mlm opportunity network marketing - Exercise Machines: Home Weight Machines

Once upon a time workout equipment consisted of barbells. That's all changed. Now home gym is filled with fitness machines of all shapes and sizes. In fact, if you're in the market for a piece of home gym equipment it may feel like there are too many choices. Knowing how and what parts of your body each machine works is extremely important to a good workout.

The Basics

Home gym machines are designed to mimic free-weight exercises, only with more safety and less strain. A typical machine has a number of cables, pulleys, levers, straps and bars configured around a metal frame with at least one padded seat or bench. The pulleys, etc., are attached to a device that resists your pushing, pulling and lifting. You can increase the weight you're resisting as you grow stronger. Typical exercises include leg extension and curl, chest press, biceps curl and triceps extension.

Fitness Benefits

Lifting, pushing and pulling exercises on weight machines are designed to build and tone different muscle groups. Adding resistance (more weight) will build muscle, while doing more repetitions of an exercise will tone muscles without bulking them up. Circuit training -- doing a continuous series of different strengthening exercises in quick succession for a set amount of time -- can provide the added benefits of a mild aerobic workout. For advice to maximize your weight training, visit the Weight Training Tips Page.

Key Features

Look for a unit with a wide range of resistance settings so you don't outgrow it. The machine should work plenty of muscle groups with stations or attachments that exercise the legs, arms, shoulders, chest, abdominals, etc.

Gym vs. Home Versions

Newer home models are small enough to fit in a corner and have more simplified cable systems so you don't have to reposition them for different exercises. They're also more adjustable than they once were, so they can accommodate people of different sizes, gender and fitness levels. These factors help home weight machines come closer than ever to health club standards. Still, they lack the variety of models designed to improve specific body parts, which take up a good portion of a gym's total square footage.

Cost

You can find weight machines for as little as $200, but you'll get what you pay for. Don't expect to spend anything less than $1,500 for a sturdy machine with a variety of stations. Move into the $2,600-$5,000 range, and you'll get club-quality merchandise.

Buyer's Tips

Above all, you want a machine that is safe, so look for a unit with adequate padding around the hard plastic and metal parts. Also look for moving parts that are sturdy. Complex or exposed cables should be warning signals of potential danger.
Look for weight machines that allow you to move easily among their various stations and that feel comfortable while you're using them. Be wary of units that make you feel "crammed" -- there's a good chance it's not adjusted properly to your height and size.
Consider authorized dealers rather than big discounters. Specialty stores will likely stock better units, have more experienced salespeople and be able to offer company-backed service contracts.
Weight machines are heavier and bulkier than other fitness machines and usually are harder to assemble. Make sure you have enough space to operate the machine and that you feel confident you can assemble it.