Category Archives: Home Exercise Gym

Best Adjustable Dumbbells

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When setting up a home exercise gym, you are going to have to get dumbbells eventually.  Some home gym enthusiasts swear by dumbbells that are of a set weight and setting them in a dumbbell rack.  This is a nice option, but not for everyone.  It is more expensive and takes up far more room than adjustable dumbbells.

When searching for the best adjustable dumbbells, the choices seem endless.  To make it easier for you, I have selected the best four options, divided into two categories: manual dumbbells and automatic dumbbells.

 

Confidence Pair of 40 lb Fitness Pro Adjustable Dumbbells Set with case

We’ll start with the less expensive manual adjustable dumbbells.  The main complaint for these types of dumbbells is that they take up a bit more time between reps because of having to switch the weights yourself.  If you aren’t willing to pay over $100 though, this is the option for you.  Check out the Confidence Fitness Pro weights or the Cap Barbell Adjustable Dumbbell Set.  Both are competitively priced manual adjustable dumbbell sets that come complete in a case which is handy for keeping your weights organized and makes it easier to store.

 

Cap Barbell 40-Pound Dumbbell Set

Most simple manual adjustable dumbbells sets will usually come with a few weight plates to get you started, but those looking for bigger results may need to buy some additional weights.  The weights can also be used in conjunction with a barbell if you have one, which is a huge plus, can save you money down the line and makes it more versatile.

But if you have a few extra bucks to spend and want to lift with some larger weights, an automatic dumbbell is a great way to go.  By simply turning a knob on the side, you can decide how much weight to use.  Its speedy and compact.

Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells

The best brand are the Bowflex SelectTech.  They are sturdy and comfortable during the workout and look a lot nicer than some of the the other products out there.  The two most popular Bowflex adjustable dumbbells models are the 552 and 1090.  The 552 goes to 52.5 pounds for each of the dumbbells in the pair, but the 1090 goes to a whopping 90 pounds, which is more than enough.

Bowflex SelectTech 1090 Single Dumbbell

I recommended the 1090.  It is a great investment which you won’t outgrow and one of the best adjustable dumbbells out there.  Automatic dumbbells are great time savers and have a great amount of weight, so you will be able to use them for a while as you grow stronger.  And while you are at it, you may want to consider the weight stand that Bowflex makes as well.  It is not only convenient, but can help you to avoid injuring yourself by keeping them at a safer height.

The important factor that make dumbbells necessary is they utilize muscles that gym machines don’t work.  When you are lifting a free weight and you have to steady the motion, your are exercising your stabilizer muscles.  By working on machines alone, you won’t get the nice definition in your muscles that you want.

Hopefully this information helps you out of the quagmire of having to research your own dumbbell purchase and avoid the mistakes that so many people make when buying their first dumbbells.  Remember that you get what you pay for, so if you find a deal that is too good to be true, you may want to reconsider.  Good luck and be safe!

The Best Weight Benches

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Something crucial to any home gym is a weight bench.  Sitting on the proper surface is important to a successful workout.  Don’t make the mistake of using your dining room chair, couch or office chair.  These can’t give you the correct support and can lead to injuries.  Here are some of the best weight benches on the market right now.

Elite Fitness Standard Weight Bench

For those on a budget don’t worry, there are great weight benches that don’t cost too much.  For example, take the Elite Fitness Standard Weight Bench.  It is a no frills piece of workout equipment, but it gets the job done.  Simply add a barbell and weight plates and you have an effective home workout.  The bench can be moved into a few different positions enabling you use the angles to do different exercises.  The leg attachment also allows you to perform leg extensions to work your lower body.  If you also have dumbbells, use them to execute your workouts with proper form and see your results improve.  For a basement or garage home gym, this is a great choice.

