If you'd like to try exercising using equipment at home, with a little planning, you can create a place to have a basic workout that you can use anytime.
Think about your goals and preferences
Before you buy fitness equipment or accessories, think about what your health and wellness goals are. If you're buying equipment for the whole family to use, think about everyone's goals and try to find something that will be good for everyone.
Do you prefer cardio, strength training, or yoga and flexibility? Understanding your preferences will help you decide what equipment you may need.
- If you prefer cardio, you may consider a treadmill, elliptical, or stationary bike.
- If you prefer yoga, you may want a mat and some yoga blocks.
- If you prefer strength training, you could look at weights.
Knowing your exercise preferences will help you make purchases that match your needs.
Take your time
Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in social media and advertising about exercise equipment and products. But it's important to take your time to make a good decision to buy exercise equipment by planning ahead, talking to friends and exercise professionals, and asking stores about options.
Creating a home gym
With a home-based fitness space, it may be easier to plan your days to include being active. Working out at home also lets you do your own thing, at your own pace. And it usually costs a lot less than a gym or fitness club.
Think about these tips if you are setting up a home gym:
- Before you create your gym, make fitness goals and think about your workout habits and any fitness equipment you already have. Next, decide how much space you have and what type of equipment you want to use.
- You may not need a lot of space if you're planning to do some types of strength exercises or use an exercise mat. You may want to start with a few small pieces, like exercise bands, hand weights, exercise balls, and videos. If you want to install special equipment, you'll need to make sure it will fit in the space.
- Choose a place with good airflow and enough room to move around, like a basement, spare room, living room, or garage. Make sure the area is safe to use.
- For large fitness equipment like a treadmill, only buy one item at a time. This will give you time to get used to the new equipment. You can slowly build up your supply of equipment to meet your goals.
- If you're creating a home gym or workout space for others to use, think about their fitness goals and what activities they want or like to do.
- Choose activities or routines that you enjoy and change things up from time to time. Having fun will help keep you motivated.
- Talk to a certified exercise professional for information about equipment and fitness activities.
Questions to ask yourself before buying exercise equipment
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Is the equipment useful for me? Look past pictures of the equipment and ask yourself if it fits into your routine and budget, and if it will help you reach your wellness goals.
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Am I motivated to use it? Think about what you like doing. The more you like an activity, the more likely that you'll keep doing it. For example, if you don't like dancing, a cardio-dance video or app might not be the right choice for you. If you know you won't use something, don't buy it.
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Do I need the equipment or can I meet my goals with other, less expensive equipment or products? Sometimes an ad can convince you that a piece of equipment is what you need to “target" a certain group of muscles or meet a certain fitness goal. But most of the time, there are basic exercises or stretches you can do instead of using equipment to reach your goals. If an ad focuses on promises or guarantees like “spot reduction" or “weight loss", it might be too good to be true. Remember, products are marketed to convince you to buy them. The seller doesn't understand your goals. There's no fast or guaranteed way to get healthier with one product or piece of equipment.
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Do I know anyone who has this type of equipment? Talk to friends and family to get an honest opinion about exercise equipment or products.
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Can I try the equipment out? Try the product before you buy it so you can see how it works and if you like it. You can sometimes borrow or rent equipment such as treadmills, bikes, and ellipticals before you buy it. Some places will even let you return equipment (if not damaged) after a short trial period. You might also be able to try the equipment at a local recreation centre, gym, or fitness centre.
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Is this equipment the right size for me? If you've decided you want a certain piece of equipment, make sure it's the right size for you. You'll be more likely to use equipment that is comfortable and fits well.
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What's best for me, my family, and my home? Look at the space you have in your home for equipment. If you don't have a lot of space, look for something smaller or more portable. Large items like treadmills and weight-lifting stations take up a lot of space compared to small items like exercise bands and balls.
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Who will use the equipment? If the equipment is for more than one family member, make sure everyone can use it safely and that it's right for everyone's size, age, and fitness level.
Cost and setting a budget
Think about what your budget is before you start looking for exercise equipment. Prices can range from a few dollars for small handheld weights to thousands of dollars for cardio and universal machines.
Remember, all fitness equipment needs to be maintained. Think about starting with secondhand (used) equipment to save some money. Over time, you can buy newer equipment if you are using it regularly.
If you are buying new equipment, go to a fitness specialty store for high-quality equipment and professional service. The employees usually know more than staff at non-specialty stores. Before you buy equipment, make sure you've tried it out in the store and that you know the return policy.
Check with your benefit plan or employer to see if you can buy home exercise equipment as part of your benefits plan, like through a health or wellness spending account.
Get started safely
Before you start an exercise program at home, talk to your doctor to make sure you're ready to be active and to ask about what types of activities you should start with to meet your goals.
Start slowly and talk to a certified exercise professional if you have questions about your equipment needs or your exercise routine.
Make sure to set up, use, and maintain exercise equipment according to the manufacturer's instructions.