If you are not one of them then you probably know at least one person who has purchased some type of exercise equipment that is now collecting dust or clothes. My wife currently has an elliptical and a treadmill in our bedroom. You can barely see the treadmill under the pile of clothes.

I’m a gym guy myself so I do not need any equipment at home. But I am constantly asked by patients and clients about what piece of equipment should they buy. Some have dropped thousands of dollars on fancy machines and full olympic weight sets. A waste of money and space in my book.

When it comes to exercising, I am a simpleton. I want the most bang for my buck with the least amount of time. I actually love working out and cannot remember the last time I have gone a week without exercising. But with working sixty hours a week and having four kids my time is limited. I do three full body workouts a week and even though I go to a gym, almost all the exercises I do can be done at home with minimal equipment.

Here is all you need to set up a inexpensive and space friendly home gym. The first thing would be a pair of adjustable dumbbells. There are several companies that make these. They are basically one dumbbell that adjusts from about five to fifty pounds by turning a dial. These are great as they only take up the space of one pair of dumbbells but you have a full set. You may purchase a stand separately. Dumbbells are great as you can perform a large variety of exercise with them including squats, step ups, presses, bent over rows, curls, etc. The choices are almost endless. Look for models with more metal then plastic parts as they will hold up longer. These have become pretty popular lately so you should not have any trouble finding them at your local sporting goods store or warehouse club. They cost about $300-$400.

The next piece of equipment would be an adjustable bench. You can spend a few hundred dollars on a nice one but your best bet is to check on Craigs List for a used one. This will allow you to perform bench presses and inclines, seated overhead presses and even step ups or one leg squats if it is sturdy enough.

Another great piece is a pull up bar. You can get a new free standing one for about $150. It has grips for pull ups, pushups and dips. A little more space is required but a great addition. Another option is the pullup bars that fit in the doorway. They are a little cheaper but work pretty well.

With those three pieces of equipment you can do an extensive workout with minimal cost and space requirements. If you want to go really cheap a good selection of various resistance elastic bands or tubes could be all you need for a basic set up.

Rob Siclair is a Physical Therapist with a degree in Movement & Sports Science. He recently released Ultimate Performance for Golf as the first in a series of sports training videos for all skill levels. For more information go to http://www.ultimateperformanceonline.com

Thinking about buying a home gym in Arizona? This article will provide you with information on how to use a home gym, along with basic safety and buying tips. Whether you’re looking for a basic setup or one with the latest technology has to offer, the following information will be beneficial to you and will help you choose the exercise equipment that’s right for you.

Home gyms combine a number of pieces of equipment for various strength training exercises. They have different configurations that offer exercises for legs, arms, chest, and back. You will usually be able to do a seated bench press, flys, a pulldown or row, leg extensions and curls. Some have a leg press. Some have pulley systems that allow a variety of exercises. Often there is a biceps attachment and you can do pushdowns for your triceps. You may be surprised at how many exercises you can do on a home gym! If you’re looking for extreme intensity with your home gym, try doing your exercises slowly to make them harder.

Here’s a safety tip: Be careful! Pay attention to what you’re doing. Practice proper techniques and use same precautions you would with anything that has moving parts or heavy objects. And remember – always consult a physician or healthcare provider before beginning an exercise program.

Shopping for a home gym in Arizona can be very intimidating! There are so many different brands, models and styles it can be next to impossible to choose the right one for your home. For most people, buying a home gym is a major investment. It’s also a good investment for those who have decided to make a conscious effort to be fit and healthy. That is why it is important to put together a checklist that identifies attributes that are most important for you and your workout. Here is some information that should help you out:

There are endless options when it comes to choosing the right fitness equipment for your home gym in Arizona. But the choices for weight training equipment basically fall into a few categories: portable, free weight, multi-gyms, and total gyms. Aerobic exercise equipment such as treadmills, rowers and stationary bikes are always options for a great cardio workout, but for now we are going to concentrate on strength training equipment.

