When the dream of getting fit hits home

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Published Date 1/3/2019

It’s a dream -- no, it’s actually a necessity when you really think about it. Getting fit. Each year at this time nearly half of all Americans make some kind of resolution to get into shape. That includes skipping social gatherings where alcohol and “fun” foods are found, crawling out of our warm beds each morning and heading to the gym, where sweaty masses of people just like us have made the same resolution. And we are all extremely well-intentioned.

But how many of those gym memberships go unused after the first month of the year, and why is it so easy to back down from our self-promises? The solution may be to move your workout to your home, where your 15-second commute just might have you exercising longer as well as with the greatest of ease.

Realtor.com’s Jane Chertoff did some research into what top personal trainers just which home gym equipment might keep you on the straight and narrow(er):

Top of the line for cycling is, of course the Peleton. It’s pricey, but everyone swears it’s a great investment. There are now apps that that turn your bike into a full-blown class right in the comfort of your own home, challenging your body to stay engaged. With these apps, you aren’t as likely to get bored after just a few weeks.

If strength training is on your agenda (and it should be), a bench and dumbbells are in order. Available through AmazonBasics, with some guidance from a trainer or online classes (so you don’t injure yourself), you can see results quickly if you are consistent with this. Strength training is one of the quickest ways to build muscle fast.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly item for your home gym, look no further than resistance bands. No need to invest in a lot of equipment—especially if you're a beginner. A set of resistance bands is all you need to stay motivated, says Therese Zarleng, one of the personal trainers interviewed for Chertoff’s article.

"Keeping it simple and easy to use is one of the best ways to keep someone wanting to work out," she says. "Exercise resistance bands are cheap, come in several colors that represent different resistance levels, and can be thrown in a suitcase when you travel, so you never have to miss a workout. Just about any exercise that can be done with a set of weights can be done with a set of resistance bands, too," she adds.

If you are thinking more hard core training, consider buying a TRX System designed by none other than a former U.S. Navy SEAL. TRX is a form of suspension training that leverages your body weight and gravity to develop strength, balance, flexibility, and core stability. While you may have gotten used to using equipment like this at your gym, there is nothing sweeter than working out and stretching every part of your body from the comfort of your own home, where there are no hot bodies waiting for you to finish. The system is portable, which should not only get you started but keep you going all the way through 2019 — a multipurpose tool that also has some very effective stretching and mobility drills you can do as well. It is hefty, however. Some ceilings and walls can't sustain its weight.

And although it wasn’t mentioned in Chertoff’s article, there is one more piece of fitness equipment that seems to be all the rage, especially with those who have especially generous budgets for at-home fitness. Enter The Mirror, a sleek full-length reflective surface that doubles as a virtual trainer. When turned on, a virtual trainer appears on the screen and, via an embedded camera and microphone, helps you through the day’s task, be it a strengthening session, barre, pilates, aerobics sessions or yoga.

Source: Realtor, TBWS

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