If the idea of heading to the gym to exercise after a long day of work or paying monthly membership fees leaves you seriously considering a night of channel surfing on the couch instead of working out, setting up a home gym may be your key to exercise motivation. You can incorporate many different types of exercise machines into your home gym, but it's important to choose them wisely to get the most from your money, time and space.
Desired Results
When deciding what exercise machines to purchase for your home gym, you should first consider your desired results. If you're looking for machines to help you get your cardio workouts in, opt for machines like treadmills, ellipticals, stair climbers or stationary bicycles. Consider your needs and physical limitations when purchasing a machine for cardio. For example, if you have joint problems or arthritis, opting for a low- or no-impact machine, such as an elliptical, is a better choice than a treadmill. Home weight machines are good choices if your focus is on strength training and you'd rather use machines than free weights. Most people opt for a machine or two from both categories if space and budget constraints allow it.
Space
Measure the area or room set aside for your home gym before purchasing fitness equipment. Many cardiovascular machines take up a considerable amount of space -- even when they're designed for home use. Consider how much space you'll need around the machine to use the equipment appropriately and safely instead of simply measuring the equipment itself. Allow for at least a few feet of space around each machine to give you room to move around and avoid bumping into other machines or people.
Price
Many home exercise machines come with hefty price tags. Plan how much you're willing to spend before you start shopping for equipment so you're not tempted to buy a pricey machine you can't afford. Purchasing cheap equipment isn't generally a good investment. If you can't afford a high-quality machine, you are often better off opting for a cheaper alternative, such as working out with exercise videos or free weights, rather than purchasing a $200 treadmill or home gym that may not last long or function properly.
Features
Home exercise machines often include features you may never use. Opt for machines with the minimum features that you'll be satisfied with and spend the extra money on quality rather than unnecessary bells and whistles. Many home cardiovascular machines include heart rate monitors; programmable times and training intensities; difficulty adjustments, such as inclines for treadmills; and timers and trackers for calories burned, distance and other measures of progress. Minimalist strength-training machines may require you to manually add and remove weights, while other models often feature pins or dials to adjust weights quickly and easily. Also consider the number of exercises strength-training machines allow you to perform. Even if it's pricier, a machine that allows for dozens of exercises is usually a better investment than one that allows only a few.
Member Comments