You’ve been thinking of working out but the thought of regular visits to a health club, spa, or gym doesn’t quite appeal? Well, you can actually save the drive time and get a fairly good workout on a home gym. In this article, we’ll discuss the different types of machines available, how they work, and some considerations to make when purchasing your own home gym.

There are three main types of home gym equipment: traditional, rod systems, and gravity resistance (Of course, there are also free weight bench sets, but these aren’t necessarily for everyone and, depending on whether or not you have small children or pets in your home, may present potential hazards).

Traditional gym machines are generally what you would find in your local gym. These machines tend to be big and heavy, and can take up a lot of space. They involve pulley assemblies attached to weight stacks and the amount of weight a person can work with can usually range up to 300 lbs. Of course, the precise amount of weight to be used for a particular exercise may be determined by the use of a simple pin-slot system. How much do they cost? Well, they can be quite pricey, starting out in the 800 to 900 dollar range going all the way up to and exceeding 2000 dollars based on chosen options and features.

Traditional home gyms have been around for decades. However, a second type of home gym setup, the rod system, seems to be the wave of the future. These machines use rods with different resistance rates selectable with a hook and bungee system. Rod systems have the advantage of being both smaller and lighter than traditional home gyms. They have a sleeker look and are absent a heavy weight stack---definitely a consideration if you have small children in the home. Power rod machines also feature a full range of exercises, including rowing on some models. The resistance rods are usually standard at 210lbs as the max. However, these are upgradeable to a maximum of 410lbs! What’s the cost? Machines like this range from 900 to 2200 dollars.

Finally, another type of home gym that is growing in popularity is the gravity resistance gym. Gravity resistance systems are very compact and “easily stowed”, using only minimal space when assembled. They use a system of pulleys and your own body weight to achieve a quality work out. Different settings allow your body weight to utilize greater or lesser amounts of resistance making them easy to use for both the beginner and the advanced user. Gravity resistance systems come in several different sizes and may be configured to fit neatly under a bed or in the corner of a room. Size is certainly an advantage, but here are two other advantages: a user can engage in a wide range of exercises and the machines are reasonably priced at 300 to 600 dollars.

Which home gym set up should you buy? As with most purchases, your decision should ultimately be based on the balancing of several concerns; namely, your needs, preferences, and available finances. However, rest assured, if working out and getting into shape at home is what you desire, there are certainly more than enough choices to choose from.

Sandy sold her $1,500.00 boat she had for over 5 years to Ross who was willing to pay $1,000.00 more than the value of this boat. Sandy was joyous to off load her aged boat for $2,500.00. But, there was a catch. Ross was willing to pay $50 a month for 50 months until paid. Sandy thought she pulled off a good deal. But, was it?

Why Ross wanted to pay only this amount? The answer lies in the Present Value of a Dollar.

You see, a dollar today is worth more than the same dollar, years down the road. The dollar today will have less purchasing power as time passes, especially when it is a long time from now. But, Sandy did not know that, and thought that she was getting a very good deal. Instead she was going to be paid with a declining dollar.

Likewise, your health can be regarded as having a higher value today than in the future. The more you care for your body today, the more it will serve you well tomorrow. Your longevity would be more promising in the future if you do not live carelessly today. I have seen 40 year old bodies looking like 60 year olds, mostly because of abuse.

It is all well and good to exercise and get flexible, eat well, and sleep well, to stay in good health But, that alone may not be enough to melt the fat accumulation you body may be prone to be... For this, you’ll need specialized training and fitness equipment, dumbbells, weight training devices, or decide that you want to be private so you get a home gym etc.

But, would you be cutting yourself short buy accepting declining dollars to maximize your body’s health?

Would you look for the bottom of the line equipment –cheap ones --or the very best built ones that cost a little more? Exercising with a cheap flex machine can bust a strand in the middle of the stretched position and snap back like a rubber and damage your ligament. This may take a long time to heal or never heal and you’ll have to live with a deformity, perhaps for life.

And, as with any other exercise equipment, the nuts that hold the weight together can become loose causing a weight to fall off and smash your toes; a machined part might break off because of a poor weld at a joint on the machine causing you too strain your back or muscle that leaves you crippled for life. And, could you imagine what pain and agony you would have to endure forth rest of your life when these mishaps occur to your body because you thought it was prudent to buy cheap exercise equipment?

If this is your thinking, then you are not taking full advantage of the principles of the Present Value of a Dollar---you are not taking full advantage of the Present Value of your Life.

Your life is worth more today than many years down the road. You must do all your can for your body today to keep it in tip top shape so you’ll enjoy your life more now and continue to do so as times passes.

So, you want quality health. You get that with quality equipment –ergonomically safe light but strong. So, give your body quality attention. Focus on the one and only body you have so you enjoy the best of life.

You have a very good deal today-- Present Value—Take it--it is like money in the bank. The future is an imagination of what it could be.

Many people like to take an evening walk or jog, yet in many parts of the world during wintertime this is not possible because it is dark. If a walking or jogging light is used during such evening exercises then it is possible. But with all the bouncing around where would one mount such a light in order to keep the beam steady.

