Refurbished Treadmills ? What Exactly Are They?

Refurbished treadmills are big business. Because treadmills can be so expensive there are many who can not afford to buy a new one. That's where refurbished treadmills come in. But what exactly are... Read More

Assembling Elliptical Trainers -- What You Must Know For a Trouble-Free Experience

It's not rocket science, but...One thing that you may not be aware of, is that regardless of where you purchase your elliptical trainer, you will need to put the thing together yourself. Some... Read More

Treadmill Comparison: 3 Things You Must Know

Buying a treadmill? You'll probably be making several treadmill comparisons when doing your research. Here are 3 things you must know when comparing treadmills in order to find the best one for you.#1... Read More

Elliptical Exerciser

Several years ago elliptical exercisers were introduced to the fitness world and have since become very popular and very sophisticated. Over 6 million people now use elliptical exercisers as part of their regular... Read More

7 Essential Reasons You Should Have a Home Gym

The home gym is an amazing resource that you should be taking advantage of. Between hectic schedules to the non-sense going on in commercial gyms, home gym training is the safe-haven for people... Read More

Try A Landice Treadmill

Landice treadmills receive rave reviews from consumers and exercise magazines. Landice treadmills are highly rated in consumer guides and are popular with those who work out at health clubs.Why are Landice treadmills so... Read More

Manual Vs. Motorized Treadmills

When people go to purchase a treadmill, one of the first questions they ask is "Do I want a manual or motorized treadmill?"What's the difference between the two?The Basic Difference:With a manual (or... Read More

Exercise Bikes ? Discover The Magic

There are two types of exercise bikes available. The upright bike resembles a typical road bike but they are stationary. The pedals are below the rider and puts more stress on the joints.... Read More

Amazing Kettlebell Workout Produces Superior Results

Russian Kettlebells are amazing! These kettlebell workouts may be the answer to maintaining a home gym or having an expensive club membership.With Russian kettlebells you can develop superior gains over traditional workout methods... Read More

Life Fitness Equipment for Every Type of Workout

Life Fitness equipment is among the best in the world. Life Fitness is a global company specializing in superior fitness equipment that is designed to provide you with a complete body workout and... Read More

Proform Elliptical Trainers Are Not For The Serious

Though many people seem to like their Proform ellipticals, these machines are found not to be very well built. They do just fine if you are not a serious or regular user. However... Read More

Burn Calories On The Nautilus Elliptical Trainer

The Nautilus elliptical trainer is made by Nautilus which is the second biggest makers of exercise equipment. Nautilus also makes the Bowflex, which is a very good machine.The Nautilus elliptical is a higher... Read More

Treadmills ? Keep On Running

There are benefits to the use of treadmills as part of your exercise program. A treadmill provides a wonderful cardiovascular workout for your heart, your lungs, and your circulation. There is low impact... Read More

Treadmill Best Recommended List

Runner's World Magazine conducts an evaluation, to come up with their treadmill best recommended list. Unlike other sports-related products that the athletic magazine reviews on an annual basis, treadmills, they explain, are not... Read More

The Most Important Things to Know When Choosing a Treadmill

If you ever had the desire to buy a treadmill, you were probably hit by all sorts of questions: "What treadmill should I buy?", "Where will I put it?", "When will I have... Read More

Benefits of Online Fitness Programs

There are many benefits of choosing an online fitness program over a live personal trainer. In this article, I will focus on the most important ones. I will also mention and recommend Global... Read More

Pacemaster Treadmill Reviews

Runner's World, a magazine for athletes who are serious about their exercise, includes Pacemaster treadmill reviews in its repertoire of sporting information, One of the latest evaluations included as part of its Pacemaster... Read More

Speed of Movement & the Mighty Metronome.

Tempo refers to the speed of movement and is usually represented by a 4-digit number: eccentric (negative) contraction - isometric (pause between negative and positive) contraction - concentric (positive) contraction - isometric (pause... Read More

Cracked Up Glossary Of Common Gym Terms

If you've ever had occasion to visit a gym, you've no doubt heard people talking about "feeling the burn" and "pumping up." But did you ever wonder what people were really saying? Here... Read More

Pro Form XP 542s Treadmill

Pro Form XP 542s Treadmill - A Good Value At SearsThe Pro Form xp 542s treadmill, like its partner the xp 542e, is part of the xp Series made exclusively for Sears.There are... Read More

How To Replace Treadmill Parts

After you get your new treadmill home you need to know how your new machine works and this means getting to know all the names of the treadmill parts. Unfortunately if something were... Read More

Weight Loss by Treadmill

Weight loss using a good Treadmill workout program has worked for many people - and it can work for you too.Treadmills can be used by virtually any age group, and by individuals of... Read More

Workout Shoes - Shoes for Strength Training

I've always worked out in just a plain pair of tennis shoes. Rarely to I see or even think that using special shoes would make any difference at all. However, I began to... Read More

Elliptical Trainers ? Glide Your Way to Good Health

The Diet Exercise DilemmaYour doctor has just told you that you need to lose those 5 extra pounds that you gained over the Holiday Season. It wouldn't sound so bad if you would... Read More