Q: “Could you please advise me on home gym equipment?”
– Catherine, Colorado
A: There are plenty of advantages to organizing a home exercise area, such as no gym fees, no crowds and plenty of privacy. The American Council on Exercise has a five-step checklist to help you get started:
1. Identify your fitness needs. Strength training and cardiovascular exercise are the two major components of any fitness program. Are you going for a balance between cardiovascular and strength or are you leaning toward one or the other as the primary use of the space?
2. Determine your budget. It is a cliché, but you do get what you pay for. Beware of “infomercial” fever. Treat this condition by heading for a store that specializes in home gym equipment (not a general sporting goods store). Most have a variety of quality equipment in a plethora of price ranges where you can spend as little as $50 or as much as the gross domestic product of Finland. Also, check the classifieds. As long as you have done your homework on brands, many bargains abound, especially about three months after the holidays.
3. Determine how much space is available. Traffic flow, décor, safety and the inevitable clutter component must all be considered. Ideally, you should have as much open space as equipment space, if for no other reason than to keep from bumping into walls and tripping over furniture. For example, a treadmill and a small multistation gym could require as much as 200 square feet.
4. Examine the product. Be sure it has all of the features you want, as well as a good service contract. The design and operation should adjust to fit you comfortably and safely. Be sure the parts operate smoothly and are of the best quality that you can afford. Researching a product before buying is always time well spent. What are their advertising claims? Are they backed up by research? What do disinterested consumer-product groups say about them? Are there built in safety features such as auto shutdown buttons on the treadmill or safety stops on the weight machine?
5. Assess “bang for the buck.” use a checklist as a side-by-side comparison tool. The American Council on Exercise recommends the following things for consideration: price; safety; effectiveness; comfort and enjoyability; space efficiency; adjustability; durable design; quiet operation; reputable manufacturer; written warranty; service plan: and parts availability.
The biggest question of all, of course, is will you use the equipment? Be introspective and “Know thyself.” If you have joined clubs in the past and have never gone, or if you have made numerous resolutions to exercise more and yet cannot manage to head out the door for even a short walk, will a home facility make the difference? Try working out consistently on your own without equipment (pushups, crunches, walking outdoors) for a couple of weeks first before expecting equipment to provide the motivation.
Linda Buch, ACE-certified exercise specialist, will respond to fitness questions in her weekly column but not individually. Send questions to Body Language, The Denver Post, 1560 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202 or e-mail her at LJBalance@aol.com.
