But
we've also known someone (maybe even you?) who has brought exercise
equipment home, only to have it end up gathering dust in the garage
or doubling as a laundry hanger. Maybe you did not see the results
it promised. On the other hand, perhaps you just did not enjoy
the activity you performed on it. Whatever the reason, that is
too bad, since fitness equipment not used equals health benefits
not realized.
We
want to make sure this time, you take home equipment you will
enjoy using . . . and use regularly. So, we've taken everything
we've learned about home exercise equipment during our 15 years
as the organization for health and fitness professionals worldwide,
and distilled it into this informational guide.
Better
Equipment and More Choices than Ever
The
good news is, today's home exercise equipment is better constructed
and more effective-and offers you more options-than ever before.
With choice, however, can come confusion . . . especially since
equipment now comes in so many shapes, sizes and types, and
is often marketed through glossy direct mail packages and sophisticated
infomercials. Prices can range from $50 to $5,000 and up.
How
can you possibly sort out all this information? Our panel of
top international fitness experts offers you these tips on how
to evaluate and choose quality exercise equipment.
STEP
ONE-Determine Your Goals
Are
you trying to lose weight? Do you want to get stronger or both?
Knowing your goals in advance will help you make sure the equipment
you buy will set you up for success, not disappointment. Determining
your goal will narrow your search to far fewer options.
STEP
TWO-Don't Forget About You
What
activities do you enjoy most? Which don't you like? If you avoid
taking stairs at all costs, you probably will not like working
out on a stairclimber/stepper-decreasing the chances you will
use it regularly. If you love to take brisk walks, a treadmill
will give you a similar experience any time of day or night,
in any type of weather. The more you enjoy the activity your
equipment provides, the more often you will use it.
STEP
THREE-Set Your Budget
How
much do you have to spend? If you love that fancy, programmable
$2,500 stairclimber at the gym, the $199 blue light special
will probably prove a huge disappointment-but a basic, quality
$600-800 model might work great. A good strategy is to spend
most of your budget on one solid aerobic training piece, say
a high-quality treadmill, then build around it with inexpensive
strength training equipment such as tubing and dumbbells.
STEP
FOUR-Decide on Features and Functions
From
televised displays to digital readouts, much of today's equipment
incorporates an amazing amount of high technology. However,
these "bells and whistles" often come at a price.
Ask yourself if timers, heart rate monitors, calories-burned
displays and the like will motivate you. If so, and you can
afford them, great. If not, rest assured that a basic,
good-quality
piece will provide just as effective a workout. And you can
often duplicate many features by using kitchen timers, keeping
an exercise log with handwritten entries, even learning how
to take your own pulse.
Other
considerations include a reading rack, ease of adjusting variables
such as tension, resistance and seat height, water bottle holders,
and whether it folds up.
STEP
FIVE-Ask Questions!
Ask
about warranties, return policies, satisfaction guarantees,
frequency and cost of repairs. In most cases, a reputable dealer
will let you to try out your new equipment at home for a specified
time period, say, 30 days, and allow you to return it for a
full refund or merchandise credit. The dealer should take care
of pick-up, delivery and set-up.
Also,
be sure to talk to the dealer about repairs and maintenance-they
should have a trained technician on staff or on a consultant
basis to handle repairs and maintenance. Most product warranties
cover manufacturing defects and labor charges for at least one
year. You won't enjoy the same service when buying direct by
TV, direct mail or Internet!
STEP
SIX-Using And Storing Your New Equipment
Many
people anxiously await delivery of their new stationary bicycle
or home gym-only to find it does not fit in the space they had
planned to put it! Measure the actual footprint of your new
equipment, and consider ventilation, electrical outlets, and
noise problems for neighbors, even storage. Plus, consider placing
a rubber mat under the equipment to reduce noise and absorb
sweat and grease.
EQUIPMENT
CATEGORIES
- Aerobic
Fitness Equipment
- Stationary
bicycles work the legs through the pedaling motion of a bicycle.
Some models are used sitting upright, others recumbent (seated).
- Treadmills
let you walk or run at varying speeds. Some models simulate
inclines of various degrees, and many incorporate timers.
- Nordic
ski machines simulate the motion of cross-country (also called
Nordic) skiing and exercises the legs and arms simultaneously.
- Stairsteppers/climbers
duplicate the motion of climbing up a flight of stairs. Some
add upper- body exercise by simulating a pull-up climbing
motion with the arms.
- Elliptical
trainers are sort of a cross between a ski machine and a stairstepper,
and put your legs and feet through a circular, up-and-down
motion.
- Rowing
machines work the back, arms and legs.
- Aerobic
riders exercise the arms and legs simultaneously through a
push/pull motion.
- Strength
Training Equipment
- Free
weights, sometimes called "barbells" or "dumbbells,"
are among the most common forms of home exercise equipment.
- Multi-station
machines, also known as "home gyms," typically use
resistance created by either rubber resistance or cables attached
to plated weights or flexible poles.
- Bands
and tubing are lightweight ways to strength train at your
home, office or while on the road.
This
information is furnished by IDEA, the Health & Fitness Source,
as part of our mission to "Make Fitness Happen" worldwide.
http://www.ideafit.com
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