| Statistics at the time of writing indicated | | | | Treadmills |
| that over two thirds of the UK population are | | | | |
| overweight (slightly more in America). The | | | | Treadmills are one of the most versatile |
| media and the Governments are pushing fitness | | | | pieces of fitness equipment on the market; |
| and healthy lifestyles but what exactly | | | | they are ideal for family use and offer a |
| should you do if you want to make the switch? | | | | balanced and easily adjustable exercise |
| | | | regime that improves all round fitness as |
| I believe the first step that you have to | | | | well as increasing the health and |
| take is a mental one; there is no point in | | | | effectiveness of your heart. Walking and |
| trying to get into shape for all the wrong | | | | running are widely regarded as one of the |
| reasons. Wanting a good physique may be the | | | | most natural and effective forms of exercise |
| push behind media attention but there are | | | | and by purchasing an adjustable speed |
| many other advantages to using your body to | | | | treadmill you can have access to both at any |
| its full potential such as a longer life and | | | | time. The great thing about treadmills is |
| general feeling of well being. If you have | | | | that many come with a folding option so you |
| made the decision to read this article I am | | | | can have a versatile piece of fitness |
| assuming that you have also made the decision | | | | equipment without loosing half a room. |
| that you want to get a little fitter. | | | | |
| Hopefully you can use this information to | | | | Weights |
| complete your goal. | | | | |
| | | | Weights are one of the oldest and most |
| We should look at the basics first. Before | | | | conventional forms of exercise. They are |
| you do any exercise you need to make the | | | | great for toning certain muscles (essentially |
| decision of whether you will attend a gym or | | | | upper body and arms) but do not really add |
| buy your own fitness equipment. Expense wise | | | | much benefit for those looking to loose |
| there is really no advantage one way or | | | | weight. A good fitness strategy for both men |
| another since prices and membership fees are | | | | and women is to combine them with other forms |
| always changing. I recommend that you shop | | | | of exercise, eg. Jogging with body weights or |
| around yourselves if you are really going to | | | | aerobics with small hand weights. This will |
| get into fitness but if you are a new starter | | | | increase your stamina as well as |
| and want something to get you going, picking | | | | strengthening you muscles. Weights are |
| up a cheaper, but good quality piece of | | | | relatively cheap and small in comparison to |
| equipment may be the best step before you go | | | | most exercise equipment so they are ideal |
| splashing out on a years gym membership. | | | | "second purchase" for your home gym. |
| There are lots of types of fitness equipment | | | | |
| out there so I will give you a helpful | | | | Trampolines |
| rundown of what each machine could do for | | | | |
| you. | | | | Trampolining is a fun, modern way to exercise |
| | | | and is especially effective a burning off |
| Rowing Machine | | | | calories. Trampolines need plenty of room in |
| | | | a outdoor environment but the huge range |
| Rowing machines are a great choice for all | | | | around at the moment means you can easily |
| round results. They help increase cardio | | | | pick up a safe, foldable trampoline from 8 to |
| strength, burn fat and add tone/definition. | | | | 14 foot. You can also pick up a cheap fitness |
| Rowers are also great for strengthening knee, | | | | trampoline for indoors but this will not be |
| hip and ankle joints as this is where the | | | | quite as much fun. Trampolines are also great |
| load is placed during exercise. Modern rowers | | | | for the family and provides you kids with a |
| incorporate resistance adjustment so that you | | | | great way to do their own exercise. |
| can create a workout specifically for your | | | | |
| level of fitness. Rowing machines tend to | | | | Commercial Gyms |
| come in the low to average fitness equipment | | | | |
| cost, you will probably find a good quality | | | | As mentioned before the cost of one piece of |
| rower for between £100-200 with very high | | | | fitness equipment against the cost of gym |
| quality home ones reaching around £600 | | | | membership can be a difficult decision to |
| giving it another quality for being a 'basic' | | | | make. One thing to keep in mind is how |
| piece of fitness equipment for you to get | | | | accessible your fitness equipment will be. If |
| started on. Rowing machines are one of the | | | | it's in your house can you easily get it out |
| best pieces of fitness equipment for a | | | | and have a few hours or will you be |
| smaller how as they have folding options. | | | | unmotivated to clear a room to actually use |
| This massively reduces the storage space | | | | it? If you join a gym will you actually |
| needed and means you won't loose too much | | | | visit? Or will you slowly decide you have |
| room when you're not using it. | | | | more and more important things to do. |
| | | | |
| Elliptical Cross Trainers | | | | There are benefits to becoming a gym member; |
| | | | you will have access to specialists at most |
| Elliptical trainers come in many shapes and | | | | gyms who can fully instruct you on how to use |
| sizes but all; essentially, work your body in | | | | all the different kinds of fitness equipment |
| the same way. By using an elliptical trainer | | | | located within as well as handing out tips |
| you will benefit from cardiovascular and | | | | and advice for your own health. An often |
| strength training, specifically targeting the | | | | overlooked disadvantage centres on how you |
| lower body and arms. The elliptical movement | | | | interact with people. If you are someone who |
| will also assist in improving balance and | | | | is very self conscious attending a gym may |
| co-ordination making it a great choice for | | | | not be the best idea, some can be very busy |
| both new and experienced users. Elliptical | | | | and often filled with people who may, in |
| training is also a great low impact calorie | | | | comparison, appear much fitter than you. |
| burning exercise and would be perfect for | | | | While it is always advisable to hold you head |
| people trying to loose weight in between a | | | | high in life and be proud of yourself and |
| hectic lifestyle. One downside of the | | | | body, you should not suffer a motivation blow |
| elliptical trainer category is that they do | | | | because of the people you are exercising |
| tend to need plenty of room to be used | | | | with, if you feel you may experience such |
| correctly.A beginner's guide to fitness | | | | feelings purchasing your own fitness |
| equipment. | | | | equipment may be a more preferable path. |
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