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Speak Up: What Gear Would Make the Perfect Home Gym?

FitSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:30:19 -0700

Now that colder weather is moving in, exercising outdoors may not be that appealing. Working out at the gym is great, but all those people sharing equipment means germ central. Plus, wouldn't it be nice to have your own home gym you could use whenever you wanted, and not have to drive to?

If there was no limit on the amount of money you could spend, what equipment would you buy to make your ideal home gym?

How to Strength Train With a Balance Board

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:00:05 -0700

If you belong to a gym, you may have seen this weird UFO-looking piece of equipment lying around. It's known as a balance board. When used for strength training exercises, it's a great tool for runners, skiers, tennis players, and yogis because it helps improve coordination and balancing abilities. It can also help target weak areas such as wrists and ankles that are often overlooked. There's no way around it - a balance board will work your core as well.

Also called wobble boards, they can be circular in shape, like the one shown, or rectangular. Since the platform is a lot larger than the base that touches the ground, once you place any body part on the board, the rest of your body is forced to engage in order to hold yourself up. That means you end up using multiple muscle groups at once.

To learn some basic exercises you can do that utilize the balance board keep reading.

Start a Home Gym With These 6 Things

FitSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:45:00 -0700

With today's economy, we're looking for ways to save money. While you shouldn't compromise on your health, paying for a $50 or higher monthly gym membership may not be doable. You can get a workout at home that's just as effective, so here are some products you'll need to start your own home gym.
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How Often Do You Exercise at Home?

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0800

There are many benefits to working out at home. With your own home gym, you never have to wait in line to use your equipment, it's conveniently open 24 hours a day, you don't have to waste time in the car getting to it, you don't have to worry about strangers' germs, and you're in charge of the TV. So when it comes to working out . . .

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Smart Ways to Pump Up Your Home Gym: Part II

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:00:00 -0700

Buying fitness equipment is not always the easiest task. Finding the right piece for your home gym often means heading into unchartered territory. Everyday Health offers some great tips on making smart fitness buys. (In case you missed it, here's part I.) Here are highlights:

Look for well-built equipment. A sturdy frame, smooth running parts, sufficient horsepower (if motorized), and a comfortable feel are all key elements. Also, ask the dealer about warranties, return policies, repair records, and service costs.

Make sure you understand the full cost of the equipment. Read the fine print to see if items such as shipping and handling, sales tax, and set-up fees are included.

Look for features that you'll really use. Fancy add-ons such as computer-programmed displays are nice to have, but they can inflate the bottom line. However, you may feel some extras are worthwhile - for instance, if knowing how many calories you're burning will act as a motivator or if features such as a reading rack, water bottle holder, or seat and tension adjusters will make your workout more appealing.

There's more great tips so read more.

Learn how to use your equipment properly. From stair machines to stability balls, exercise equipment can be dangerous if used incorrectly. It's a good idea to consult a qualified fitness professional to learn how to use any new equipment you purchase. Many dealers offer a complimentary training session when you buy a large piece of equipment.

Be careful when buying large equipment secondhand. It is cheaper, but warranties aren't likely to apply, and usually you cannot return the equipment. If you buy from a gym, the equipment is more likely to be heavy-duty. However, it's also more likely to have seen heavy use.

Do you have any buying tips of your own? Share them below.
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Smart Ways to Pump up Your Home Gym: Part I

FitSugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:30:00 -0700

Keep what you like to do in mind. If you hate taking the stairs, a stair-stepper isn't going to change your habits. A treadmill might be a better option.

Because many types of equipment require a sizable outlay of money, look for the one that offers the most complete workout. If you're setting up a home gym, a good strategy is to devote the bulk of your budget to a good quality cardiovascular machine. Supplement that with less expensive strength training pieces, such as dumbbells and resistance bands.
Measure the space where you plan to install the machine and carry the dimensions with you when you shop. Stair steppers, for example, are quite tall.

There are more tips so read more.

Bring a healthy skepticism about performance claims with you when you consider equipment. For example, most aerobic equipment will burn 400–600 calories an hour, not the more than 1,300 calories that some manufacturers claim. And no device is going to produce "perfect abs" in just three minutes a day.

Keep in mind that it's impossible to burn fat from just one part of the body. Don't be swayed by emphatic testimonials or dramatic before-and-after pictures.

Take a test drive before you buy. This means spending some real time working out on the machine in proper exercise clothes and shoes. Don't make your decision on the basis of a few seconds of use while still in your street clothes. Also, reputable dealers will often allow you to try out the machine for 30 days and return it for a full refund if you're not satisfied.

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Fitness Equipment For Under $30

FitSugar — Fri, 09 May 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Whether you work out at home regularly or just every once in a while, it is good to have some equipment on hand. You don't have to break the bank to make a home gym! Here are some equipment essentials, all under $30.

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Bad News For Anyone Looking to Buy Home Machines

FitSugar — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 03:00:00 -0800

The ratings experts at Consumer Reports have recently compiled a report on the best treadmills and ellipticals for the home and it's looking like if you want something that works well, you're going to have to shell out a few thousand bucks for it. That's because the Landice L7 Cardio Trainer treadmill (pictured) and the Precor 5.31 elliptical took the top spots overall and are both well over $3,000.

The best value in terms of elliptical machines was the $1,000 NordicTrack AudioStrider 990. Overall it was found that ellipticals that cost $2,000 and up were well-built and felt stable to testers, more like the $5,000 machines at gyms. And they were less likely to have defects.

To see the best values on treadmills just read more.

For the best value on treadmills, the magazine recommends two $1,300 machines - the Vision Fitness T900 Simple and the Epic View 550. However, in treadmill tests the magazine found that you have to spend well over $2,000 to get a machine designed for serious runners, though lower-priced models are just fine for walkers.

Online subscribers can read the full reports here.

If you own a treadmill or elliptical tell us about it in the comments section below. Do you like it? Was it pricey? Ya know, give us the dirt.

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Where Do You Primarily Work Out?

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 03:00:00 -0800

I'm grateful that there are so many different ways you can exercise your body. We can run outside, use cardio machines, take dance classes, lift weights, learn Kung Fu, and use fitness DVDs. With all those options I was wondering, where do you usually exercise?

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Get in Gear: The Perfect Pushup

FitSugar — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 02:00:00 -0700

Push-ups are an awesome exercise you can do to tone your upper body, and the best part - you can do them anywhere. Many women I know complain that push ups bother their wrists though, so here's a cool gadget that may help.

It's called the Perfect Pushup ($39.95). It's basically 2 handles on 8" bases that swivel, which allows you to rotate your arms naturally, just as you would do if you were throwing a punch or lifting a dumb bell. The base is rubberized on the bottom, which provides stability, and the handles provide a comfortable place to grip. Since the base is slightly elevated, it'll allow you to get a deeper push up than you could if you just used the floor.

I love that the handles rotate, so you can adjust the angles for your arms. This will enable you to reduce strain on certain areas, and you can also work different muscles in your chest, arms and upper back. This may be a great addition to your home gym.

Fit's Tips: You can also use the Perfect Pushup handles to do yoga, if Up Dog or Down Dog bothers your wrists.