Tag Archives: Home Exercise Gym

All About Home Gym Equipment

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Even though many people decide to go to the gym to work out a lot of people would prefer to stay at home and exercise there. People that have a busy schedule find that it is too much of a hassle to keep up with everything they have to do plus going to the gym on a regular basis. It is much easier to come home and have everything that you need there to exercise without going anywhere else.

There are many different benefits to having your own gym equipment. One of the best things about it would be that it helps you cut back on your expenses since you won’t have to pay for gym memberships anymore. Also, it will make it easier to keep up your daily exercise routine, since you don’t have to go anywhere else once you get home you can exercise there.

When exercising at home you should make sure that someone else is there to help you in case you happen to get hurt. Every year there are thousands of accidents caused from people exercising at home. There are countless ways that people can get hurt with their home gym and weight training equipment. In 2009 it was found that certain home gym equipment has become a major home hazard in the UK.

Some insurance companies have reported up to a 17% increase in insurance claims for accidents from home gym equipment. One of the most common reasons that these accidents are happening is because the exercise equipment is not assembled properly.

Around 45% of the population would rather be able to exercise at home instead of going to a gym. With so many accidents happening it is usually a better idea to just go to a gym but if you want to be able to exercise at your house then you should consider hiring a professional to assemble your equipment.

Most home gum equipment come with instructions on how you should use, maintain, and assemble your new exercise equipment. Even with so much good instructions there are still a lot of accidents that result from improper assembly of home gym equipment. It is highly recommended that you hire a professional that knows what they are doing to set up any type of exercise equipment in you home.

If you decide to get home gym equipment there are many risks involved in setting up your own equipment. Not only is it usually unsafe for you to set up your exercise equipment it can also take up a lot of time that you could use to be exercising. By hiring a professional to set up your equipment for you you can be sure that it is assembled correctly. Also, hiring a professional to set up your new equipment means that it will be ready to use much sooner.

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!

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.

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.

More Versatile Home Exercise Gym Options

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Buying a few well thought out gym pieces can save you so much money in the long run.  We’ve covered some of the more basic options, so lets move on to a few items that are the best gym solutions in many home exercise gyms.

A great exercise bar is a necessity.  There are many different sizes, styles, shapes and weights to choose from.  For starters, thinking in a versatile manner, I would go with the simple, straight, light gym bar.  If you already have those free weights that I recommended previously, you have some started weights to go with your gym bar.

You may want to purchase some heavier weights too.  These can also be used on your adjustable dumbbells as well.  Down the line as you get stronger and need a challenge, you can easily add on to your current home exercise gym.

You may want to get some cardio exercise in your workout as well.  Treadmills, stair climbers and elliptical can be really pricey.  If you don’t have a bicycle (which I always recommend for health workout reasons and to save gasoline) you can buy a low priced product that turns your bike into a stationary workout bike.  I think this product is fantastic because it allows me to burn a ton of calories while watching my nightly TV shows.

By now, you should have the basics of a complete home exercise gym.  The stationary bike for cardiovascular exercise, the light dumbbells to use with the workouts you find on TV, the heavier free weights and gym bar for a bevy of other workouts and your balance ball to do your exercises on as well as for stretching after.

The next step would be items specifically geared towards one muscle group or a more expensive home fitness gym if you are interested.  For the time being, click here to check out the items I mentioned early in this page.

How To Lose Weight Without Setting Foot In A Gym

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These days it may seem that an expensive gym pass is the only way to lose weight. This is definitely not the case. You can have weight loss success from the comfort of your own home. It just takes some hard work and dedication. By following some of these simple tips you can make the changes you want without paying a monthly fee.

1. Buy some workout DVD’s. There are a lot of great workout programs out there that you can do from your own living room. Be sure to push yourself. Get a variety of workouts so you don’t get bored.

2. Get some dumbbells. You can do a lot with a simple set of dumbbells. Get weight that is heavy enough to challenge yourself. If you can’t afford dumbbells use milk cartons filled with water or soup cans.

3. Get a jump rope. Jump roping is a great exercise you can do in your own home and burns a ton of calories, and helps to burn stomach fat. Allow yourself to build up some jump roping endurance because it is difficult.

4. Go for a run. The great outdoors provide endless trails, streets, and neighborhoods to be explored. Be sure to only run in places that you know are safe, and avoid running in the dark when there aren’t people around.

5. Make activity a family based practice. Play basketball with the family, go for bike rides together, go hiking, take family walks. There are a lot of things that you can do to involve the whole family and keep them active and healthy.

6. Focus on your food. Being extremely careful with what you eat is a great way to drop pounds. Weight loss is hugely based on how you eat. If you can keep your portions in control, watch the quality of your food, and add a lot of fruits and vegetables can be the most effective weight loss tool that you have.

Continue reading for more information on how to lose belly fat, improve your diet, and lose weight.

Why Choose an Electric Treadmill?

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Most people buy a treadmill because they want to get into shape, but many times they get used a few times and then either get sold or put into storage because no one ever follows through with their exercise plans. Choosing a treadmill is not the hardest thing to do especially if there are no specific work outs that the person has in mind. Most people looking for their first treadmill do not look at the high end treadmill because they are very expensive and the chance of them getting their money’s worth is slim. The best way to buy a treadmill is to buy a treadmill for sale by owner because cheap treadmills are the best way to go if starting out. When buying an electric treadmill, buying it used is the best way because the used machines generally are in as good of condition as the new ones, but with half the costs.

Another thing that someone should not do when looking for exercise equipment is to buy it if it was seen on television. Most people see something that looks too good to be true so they buy it without even questioning if it works. Treadmills are especially a bad thing to buy from an infomercial because they are very expensive and have a greater risk of having a faulty part. The best place to find a good used piece of equipment is a local sporting goods store or even a yard sale because the people that sell them are usually the people that barely even used it.

So no matter what type of life a person lives or the type of exercise equipment they would like to own, buying used equipment especially treadmills is the best way to go. This is the best because if for some reason the person chooses not to make use of it, they are not out a large amount of money.