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FITNESS:
Home Exercise
Equipment
By Mimi Wacholder
You're settled on
the couch, maybe some chips or ice cream by your side, a soda or beer
in one hand and clicker in the other—ahh another relaxing night in
front of the beloved television set. However, if you plan to do any channel
surfing at all, chances are you will soon feel a bit unsettled. Your conscience,
that you so rationally convinced to sit dormant for this period of time
while you unwind after a long, hard day will unavoidably be challenged
by the omnipresence of fitness infomercials. And suddenly the guilt seeps
in, there you are relaxing with a spoon and your two friends "Ben
& Jerry" while on TV, the supermodel Vendela and Figure Skater
Scott Hamilton are busy pumping away on an "Ab Dolly Plus" boasting about
how you can get six pack abs in just minutes a day.
The
fitness frenzy is unavoidable and television testimonials only work so
far as to lure you to buy the equipment and not necessarily use it. Just
because Christie Brinkley and Chuck Norris say (and they were paid big
bucks to convince you) that a particular home gym has changed their life
and revolutionized fitness, doesn't mean that it will work for you. So,
what will work for you? That's completely personal.
Home workouts, as opposed to joining a gym, are a popular and affordable fitness alternative. But the options can be overwhelming. Is it Vendela and Scott or Christie and Chuck who can get you off the couch, or a Tae-Bo video, a home gym, or a piece of cardio-equipment such as the tried and true treadmill or the popular elliptical trainer?
Exercise equipment can be broken down into two basic categories, cardiovascular equipment and strength training equipment. Cardiovascular equipment includes, but is not limited to, treadmills, elliptical trainers, stair steppers, stationary bikes and rowing machines. Strength training is for both toning and building muscles and also has proven effective for weight loss. Some strength training equipment includes home gyms (a multi-station weight training unit), free-weights, body part specific products such as the "Ab Dolly Plus", and resistance/ balance systems such as Pilates and Physioball.
The place to start is to ask yourself what machines/products you can envision actually using. Free-weights, for example, are excellent for toning and strength training, but if you don't know how to use them or don't like to use them, they are not right for you. A good way to do some hands-on research on machines and products is to try a one-day guest pass at a local gym or temporary gym membership. This way, you can try out cardiovascular machines, strength training equipment and even some classes to get a sense of what activities are comfortable and effective for you.
In addition to trying out the equipment at the health club, many home fitness supply stores will have a floor model that you can try. Be aware that most home fitness equipment is a downscaled version of what you will find in the health club. The professional models are usually vastly more expensive than the ones marketed for home use. For example, health club elliptical trainers average about $3,000 where the home models average around $350. The home models usually work in the same manner and offer similar results, but lack the bells and whistles and some of the advanced electronics that health club models offer. However, there is also a great difference in the quality and longevity of home models and prices can vary a few hundred to even a thousand plus dollars depending on the brand.
Josh Khachadourian of Focus on Fitness of Queensbury mentions that there are three determining factors to consider with cost variables in home cardio-equipment such as treadmills. "One is the components, like the framing materials, belt quality, sturdiness, thickness...two is the electronics such as variety in programming and the third and what I believe is the most important factor is the size of the motor," he explained.
If you are an exercise novice and you are not sure what kind of a machine and/or equipment is right for you, something to consider would be setting up a personal training session either through the gym or through the Yellow Pages. It is a good idea to confirm that the personal trainer is certified from the American Council on Exercise, the American College of Sports Medicine or the Aerobic & Fitness Association of America. The trainer can help design a fitness program for you and will let you know whether it would be more appropriate for you to be looking into the purchase of a home gym for weight lifting or a treadmill for walking and running—perhaps even both.
On the other hand, if you already know what you want and it's just a matter of buckling down and making the commitment to purchase, sample products and talk to sales representatives. Your best bet is to go to a home fitness equipment store. There is too much mystery with shopping online or from television. There is a lot to be said for seeing, touching, and trying to get a sense of its durability. And once you receive your product, setup can be trying and time-consuming. Many fitness stores include delivery and setup in the purchase price or offer it at minimum additional cost. Another benefit is most of these stores service what they sell.
In specialty stores, you can often find staff that are educated about fitness as well as the product and can help you find something that will suit your needs. For instance a person who is looking for treadmill to train for a marathon would be steered towards a different treadmill than someone who will use it for light walking. And, unfortunately for the bargain shoppers, the old adage "you get what you pay for" seems to be true in fitness equipment as well. Television infomercials often offer a lower cost, but you can also be getting a much lower quality product.
Lastly, although as a culture we thrive on trends and we are always looking for the secret product that will make us thinner, stronger, or give us a six pack stomach in three minutes a day, choose a product/ brand that is proven to have some longevity. Otherwise, the old $19.99 stair stepper next to your couch may just end up being an end table for your ice cream bowl.
Mimi Wacholder
resides in Lake Placid, where she works as a freelance writer and marketing
consultant with Juniper Promotions. She is a yoga instructor and enjoys
hiking and climbing in the Adirondacks and triathlon training.
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