Another option is to purchase exercise
equipment for your home. Home exercise equipment eliminates most excuses including:
Bad weather
Gym phobia
Lack of time
Slippery roads
The neighbor’s pesky dog
(Have we named yours yet??)
By exercising in your own home, you can exercise while you watch the
news, wait for clothes to dry, and so on. You don’t even have to dress to be seen in
public. Only your machine (and perhaps your spouse) will see how you look while you sweat.
The tough decision is deciding which type of exercise equipment to
purchase. Asking yourself these important questions can narrow your decision:
What will your budget allow? There
is a variety of equipment that can be purchased between $50.00 -- $5,000, and up. Avoid
cheap bargains. Lower cost can result in less stability and quality of construction. Spend
your money wisely on a quality piece of equipment such as a treadmill or sturdy stationary
bicycle.
How much space do you have?
Measure the dimensions (including ceiling height) of the area that you are
planning to use for your equipment.
What are your fitness goals?
Identifying your short and long term goals will help you in selecting your equipment. If
you want to lose weight or increase your cardiovascular fitness, you should buy a piece of
equipment that will lead to workouts of 30 minutes or longer. Some equipment is hard to
use (e.g., manual treadmills), or require more coordination or balance,( cross-country ski
machines) so that your workout would probably never last 30 minutes.
What features and functions do you
really want? All the bells and whistles
will cost extra money. Be sure you want all the pricey extras.
What activity do you enjoy doing and
what type of equipment will keep you interested? Are there any
activities that you dislike? If you enjoy walking, a treadmill is a good choice. If you
have hip or knee problems, a bike will cause less stress to your joints.
Try before you buy. It
is better to have tried the equipment rather than buying it from a brochure or TV
commercial. A good supplier will understand that you would like to try the equipment
before you sink your hard-earned money into it.
Look for a good guarantee.
Ask weather there is a money-back guarantee and what warranty is provided with the
equipment.
For more information on buying home exercise equipment write for a free
brochure:
Fitness Products Council Publications
Dept. P.
200 Castlewood Drive
North Palm Beach, Fla. 33408
Remember, above all else; enjoy your winter workouts. Good luck
and good health! |
