Picking Your Home Gym Equipment


When you are picking out the equipment that you are going to use to build your new home gym there are several things that you will want to consider.

First, you will want to decide how you are you going to build your home gym. You can either buy everything at once and start off fully equipped right out of the gate, or you can buy the most important piece and slowly build as you go along.

There are arguments to be made for both methods of equipping your home for your new exercise regimen. If you buy everything at once, you may find that you are less likely to get bored and will find yourself using the equipment more frequently because the variety keeps you interested. However, it can also be fun and rewarding to buy a new piece every six months until you have everything that you need.

As you consider which option may be best for your unique situation, it is important to point out that your first 30 days working out at home are the most important. If you stick with your new exercise plan for 30 days consistently, you are likely to make it a part of your everyday life and will end up sticking with the plan long term. Therefore if you only buy one piece to start off, and you get bored, then you may never get around to buying the other pieces. Whereas if you buy everything at once you may find it more exciting and more interesting and may make it through those first 30 days.

The main deciding factor should be your budget. If you can afford to put in multiple pieces all at once, by all means do so. However, if you are on a tight budget you should choose that first piece carefully and actively save for additional purchases in the future.

It can be quite rewarding to anticipate a future addition to your home gym, and it certainly will give a burst of energy to your workouts when you finally get that additional piece.

When deciding which method is best for you, it is important to consider your first 30 days of working out. If you feel that you might fizzle out and become disinterested, then you should make the investment and buy multiple pieces at once. If you feel that you are disciplined enough to stay consistently involved with only one piece, than you should feel comfortable buying only the single piece to begin with.

Buying a home gym is both a commitment and an investment. It is often tempting to want to start out with only one piece to 'see if you will stick with it.' I caution you on this mode of thinking because many times people do not buy enough equipment to hold their interest and meet their needs. When they give up on their fitness regimen, then they say 'I told you I would not stick with it.'

If they would have spent the money on the equipment that would hold their interest and meet their needs, then they would have made it passed those first 30 days and would have incorporated exercise into their daily lives.

Make sure your equipment purchasing strategy is one that is well thought out and takes into consideration all of the necessary factors. After all, the reason you are buying fitness equipment in the first place is to reach your goal. The pieces of equipment are merely the tools that you need to reach them.

Finding The One Piece That Is Right For You

If you are starting out with one piece, then you must chose that piece carefully. Forget all of the research about which piece will get you the best results. Most research only considers biomechanics and other technical information. What you need to figure out is which piece you are likely to use most often.

Even if you buy the best treadmill on the market, if you do not get on it, then it did not do you any good. It would be a better investment to spend $1,000 on a bike, than $6,000 on a treadmill if you are more inclined to use the bike. It is that simple.

With that being said you need to figure out which piece you feel most comfortable using. You will want to pick something that you feel is natural and something that you can see yourself enjoying. You will often find that you will have a gut instinct about which piece is going to be the one that you will enjoy the most. Trust this instinct, it will not let you down.

If you are buying one piece of equipment for multiple people to share, then this process can become slightly more complicated. It is important to not worry so much about the people who will only be using the equipment occasionally. You do not want to invest thousands of dollars on something that you personally will not enjoy, regardless of who else will be using the equipment.

The biggest caution when trying to decide on a single piece of equipment for multiple users is having the decision put on hold while you contemplate what is the best investment. All too often couples will talk for months about what piece of equipment to buy. This delay keeps both of you from working out at all. It is better to take an educated guess, or come up with some sort of compromise that allows you both to start working out as soon as possible.

You do not need to start big, but you do need to start!

Tom Richard is the owner of Tom Richard Marketing and specializes in helping the fitness industry better serve their customers. For more tips on purchasing equipment or for Tom's list of trustworthy companies out there please visit http://www.tomrichard.com for contact information.