Best Fitness Olympic Bench

One of the better weight lifting benches out there is the Best Fitness Olympic Bench.  It is similar to the previous bench, but with a few noticeable differences.  The comfort level is elevated with this model by adding a bit more padding to the bench.  Along with the leg extension attachment, this bench also has a leg curl add on to give your lower body a better workout.  It has a sturdy construction, yet it can also be folded up and conveniently stored in a small amount of space when not in use.  Because it is so compact, it is ideal for someone who doesn’t have a lot of room designated for a home gym, but still want to get a really effective workout in.

Phoenix Power Pro Olympic Bench

If, however, you do have some room you would like to dedicate for working out, check out one of the best weight lifting benches you will find.  The Phoenix Power Pro Olympic Bench isn’t so much a bench as it is a complete home gym.  In addition to the standard adjustable bench for presses, there is also a lat tower and arm curl attachment.  To work your lower body as well, there is a leg lift station that also has its own curl bar.  This bench works so many more muscle groups than a traditional workout bench.  The one caveat is the space it will take up, but if you have a room you want to dedicate to your own home gym, this is a must buy.

For information about additional weight benches for sale click here.

Home Exercise Gym Basics

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If you’ve saved up some money and want to invest in some new equipment for your home exercise gym, the pieces you buy need to be used for several different workouts.  There is no point spending your money on anything that targets just one muscle group at this point.  Thinking broad can save you money right now and help you in your workouts.

The first things that come to my mind as being necessary items are dumbbells or free weights and something to sit on while doing certain exercises.  There are many different options for free weights and dumb bells and there are pros and cons to both.  You could buy dumbbells that are of varying weights or you can buy free weights that you can change the weight of depending on your desire.  The con with the latter is that changing the weights can be a time waster, but buying all of the dumbbells at different weight sizes can be more expensive.

A good compromise for me is to get a few lighter dumbbells (2 lbs, 3lbs, 5lbs) for use when you are doing aerobic routines and just need a bit more weight to push yourself, and get free weights with adjustable weight options for the heavier lifting exercises.  This is an ideal start to a fitness home gym.

A lot of people will use a household chair while doing exercises requiring you to sit or spend unnecessary money on a workout bench.  The perfect solution is a multipurpose balance ball.  Try sitting on one of those while doing shoulder presses or laying on one while doing chest presses.  It forces you to work your muscles harder to balance yourself and do the actual workout.  With a small investment you will increase your productivity exponentially.

These few items together are not that expensive especially when you think of how expensive a gym membership is a month.  A smart investment now will save you hundreds of dollars in the long run.  Click here for some really wonderful and inexpensive options.

Choosing the Perfect Treadmill for Your Personality

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Treadmills are the most commonly purchased piece of home exercise equipment. Here are  some tips that will help readers make an informed decision as they are finding the treadmill that will work the best for them.

There are many people that understand the benefits of a treadmill.  The machine is pretty self explanatory and it is a great way to make sure that people can get up and run year round without having to deal with the elements outdoors.

The treadmill has stood its ground as many other machines have grown in popularity and then faded away.  Stores know that these pieces of equipment will sell and when you are looking for equipment you want to make sure that you understand which treadmill is the best for you.

First, you want to sit down and thoroughly assess your reasons for buying this treadmill machine.  There are a wide variety of reasons that you can buy a machine and many reasons why a machine will be useful in your home.

You can be using the machine to lose weight or to gain muscle mass, to make sure your cardiovascular system stays healthy or you may even want it for rehabilitation.  Some people walk on treadmills, some people jog and some people run.

The reason that you are purchasing a treadmill may influence the budget that you lay out for your shopping.  Making a list of your expectations, your needs and the goals that you wish to accomplish is a great way to figure out what price range you should be in.

While you are taking the time to figure out how you are going to spend your money you should take the time to shop around.  You want to be aware of the prices that are being advertised so that you can be realistic with your budget.

Instead of starting by looking at machines that are more expensive than you can afford you should start looking below your budget.  You may be able to find a machine that is less than the amount of money you have set aside.

