With so much attention being given to losing weight and getting into shape, it's hard to resist not buying all of the equipment being offered in the commercials that you see. If you're not careful you could end up with a houseful of equipment that you may use for a few days and then start using it to hang your laundry on. Every commercial that you see shows slim, beautiful girls and buff gorgeous men, smiling while they exercise as if it were the most enjoyable thing in the world. None of them are sweating, so it gives the illusion that these exercises are easy to perform and that if you purchase the equipment, you too will be able to effortlessly get in shape. The hard truth is that getting into shape takes both effort and sweat; so don't just believe what is being presented to you.

The way to choose the equipment that will work best for you is to ask yourself a few simple questions.

The first thing you want to consider is how much space you have available in your home to store the equipment. You can't determine the size of a machine by watching it being demonstrated in a large room. Many of these machines are bulky and take up a lot of space. If you see one that interests you, then call the manufacturer to get the machine's specifications. This way you will be able to make an informed decision about how much space you will need.

Another thing to consider is the cost of the machine. Many of the commercials that you see will advertise the price broken down into a number of "easy" payments, plus shipping. Five payments of $50 each is $250.00. This still may not seem like much, but what they don't tell you is the shipping can be very costly. Many of these machines are very heavy and shipping is determined by the weight of the machine. By not inquiring about the shipping charge, you could end up paying too much.

The quality of a machine should also be taken into account. There are many similar machines being offered on the market, and each has a different price. Price is not necessarily indicative of quality, so go online and research what people have to say about the different equipment. This way you will hear the opinions from the people who have actually used them.

Defining your fitness goals is another way to avoid purchasing the wrong equipment. If all you want to do is lose 5 pounds, then you don't need one of the expensive machines that promise to build a buff body. You also need to consider any health factors that could prohibit the use of certain equipment. If you have poor joints, then some of these machines may actually harm you. It's always good to talk to your physician before investing in equipment that may be harmful to your body.