Have you ever considered the option of doing your exercise in the comfort of your own home? Of course, you’ll still need a determination to succeed, but it should make that initial barrier of getting up off the sofa slightly easier. If you like the sound of it, then what do you need to recreate the benefits of the gym at home?
Cardio
A home gym shouldn’t be without a good machine that offers exercise that benefits your cardiovascular system – i.e. makes your heart beat quickly, ultimately meaning that you should be burning fat. An elliptical trainer, which simulates something similar to cross-country skiing, is a good example of this, allowing you to work both your upper and lower body. A benefit of this motion is that it is less jarring, and therefore easier on your knees than a traditional treadmill, while offering a more comprehensive workout than a cycling machine.
Another full-body workout option is a rowing machine. While these are usually easier to store – potentially folding away when not in use – they are slightly less intuitive to use, and are also believed to burn slightly fewer calories than an elliptical trainer. Whatever you go for, think about the relative noise each one makes, how much space it takes up, and the length of the manufacturer’s warranty – important if you intend to put it through its paces over a number of years.
Weights
However, cardio is only half of the weight-loss equation. Although a natural assumption (and sometimes concern, mainly for women) is that using weights will lead to building obvious bulging muscles, weight training is unlikely to do so unless you take to the extreme. In fact it helps to burn fat and contributes to weight loss because muscle tissue simply uses more calories than fat – even when you are at rest.
The most comprehensive option is a home gym. These versatile pieces of kit typically allow you to exercise many muscle groups through a variety of lifting, pushing and pulling motions, replicating the benefits of several different machines you would find in the gym. Naturally, they are among the biggest and can be among the most expensive machines.
A cheaper option by far is a set of dumbbells or kettle bells. You can use these for traditional weightlifting or incorporate them into an aerobic routine to add resistance.
Accessorise
There are also a variety of other relatively small pieces of gear that enhance your workout. These include resistance bands (light, easily portable, stretchy bands to use in the place of hand weights), exercise balls – which can be used for abdominal exercises and stretching – and balance boards, which use your natural instinct to stay upright to strengthen your core and legs.
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Naturally, buying your own equipment is going to be initially far more expensive than paying monthly fees at a gym, but if you stick to your regime through the months, you will start to reach a break-even point – keep at it for years, and your investments can pay for themselves several times over. To make those initial purchases, credit cards may be a convenient way of paying. Remember that it may make sense to manage your money with a credit card balance transfer or to choose a purchase credit card.
A credit card may be a good way of spreading your payments, but bear in mind that you will be charged interest if you do not pay off your balance in full, and late or missed payments may mean you lose any promotional rates and affect your credit rating.
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