You will only be setting yourself up to be disappointed if you start shopping for your machine by trying out the machines that are too expensive and have luxurious designs.  Start with the bare bones machines and then begin to look at the more expensive machines.

Eventually, you should be able to find something that fits in your price range and will be useful to you in your home.  This can be accomplished if you first take the time to understand what is realistic to expect.

While you are taking the time to understand how you are going to choose a specific machine you want to make sure that you will use all of the features on the machine.  There are many people that buy a machine that has many bells and whistles and they know they will not use them all.

The thing about having all of these extra amenities is you will be paying for them.  Take the time to understand exactly what you need on a treadmill and do not pay for things that you do not need on the machine.

When you know that you are going to be using the machine frequently you should make sure you have one that is at least good quality. It is important that the machine will last you a long time and that it can take the frequent exercise you participate in.

Some people have a hard time deciding between quality and a low price. Although you should stay within your budget you have to make sure that you understand how you are going to go about finding a machine that will last you for many years.

Reading reviews and talking with manly salespeople may help you make the best decision for you and your family.  When you are shopping you should also consider the warranty that is offered with the treadmill that you want to purchase.

After you bring the machine home you want to make sure that you also understand how you are going to deal with returning it if I you do not like it.  There are a lot of people that return their treadmill once it comes into their home.

It can be a hassle, but if you know that you want to return your treadmill you have to make sure that you call the company promptly.  After you call the company you should follow heir instructions exactly.

You can find a machine that is well worth your money and your time.  Make sure that you do your research before you start to shop and you take your time shopping so that your decisions is well informed and well worth it in the long run.

What Are Some Must-Have Pieces of Equipment for a Home Gym?

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Working out at home has a number of advantages of working out in a gym. The main reason people generally like to workout at home is because it saves them a lot of money. Gym memberships are not cheap and although you get access to a number of different machines, you don’t really need them and you probably don’t even use most of what you see in a typical gym. You can get a highly effective workout with a few simple, inexpensive pieces of equipment.

  • Dumbbells or Hand Weights. You can find dumbbells just about anywhere. You don’t have to visit a specialty exercise equipment store to find them and they are very inexpensive. If you’re looking for a heavier set – say over 25# – then you may need to visit a sports equipment store. Dumbbells should definitely be at the top of your home gym equipment list because they can be used to complete hundreds of different strength training exercises. Strength training exercises will build muscle and help your body burn more fat. If you don’t want to spend the money on dumbbells or hand weights right now, you can substitute soup cans or water jugs.  A great space saver is an adjustable dumbbell.  A pair of adjustable dumbbells will take up about 75% less space than a collection of set weight dumbbells.
  • One Cardio Machine. I’m not a big fan of running outdoors. If you’re like me, you can still get some great cardiovascular exercise by investing in a cardio machine. You might choose a treadmill, elliptical or recumbent bike. Just choose something you think you’ll get the most use out of. If you’re looking for cheap home gym equipment you can visit second-hand stores, garage sales or ask friends or family members if they have something they aren’t using – chances are you’ll find something fairly cheap. You don’t have to buy exercise equipment brand new!
  • Jump Rope. Jump ropes are very handy to have because you can get a great cardio workout using them. You could jump rope as a warm-up or as your cardiovascular workout for the day. It’s easy to change up the intensity to keep things interesting and you’ll be making your heart stronger too.

All things realized, you can furnish your own home gym at a fraction of the cost of a monthly gym membership. You don’t have to start with everything and it doesn’t have to be fancy. Just start slowly if you need to and build up your equipment as your budget allows.

Interactive Workout

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From several years ago until today, working out means that you have to pack a change of clothes and go to the gym. In the gym, a personal trainer will guide you on what to do or map out a workout regimen for you to follow. New developments in technology, however, seem to point a new direction for our fitness program. With Kinect Exercise, a new method of doing our workout is introduced.

