Benefits of Home Exercise and Home Gyms

June 1, 2010 by Mohamed
Filed under Exercise, Weight Loss

Wouldn’t it be great if you could lose 10 lbs within 10 days and get into the suit you wore on your wedding day? Or the sexy dress you bought for your girl friends wedding? I hate to disappoint you, but you can’t lose weight that quickly safely. Weight loss is an ongoing, sustained activity especially for those individuals that are having trouble keeping the weight off — like me.

Infomercials make millions per year by promising you stunning results in no-time-flat, and to emphasize that they use models that are already slim and trim – guys with 6-packs abs, women that are size 2, 3 or 4 and are uber-sexy.

If the world worked that way you would not be here, reading what I’m writing or searching for ways to lose weight fast or about diet and exercise.

The fact that the weight loss industry – in all forms, from weight loss products like pills to surgery to exercise equipment is making billions of dollars per year shows that we’re all looking for a quick fix. There really isn’t one. But if you are serious about losing weight you’ll find some good ideas on this blog along with great practical advice in this post on the best types of home exercise equipment — and it won’t cost you a fortune!

Before even thinking about the type of equipment to buy, you want to look at what your goals are and what you enjoy. Do you enjoy walking and running? Then perhaps a treadmill is what you need. Do you like cycling? Why not consider a stationary bicycle? Do you want to build strength? Consider total home gyms that allow you to build arms, legs, chest, and back – a total body workout.

If you’re just trying to lose weight and want to get some exercise without going to a gym – then start with something small and work towards getting your daily dose of exercise by heading outside.

Once you know what your goals are, and what you enjoy the next step is looking for a place to put that equipment.

If you are space challenged – living in an apartment or townhouse, the size of the room will really dictate what type and how much equipment you can bring in. You’ll also need to consider your neighbors and the potential noise that most equipment will make.

A lot of treadmills today are designed to be space savers – that is, they either fold down flat to be stored under a bed or can be raised to minimize the amount of space they take up. When considering a treadmill, look for these features:

Continuous duty motor, about 2.0hp
Deck size of 18″ by 53″ – you may not be running right now, but eventually you’ll want to. A deck that is too short will not allow you to run properly. The deck should accommodate your stride.
Incline control – while nice, not essential. Some treadmills come with computerized incline control, while others only have manual control in three or four possible inclines. Incline helps build muscle as you could be running “up hill” or “flat”.
Computerized controls – this can provide a great experience on the treadmills, from pre-programmed sessions that provide computerized inclines to designing your own program for the ultimate walk or run. The computer will track time, distance and calories. Even the most basic treadmills will have some type of computerized controls.

Treadmills are great versatile pieces of equipment. Walking is relatively low-impact so is a perfect way to start exercising.

Treadmills can cost as little as $200 for manual (not recommended) to over $6,000 for fully computerized models that include DVD, LCD screens, fans and just about anything else you could want.

A good middle of the road treadmill can be purchased for around $400 that will satisfy most of your needs — that’s what I purchased from Sears on clearance with 5-year warranty tossed in for a little more.

Other types of equipment you should consider are:

Elliptical trainers – take up a little more room, but simulate running with less impact on the knees. They are low-impact, and low maintenance equipment and usually small footprint (when compared to a treadmill).
Stationary cycles – the staple of health clubs, and home gyms.

Stationary cycles come in a few flavors – recumbent cycles where you sit back in a seat and can pedal and the regular cycles that we’ve all grown up with.

As with treadmills, there are a wide range of prices available – but in all honesty when it comes to a stationary cycle you do not need to spend thousands of dollars. The last cycle I purchased with a basic computer on it was only $100.00 and I used it for over 5 years. I eventually sold it for… $100.00 and the person I sold it to is still using it.

Recumbent cycles are more expensive and are ideal for those that need back support but I found them a little more difficult to use. I preferred the traditional cycle.

I’ve not gone into home gyms as I don’t have much experience with these, but as I was starting to lose weight I kept to the traditional types of exercise equipment: treadmills, stationary exercise bicycles, and ellipticals. They helped me get the workout that I needed to boost my weight loss efforts which ultimately helped me loose 100 lbs within one year.