Alternative Workouts

You have many choices when buying exercise equipment for home. Your biggest challenge may be choosing a type that will match your budget, space and fitness level.  In all likelihood, you will want to consider each of the following:

The treadmill is very popular with fitness enthusiasts and for several years has been the primary choice when seeking to develop an exercise routine at home. This is because you can use it to walk, jog or run at anytime… regardless of weather conditions.

A decent treadmill will set you back about $1500, but easily can be as much as $3500, depending on the brand and features. Selection should be based on load capacity, belt width, incline settings, safety shutoff features, smooth flowing action and solid construction.

Rowing machines give you an excellent total body workout. They need limited space, yet can simulate the overall body movement of watercraft rowing. They target both the upper and the lower body muscle groups.  One word of caution though, be sure you maintain proper posture during the exercise routine, in order to avoid back strain.

The cross country ski machine also provides a full body workout, but it is harder to master.  Before committing your hard earned money, make sure you try it out to see if you can get used to the exercise technique necessary for maximum benefit.  Most of the people who use the cross country ski machine are pretty experienced with skills that lend themselves to mastering challenging workout.

Step machines or "steppers" are low impact exercise machines that improve cardiovascular fitness, while strengthening the lower body muscles.  These babies are excellent for people who need a softer approach to getting their heart pumping, but be advised that they can be very expensive.  You better be committed to the long term if you cough up the bucks for one of these.

The stationary bike has pedals, a paddle and some kind of handle similar to a real bike, but it is used only for stay-put exercise rather than as a means of transportation.  These are good for new exercisers, or for someone who wants to have a no-impact cardiovascular workout. A quality stationary bike costs between $500 and $1000.

Recumbent machines are like stationary bikes... but the rider sits in an inclined position. Its main advantage is it provides better lower back support than the stationary model, thus minimizing stress on the knees. A recumbent machine provides the same aerobic effect as that of the stationary and it targets the quadriceps, hamstrings and glut muscles.

And, of course, don't forget to check out the wide assortment of free weights and multi-station home gyms. Free weights are reasonably priced and require less space, but typically they require greater supervision and instruction because they are more prone to cause injury. Multi-stations are more convenient to use, but they take up lots of space... and usually lots more money depending upon quality.

Our favorite is the elliptical trainer.  It's a no-impact exercise machine that simulates running and walking without causing excessive pressure on the joints.  Consequently, this decreases any risk of impact injuries. Most machines have a good range of low to high intensity workouts and are suited for practically any fitness level.

Currently, the elliptical machine is the most popular type of gym equipment, as well as for home fitness situations. Price ranges from $400 to as much as $8,000... so make sure you check out the details carefully before making your purchase.

If you are interested in a used elliptical machine, you will find helpful tips on exactly what to look for... and, indeed, what to look OUT for.