6 Keys To Getting Maximum Results In Minimum Time With Your Home Exercise EquipmentWriten by Tom Storms
I used to love going to the gym. The sounds, the smells, the
grunts, the groans. Nothing seemed more inspiring. Then
life got in the way. I got busy. Very busy.
Working with my fitness clients and athletes took up a lot of time, and
frankly, I wasnt too thrilled about taking the time to drive to the
gym anymore. I do have a life, you know. Then there was the
fight for parking not to mention the fact that I had to wait to use the
equipment while someone else finished up his or her workout. I
didnt really like the music they played so loud I had to shout over it
so my training partner could hear me, and the sales staff was
constantly hounding me for referrals.
But I have to tell you about my new favorite place in the world to
workout. My home studio. In fact, I like it so much that I
recommend that everyone train at home if a gym membership isnt up your
alley. Its got everything in it that I want, and everything that
I need to successfully train. AND get this it didnt cost me an
arm and a leg.
Training at home has been so successful for me and some of my clients,
Ive set up an online facility that will allow me to personal train
anyone in their home. You can give it a look at
www.thebodymatrix.com. The greatest part about it is you dont
even need equipment if you dont have any. Bodyweight workouts
are phenomenal for conditioning and weight loss. Obviously, if
your goals are more specialized, some equipment may be necessary.
Consider this. How much do you have to spend each year for a
health club or gym membership? Now add up all the years youve
gone to the gym and all the years you will go to the gym for the rest
of your life. Thats a big chunk of change! When you think
about it, it makes total sense to buy your own equipment and do it at
home.
Theres no drive to the gym. No waiting. No annoying sales
people. You can listen to the music that you want to (or put a TV
in the gym for cardio training). Oh, and the best part is that
its always open. Want to get in a good workout on Christmas
day. You can.
Heres the tricky part. You cant just go out and buy whatever
equipment seems popular on TV or in magazines. Do that and youll
be unhappy in less than a month. You need a plan to determine
what you need in the way of equipment to successfully achieve your
fitness goals.
The following 6 points are MUSTS if you want to save time, money, and maximize your success in a minimum of time.
1. Define your personal fitness goals as specifically as you can.
For any fitness-related goal there are a number of methods you can use
to be successful, but first you have to know where youre going.
Do you want to get stronger? Do you want to build muscles?
Lose weight or reduce your body fat? Increase endurance?
Reduce stress? Are you preparing for a sport? All the
above? Without knowing that you could end up spending more money
than you need to on equipment that youll never fully utilize.
Not to mention you may fail in your attempts to achieve your goals.
2. How much space are you willing to devote to your home gym? If
youve only got a 5 x 5 space at home, youre really going to have to
be efficient. Dont expect to fit large pieces of fitness
equipment into such a small space. Be realistic. Maybe its
time to clear out the room youre using for storage or that corner of
the garage that is just wasted space. Maybe youve got some
space, but youll need to make your gym a little more portable so you
can store it away when its not in use.
3. Familiarize yourself with your options on types and brands of
exercise equipment. Find out what youll be comfortable
with. Would you invest in a house or car without looking at
several options or a test drive? Remember, this is an investment
in you. There are all types of equipment from treadmills and
crosstrainers, to selectorized weight equipment, to barbells and
dumbbells. Check out equipment on the Internet or in
catalogues. Stop by the exercise equipment retailers and actually
see it and even try it out before you even consider buying.
Believe me this is time well spent. When the time comes to
discuss equipment with the appropriate person, be it a salesperson or a
fitness professional, you wont be completely in the dark when it comes
to determining your wants and needs and end up buying something you
hate or wont use.
4. Consult with a fitness professional. Take advantage of a
professionals in the trenches experience and educational background
when it comes to matching your fitness-related goals with selecting the
appropriate equipment for you. Again, this saves you time and
money by preventing you from wasting money on useless or poorly
designed equipment. You may also find that your fitness
professional may have relationships with fitness equipment retailers
which will allow you to buy your equipment at a discount.
5. Always buy top quality equipment from a reputable retailer.
Yes, it costs more money, but as the saying goes, You get what you pay
for. This is so true when it comes to exercise equipment.
Avoid the temptation of trying to save a couple dollars by buying
equipment that may not be up to your required standards. Buying
top quality equipment will last you a lifetime. If you have any
doubt, compare how much you have or could have spent on gym memberships
over your lifetime with the cost of your new fitness equipment. I
have no doubt that you will always spend less money on your home gym
than you ever would by purchasing a lifetime of gym memberships.
6. Utilize local retailers as much as you can. While it may seem
logical to save money by purchasing equipment online or via a
catalogue, shipping charges on fitness equipment can be
outrageous. You end up spending more than if you shopped at your
neighborhood retailer. There is also an issue of
maintenance. Even the best equipment can experience the
occasional breakdown. Try getting a mail-order company to service
your equipment. Its not easy. Your local retailer can
usually resolve your problems in no time at all.
There you have it. These recommendations will help you
tremendously. Please keep in mind that its just not as easy as
it seems, but it is worth the extra time especially when youre making
such a serious investment in yourself. Thats why I encourage you
to seek the help of a fitness professional.
If youre sick, you go to the doctor. If youve got a tax
problem, you see an accountant (or an attorney!). Have a
toothache? Youre off to the dentist. Leaky pipes result in
a call to the plumber. So why is it that so many people attempt
to solve their health and fitness problems without consulting an
expert? I dont know exactly, but I encourage you to make the
investment in yourself in your quality of life by hiring a
qualified professional to educate you and help you get started.
Tom Storms is a nationally certified personal trainer / fitness consultant certified from the American Council on Exercise. Tom has been training private clients full time for the last 12 years. Specializing in online personal training from his web site; http://www.personaltrainingfitness.com, Tom offers his services and resources worldwide. Online personal training is available from http://www.thebodymatrix.com Tom's online facility.