by Bob Lachniet
President -
Fitness 4 Home Superstore
You’ve already made an intelligent decision and decided that your home is the best place for you to work out. The next step is to decide what equipment you need. If your resolution is to get fit in the New Year and work on your strength training, here are a few things you should consider before you start shopping at Fitness 4 Home Superstore.
A home gym can be whatever you want it to be. It may just be a place where you exercise and lift weights, or it could be a compact equipment station (also called multi-gyms) designed to fit into a spare room, basement or garage so that you can do weight training at home.
There are endless options when it comes to choosing the right fitness equipment for your home gym. But the choices for weight training equipment basically fall into a few categories: portable, free weight, multi-gyms, and total gyms. Aerobic exercise equipment such as treadmills, rowers and stationary bikes are always options for a great cardio workout, but for now we are going to concentrate on strength training equipment.
Portable Equipment – Includes everything from dumbbells to workout benches, stability balls, steps, mats, ab machines and more. If you can pick it up and move it, it fits in this category. The main advantage of portable workout equipment is that you can fold it up (if necessary) and put it away when you’re through with it. Some equipment, like stability balls and mats, is even compact enough to be taken along on a trip which makes portable equipment a popular choice for home gym equipment.
Free Weight Accessories – This includes adjustable benches, power racks, barbells, dumbbells and plates (also called round weights). While some of these things may be portable, they are all categorized as heavy duty equipment that often times are part of a larger assembly. If the space you require for your home gym is small, free weight accessories are probably your best bet. You’ll be able to get a great strength training workout in with equipment that will test you to the max.
Multi-Gyms – There are several different types of multi-gyms available for home use. The first type is based on steel or composite bands and cords that create resistance. The second type is based on stacked weights, uses a cable and pulley mechanism and allows you to select the desired weight. The third type includes round weights that are manually fitted to barbell extensions. All of these are great options for a home gym. What you choose will depend upon the type of workout you’re trying to achieve and the amount of space you have in your home.
Total Gyms – A total gym uses an adjustable bench and a sliding seat platform that increases resistance based on your own body weight. While the total gym may require more space, it will allow you to incorporate more strength training exercises into your workout.
To help you decide which option to choose when it comes to home exercise equipment, you should consider what your goals and level of commitment are. If you’re still unsure about what’s best for you, stop by any of our 3 local Fitness 4 Home Superstore locations and talk to one of our fitness experts.