Portable Equipment: Includes everything from dumbbells to workout benches, stability balls, steps, mats, ab machines and more. If you can pick it up and move it, it fits in this category. The main advantage of portable workout equipment is that you can fold it up (if necessary) and put it away when you’re through with it. Some equipment, like stability balls and mats, is even compact enough to be taken along on a trip which makes portable equipment a popular choice for home gym equipment.

Free Weight Accessories: This includes adjustable benches, power racks, barbells, dumbbells and plates (also called round weights). While some of these things may be portable, they are all categorized as heavy duty equipment that often times are part of a larger assembly. If the space you require for your home gym is small, free weight accessories are probably your best bet. You’ll be able to get a great strength training workout in with equipment that will test you to the max.

Multi-Gyms: There are several different types of multi-gyms available for home use. The first type is based on steel or composite bands and cords that create resistance. The second type is based on stacked weights, uses a cable and pulley mechanism and allows you to select the desired weight. The third type includes round weights that are manually fitted to barbell extensions. All of these are great options for a home gym. What you choose will depend upon the type of workout you’re trying to achieve and the amount of space you have in your home.

Total Gyms: A total gym uses an adjustable bench and a sliding seat platform that increases resistance based on your own body weight. While the total gym may require more space, it will allow you to incorporate more strength training exercises into your workout.

To help you decide which option to choose when it comes to home gym equipment in Arizona, you should consider what your goals and level of commitment are. The best way to decide on equipment is to test it out before you buy it. It could save you from wasting a lot of money!

Bob Lachniet is the owner of Fitness 4 Home Superstore, a specialty fitness equipment dealer recently named the #1 choice for home fitness equipment in Arizona by BestFitnessDealers.com! To find the best home gyms in Arizona visit http://www.fitness4homesuperstore.com

Are you looking for a fast and effective way to strengthen and define your abdominal muscles? Abdominal equipment in Tempe is quickly gaining popularity in the fitness industry as it produces results for any fitness level! Whether you’re looking for a basic ab machine for your home or a heavy-duty machine for you gym or personal training facility, the following information will be beneficial to you.

Abdominal equipment is taking Tempe by storm! Why? Because ab equipment makes it simple for everyone – home exercisers, health club members, pro athletes, body builders – to achieve stronger, harder abs in the most effective way. Anyone can perform an abdominal lift in perfect form, regardless of fitness level.

Most abdominal exercises (especially those done without the aid of equipment) require tremendous upper body strength as you have to lift either your upper or lower body weight. For a person with an average fitness level, this exercise is nearly impossible to execute. Abdominal equipment, however, makes these difficult exercises possible for nearly everyone.

Many people choose to buy their own abdominal equipment in Tempe. It allows them to achieve lean, hard abs in the privacy of their own home. Some, however, have found that it is very difficult (sometimes even impossible!) to shop for abdominal equipment in Tempe in a store. Although your large ‘chain store’ may offer basic home exercise equipment, a better choice is a store dedicated to helping you find the best equipment for your needs. This includes your being able to try out any piece of equipment before you buy it. Make sure that before you purchase any piece of abdominal equipment in Tempe you feel comfortable with the way the equipment works.

Also, just because you have a basic understanding of your abdominal equipment when it arrives at your home doesn’t mean you won’t have any questions a few weeks later. So, when you choose a store to purchase abdominal equipment in Tempe, check out the company’s customer and support services. Call the advertised phone numbers to get an idea of how easy it is to reach a company representative and how helpful he or she is. Also, get details on warranties, guarantees and return policies. A ’30-day money-back guarantee’ may not so good if you have to pay shipping on a bulky piece of equipment you want to ‘return to sender.’

Finally, remember that no piece of abdominal equipment works by itself. No exercise device can burn fat off a particular part of your body. To turn a ‘beer belly’ into a ‘six pack stomach,’ you must combine sensible eating with regular exercise that works the whole body. The reason: Everything you eat has calories and everything you do uses calories. Your weight depends on the number of calories you eat and use each day. Increasing your daily physical activity will burn extra calories Regular exercise on your equipment, with proper form and proper fitness goals, combined with a healthy diet – is the key to your not only being happy with your equipment purchase, but your overall health and fitness levels as well!

