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WELL-EQUIPPED
SHAPE UP IN-HOUSE WITH FITNESS GURU LORI SAWYER'S MUST-HAVE HOME GYM GEAR
Don't let lack of a gym membership—or ability to get there—stop you from getting into shape. Outfitting
a
home gym is easier and less expensive than you may think. Gone are the days of expensive gym
equipment
and the need for one whole room dedicated to working out. All you need are these eight
great essentials
for the home body you've always wanted—well, you also need razor sharp focus and
hard core dedication,
but they come free with purchase.
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Bands You can work your entire body with exercise bands. They are portable and light; bring them with you from room to room. Do bicep curls in the nursery, shoulder presses while nursing and back rows while cooking dinner. They come in different tensions, so you should purchase a few different strengths. |
| Stability Ball A stability ball is a must-have for core strength and stability. Say bye-bye to benches: now you do all your exercises on the stability ball. It's especially great for your abs and legs. Just make sure you purchase the right size ball. They come in different sizes, so pick the proper size for your height. |
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BOSU Ball The BOSU ball is also great for your core strength and balance. This half-dome ball is useful for a total body workout. You can stand and sit on the ball to increase the level of your workout. You can even do pushups and abs on it. This dome comes with a DVD that teaches you how to use it properly and maximize your workout. |
Hand Weights You don’t need to purchase an entire set of these must-haves. Just get some light weights and build from there once your ability increases. I recommend purchasing five, eight, 10 and 12-pound weights to start. Those weights will give you enough variety for all exercises. When the 12-pounders get easy, you can gradually add additional weights to your collection.. Even though they come in different materials like foam, rubber and metal, neither material perform better than another. Weights are weights, so find ones that feel comfortable in your hands and are easy to grip. I recommend the rubber or foam coated ones for beginners. |
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Mat A simple yoga mat is key for any floor work you want to do. |
Medicine Ball Good, old-fashioned medicine balls add great strength-building and toning twist to your workout. They've been updated and tweaked and are now available in many weights, sizes and styles, including soft, hand medicine balls (add this one to a squat on the BOSU ball) and bouncing medicine balls that improve coordination. Variety is key. The more medcine balls you have, the more exercises you can do. |
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Treadmill When you can't walk or run outside, the treadmill is the way to go, go, go. Dollar for dollar and pound for pound, treadmills are the best bang for your buck because they are so flexible. You can walk, run, jog and work your entire body on one machine. Do your research to decide which one is the best for you. My advice is to opt out of the extras many dealers will try to sell you. You just don't need all the add-ons and they will definitely cost you much more money. You can spend upwards of $6,000 on a club-grade treadmill that you don’t need. I like the Nordic Track treadmills; they are great quality for a great price. |
| Videos DVD workouts are a fun way to vary your home routine. Check out the new Gliding Disc Videos by Mindy Mylrea (www.glidingdiscs.com). These discs are light-weight and give you an awesome total body workout with a focus on core strength-building. |
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