Looking for home gym machines?
Getting to the gym everyday can be a hassle. Besides the fact that you have to spend your valuable time commuting there every day before or after work, many times you also have to wait in line for machines. A workout, that would usually only take 30-45 minutes, can easily turn into an hour and a half.
We all lead busy lifestyles these days and finding time to go to the gym can seem like an impossible task. One of the main benefits of having your own home gym is the convenience that it provides. Crowded gyms can also be intimidating to some. Working out in the comfort and privacy of your own home can save you tons of time and also motivate you to get your workout done. It can also save you money in the long-run.
However, designing your perfect home gym requires some planning and decision making because there are tons of different types of home gym machines to choose from and even more brands and equipment models to consider.
One of the first things you should consider before buying any type of home gym equipment are your specific goals. Your goals will impact the types of equipment that you will need and what you should include in your gym. Are you trying to lose weight, build and tone muscle, or both? If you are trying to lose weight, cardiovascular machines (treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes) will be an important part of your workout routine. For toning and building muscle you will need to have weight machines, free weights, or a multi gym to create resistance and build muscle.
Types of Home Gym Machines
Treadmills
A treadmill is a piece of exercise equipment that allows you to walk or run indoors, and is a staple in many home gyms. Some would say that your home gym is not complete without one. Treadmills provide a great cardiovascular workout to help you increase your heart-health and burn calories. They can be used by individuals of all ages and fitness levels and require no specific skill set to be able to properly use them. One major benefit of a treadmill machine is the ability to get your run or walk in no matter what the weather is like outside. Many long distance runners use them to train for their upcoming races when they can’t workout outside because of inclement weather.
You have a choice between a manual or electric treadmill to include in your gym. Manual treadmills tend to be very cheap as they are hard to use and very out of date. Electric treadmills provide the benefit of motorized power and most come with built in heart rate monitors, adjustable speed and incline, and distance tracking to keep informed of your progress and help you to set fitness goals based on your previous workouts. They also easier on your joints than outdoor running because they provide shock absorption. You can even multitask while doing your workout. Many people use their treadmill workout as a chance to catch up on their favorite TV shows.
For individuals who would like to have this type of home gym machine but are short on available space, there are also portable treadmills that allow for easy storage. These machines, sometimes called foldable treadmills, can easily be folded to a fraction of their size, allowing them to be stored out of the way when not in use. Some are small enough to fit under you’re your bed or in a closet.
Ellipticals are also popular pieces of home gym equipment, and provide similar advantages to treadmills. They are designed to mimic walking and running motions, and also provide a great cardio workout, but do so with minimal-to-no impact on your joints. Elliptical workouts are even lower impact than treadmills, making them perfect for individuals with joint pain or problems.
The main benefit to elliptical equipment is that most can provide an upper and lower body workout with the use of one machine. This is said to provide an even greater calorie burn because there are so many muscle groups working at the same time. You not only work your leg muscles, but also your upper arms and chest.
Not all ellipticals have movable arm handles to provide a simultaneous upper body workout, but they do come standard on most models. Many elliptical machines also provide a heart rate monitor and calorie counter. Adjustable resistance and incline are also available on some models.
Exercise Bikes
Stationary exercise bikes also provide a great low impact workout, and can be an easier workout for people who have little exercise experience or who are trying to get back in shape after a long absence. They also provide cardiovascular benefits, but can be a much easier workout than that of an elliptical or treadmill.
There are a few options to consider. A recumbent exercise bike is more comfortable to most people because they provide a comfortable seat for you to lean back against in a more leisurely position. An upright exercise bike tends to mimic the actual riding of a bike, all in the comfort of your home. There are also mini exercise bikes and cycle trainers available which may be more inexpensive.
A mini exercise bike is compact, lightweight, and can be used at your home or office at any time. A cycle trainer will convert your outdoor bike into a stationary bike for your workout by elevating the rear wheel to prevent motion.
Rowing Machines
A rowing machine, or indoor rower, is a home gym exercise machine that simulates the actual rowing of a watercraft. These machines also provide a no-impact, total body workout, and can burn a significant number of calories per session. Although rowing machines provide an excellent cardio workout, they also build strength, muscle mass, and muscle definition.
Proper rowing form should provide a workout for all major muscle groups, including your legs, arms, shoulders, chest, back, and core. They also can be adjusted to accommodate your ability and fitness level. Many models can be adjusted for lower or higher resistance that allows you to gradually increase the intensity of your workout as you build up your stamina. This also means that you can continuously challenge yourself and improve your fitness level and strength with increasing resistance.
There are different types of rowing machines to choose from. Some types are the magnetic rowing machine, air rowing machine, and water rowing machine, named for the type of resistance that they provide. Many rowers are also easy to fold and store to save space.
Free Weights
There are many advocates for using free weights over weight machines or multi gyms because they require you to use more stability muscles to keep proper form and mimic real life situations requiring you to lift heavy objects. Weight machines can restrict your range of motion, but using free weights can also lead to a greater risk of injury if proper form is not used. However, both free weights and weight machines have their place in your workout regimen, but most people will have their own preference.
Free weights consist of dumbells, barbells, and also medicine balls and kettlebells. Weight sets can be very inexpensive compared to most machines and are an essential part of your home gym. Weight benches and weight bars may also be needed to perform certain exercises, and adjustable weights can add convenience to your workout and allow you to save space by having only a few adjustable dumbells rather than a whole rack of different sizes and weights.
Weight Machines
Weight machines are what you would normally find in a commercial gym. Different machines or stations are used of each type of exercise such as: bench press, lat pulldown, leg press, leg curl, shoulder press, and bicep curls. Unless you have an enormous amount of space, most home gyms will not have the needed square footage to accommodate each of these weight machine stations. A multi gym will usually be a better option because they can accommodate most of the essential exercises in one compact machine, without taking up much space.
Multi Gyms
Multi Gyms, or otherwise considered home gyms, allow you to perform each of the above mentioned exercises on one compact machine. These machines will usually be able to fit in a spare room in your home or in your garage and can accommodate most essential weightlifting exercises.
A few different options are available for you to consider. It is up to you to decide which type is best for you. There are machines that use resistance cords or rods, usually associated with Bowflex. Another type uses weight stacks, like those used in most commercial gym machines. Body weight machines, like the Total Gym, have no weights but your own body weight for resistance. And Smith Machines which you load the weight plates on to, but is different from free weights because the bar is on a fixed plane.
Having a home gym can be a great way to get moving and commit to a workout routine, and there are many benefits to being able to workout at home, but there are many factors that go into finding the right home gym machines for you and your home. You should consider the types of machines that you want to include, important features, available space, and your budget before making any purchases.
Many gym equipment that is purchased goes unused. Make sure to start building your home gym slowly, acquiring a piece at a time to ensure that you are not spending money on equipment that you will never use. Find the best home gym machines & equipment to fit your needs and begin saving more of your precious time while working out in the convenience of your own home.
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