The type of equipment you need to purchase depends on the type of program you want to perform. When it comes down to it, a pair of dumbbells and a bench is about all you need to get started on your weight resistance program.

The following information is to help you choose what your equipment needs are for your weight training workouts. If you would like more info on Cardiovascular, Fat Burning and Fitness Equipment then click here.
Deciding What Fat Burning Exercise Equipment You Need

Dumbbells (Fairly Inexpensive)

Most of the programs in my site http://www.newsabout.info/virtual_fitness_trainer.htm include a dumbbell only program. The reason I have designed so many dumbbell programs is because most of us at one time or another have either owned, or still own a pair of dumbbells. Not only that, but if you just can't afford to go and purchase new equipment then dumbbells are perfect.

Dumbbells are great if you are traveling and want to keep up with your workouts. They are convenient and don't take up much room. They are affordable and you can get them from large retail chains like K-Mart, Big W, Target and so forth. Even the larger Sporting Retail chains sell them for fairly competitive prices.

When buying dumbbells get the adjustable ones, with nuts on the ends, so you can change the weight plates when ever you need to. This way all you have to do is buy more weight plates - not new dumbbells when you need to upgrade your program.

Barbells (Fairly Inexpensive)

Barbells are very versatile and like the dumbbells are great for muscle tone and growth. If you are keen to build muscle mass - for body building - then barbells are a must. A barbell works in the same manner as the dumbbell. You can adjust the weight on either end of the bar with either a clamp or a nut. If you can only afford the one bar that's fine - just buy a variety of weights so you can change over or upgrade your program when you need to. Probably the main reason for having more than one barbell bar would be if adding or reducing the weight plates in between exercises prevented your workout from running smoothly. Barbells work in well with dumbbell programs and are fantastic when used in conjunction with an adjustable bench (e.g. incline bench).

Benches Adjustable Incline / Flat Bench (Usually more expensive than the Flat bench - but if you want to variety it is worth it)

If you like to vary your program then purchase a bench where the back pad and bottom pad are adjustable so you can use it for an exercise like Incline Dumbbell Chest Presses. You can then lower the bench down to a flat bench position when you want to perform your flat bench exercises. For example: Dumbbell Chest Press (flat bench position) and the Incline Dumbbell Chest Press (incline position) work different areas of your chest muscles. If you are trying to shape your muscle or work areas of your muscle that you think might be slacking then you may find that an Adjustable Bench is preferable to your training needs.

Flat Bench (Normally less expensive than the Incline Bench - great bench for starting out)

If you aren't too concerned about the incline, and just starting out, then purchase a flat bench. A flat bench is great for performing tricep dips, push-ups from a bench, advanced step ups as well as Dumbbell Chest Flyes, Barbell Bench Presses and so forth.

Adjustable Benches with Leg Extensions / Leg Curls (The higher quality benches are usually fairly good value for money with a huge variety to choose from)

You can normally use these benches as a flat bench, incline bench, for leg extensions and leg curls. Which means you can work your upper body and lower body on the bench. Don't go too cheap on these, though, or you may end up with rubbish! Get one that's heavy duty and sturdy and not too narrow either. Make sure all the adjustments work ok, and that the bench is comfy for you to lay on and sit on - you will be seated for leg extensions. If you have lower back problems ensure the middle of the bench raises so your lower abs and back will be supported by the lower half of the bench when performing leg curls.

IMPORTANT! SAVE YOURSELF $$$!

Before I go any further I need to tell you this. How many people do you know who have gym equipment and never use it. How about just about everyone. Normally because they don't know how to use the equipment to create workouts that are suitable for their needs. Because the equipment has been sitting around gathering cob webs for years the owner can't sell it at the price they bought it? What a waste of money! This may sound cheap but I have encouraged quite a few of my clients to go through the classifieds. They have bought some fantastic cardio and gym equipment and most of it had never ever been used.

Two things you should do when purchasing equipment from the classifieds are: Make sure that you take someone with you who knows about gym equipment. OR ask the current owners if they would mind if you performed a test run on the equipment while you are there. Also I wouldn't suggest buying gym equipment through the classified unless you can view the equipment first and have performed the above test run.

Here's a story you might be interested in: Years ago I went with a client to help choose a small multi station via ads through the classifieds. She had wanted to purchase the equipment via money order and get the owners to drop it off for her - without viewing the equipment first! However I convinced her otherwise.

We found two ads, after making a few phone calls, that we thought would be appropriate for her needs. The first place we went to was the most expensive however the owner, and the ad, had stated that the equipment was in top notch condition. huh! What a joke! The upholstery was torn, the framework rusted and the cables were split - and this was the one she wanted to purchase via post!!

