There are ten basic pieces of equipment you need, including weights, exercise balls and other important gear to help you reach your goals. A well-stocked gym will help you on your path to meet your ever-changing needs.
A 50-pound hex dumbbell set offers set of 5-, 8- and 12-lb. anchors. These are rubber hex dumbbells, so they won't roll away when you put them down.
The set also comes with its own compact rack. This is a quality set of dumbbells for a great price, though it's missing a 10-lb. set, which you'll need to purchase separately.
Along with your dumbbells, you'll want to have a barbell set so you can lift heavier anchors, and give your body something a little different to work with. The barbell set includes a bar and anchors that, all together, equal 100-300 lbs.
That means you can adjust the barbell in a number of ways, giving you a multitude of workout options that target all muscle groups, big and small. Of course, you may not need all that weight, so be sure to shop around, especially at discount and sporting goods stores for different options.
The Step-Aerobic step is an excellent choice for your home gym because it can be used for more than one activity. A step can be used for cardio activities, such as step aerobics, and also do double-duty as a weight bench.
Get enough risers with it and you can change your step to become an incline, decline or flat bench. This will add new dimension to your strength training.
Exercise balls are the latest trend in exercise because they improve your balance and core strength. Use yours for an abdominal workout, or use it as a weight bench to really challenge the old stabilizer muscles while you bench press.
Use it for pushups, back extensions, or lower-body exercises. You can even sit on it while watching television or working on the computer to help reduce nagging back pain.
One side effect of lifting anchors, aside from sleek muscles, is that your hands can get a little rough from calluses. To protect your hands, you'll want a solid pair of lifting gloves.
The gloves are made of fabric that allows sweat to evaporate, so your gloves don't get stinky. You should also look into an adjustable weight bench.
If you're not into step aerobics, you may want a bench instead of a step. You'll need it for chest and back exercises, and you can even use it for a quick abdominal workout or some tricep dips.
There are a variety of choices -- from flat to adjustable. It's best to get an adjustable bench, if you can, so you can do incline and decline exercises.
Resistance bands are great because you can get a full body workout, no matter where you go. Resistance bands are small enough to fit in your suitcase and versatile enough to use in any hotel room.
Another bonus is that they provide a different type of resistance than free weights, so your muscles get a brand new workout. This is very effective for weight loss after you have hit a plateau.
Adjustable ankle weights are great for working the stability muscles of the lower body like the inner and outer thighs. You may want to invest in a quality pair of ankle weights for moves such as standing leg lifts or leg extensions.
These exercises are great add-ons to standing lower-body moves, such as squats and lunges, and ankle weights can help add a little intensity. These give you more strength, but don't worry; you usually don't want to use ankle weights that are heavier than 10 lbs.
One last thing you'll need is an exercise mat. You can use your mat for abdominal workouts, toning exercises, yoga, Pilates or whatever your heart desires.
If you don't have carpet, make sure you choose a no-slip mat so you won't slide around on the floor. All of these tools will help you accomplish your fitness goals.
Author Resource:-
Ignacio Lopez has worked in the exercise and health industry for 27 years. When searching for a good deal on exercise equipment he suggests using a Nordictrack promotion codes.
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