By Joli Guenther, MSSW, NASM
No doubt about it.
September is a great time to take the plunge and get started on your own
home gym. Cold weather is right around
the corner and the back to school busyness
(and sales!) are heading into high gear.
Treadmills, elliptical trainers, and recumbent bikes all offer a great
way to bring your workout into the comfort of your home. How do you choose the one that's right for
you?
Recumbent Bike: Why you
want one: You're looking for a no-impact, comfortable option to start exercising,
recover from an injury, or to complement your higher impact cardio workouts. Because you're in a seated position with your
feet at a level similar to your body, recumbent bikes offer one of the lowest
impact forms of exercise. By working
with the interval and hill functions on your machine, you can still get a
fantastic workout, but you'll find the machine is easy to use and easy on your
back and knees. The large, comfortable
seat makes the recumbent easier on your backside than other stationary bike
options and because you're sitting in a natural position, you reduce the strain
on your shoulders, neck, and spine. By
bringing the seat closer to the pedals, you can also engage your lower
abdominal muscles. Best of all, you'll
find getting started on the recumbent is incredibly easy. Just take a seat and get ready to start on a
fantastic workout for your lower body and your heart.
Elliptical Trainer: Why you
want one: You're looking for a
challenging cardio workout with a minimum of impact. Recent studies show that elliptical
trainers allow exercisers to burn calories at a rate comparable to running with
a lower level of perceived effort. They provide the benefit of training different
muscle groups through using both backwards and forwards pedaling motions, as
well as toning for the upper body through use of the arm handlebars. Elliptical trainers use very little
electricity and stop moving when you do, which can reduce intimidation or the
risk of injury associated with a moving belt.
Throw in the potential for challenging workouts that are easy on the
joints and it's easy to see why elliptical trainers are one of the most popular
pieces of exercise equipment.
Treadmill: Why you
want one: You're looking for a workout
that most closely mimics the movements of running or walking outdoors. While
there's no complete substitute for running or walking outdoors, treadmills are
your closest indoor alternative. Treadmills
also offer lower impact than running and hiking on roads and pavement while
still allowing you to build bone mass and train the muscles needed for these
activities. While elliptical trainers
require getting comfortable with slightly new movement, treadmills allow
exercisers to run and walk in their usual manner, making them less intimidating
for some users. To get the most out of
your treadmill, change up your workouts regularly, using variations of not only
speed, but also incline in order to increase the intensity of your
workouts.
For more help choosing the equipment that suits your
training needs and to see some of our cool new fall products, take a look at
our product line here. Want to weigh in? Post here and tell us, why did you choose
your exercise equipment? What about it
works for you?