3 Items of Exercise Equipment That Many People Will Buy First

Introduction

If you have never been to a gym before, just the thought of stepping into a gym for the very first time can be a frightening prospect.

You won’t know how to use many of the machines, you won’t know which ones you should be using to achieve your goals and you may feel intimidated and completely out of place if you are overweight or seriously out of shape.

This is why many people choose to buy their own exercise equipment that they can use at home. By doing so, you can work out whenever you want without anyone watching you, and can go at your own pace without feeling intimidated.

So in this article I thought I would discuss three specific items of exercise equipment that many people will buy first, and which tend to be most popular with home users.

Dumbbells (toning and strength)

The first one is of course a set of dumbbells. Thinking back to when I was 16 years old, this was the very first fitness equipment that I ever purchased, and was the first time that I made a conscious effort to build muscle and get in shape.

Many teenagers, boys especially, are conscious about their bodies and want to develop a little muscle to attract the opposite sex, and so a set of dumbbells is a good investment because they are both cheap and effective.

I remember getting a free wallchart when I purchased my 20 kg set of dumbbells that illustrated about 30 different exercises that you could do to build muscle and develop your whole body.

I was amazed that you could do so many different exercises with a basic set of dumbbells in addition to the classic bicep curl, but they did produce results, and I would still recommend them to any teenager or adult who is looking to build muscle at home.

You can of course buy a bench as well as this will give you even more workout options, and maybe add a barbell later on, but a basic set of dumbbells is enough to get you started.

Resistance Bands (toning and strength)

Another simple item of exercise equipment that many people choose to buy first, particularly women, is a set of resistance bands.

Although some people will automatically dismiss them as being too simplistic to produce any real results, the reality is that they can be extremely effective, and do provide multiple benefits.

These stretchy bands can not only improve strength, build muscle and tone up your whole body using varying degrees of resistance, but they can also improve your co-ordination, balance and flexibility with minimal risk of injury.

Furthermore, they are also very inexpensive to buy, just like dumbbells, and are very lightweight and easy to fold away, so you could even take them with you whenever you go on holiday, for example.

Exercise Bike or Treadmill (fitness and weight loss)

Dumbbells and resistance bands are both good for toning and muscle development, but for those who just want to lose weight and improve their fitness, a machine that offers an intense cardio workout will be far more beneficial.

The exercise machine of choice is very often an exercise bike or a treadmill because these will both help to burn hundreds of calories with every workout.

After investing in a set of dumbbells, and then latterly a bench, a barbell and some additional weight plates, I eventually purchased an exercise bike for my garage gym so that I could improve my overall level of fitness, and I know many other people who have bought an exercise bike for their home as well.

I bought a classic upright bike similar to the one above, but you can also buy a recumbent bike or an indoor cycling / spin bike if you prefer. It doesn’t really matter as they will all help you to achieve your goals if you use them regularly.

Treadmills are also very popular with people who are looking to start exercising at home for the first time, which is why I included them here, although it is worth bearing in mind that they will take up a little more space in your home and are a little tougher on your knees than an exercise bicycle.

Elliptical trainers and rowing machines are two other options worth considering, but treadmills and exercise bikes have always been the more popular choice with both men and women, and if you add some dumbbells and/or some resistance bands, you have everything you need to help you develop a lean, fit and toned body from the comfort of your own home.