The Best Home Exercise Equipment for Women

Women are sometimes hesitant to join a gym, for reasons ranging from feelings of self-consciousness, to doubts about actually using the membership. Whatever the reason, women still need to get proper exercise. Home exercise equipment is a great option for many women, and several types of equipment ensure good results at home.

Cardio

• Women often prefer cardiovascular activities to avoid getting bulky. A bike is a great exercise option that burns many calories. In the case of bad weather, an indoor stationary bike is a great alternative and a very popular choice among women. ProForm.com offers a nice selection of stationary bikes.

Weights

• In addition to cardiovascular exercises, lifting weights and building muscle strength are also important. Fitness Magazine recommends several home weight machines to help women get in shape and stay in shape. One is the Tone Trainer Workout Bench by Reebok. This workout bench comes with everything you need to get a full body workout. The bench itself can be inclined, lie flat or be declined. In addition, it comes with a hand weight system that is like several different sizes of free weights all in one, which can be adjusted to meet your needs. It also comes with a workout ball and a workout DVD. The Tone Trainer Workout Bench is compact and very affordable (see Resources 2).

  You can also opt to purchase sets of free weights ranging from 2.5 pounds to 15 pounds and an exercise ball. These items combined should allow you to get in good weight training and do ab workouts.

Additional Tips

• When choosing home exercise equipment, look for something that you are already familiar with. If you know how to use a treadmill, then opt for a treadmill rather than a stationary bike.

  When picking out home exercise equipment, keep in mind your fitness goals and what you like to do to work out. Don't purchase something that you won't use.