Category: Fitness

Exercise At Home With Your Own Fitness Machines

    Syahne Dong

I used to be a gym person. Whenever I’m stressed, I work out; whenever I wake up early on weekends, I hit the gym as well. But the thing about going to the gym is that the going in itself can already take a lot of time.

Now that I spend most of my day at work, the motivation to go to the gym just isn’t there.

Benefits of Having Home Gym Equipment

To keep my health and fitness in check, I chose to build my personal gym at home instead. I was surprised to know that there are a lot of benefits to it. Here are some:

1. Less time spent on the road

The last thing I want to happen is for me to get stuck going to the gym that I just go back home.

Although the traffic isn’t so bad in Melbourne, I still don’t want to spend 45 minutes more in the car going in just one direction. I might as well go home and work out there.

2. More cost savings

Naturally, you will be spending more when you buy gym equipment. But since you won’t be spending on gas, parking, and a membership fee, then you can consider this as big cost savings on your part.

3. I can watch and exercise

I never would have thought that watching and exercising was a great thing until I tried it.

All I have to do is place my portable equipment right in front of the TV and just exercise. This is ideal for exercises that you don’t particularly enjoy. It’s also a great way to distract yourself from counting reps.

4. I don’t have to be conscious of anyone else.

If you’re like me and you worry about people judging you in the gym, then having your own at home is a big comfort.

Since it’s just you, you can focus more on your exercises and posture. When you have your full attention to your workout, you can be more aware of the muscles that move and how fast your heart rate is going.

Fitness Machines to Buy

If you’re a beginner and you want to start building your home gym, then you got to have the basics first. Unless you have specific exercises you want to do, here are the first things you should buy.

1. Treadmill

The treadmill is one of the classic gym equipment. I personally love this because it’s a great way to boost my heart rate (or anyone else’s for that matter).

2. Air Bike

The air bike is also one of the pieces you should especially if you’re not fond of running or walking. But unlike the treadmill, an air bike can be great for resistance training thanks to the pull the fan makes.

3. Adjustable Dumbbells

If your aim is to gain muscle, then you might want to buy a set of dumbbells. Although a rack of them can be expensive, a good alternative is a pair of dumbbells that you can add or reduce weight. 

4. Kettlebells

And then here’s another favorite of mine. The kettlebells are more versatile than dumbbells because I can stretch and swing it freely.

If you will notice, most of my equipment focus on cardio and strength training. When you build your own home gym, you have to identify what you want to focus on – is it getting thinner or gaining more muscle?

Knowing this will help you know which ones to buy first. Lastly, before you buy, consult with best fitness machine reviews to help you know which brands are the best and worth your money.

You might also want some additional features which you can learn about if you read reviews.

5 Kickass Reasons Why You’ve Got to Have a Rowing Machine in Your Home

    Syahne Dong

The rowing machine is one of the latest craze ever to hit the fitness world. Believe me when I say this is one exercise equipment that you’d definitely want to bring home. Forget the bulky treadmill or even the stationary bike. As long as you have a rower in your house, you should be burning more calories and strengthening and toning your muscles a lot more efficiently. You can also check out rowing machine reviews to get an idea of what I’m talking about. And if you need some more convincing, here are 5 kickass reasons why you’ve got to have a rowing machine in your home.

  1.   Great for the heart, lungs, and other vital organs

Whether you’re as young as I am or is already in his or her golden years like my mom you know that aerobic exercises are important for overall health. Doing cardio can help us lose weight, strengthen our immune system, and even increase our stamina so we can perform many of our daily activities a lot more efficiently. Rowing effectively works out a huge number of muscles, stimulating the heart to pump even more. You’d also be regulating your breathing, allowing you to be more conscious of the way you take in air. Overall, this leads to improvement in oxygenation. The more oxygen, the happier and healthier body organs can become.  

  1.   Burns more calories in less time than riding a bike

Not many know it, but a full 60-minute workout on a rower burns calories equivalent to riding an exercise bike for about 78 minutes. On average, pulling and pushing on the rowing machine can help you shave off 600 calories in an hour. That’s actually not bad, considering you’d need about 1.5 to 2 hours of moderate intensity workouts to achieve the same feat. Now couple this with more sensible food choices and you should be on your way to a slimmer you. Wearing that slim and sexy dress you’ve had in your closet for a long time is now a possibility.

  1.   Strengthens and chisels muscles in both upper and lower body

One of the best things I love about rowing machines is that I get to work both my upper and lower body, including the muscles of my core. This can have a significant impact on our posture especially those among us who have to sit all day long behind our desks. Our bums should really look firm and amazing especially when donning a really body-hugging outfit. Stronger upper body muscles also help reduce back pain and improve stronger grip of the things we hold every day. Now that’s what I call whole-body workout.

  1.   Won’t hurt your joints

Some of my friends complain of pain in the joints whenever they run or jog. Well, this is understandable since every time your foot strikes the ground it’s like smashing it into a brick wall. Even though you have the best-cushioned running shoes, the impact forces will still reverberate through the rest of your legs and your body. Unfortunately, this doesn’t bid well for those with already-vulnerable joints especially at the ankles and the knees. Since rowing makes you firmly plant your feet on the pedal, there are no impact forces that will be generated. This keeps the integrity of your joints.

  1.   It’s absolutely fun

Whether you care to admit it or not rowing is fun. If you get one of those machines where you can actually integrate a variety of rowing simulations, you’d definitely love the experience. The only thing that is missing is the splash of water. There are machines that come with water wheels to give you the sound of splashing water. Add your favourite form of entertainment and you’ve got a really fun way to stay fit.

There are plenty of reasons why you really need a rowing machine in your home. And if you’re still not convinced, you can try one of these machines from your favourite gym. I promise you, it’s worth it.