Kinect Sensor

So, what is Kinect? It is a technology developed by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360 game console. It allows users to play games without using any input device such as a joystick or a control pad. Kinect rather reads hand movements and voice command and converts it into movements on the monitor. Without the restriction of wires and lines, the game simply becomes an extension of the body.

Kinect is composed of peripheral sensors that detect movements then feeds it into the console. It has the capability of reading facial features or voice to tag its user. Other features include internet connectivity using Windows Live Messenger to chat with other Xbox users. By November 2010, there are already 2.5 Million Kinect games sold worldwide.

Kinect Workout Games were developed principally for body fitness. Game

Your Shape Fitness Evolved

titles include Kinect Sports, Your Shape: Fitness Evolved and even Dance Central for those who prefer dance exercises.

With Kinect, you do not have to go the gym for your regular workout. All you have to do is plug in the game and you can sweat it out in your home. It even provides real-time feedback so that you can monitor the progress of your workout or change your pace accordingly. Kinect is also able to monitor your movement through its tracking pivot sensor so no matter how rigorous your exercise is you are kept within its periphery. With Kinect, you get to save on gym membership and the travel from home to gym.

Try one now and experience a new way of keeping yourself physically fit. It may not serve you meals yet but at least it doesn’t complain.

The Best Home Exercise Gym Item!

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Of all the equipment I have used over the years, there is one that I always go back to for its versatility, cost and effectiveness.  The Resistance Band!  For many people, it is one of the best gym solutions.

Lately, I have been doing a lot of traveling for work and to visit family members who live in other states.  When on the road, I am not always sure of when or where I will be able to get a good workout in.  Certain hotels have fitness centers, but they are unreliable and usually not very good.  I prefer to bring my personal home exercise gym with me instead.  It’s small and light, so it fits into my carry on bag.

Resistance bands are sold in different levels of elasticity, but I would recommend just getting one medium resistance band to get you started.  Don’t get me wrong, having several different elasticities is fantastic, but not required.  I just have one and it suits me just fine.

Most bands will come with a door attachment for easy use.  Clip in onto your bedroom door and you have got dozens of different exercises you can easily do to shape and tone all major muscle groups.  You can make the exercise more difficult by standing farther away from where the resistance band is attached.  The further it has to stretch for you to complete your rep, the harder it is going to be for you.

You don’t have to use it just at home either.  Keep it in your backpack next time you go for a jog in the park.  Once your warmed up and your heart is pumping, wrap your resistance band around a tree and enjoy a phenomenal workout in the fresh air.

In my hotel room during business trips, I attach it to the bathroom door and do a full body exercise while watching an in-room movie and waiting for my room service to arrive.  If you are constantly on the go and have barely any time for a workout, this is a great product for you.

While resistance bands are wonderful for getting you toned, you are going to need different home gym exercise equipment to get bigger muscles.  But don’t worry, I’ve got that covered for you as well.

Back Stretcher and Ab Trainer

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The Back Stretcher and Ab Trainer is a fitness device that is designed for use in one’s home, and it has become increasingly popular over the past few years. This product is manufactured by Brookstone, and the goal of this device is to increase the spine’s flexibility while at the same time tightening the person’s core muscles. It is not difficult to use, and it is handy and compact enough to be placed in any home. The device is also reasonably priced. The Back Stretcher and Ab Trainer offers a support focused chair which features foam rollers placed in a row that travel up the spine, and the device provides a comfortable headrest, as well. These features mean that a person can complete an exercise routine without anxiety over possible neck strain or back injuries. These types of injuries occur frequently with other types of fitness equipment. The Back Stretcher and Ab Trainer is an ideal item for those who suffer from sore or stiff backs, including people whose work requires them to lift, or to remain sedentary at an uncomfortable desk all day. It is light and easy to put together and move, and it can be modified to accommodate any height.