Bob Lachniet is the owner of Fitness 4 Home Superstore, a specialty fitness equipment dealer recently named the #1 choice for home fitness equipment in Arizona by BestFitnessDealers.com! To find the best abdominal equipment in Tempe visit http://www.fitness4homesuperstore.com

Home fitness machine development is increasing rapidly, and so are the pieces of equipment in a home gym. Gone are the days of having treadmills and bench presses that better serve as storage devices as opposed to their intended purpose.

Elliptical trainers are becoming more popular because of their smoother motion in comparison to say, a treadmill. There are numerous name brands of elliptical on the market. Two of the more high priced yet highly rated name brands are Precor and Cybex. Both brands are very renowned, but both come with a hefty price tag. These brands are primarily for those who put a very high value on personal fitness.

Precor is a company that has been delivering exercise excellence for over twenty years. Their tag line is Engineered to move the way you move. The fact that they design their equipment to put as little strain on the body as possible is of utmost importance for those who have joint problems. By subjecting the body to motions that the body would not normally be put through can create pain and even longer term problems due wear on the joints caused by unnatural movements. However, Precor delivers top quality ellipticals to help lose weight, improve mobility, and increase cardio respiratory health while keeping the body from being subjected to painful motions. This is, of course, delivered at a hefty price. The low-end elliptical trainers start at $3,000 and only go up from there, with the top model costing over $5,000. It is important to note that for serious buyers, Precor is one of the highest rated elliptical trainers available on the market.

Cybex, on the other hand, is known to produce the better product because most of the time, ellipticals subject the body to unnatural movements and will cause problems. Therefore, they designed their arc trainer. The arc trainer targets the muscles in the quads and gluts, making them work more instead of putting strain on joints like the knees, hips, and back. This is because the Cybex arc trainer never puts the foot behind the knee like typical ellipticals do, thereby eliminating stress on the lower body. Another perk to these machines is that the same side forward design keeps the arms and legs on each side synchronized. This helps to keep the body in proper alignment to improve posture and reduce tension. Sandard elliptical trainers typically cause users to lean forward, thus putting more strain on all joints. The prices are similar to those of Precor, with lower home models starting at about $2,000, and obviously several thousand more for the total body professional models.

Both brands are well renowned and offer several benefits. However, these are more geared to the person who is very dedicated to their fitness routine, as casual exercisers may not be able to justify the high cost of these machines. When determining which brand is truly better, it comes down to a matter of personal preference. The best recommendation would be to find a gym that provides both and try them.

Billy Kite is a researcher writing on behalf of http://www.ellipticaltrainer.org.

Behind the ancient bumper pool table, beside the old Zim-Zam set and underneath the ugly pair of K-Tel skis lies a round, leathery object covered by two decades of dust. At first, it looks like an old, warn soccer ball or volleyball. But to many fitness trainers around the world, that simplistic medicine ball is the answer to all their workout prayers. Medicine ball exercises have long been used to build strength, endurance, and flexibility.

Once an invaluable training tool for track athletes, fitness fanatics, and prizefighters, the medicine ball has been revamped from dormancy and is once again regarded as a workout favorite for many trainers. The value of medicine ball exercise is that it targets your core strength – or the area that includes your back and your abs. Strengthening your core will directly fortify the joints in your elbows, shoulders, and knees, thus providing more raw power for your arms and legs.

So to put that old training tool back to use why don’t you? Try these medicine ball workouts:

1.) Leg Raises: Hanging leg raises are an exceptional exercise. Get flat on your back and place your arms by your sides. Holding the medicine ball between your lower legs, slowly raise the ball until your legs are arched upward at an angle of 45 degrees (or approximately two feet off the floor). Slowly bring your legs (and the ball) back toward the floor as you squeeze your abs, stopping just an inch or two before hitting the floor. Repeat the motion for as many repetitions as you can.

