Part 4: Choosing The Right Exercise Equipment
For Your Home Gym
We're on the final part of our home gym exercise
equipment guide, and we'll cover the final 2 points listed previously.
If you've missed the previous 3 parts, read them here:
5) Choosing weights based machines vs. band
resistance based machines
Okay, I'm sure you've all seen infomercials
for band resistance machines like the Bowflex, Bandflex, or soloflex,
be it rubber bands, or plastic rods. What these machines offer
is an alternative to the more 'traditional' weights based exercise
equipment. Like the workout stations, these band resistance based
exercise equipment also offer a wide range of exercises.
Band resistance machines offer little advantage
over weight based exercise equipment. So what are some advantages
and disadvantages of band resistance exercise equipment? Let's
take a quick look.
Advantages of band resistance exercise
equipment:
ease of use, and easy accessibility right
in your home
easily adjustable and versatile
you're less prone to injury
offers a number of exercises
requires no spotter, allows for quick workouts
great for general fitness, but not for serious
muscle building
requires less space than most weights based
exercise equipment
Disadvantages of band resistance exercise
equipment:
inferior to weight machines and even more
so than free weights for muscle gains
rod based exercise equipment like the bowflex
has variable resistance, which is inferior compared to non-variable
(most weight machines) and free weights - see below for more
details
has a jerky, somewhat hard to control motion
can be very pricey
Okay, let's talk a little about the variable
resistance stuff mentioned above. What does it mean, and why are
variable resistance exercise equipment inferior? Take the Bowflex
for example, it uses these plastic or rubber rods as resistance.
now lets say you're doing a bench press rep. on your way up. The
resistance is always the lightest, simply because the rod is just
starting to bend. about half way, the resistance increases, because
the rod bends more, and at the top of the rep, the resistance
is the greatest because the rod is almost fully bended. You won't
be able to get the most out of your muscle like this.
In a comparison study done in "Weight Training:
A Scientific Approach", various exercise equipment were compared,
and variable resistance scored at best mediocre; however, it did
score very well on likeliness to injury and ease of use. Free
weights, of course ranked the best overall.
6 ) Buying exercise equipment for a home
gym vs. going to a gym
Here's what I think, if you've got the time,
join a local gym. You'll have much better benefits not considering
the motivational factor joining a gym provides - seeing everyone
else in the gym work their butt off make you wanna do just the
same. ;-) But many people are short on time, like me. That's why
I went shopping around for a home gym.
In the end, I ended up not getting a power rack
and a set of weights, and decided to stay with going to the gym.
But, I did buy a barbell and dumbbell weight set for those days
when I just can't make it. I got about 200lbs of cast iron plates
with it, it total, it cost me around $160. I figured it was enough
for me to get in a 30 minute quick workout for days when I'm real
busy. In the end, I felt it was best for me to make it to the
gym.
For many people, going to the gym a few times
a week isn't possible, so buying some exercise equipment for a
home gym is the best choice. Depending on your situation, it might
be better to join a gym, or just get your own home gym going.
Money wise, if you're spending over $1000 for a home gym,
that can buy you membership at a gym for over 3 years. ;-) So
it really comes down to your particular situation.
Hate dealing with sales people? Why not shop
online for a home gym?