All one has to do to reap the benefits from this item is to sit on the device and lean backward. The Back Stretcher and Ab Trainer goes to work immediately to begin stretching the spine. This stretching results in the opening of the spaces which get tight and cramped throughout the course of one’s daily activities. The device works out one’s core abdominal muscles, as well, which results in more lumbar support for one’s back. The benefits of utilizing this machine is spine and neck support.

Anyone considering adding exercise equipment to their home may wish to consider an ab exerciser or back stretcher, as they are beneficial for almost anyone.

Polar Wrist Pulse Monitor Watches

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While working out at home, you want to make the best out of every moment of your exercise.  Part of that is making sure that your heart rate is in its target range.  To help with that, there are many heart monitors and watches on the market.

Watches with integrated heart rate monitors have become fashionable, but they’re hardly new. They were first devised back in the Seventies by a company named Polar. While Polar now has numerous competitors, they’ve managed to maintain a reputation for high quality, feature-rich watches that are still easy to operate.

A wrist pulse monitor is a fairly simple concept that can transform the quality of an exerciser’s workout by giving precise feedback as to how much effort her she is exert during the session. The watch stores recommended maximum heart rates for each age group. You set your maximum heart rate by entering in your birth date, which tells the watch your age. The next step is telling the watch the intensity level you wish to stay within while training. This intensity level, or aerobic zone, is a percentage of your maximum heart rate. For a high intensity workout, you might decide to stay within 75% and 85% of your maximum heart rate. If you heart rate goes over or under this range, the watch will beep until you’re back in the target range.

Most Polar watches have at least of couple of additional features that set them apart from entry level watches. The Polar F4 is a good example. It not only records your heart rate information for each of your workouts, but connects with your computer in order to upload that information to Polar’s fitness tracking website. You can review your progress over time, and even share your workout information with other Polar watch users.

Another key feature is the use of a coded transmitter. Most HRM watches don’t have the heart sensor on directly on the watch, but receive a wireless transmission from a chest strap. If the chest strap doesn’t use a coded transmitter, there’s a high likelihood that the signal will experience interference from other HRM watch users, especially if you work out in a gym. With a coded transmitter, the information gets sent on its own channel, so that you’ll get consistent heart rate information. If you work out by yourself, you don’t necessarily need this feature, but the computer interfacing is something that nearly all Polar watch owners find useful.

Affordable Home Exercise Gyms

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What inspired me to start working out at home was getting fed up with the cost of my gym and being annoyed by how crowded it was.  I wanted to make a home exercise gym that I could comfortably work out in whenever I wanted.  At first, it is daunting because of the cost of some of the larger and better gym equipment out there.  Your first few purchases have to be affordable and highly effective at the same time.  Here are some of the best gym solutions:

Stamina InStride Plus Electronic Stepper

Cardio machines are often bulky and take up a lot of space at home.  The Electronic Stepper pictured to the left takes up 197 square inches of space!  That’s insanely tiny.  Its inexpensive and is a great start to every home exercise gyms.

Other items to consider at the always useful resistance bands.  You can use a resistance band at home to replicate dozens of exercises that you would normally perform with a dumbbell or barbell.  But if you want to use weights, go for an adjustable dumbbell.  The great thing about using adjustable dumbbells is because it is an investment.  You can always add on to it and it can be used for so many different exercises.  And then the weights can also be used if you get a barbell later on as well.

Weider X-Factor Door Gym

One of the best starter items out there is the Weider X-Factor Door Gym.  It easily attaches to your door and becomes an exercise gym.  Using resistance band technology, it creates a workout for your entire body and takes up barely any space.  It cost equates to about two months of a gym membership.  It will work as an effective workout device while you save up for something that works you a bit more.

Cheap doesn’t always equate to good quality, so be sure to do your research before purchasing anything.  Always remember to start with exercise gym pieces that are versatile and work many muscle groups before purchasing pricier equipment that works only certain muscle groups.  Versatile options are always the best gym solution.  Home exercise gyms aren’t usually built in a day, so take your time to make sure that yours is catered to exactly what you need.