2.) Sit-Ups: To start the sit up exercise, bend your knees slightly, keeping your feet flat on the floor as you lie on your back. Holding the medicine ball directly out in front of you, slowly lift your shoulders off the floor, lifting your upper torso until it’s bent at a 45-degree angle. Slowly let your back drop down to the floor before repeating this motion as many times as you can.

3.) Push-ups: Medicine ball push-ups are perhaps the best push up that you can attempt. Place your hands atop the medicine ball with the ball directly underneath your chest. Your hands, obviously, will be placed close together. Your legs should be straight back with your toes planted straight into the floor. Push your torso straight up from the ball until your arms are fully extended. Then slowly lower your upper body until it nearly touches the ball. Repeat this motion as many times as you can for a great chest and triceps workout.

In the end, let’s rehash why it makes sense to workout medicine ball style! We can target our core strength, we can increase endurance, and we can fortify our joints with ease using this simple piece of equipment. Get a medicine ball today and get toned!

Paul Guenther is a Website & SEO Analyst for Freaky Nutrition. For more information on effective medicine ball exercises: http://health-supplements.biz/body-building-supplements/medicine-ball-exercises/ – No medicine ball? Try an abdominal wheel: http://freakynutrition.com/details/shop/ABR001

Are you looking for a fast and effective way to strengthen and define your abdominal muscles? Abdominal equipment in AZ is quickly gaining popularity in the fitness industry as it produces results for any fitness level! Whether you’re looking for a basic ab machine for your home or a heavy-duty machine for your gym or personal training facility, the following information will be beneficial to you.

Abdominal equipment is taking AZ by storm! Why? Because ab equipment makes it simple for everyone ‘ home exercisers, health club members, pro athletes, body builders – to achieve stronger, harder abs in the most effective way. Anyone can perform an abdominal lift in perfect form, regardless of fitness level.

Most abdominal exercises (especially those done without the aid of equipment) require tremendous upper body strength as you have to lift either your upper or lower body weight. For a person with an average fitness level, this exercise is nearly impossible to execute. Abdominal equipment, however, makes these difficult exercises possible for nearly everyone.

Many people choose to buy their own abdominal equipment in AZ. It allows them to achieve lean, hard abs in the privacy of their own home. Some, however, have found that it is very difficult (sometimes even impossible!) to shop for abdominal equipment in AZ in a store. Although your large ‘chain store’ may offer basic home exercise equipment, a better choice is a store dedicated to helping you find the best equipment for your needs. This includes your being able to try out any piece of equipment before you buy it. Make sure that before you purchase any piece of abdominal equipment in AZ you feel comfortable with the way the equipment works.

Also, just because you have a basic understanding of your abdominal equipment when it arrives at your home doesn’t mean you won’t have any questions a few weeks later. So, when you choose a store to purchase abdominal equipment in AZ, check out the company’s customer and support services. Call the advertised phone numbers to get an idea of how easy it is to reach a company representative and how helpful he or she is. Also, get details on warranties, guarantees and return policies. A ’30-day money-back guarantee’ may not so good if you have to pay shipping on a bulky piece of equipment you want to ‘return to sender.’

Finally, remember that no piece of abdominal equipment works by itself. No exercise device can burn fat off a particular part of your body. To turn a ‘beer belly’ into a ‘six pack stomach,’ you must combine sensible eating with regular exercise that works the whole body. The reason: Everything you eat has calories and everything you do uses calories. Your weight depends on the number of calories you eat and use each day. Increasing your daily physical activity will burn extra calories Regular exercise on your equipment, with proper form and proper fitness goals, combined with a healthy diet – is the key to your not only being happy with your equipment purchase, but your overall health and fitness levels as well!

Bob Lachniet is the owner of Fitness 4 Home Superstore, a specialty fitness equipment dealer recently named the #1 choice for home fitness equipment in Arizona by BestFitnessDealers.com! To find the best abdominal equipment in AZ visit http://www.fitness4homesuperstore.com