Tips for Finding the Best Home Gym Equipment

The home gym has come a long way, with equipment of the same quality as you would find in some of the best fitness centers today. However, the large selection can also make it difficult to find the best home gym equipment for your unique fitness needs. If you are in a quandary over choosing the best home gym equipment, read on for tips to help you know which pieces will fit your purpose and which are best to avoid.

Determining Need
The first step in finding the best home gym equipment is to determine what your specific needs might be. If a healthier heart is your primary goal, you may want to invest the bulk of your fitness budget on a high quality aerobic machine that will stand up to the wear and tear of daily use. However, if your primary purpose is to bulk up on muscle mass, you may want to put the majority of your fitness dollars into a complete weight set that will allow you to work every muscle group effectively. The bottom line is that the best home gym equipment will meet your personal needs most effectively.

Determining Quality
Once you have decided on the type of equipment you want to purchase, you will want to continue your quest for the best home gym equipment by assessing quality. Not all fitness pieces are created equal; some are designed to withstand plenty of use, while others may not hold up well in terms of effectiveness or durability. To find the best home gym equipment, do your homework before you buy. Talk to personal trainers and fitness gurus who are knowledgeable about the equipment available. Read reviews to find out who is currently making the best home gym equipment on the market. This research will pay off tenfold when you end up with equipment that works well and lasts a long time.

Determining Price
The last part of the equation in finding the best home gym equipment is price. Keep in mind there are some good deals available in this market, including barely used home gym equipment that you can sometimes find for a song without sacrificing quality. However, as a general rule of thumb, you do get what you pay for when it comes to the best home gym equipment. It is a good idea to get the best home gym equipment that you can afford, especially when purchasing aerobic machines or total gyms. The better the quality; the better the results.

Home gyms are a great way to tone up and drop extra pounds – as long as they are equipped with the best home gym equipment in terms of needs and quality. Spend some time shopping for your home gym supplies, and you are sure to be satisfied with your choice.

Three Exercises To Work The Transverse Abdominals

A group of muscles that often gets neglected in stomach exercise routines are the transverse abdominals, the core muscles that lie below the rectus abdominus. Most abdominal exercises target the rectus abdominus and the vertical abdominals, ignoring the transverse abdominals. Even crunches, the staple of most abdominal workouts, do nothing for the transverse abdominals.

These muscles are actually the most important to target, as they connect to both the lower back muscles and the rectus abdominus and for a girdle for the entire abdomen. Any routine aimed at flattening the stomach should include the transverse abdominals as a focus. Using the following exercises, you can work out your transverse abdominals and really make progress on that flat tummy. As with any workout routine, be sure to consult a professional before beginning and always warm up properly to avoid injury.

Pelvic Tilts

This stomach exercise requires lying on your back on a flat surface, such as the floor or a bench. Use a mat or towel to cushion your spine. Bend your knees so that your feet are flat on the floor. Raise your pelvis (and only your pelvis) off the floor, hold momentarily, and then lower it back down. Repeat for an entire set. Maintaining a controlled movement is crucial to this exercise. This will allow you to use your abdominal muscles, rather than your body’s momentum, to do the work on the exercise. Also, be sure to keep your upper body on the floor throughout.

Crunchless Crunch

This first exercise is fairly simple but can also be fairly difficult. Essentially, it involves trying to pull the belly button in towards the spine. This can be tricky, as it involves using muscles which you may not be used to activating. To start, either lie or on your stomach or kneel. You might want to try both ways and see which helps you feel the exercise better. Relax your body as much as possible, then try to use only the lower abdominals to move your belly button toward your spine. Hold for ten seconds. If holding for ten seconds feels easy, hold for a longer period. The goal is to hold the contraction until you either cannot feel it, or you feel other muscles working harder than the transverse abdominus. When you feel this, let the contraction out.

Scissor Kicks

This stomach exercise also requires lying on the floor. Position your hands under your butt, keeping your back pressed against the floor. Slowly raise one leg to a height of about ten inches, then slowly lower it back to the floor. As your lower one leg, raise the other. Repeat this motion for an entire set. Maintaining control throughout is important, not allowing momentum to get the better of you. Your upper body should remain on the floor through the entire move.

There are plenty of other exercises targeting the transverse abdominals, but these three ought to be enough to get you started. Stomach exercises like these are key to any tummy-flattening plan, and they are especially good for pregnant and post-partum women.

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