Fitness Equipment Buyers Guide

For newbies, getting the right equipment seems to be the hardest thing to do. Especially when one can’t tell the difference among all exercise equipments. How will you know what to get, considering all the factors such as having a shoe-string budget? I say, it’s time to get to know the basics of choosing the right equipment so you can already shop at the store on your next stop    

Know your purpose – Before heading to the cashier to pay for the equipment that caught your eye, better know your reasons for buying the  equipment first. Having the right reasons makes your equipment a reasonable investment. So before shelling out your hard-earned cash, know what you are trying to achieve!

A.    Improve overall fitness – Get the equipment that can give you good Cardiovascular Exercise. Treadmills are your best bet when it comes to  Cardio and weight loss. Start off with slow paced walking, then brisk walk your way to train for the next marathon. What’s even nice about running on a treadmill, you get the same benefit of running rounds in a field by just staying at home. Just set the program that you want and you’re good to go – without really going.

B.    Increase flexibility and strength – If you want to improve your flexibility, coordination, posture and strength then grab the Yoga Mat and start doing Yoga. Low-impact muscle workout such as Yoga helps increase strength and mobility in the upper and lower body such as arms, legs, abs and buttocks. Balance Balls and resistance cords can also do the trick, if you can’t bend low and reach your toes yet.

C.    Increase Muscle Tone –  Dumbells and weight lifting benches are the perfect tandem to pump those muscles and make them bigger. Lifting weights burns calories, increases bone density and strength while allowing you to look and feel stronger, inside out. Dumbells also eat relatively little space so there’s no need to worry where to keep them. Weight lifting Benches, on the other hand, maybe appear bigger compared to dumbells, but most models have a foldable feature for easier storage. Another equipment worth mentioning is the Rowing Machine. Low impact workout but high impact on results.  This machine provides both cardiovascular aerobic and strength training workouts making it one equipment that is worth the buy.

D.    Tone the leg muscles – Another equipment I’d recommend next to treadmills is the stationary bikes. It is an ideal starting equipment for people who are just starting to exercise. Get a cardiovascular workout while toning your leg muscles. It is non-straining to joints plus it gives you the same benefits of cycling without the need of going outdoors to lose weight and tone your muscles.

Check your budget – While every equipment may look the same, the price will differ depending on the features. That’s why it is important to know the pros and cons of each machine to avoid overspending on equipment that may turn out to be not suited for you. Make sure you know your purpose and ask yourself if the equipment you are eyeing suits your fitness program and pocket.

Give it some space – Setting up a mini gym in the house could consume a lot of space. Make sure you have room for the equipment to make working out easier and hassle-free. While most equipment can be folded for easy storage, working out on a very limited space limits your liberty to move around and maximize the potential of certain equipment like Rowing machine and weight lifting benches.

Give it a proper maintenance – While you are working out, your equipment works out too. That’s why it is important that you give it proper maintenance to make its life longer. Like treadmills for example, it is recommended that you plug it in an AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator) to protect the power flow of the equipment in cases that electricity fluctuates. Lubricating it every after 20 hours of use makes it performs better. Like muscles, equipment also wear out. It is best that you know how to take good care of the equipment for longevity of use.

Check if it has warranty – Machines are machines, they also get broken. And if they do, make sure it has a warranty so you can have it checked and repaired. Buy only from trusted distributors, Toby’s, aside from being the exclusive distributor of Proteus and Jetstream, offers 1 year warranty to all motorized equipment. They have expert technicians as well, who are always on call, in case your equipment gets broken. They also offer FREE evaluation and home service.    

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