When you have made the decision to finally get in shape, the idea of dragging yourself to the gym daily might seem daunting. This is especially the case when you fear what other people might say or think. To put your mind at ease, you can take another approach by investing in some home equipment. The best gear can be used regularly and in multiple ways.
Cardio Equipment
Cardiovascular equipment can help improve your aerobic capacity while simultaneously burning fat on your body. 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, according to the IDEA Health and Fitness Association. Stair climbers, exercise bikes, elliptical trainers and rowers are other forms of cardio equipment.
Resistance Bands
Resistance bands, made out of durable rubber, feature color coding to match various resistances. They come in either a flat style or a tube style with handles. These cost little, transport easily and deliver a whole-body workout. You can perform exercises such as chest presses, lateral raises, bent-over rows, triceps extensions, biceps curls, chops and lunges. When you get done working out with them, you can hang them over a door or roll them up and stick them into a drawer.
Reebok Deck
This piece of equipment features an aerobic step, a cable station and an adjustable exercise bench all rolled into one. You can strength-train on the deck with the attached rubber resistance bands and you can store gear in the back when not in use.
BOSU
A BOSU features an inflated dome side and a flat side. The acronym BOSU means "both sides utilized." You can use this toolfor balance training, weight training, flexibility training and plyometrics. It can also be used aerobically. This can save you money if you use it for cardio, instead of buying a treadmill or exercise bike. Push-ups, squats, crunches, lunges, side crunches, planks, one-foot balances and v-sits are all exercises that can be done with the BOSU.
You can also choose the smaller version of the BOSU. It has everything the traditional BOSU has (except for the hard base), allowing you to strengthen your core, then stow your equipment effortlessly, according to Fitness Magazine.
Dumbbells
Dumbbells come in sizes that range from 1 lb. all the way up to 120 lbs. These can be transported around the house or left in one location. They also come in adjustable types that can fit into the corner of a room if you are pressed for space. These generally range from 2.5 lbs. to 95 lbs.
Stability Balls
Stability balls come in sizes ranging from 55 cm to 75 cm in 10 cm increments. These balls target your core muscles due to their unbalanced nature when you use them. Stability balls are an effective piece of home gym equipment, according to AskTheTrainer.com. You can do push-ups, back extensions, crunches, split leg lunges, planks, leg pull-ins, hip bridges, wall squats and leg curls on the ball. You can also incorporate other home gym equipment with the ball, including dumbbells.
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