|
By Melissa Tennen, HealthAtoZ writer
The situation: You need to exercise. No denying that.
The problem: Should you invest in a treadmill, workout bench or other home equipment?
That brings up another problem: What if you shell out the cash and don't like it?
"So many people buy equipment because they think it will motivate them. Often it doesn't. You have to do a gut check. Are you willing to dedicate yourself to a program?" says John Acquaviva, Ph.D. and exercise physiologist.
Try them first
An easy way to do this is to try out different pieces of equipment to see what you like. Acquaviva suggests buying a one-month pass at your local health club and trying different types of machines.
"Take them for a test drive. Do one week of just the stationary bike. Do another week doing weights and another on the treadmill," he says.
Find out if you like resistance or aerobic training, or both. Resistance training means you use weights or bands or anything else that increases the efforts of your muscles. Aerobic is anything that gets your heart pumping faster and for extended periods, such as walking at a brisk pace, running or an aerobics class.
Another advantage of a short-term gym membership is that you may get valuable pointers and safety lessons from the staff.
Many good reasons
Here are some advantages to buying home equipment:
- Going to a gym or even getting to a park to work out may be too time consuming.
- You eliminate the excuse factor. The equipment is a constant reminder. "It's important to eliminate the opportunity for excuses," Acquaviva says.
- You can watch television or listen to the radio when you work out. You aren't stuck listening to music you don't like or watching TV programs you are not interested in.
- You are within earshot of your family.
- Weather is no obstacle.
- You have privacy.
- Do the math and see whether, over time, buying a piece of equipment is cheaper than paying for a club membership.
- Home equipment can help complement any outdoor activities you do. If you are a walker or runner who likes exercising outdoors, a resistance program using weights can be a good balance. Remember, you should exercise all parts of your body.
- You can work out any time of day or night.
Bargain-hunting allowed
Of course, there's the expense. You can get something cheap or you can pay a lot of money, but do your homework on the brands by checking out magazines and Web sites that review consumer products. You may not need those bells and whistles.
Check out the classified ads or stores that sell used fitness equipment. Chances are these products haven't been used that much.
Among the cheapest forms of home exercise equipment are dumbbells, barbells and even an exercise bench.
"Let's face it. Health and being fully functional are priceless. If you spend $500 on a piece of equipment, that's nothing compared to your health," Acquaviva says.
If you're going to start using weights at home, talk to a trainer or consider purchasing a book on the subject to ensure that you are using them effectively and safely. Also, be sure to check with your doctor before starting an exercise program, especially if you have medical problems, are very overweight, or have been inactive for some time.
|
Related Articles
|
|
External Source
 |
American Council on Exercise
|
|
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
Return to the previous page
|