When discussing this issue with those that study the human anatomy, many believe the best place would be mounted as a “Head Light” so that wherever the individual was looking they would have the light they need to see. This brings up some good points on a head mounted walking light, yet problems arise with the way in which it is attached for comfort and steadiness. We have heard many people complain about helmets, goggles, sunglasses and miners often complain about their helmet lights or “head Lamps.” Those who use them at work do not enjoy them and are often irritated with the way they fit. When walking or jogging for pleasure this of course can cause and issue. If the unit is too lose it bobbles and if it is too tight it is highly uncomfortable and that just blows the joy of the entire event. So you can see how the light would move too much and as one think tanker recently mentioned end up;

“distorting the footpath so that the planes were not obvious, which meant more injuries.”

Another thought is to mount the walking or jogging light on the ankles and have two lights one on each ankle thus as the ankle moved the two lights would average the direction of travel. The ankle mounted light might also cause similar problems although to a bouncy “head mounted light” only closer to the ground, and thus the distortion of light to dark to light or shades there of would be lessened.

If in fact a walker had more than one, that is to say one on each leg or was walking with another with one on each leg, four lights even when moving around would be averaging out the bouncing? If these lights were mounted on each ankle of a group of trick-or-treaters or a couple or a couple of friends with a “DogLight” (trademark?) on their pet as well then that could solve the problem, as many lights would average out the shadows and create a bright and safe environment in the direction of travel preventing unnecessary tripping over obstacle that were not seen.

When designing a walking or jogging light there is much to consider in the way the light projects forward and how such light will be used. The more jarring human motion the more disarrayed the light will appear unless multiple lights or joggers are added. Think on this.

What can I do to control my weight even with my busy schedule? We live in a society that is chronically overweight. With that in mind there are a thousand new trends a day that attempt to cash in on that problem. Some of these trends include fad diets, food additives, and even diet pills. However, most everyone by this time knows that the best way for us to stay in shape and keep our weight under control is to work out. A good way to make time to work out without having to join a gym or make the trek to one every day is to invest in a home gym. Home gyms vary greatly in size, price, and complexity, but the right one can make all the difference in your home.

Before you consider investing in a home gym, you should first decide whether or not you have room for one. If you have a basement, either finished or unfinished, that can be the perfect location for a home gym. Many home gyms are also found in spare bedrooms, utility rooms, and even rooms that have been added on to the home. Figure out where you are going to put your new home gym and you will have taken the first step in fitness.

The next decision you are going to have to make is a two part one. You will need to figure out what size of a home gym you want and how much you are willing to spend on it. The amount you can spend varies from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars. Most of that is reflected in the size of the home gym you want to get. You have almost limited options. If you have a huge budget you can make your gym a large one with all of the state of the art equipment available at commercial gyms, but that isn’t practical to most of us. From there you can get everything from free weight sets, to all in one weight machines, to tread mills for your home gym. The most important thing, though, is that you get what you need at the price you can afford. So take the time to shop around and make sure you are getting what you want at the best possible price.

Where do you get a home gym? The options as to where to pick up your new gym are nearly as limitless as the gym equipment you can get. You may want to start off looking at sporting good stores. There, you will likely find knowledgeable sales people who can help you decide what you want to get. After that you can move on to discount stores, and even check on line to find the best prices. It may be that the sporting goods store ends up being the best deal for you, but you should take the time to shop around just to make sure that you are getting the best possible deal.

Fitness is the key to optimal health and an exercise bike can help you to achieve just that. But, why an exercise bike? Why not go for something else? There are many reasons why you should purchase a bike and use it. If you plan to use it for a clothing hanger, don’t bother. But, if you are ready to improve your overall health, then you should consider the purchase of an exercise bike.

Here are some reasons why you need a bike:

Are you seriously overweight? Those that are more than 25 pounds overweight often have trouble losing that weight no matter what they try. The catch 22 is that you need exercise to lose the weight but you barely can make it from the bedroom to the living room without becoming tired. How can you possibly do a routine that will allow you to lose weight? An exercise bike is the perfect solution because it allows you to work at your own pace. It allows you to start off slowly and build up in speed gradually without overexerting yourself.

Heart problems? Many doctors that have patients with cardiac conditions will tell them they need to lose weight. But, stressing out the heart is a huge problem for them. The benefit here is that the body gets a workout and the cardio workout obtained is significant but light enough for many heart patients. Simple. It’s the right combination for those with a heart condition. Of course, as with all other fitness equipment, you should consider talking to your doctor before starting any exercise program.

You won’t go broke- Most people can afford a decent bike. That’s because you don’t have to purchase the most expensive to get the benefits of exercise. A simple stationary bike can be a great way to start off.

Do you get bored? Okay, the problem with many exercise routines is that they are boring or too hard. But, with an exercise bike this is anything but true. If you find yourself becoming bored, move the bike in front of the TV. Turn on your favorite football game and you’ll never realize you did three miles while the team has the ball. You get your mind working and your body too.

Easy to do- Many people find that things that are too hard are things they just find excuses not to do. With an exercise bike, you have less of a chance of this because you can do it. Results happen each time you get on and you’ll see yourself building muscles that burn fat and you’ll see the inches coming off. It’s that easy.