Before buying a home exercise equipment

By Tanja Shaw, Special to The Progress –

Lack of time is the most common barrier to exercise. As a result, many people look for ways to squeeze in the recommended thirty minutes into each day. For some people, this means swapping a trip to the gym for a sweat session in the basement. Although working out at home may be a good option for fitting exercise into a busy schedule, it is important to ask yourself a few questions before setting up a home gym.

Will you use it? Any piece of exercise equipment, whether it is a thirty dollar stability ball or a three thousand dollar treadmill, is a good investment if you use it. Exercise equipment which gets used for the sole purpose of hanging laundry won’t help you get into shape. Be honest with yourself in answering this question.

How much space do you have in your home? Before swiping your credit card, plan out where you will keep your exercise equipment. If space is limited, a Bow Flex machine may be out of the question. Also, if you will need to take more than a few minutes to set up your home gym each time you want to work out, you may find yourself working out less often. For small spaces, consider purchasing a set of dumbbells or resistance bands. A folding treadmill is another good option to save on space.

Do you like the type of exercise? If you enjoy the type of exercise, you will be more likely to use the equipment. Make sure you try out the type of equipment regularly before purchasing one. It is wise to invest in a gym membership for a few months to try out different types of exercise equipment.

Have you tried out the specific equipment you are buying? You may like working on the stepping machine at the gym, but you may hate the stepper you purchased. Some total gym machines are take a lot of time to transition between exercises, or are awkward to use. It is important to try out the exact piece of equipment you are about to buy to make sure you will be happy with your choice.

Are you buying the equipment based on advertising claims? Don’t get sucked in to buying a piece of equipment because the sexy models on an infomercial guarantee you will lose three inches from your midsection in just three minutes a day. Also, avoid purchasing fitness equipment limited to working only one muscle group (usually the abdominals). They end up taking up a lot of space and chances are, won’t be used as often as you think.

How much are you willing to spend? Of course, cost of the equipment is a factor in your purchasing decision. It is important to purchase quality equipment, not necessarily the equipment with added bells and whistles. If you are tight on cash, a set of free weights and an exercise program can go a long way. A skipping rope can provide a fantastic cardio workout. If you have the time and you know what to look for, used equipment is a good option.

Tanja Shaw is a Kinesiologist and personal trainer, specializing in weight loss, golf fitness, pre and postnatal fitness, and exercise therapy. She owns Ascend Fitness Coaching, which offers personalized fitness coaching, group fitness, and in home fitness in the Chilliwack area. Reach her at tanja@ascendfitnesscoaching.com.

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