Unless you are already an equipment expert, this article will help you choose wisely to get the best for less.
After committing to begin a diet and fitness program, the first step many people take is to purchase some exercise equipment. If you do this, it will also be your first big obstacle, simply because the overwhelming selection makes it extremely difficult to know where to begin.
Be careful! This is where many will make their first big fitness mistake. Millions of dollars and countless unused exercise equipment fill garages and basements nationwide, a testament to poor choices and hasty decisions.
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The best home exercise equipment to buy for 2023
The first and best decision you can make, to get the biggest bang for your buck, is to put your credit cards in the deep freeze and ask yourself these simple questions:
What are your fitness goals?
What you hope to achieve has everything to do with what sort of workout program you should follow and what equipment you might need. Do you want to lose weight and firm up primarily? Do you want to increase your strength,h or do you want to build significant muscle mass?
How much experience do you have?
Are you confident that you can design a program to achieve the goals you just outlined? Will you need help with this? Were you a regular exerciser in the past? Have you tried a variety of equipment for long enough to get a feel for it?
What are the practical considerations of your intended purchase?
How much space do you have? Do you plan to move any time soon? (Some equipment can be the devil to transport.) How much can you afford to spend regardless of what you think you might need? Since the cost of some equipment could equal a three-year gym membership, is joining a gym out of the question?
Now, because simple is usually best, and the fanciest and finest equipment will not get you in shape unless you use it think about this:
Your goals dictate your exercise plan and affect the equipment you may need. If you have little experience with exercise, consider a minimalist approach toward equipment. This will not compromise your progress.
Until you are in an exercise groove, until a lifestyle of physical activity becomes a habit, statistics confirm that you probably will not stick with it. Why not create the habit of simply walking before buying a $1,500 treadmill that will likely end up in the garage collecting dust?
Let the success of your exercise program justify the expense before you purchase. You may find that you don’t want a treadmill after all.
The same holds for strength training. Before buying a multi-purpose home gym, try simple hand weights,s which are highly effective, inexpensive,e and all you need to get on track. Bodybuilders prefer “free” weights in most cases. If you buy a gym later, you can still use the hand weights.
Once you have made some progress,s your goals might change. You may find that your present workouts are all you need. If, on the other hand, you want to expand your exercise possibilities, consider joining a gym for a month or so. Maybe buy a few sessions with a personal trainer. Try out the different machines until you get comfortable. Pay attention to what “gym quality” feels like; some affordable home-style machines can be disappointing.
It is essential to know what suits you before you begin shopping. Without this experience, making a premature decision after a brief “test drive” with a salesman breathing down your neck is easy.
Get to know your stuff before spending your hard-earned money. You will know exactly what you need and when a particular piece of equipment feels right. After making an informed decision as to what is best, you can wait and look for sales and bargains.
Most importantly, you will avoid making impulsive decisions, emptying your wallet,t and ending up with junk or something you don’t need.
“Be Strong…. Be Lean”
Howard McGarity “Coach Mac”
