This time of the year always gives us the opportunity to consider how we’re spending our money on everything from our home gym to the food we eat. After all, personal debts are higher than ever, and personal time is lower than ever.
That said, you do need exercise. Your activity level is a major component of your overall health. It helps to prevent health problems in the future while reducing the symptoms of some of the conditions you may currently have. That being the case, a home gym or a membership to a local fitness studio may be in order. But which one is right for you and your wallet?
The idea of a home gym has become more and more popular as time passes, and people are becoming more apt to buy into the idea of having a home gym rather than investing in an annual gym membership. There are many reasons that help to explain why this trend is taking off.
Some people feel that they are more likely to work out if they don’t have to travel to another location. At the same time, others feel that unless they take themselves to a specific location for a workout, they’re not as likely to do it. This is ultimately a matter of personal preference.
Equally, if you want to fully stock your home gym right away, it typically means that you’ll need to make a large initial investment but that it won’t cost much to maintain over the long run. On the other hand, a membership to a local gym or fitness studio means a much lower initial spending but is one that will continue for as long as you want to keep working out at that location.
For people who want to exercise at home, the cost of purchasing the right equipment can be made more affordable by making strategic and gradual purchases. You may start with nothing more than a couple of hand weights, a resistance band or even a yoga mat. From there, as you get to know your habits, you can start looking at larger pieces, such as cardio machines.
Ever notice that when you visit a home gym or attempt to set up your own, the equipment seems to be used once and then serve as a clothes hanger? One reason for this is that you have chosen the same equipment that everyone else has. You are more likely to find yourself in the mood to work out if you tailor your equipment to the exercises that you like to do and what you, personally, need to do to lose weight and tone up.
There are a few standard pieces of equipment that you need to have in order to accomplish certain things, though. A few different machines may serve the same purposes, as do certain all-in-one machines. Once you are sure about what you are looking to accomplish with your workout routine, then you can search for exactly the right product.
There are several basic exercise movements in which you should really engage in order to keep get the results you want. First, you need a machine for cardio workout, including a way to warm up and cool down in addition to resistance training.
You could go the old-school route with a treadmill, or you could spring for an all-in-one machine. An all-in-one, like a Bowflex, will do the most for you and will also take up far less room in your basement or other home-gym area. It also costs far less than a treadmill. For toning, an all-in-one can also work; but for good spot-training and targeted muscle sculpting, you could certainly use free weights. The all-in-one or treadmill is there for cardio and resistance training, and will also tone, but they may not shape your muscles exactly the way you want them to.
Therefore, in terms of home gym equipment, you need cardio with strength or resistance training, which can be found in an all-in-one machine. Then, you can use free weights for toning. All this equipment can be obtained for under a thousand dollars.
Still, before you take out your wallet, make sure you know what you’re looking for. Start building workout routines at home to know for certain you’ll be willing to stick to them. Then, once you’re more confident in what you need and how you’ll use it, you’ll be better prepared to make decisions on what equipment to buy and how much to spend on your home gym.