Latest News:



Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news
JCDecaux in talks for News Outdoor Group in Russia (AP via Yahoo! News)
French outdoor advertising firm JCDecaux SA said Thursday it is negotiating to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. JCDecaux and News Corp. in talks to combine outdoor ad groups (International Herald Tribune)
The News Corp. chief executive, Rupert Murdoch, has recently expressed nervousness about investments in Russia, where News Outdoor generated the bulk of its revenue last year. News Corp tightens grip on Premiere with new CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Rupert Murdoch tightened his grip on German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere by appointing News Corp executive Mark Williams as CEO in a move to get the company back on track. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (CBS News)
A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel 's current news flow, was picked up by a Google (NSDQ: GOOG) News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News. After a lot of buck ... SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (paidContent.org via Yahoo! Finance)
A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel's current news flow, was picked up by a Google News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News. Asia Markets: Financials in rally mode, as Lehman news helps (Market Watch)
Asian markets advanced early Friday, with financials such as Mizuho Financial Group and Macquarie Group rallying after a rebound on Wall Street and on news Lehman Brothers was looking for a buyer. News Corp says Mark Williams interim Premiere CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
News Corp. executive Mark Williams has taken over as chief executive of German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere in an interim capacity, News Corp. said after the move led to renewed takeover speculation. News Corp. says Mark Williams interim Premiere CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Mark Williams, a News Corp. executive named late on Wednesday as chief executive of German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere, has taken over in an interim capacity, a News Corp. spokeswoman said on Thursday. JCDecaux in talks to buy News Corp. billboard unit (AP via Yahoo! Finance)
In a deal that would create the world's largest outdoor advertising company, French conglomerate JCDecaux SA said Thursday that it is in talks to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News (UPI)
Kanye arrested in paparazzi scuffle ... Report: Critic smacked Ebert with binder ... Cafe Tacvba nominated for 6 Latin Grammys ... Groban to perform TV songs at Emmys ... News from United Press International.

Site: news - Google News
BCS Title Game: The News Media Predicts - New York Times

BCS Title Game: The News Media Predicts
New York Times, United States - 35 minutes ago
Florida 51, Oklahoma 17: Gators dominate special teams and stymie Sam Bradford to become the new preeminent program in college football.
Ballmer touts Windows 7 beta, new deals - CNET News

New York Times

Ballmer touts Windows 7 beta, new deals
CNET News, CA - 7 hours ago
Microsoft will also announce new deals for Windows Live that will see Microsoft's search engine become the default on PCs from Dell as well as touting a ...
CES: Microsoft announces new search deals with Dell, Verizon Seattle Post Intelligencer
Windows Live Essentials released, more Windows Live news from CES LiveSide
Microsoft's Ballmer touts new Windows, search deal MarketWatch
CNNMoney.com - CNBC
all 657 news articles
Amid Gaza violence, a new task for Obama - USA Today

Times Online

Amid Gaza violence, a new task for Obama
USA Today - 4 hours ago
Instead, the new spate of violence "will empower every anti-Israel, anti-US and extremist movement in the Middle East and the Islamic world," says Anthony ...
Video: Rockets hit northern Israel RussiaToday
Israel Mulls New Gaza Cease-Fire Proposal CBS News
News Analysis: How far to Gaza ceasefire? Xinhua
KXMC - The Associated Press
all 28,604 news articles
Australia, New Zealand Dollars Drop on Commodities, US Jobs - Bloomberg

Hürriyet

Australia, New Zealand Dollars Drop on Commodities, US Jobs
Bloomberg - 3 hours ago
8 (Bloomberg) -- The Australian and New Zealand currencies fell, snapping three days of gains versus the US dollar, as prices of commodities that make up ...
Currencies Trading All Over the Map Washington Post
Australia, New Zealand Dollars Drop on Commodities, US Jobs Bloomberg
all 344 news articles
Madoff, SocGen, Sun Pharma, Axel Springer, Apple in Court News - Bloomberg

CBS News

Madoff, SocGen, Sun Pharma, Axel Springer, Apple in Court News
Bloomberg - 3 hours ago
Madoff, 08-mag-2735, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan). Jerome Kerviel, blamed by Societe Generale SA for its record trading loss ...
New papers filed in Madoff case San Diego Daily Transcript (subscription)
Bernard Madoff Prosecutors Ask US Judge to Jail Him Bloomberg
all 603 news articles
New Sony Hard-Drive HD Camcorders - PC World

