Get A Great Workout At Home

[Mr.X]

Get A Great Workout At Home (Even On A Small Budget)


Author: Lynn Bode

Many people think that creating a home workout gym is either too
intimidating or too costly. So, often they instead invest their
money in a health club membership not realizing that for the
same amount of money (or even less) they can create a very
effective gym right in their own home.

For an effective home gym, all that is required is a little bit
of planning. Don't fall into the trap of purchasing random
fitness equipment because of fancy advertising for the latest
infomercial fad or the great "sale" at your local fitness store.
That type of purchasing leads to a house littered with equipment
that's only use is as a clothes hanger or dust collector. This
often happens because the equipment is either useless, poorly
constructed or quickly loses its value because it doesn't
progress with your fitness level.

To avoid having a basement filled with expensive dust-collecting
equipment, keep these points in mind when making a purchase:
1)What are your fitness goals? 2)How often do you realistically
think you will use the equipment? 3)What fitness level do you
expect to be at in 3, 6, 9 months? 4)Will the equipment meet
your needs as you get more fit (at the 3, 6, and 9-month marks)?
5)Does the equipment offer enough variations in use that you can
change your workouts frequently to prevent your body from
hitting a plateau? 6)Will you enjoy the exercises or will you
quickly grow bored of them? 7)And, of course how much can you
afford?

Once you have answered all of the above questions then you are
ready to make some purchasing decisions. Of course, how much you
can afford to spend may dictate what you can actually purchase.
Don't get discouraged. For as little as $100, you can have a
very effective total strength training home gym. Even for as
little as $35, you can create an effective workout that will
tone your entire body.

Regardless of what your fitness goals are, there are a plethora
of equipment options to consider. For building muscles and/or
toning-up you can choose from free weights, selectorized
machines, resistance bands, benches and even no-equipment. For
cardiovascular improvements (e.g. running, walking, etc), there
are even more options. They range from treadmills, to elliptical
trainers, to bikes and beyond. So, answering the previously
mentioned questions is very important.

To help make your decision easier, below are several
recommendations based on costs and needs, along with benefits of
the exercise equipment.

If you want to create a gym that will provide you with a total
body workout (cardio, strength and flexibility) and you have a
budget of at least $1000, consider the following
recommendations: ·Treadmill - The best option for cardiovascular
equipment because it can be used for running, walking, and even
some leg strength training. Plus, workouts can continually be
varied based on speed, incline, even direction. And, it easily
progresses as fitness levels improve. ·Full dumbbell set with
weights ranging from 5 pounds to 50+ pounds. - Great for light
toning, to intermediate strength training to building muscles.
Less expensive than selectorized machines and usually provides
more flexibility and variety in workouts. ·Fitness Ball -
Provides exercise options for toning, strengthening and
stretching. ·Resistance Band - Provides another option for
strength training. Can alternate use with free weights for a
great challenge that will help prevent plateaus. ·Step Bench -
Can be used for both cardio workouts and strength training
workouts.

If you want a home gym specifically for building muscles (or
just can't afford cardio equipment), and can afford at least
$100, consider the following recommendations: ·Dumbbell set.
·Fitness Ball ·Resistance Band ·Jump Rope - Offers very
challenging cardiovascular fitness workouts at a very low price.

If you want a total body home gym but can only afford less than
$100, consider the following recommendations: ·Three dumbbells
sizes (e.g. 5, 10 and 15 pounds) ·Resistance Band ·Jump Rope

If you are limited to purchasing just one very affordable piece
of equipment, consider buying a Fitness Ball. As mentioned
above, it provides many different exercise options. With the
ball you can get an upper body workout, a lower body workout,
very challenging abdominal workout and a stretching/flexibility
workout. And, you can get all of this for around $35.

Also, don't underestimate what you can do with things that are
already in your house, like stairs, a chair, milk jugs and
others. There are a lot of exercises that require no equipment
at all. For example, push-ups, tricep dips, squats, calf raises,
etc. You can even create your own "weights" through milk jugs
filled with water or sand.

As you can see, there are a lot of options available for
creating a home gym that will meet your individual needs and
will provide a lot of workout variety. Even on a shoestring
budget, you can still make a wise purchase that will be
invaluable in helping you get more fit and healthy. And, you'll
enjoy all the benefits of working out at home.

What are the benefits of working out at home? Well, here are
some highlights: ·No wasted time driving to and from a fitness
club ·No waiting in line to use the equipment ·Workout on your
schedule, rather than just when the health club is open ·No
expensive monthly membership fees or long-term contracts
·Motivation to workout as you pass by the equipment every day

Of course, you will need previous knowledge of how to use your
home equipment or you will have to be willing to learn. But,
it's not difficult. Most equipment will come with basic
instructions and a few sample exercises. You may want to enlist
the help of a professional to provide additional exercise
options and guidance that will ensure that you get the most out
of your fitness equipment through every fitness level stage.

For an affordable workout plan personalized to your individual
needs and available equipment, enroll in a WorkoutsForYou.com
online fitness program.

About the author:
Lynn Bode offers online personal training through,
WorkoutsForYou.com. Workouts For You provides even the busiest
of people affordable, personalized exercise programs (via the
Internet) for losing weight, toning-up, building muscles &
increasing stamina. The programs can be done on their schedule
and in the comfort of their own home (or gym or on-the-road).
Visit www.workoutsforyou.com for a FREE sample workout.