Regular cardiovascular exercise and strength training can make everyday movements easier, boost your stamina, and even prolong your life. If you're willing to invest in home exercise equipment, you can work out at home just as easily as you can in the gym. Working out at home also saves you time and money on commuting, and allows more privacy than you'll find in any gym.
Cardio Machines
Gym-style cardio machines are one of the most effective, convenient ways to do cardiovascular exercise. Although each gym machine offers a set of specific pros and cons, the "best" cardio machine is the one that you enjoy enough to use regularly. Treadmills, elliptical trainers, exercise bikes, rowers and stair steppers are all readily available in home versions that are smaller, lighter and less expensive than the gym versions.
Home Gym
Home gyms are essentially a full set of the essential gym strength-training machines that are built into a one, two or three-station unit. Home gyms offer a convenient variety of workouts, but they also cost more and take up more space than other home strength-training options.
Free Weights
Dumbbells and barbells are generally less expensive than a home gym setup and take up less space. You don't need a full set of heavy dumbbells or weight plates for the barbells -- buy a set that's enough to challenge your current ability levels, then add on heavier weights as you progress. If you're truly pressed for space, consider a set of adjustable dumbbells. You can do a full-body dumbbell workout without any extra equipment, but if you use barbells, a bench and safety rack are essential equipment, especially if you don't have a buddy to spot you.
Elastic Resistance Bands
Elastic resistance bands pack down so small and light that you can easily carry them with you to and from the office or when you travel. Yet with a little creativity, you can use resistance bands to duplicate any exercise you'd normally do with free weights or a strength-training machine.
Kettlebells
These cannonball-shaped weights offer the benefit of both strength training and cardiovascular exercise in an extremely compact package. You can start out with a single kettlebell, then slowly work up to adding a heavier kettlebell into your routine for some exercises.
Glideboard Gyms
Glideboard-style gyms, like the Total Gym, Weider Total Body Works and Total Trainer, let you use your own body weight as resistance. You perch on the glideboard, then push or pull on pulley handles and attachments to move the glideboard up a pair of inclined rails. Although these machines don't offer enough resistance for body building, they can be used for an effective, full-body workout.
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