PC World

New Sony Hard-Drive HD Camcorders
PC World - 9 hours ago
The SR line will live on, however, with three new standard-definition units. Pictured above is the Sony Handycam HDR-XR520V ($1500, available in March). ...
New Sony Camcorders Do GPS, Too PC World
Sony Unleashes 60X-Optical-Zoom Camcorders PC World
Sony's First Flash-Based Camcorders PC World
all 43 news articles
A New Year, And New Polling Challenges - CBS News

The Miami Herald

A New Year, And New Polling Challenges
CBS News, NY - 12 hours ago
In her new Poll Positions column today, CBS News director of surveys Kathy Frankovic examines the challenges pollsters might encounter when evaluating ...
Video: Obama's Economic See-Saw CBS
Speaker Makes Room for New No. 1 Democrat New York Times
Obama Pledges 3 Million New Jobs, But How? ABC News
The Associated Press - CBS News
all 5,164 news articles
Phil Schiller bringing the news at Macworld - San Francisco Chronicle

Telegraph.co.uk

Phil Schiller bringing the news at Macworld
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 10 hours ago
We get going at 9 am and we'll be delivering the news as it happens. 8:53 am Just a few minutes away. Listened to some Killers music on the way in. ...
iTunes Music Store Finally Drops DRM, Adds New Prices Wired News
Apple's iTunes unveils new pricing, lifts restrictions on copying SmartBrief
Apple Humming a New iTune Zacks.com
Contentinople - All About Jazz
all 1,195 news articles
O'Brien: Apple's final appearance at Macworld signals new era - San Jose Mercury News

guardian.co.uk

O'Brien: Apple's final appearance at Macworld signals new era
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 17 hours ago
Schiller unveiled a series of upgrades and new features to Apple products that pleased the Mac faithful, but otherwise felt incremental. ...
Video: Steve Jobs Weight Loss Due to Hormone Imbalance AssociatedPress
Apple unveils software updates, new laptop San Francisco Chronicle
Apple disappoints: No Jobs or big news at Macworld Reuters
PC World - New Zealand Herald
all 2,748 news articles
UPM Sets Dividend Policy That May Lower Payout, New Margin Goal - Bloomberg

UPM Sets Dividend Policy That May Lower Payout, New Margin Goal
Bloomberg - 47 minutes ago
8 (Bloomberg) -- UPM-Kymmene Oyj, Europe?s second- largest papermaker, set a new dividend policy that may lower the payout to investors as it seeks to free ...

MORE RESOURCES:
Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for fitness equipment
Hub firefighters to get fitness gear (Boston Globe)

Boston officials are installing treadmills, weights, and other fitness equipment at every fire station and are encouraging annual physicals in a bid to improve the conditioning of the city's firefighters, who have been retiring with disability pensions at high rates. FITNESS PARK (The Meridian Star)

Workers are currently installing new playground/fitness equipment around Bonita Lakes Recreation Park. The equipment is part of a program to provide more fitness opportunities to those citizens using the park. Local Schools Warm Up For A Fitness Challenge (WGRZ-TV Buffalo)

More than 150 schools throughout Western New York are jumping on board a major fitness challenge in an effort to teach their students the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Health and fitness (Daily Herald)

To have an event listed in this calendar, e-mail the details at least two weeks in advance of the event or registration deadline to nbrcalendar@dailyherald.com. Please put "Health & fitness" in the subject line. Fitness center resumes normal morning hours (The Desert Sun)

The La Quinta Fitness Centers returned to its normal morning hours of 6 to 10 a.m. Monday through Fridays. Plano: Fitness classes begin for seniors (Plano Courier)

Plano seniors begin another round of fitness classes specifically designed for them. Fall classes for the Plano Senior Center began Monday. Classes are open to citizens 50 and up. Fitness Model / Entrepreneur Targets Childhood Obesity and Makes Headlines Nationwide With New Franchise Offering (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)

Ivette Cortiella and Meltdown America have made available a new fitness franchise targeting childhood obesity. New Sunset Avenue will get playground, equipment (Sampson Independent)

