subject: Commercial Gym Equipment: How To Tell Good Deals From The Hype [print this page] While the benefits of exercise are well documented, beware the hype when it comes to commercial gym equipment. Working out will get you in shape, but there is no easy fix. You've got to sweat. When advertisers claim their equipment performs miracles, realize it's up to you to make the magic happen. Exercise requires sweat, so be realistic. Here are a few things to consider when evaluating the claims of commercial gym equipment.
Don't Take It Too Easy
Always read the performance claims of commercial gym equipment very carefully. Beware of any maker that claims the equipment will effortlessly burn away calories or provide effortless results. If exercise was effortless, the whole world would be ripped like wrestlers. There is no such thing as a lazy workout.
Watch the Spot Reduce
Some commercial gym equipment will claim to reduce a certain part of your body such as that third tire gut. Toning and losing weight in one part of the body requires a workout of the entire body. Weight depends on the number of calories you eat and burn every day. Eat less, burn more, and you'll lose weight. No piece of fitness equipment will legitimately target one particular area of your body. It's best to just concentrate on all your gut at once.
Read the Fine Print
The advertized results of the gym equipment are often based on the use of more than just the machine. It's often taking diet and other exercises into account. Also realize that not everyone will have the same reactions. Jared lost weight because he went on a diet, not because he ate at Subway. Diet and exercise are your tickets to losing weight, but everyone is different and therefore experiences different results.
Questions to Consider
How well will the equipment help you meet your goals? If you want strength, flexibility or endurance, choose commercial gym equipment that targets these areas.
Will you stick to the program? No fitness equipment is worth taking out of the box if you aren't going to use it. Be prepared to follow through with the program. Owning your own equipment can be a great motivator, but it's up to you to get the workout.
Do Your Homework
Commercial gym equipment is an investment that should be made carefully. Read reviews online and in fitness magazines. Find out what works well and what's just hype. Consumer reviews can be your best resource, as it's the low down from people who aren't trying to sell you something.
Look into any warranties or guarantees. Check into return policies. A "30-day money back guaranty" isn't all it's cracked up to be if you get stuck with the shipping fees.
Research their customer service. Try getting somebody on the phone. If you can't talk to anybody before you buy it, they'll probably be nobody to complain to once you've realized you've been stuck with junk.
Owning personal commercial gym equipment can be a great motivator to get in shape, but it's important to choose the right kind for you. Avoid sales hype and do your research. If it sounds too good to be real, you're probably dreaming.