The second place we visited was less expensive and the equipment was in excellent condition. It was about two years old and the owners had bought the multi-station for their son who had never used it. He had only just moved away recently so it was near new. Even though it was two years old there had only been one upgrade since then of that model of multistation at the retail stores. This was nearly half the price of a brand new multi-station. WOW! She bought it asap and we organized for it to be dropped off that day! The equipment works like a dream!

Multi stations are expensive so even if you purchase one second hand you may still be paying big dollars.
Ok, back to the equipment!

Cable Cross Overs

This is a frame with two pulleys either side, one at the top and one at the bottom. Weight plates or stacks are used for resistance on the pulleys and a variety of attachments are used to vary the movements and exercises. The difference between using free weights (dumbbells and barbells) and pulleys is that pulleys have a continual resistance throughout the exercise. Once you have tried pulley's you will see what I mean. Cable crossovers are fantastic if you want to break weight training plateaus and to add variety to your training by performing pulley exercises that will damage a muscle in a particular way that say a dumbbell may not be able to. Using pulleys can create great muscle shape and help prevent boredom from training.

Multi Stations (Very Expensive - if you want quality) If you are going to buy a multi station you will need to pay that bit extra!

Why? Because the cheapo ones seem to experience nothing but trouble. I have never owned one myself, due to the amount of room the commercial multi stations require, but I have used loads of different models of multi-stations and would always go for quality if purchasing one. A few of my mobile clients, that is clients I have trained in their homes, have had cheap quality multi stations and they were pretty crappy, they were very sorry they bought them. However the clients who bought the expensive multi stations were thrilled to bits with them. So, if you want a big machine like a multi station go the whole hog and buy one with a leg press and the lot. I am talking heavy framed and looking like something out of Beyond Thunderdome (that movie from the eighties or nineties with Mel Gibson and Tina Turner in it).

Important: The prices on multi stations don't always vary on the amount of equipment or exercises you can perform on them either. If you have a look in the middle of a good quality multi station you will see the weight stacks. If the multi station only has one weight stack then it becomes a pain when you have two people using it, as only one person can use the weight stack at the one time. So go for a multi station with at least 2 - 3 weight stacks. This will increase the price, but it is worth it.

Smith Machines

Smith Machines are fantastic for building muscle mass amongst other things. Probably the best thing I have found with the Smith Machine has been that my clients have much better control and form when performing their programs. The frame work of the Smith Machine has two heavy duty side bars as well as another bar running across the top. On either side there are weight guide poles for which a barbell bar or Olympic bar is connected. The bar moves up and down the weight guide poles while performing your exercises. When you have completed each set you hook the bar into the fame work. Smith machines also have "safety spotters" which you can adjust depending on the exercise you are performing. These also slide up and down the poles and hook into the main frame work so if the bar becomes to heavy, or you lose grip, the safety spotters will prevent the bar from dropping on you.

Smith machines can be expensive, however whether you get yours for a bargain or not, make sure the framework is very sturdy and the bar slides up and down smoothly. Also, see if you can get the suppliers to include a "pad" that wraps around the barbell or Olympic bar. This will protect your neck when performing squats.

Well folks...........................

Overall if you are a beginner and aren't sure if you want to spend a whole heap on equipment then just buy a pair of dumbbells, a barbell, a few changes of weight plates, maybe a bench. Get what you feel comfortable with and settle into a training program first before putting yourself into debt for some huge contraption that might only gather dust in the spare room of the house. You need to make sure when purchasing equipment to that you have instructions on how to use the equipment to it's full potential, otherwise you just won't use it. Also ensure that the equipment is what you need to achieve your health and fitness goals.

In my web site http://www.newsabout.info/virtual_fitness_trainer.htm I have catered for exercises ranging from machines to cable to dumbbells. So many people have unused gym equipment in their homes. Through my site I intend to help them put that equipment back into use by training them directly from my web site.

If you have equipment at home that isn't being used and you would like to start a new health and fitness program then please visit my site: http://www.newsabout.info/virtual_fitness_trainer.htm

Happy Training!

Yours in fun, health and fitness
Mandy
Virtual Fitness Trainer.com
http://www.newsabout.info/virtual_fitness_trainer.htm

 
Persons who are of good health, suspect of their health or are aware of any conditions, physical deficiencies or diseases should always consult a physician before undertaking any eating or exercise program. Mandy Gibbons,Virtual Fitness Trainer, http://www.virtualfitnesstrainer.com.au and http://www.virtualfitnesstrainer.com disclaims any liability or loss in connection with the above program or advice given in this article.

The above article (in it's entirety) is free for use on other health and fitness related web sites and newsletters on the condition that the following section below is copied and pasted to the base or top of the article.
 

This article was written by:
© Mandy Gibbons 2001
Personal Fitness Trainer & Consultant

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