Photo by Doug Clark Principal Greg Dirks scans a catalogue filled with playground equipment. The Board of Education approved moving foward with plans for a new playground and equipment at Sunset Avenue. Camelback Village Racquet & Health Club Offers Hi-Tech Fitness (Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance)

Camelback Village Racquet & Health Club has found the answer to the technology craze taking adults and children away from physical activity and placing them in front of computer and TV screens. The newest in fitness technology, Sportwall, has been installed into a newly built 'technology fitness room' at Camelback Village to help address the lack of interest and participation in physical ... Premier Place Life Time Athletic to Host VIP Celebration on September 16 (Centre Daily Times)

Life Time Fitness, Inc. (NYSE: LTM): Site: fitness equipment - Google News
Subway contest to award local school with exercise equipment - KVIA

Subway contest to award local school with exercise equipment
KVIA, TX - 5 hours ago
The Subway Restaurants' Fitness Challenge will provide local elementary schools (K-5) with the opportunity to win $1000 in new exercise equipment. ...
Exercise equipment put to the test - abc7.com

Exercise equipment put to the test
abc7.com, CA - Jan 6, 2009
Quite a few of them are for exercise equipment that promises to get you looking great in no time. But do they? Fitness machines in TV infomercials promise ...
Does Paying for a Gym Make You a Dumbbell? - Wall Street Journal

Does Paying for a Gym Make You a Dumbbell?
Wall Street Journal - 3 hours ago
I did a back-of-the-envelope calculation for our spending on gyms and fitness equipment over the past 27 years. It came to $8500. ...
Want to Get Fit? Don't Buy Exercise Equipment... - Male Pattern Fitness

Want to Get Fit? Don't Buy Exercise Equipment...
Male Pattern Fitness - Jan 6, 2009
So if you spring for a piece of home exercise equipment, you're actually less likely to stick with a new exercise program than if you joined a gym, say, ...
NeuroActive Bike: America?s First and Only Mind-Body Fitness ... - Business Wire (press release)

Business Wire (press release)

NeuroActive Bike: America?s First and Only Mind-Body Fitness ...
Business Wire (press release), CA - Jan 6, 2009
To keep both the mind and the body in top shape, Dr. Bergeron recommends three to four 20-minute sessions per week on this unique fitness equipment, ...
If you could have just one piece of exercise equipment in your ... - IdahoStatesman.com

If you could have just one piece of exercise equipment in your ...
IdahoStatesman.com, ID - Jan 5, 2009
... muscle can be overlooked in the emphasis on cardio workouts, says Lance Henning, manager of Gym Outfitters, a Boise-based fitness equipment dealership. ...
January busy month for new gym memberships - StarPhoenix

January busy month for new gym memberships
StarPhoenix, Canada - Jan 7, 2009
"You can sell a good piece of fitness equipment." Before investing in anything, consumers should take the extra time to consider what they're buying and how ...
Dr. Anthony Alessi: Tips on how to stick to resolutions - Norwich Bulletin

Dr. Anthony Alessi: Tips on how to stick to resolutions
Norwich Bulletin, CT - Jan 6, 2009
Equipment. Any investment in fitness equipment is a good investment if the equipment is used. Sturdy machines that can be used with minimal difficulty are ...
How do I find the best gym for me? - San Diego Union Tribune

Fresh News

How do I find the best gym for me?
San Diego Union Tribune, CA - Jan 2, 2009
Do you have to stand in line to use your favorite exercise equipment? If it's too hectic or stressful, it may not be a good fit for you. ...
Finding the right gym for you Examiner.com
Sometimes the gym doesn't fix it Irish Times
Make the gym work for you WalesOnline
Tyler Morning Telegraph - Waterloo Record
all 85 news articles
Gym Power to Power the Gym - FitSugar.com

Gym Power to Power the Gym
FitSugar.com, CA - 21 hours ago
Most fitness equipment contains a spinning wheel which can be used just like a windmill for creating energy. At the Green Microgym, the treadmills and ...
Home | Site Map | Resource Links