The frenzy for exercise equipment is every increasing. Media channels are flooded with one spectacular exercise machine after another, each designed to target a new appendage or muscle that has yet to be reached. Some would lead even me to believe exercising is fun; others confirm one’s belief that it’s pure torture. Whatever you may think it is everybody’s doing it!
It seems to me it would behoove the men especially to heed a word of caution: with all those additional Abs and increased muscles being hyped, where are you going to put ‘em? You’ve only got so much arm, leg or stomach, what then? As for you ladies, will you really slim down or bulge up? Where do the muscles hide? Please be careful.
As you’ve no doubt surmised, I lack expertise in the fitness realm, but please don’t stop reading. With all the excellent TV infomercials and the sophisticated new and up-dated plaza gyms opening up, I need to get with it and see what the attraction is. I’m really motivated by all the densely populated gyms, pulsating with sweating, tenacious bodies, thankfully clothed in the latest designer “sweats”.
Yet with all this national craze centered upon exercise machines it begs the question “is all this equipment necessary for losing weight and being fit?” Someone might answer “people have been slim and trim for hundreds of years without all these machines that are at out disposal-why do we need them now?”
The simple flat out answer to this question is that you don’t need exercise equipment but the main reason that exercise equipment is so popular is because of its convenience. Most people just won’t exercise without a machine. Think about it-you can go in to your treadmill turn it on and have an intense workout as you’re watching TV or as you are listening to music through your Ipod.
We’ve talked about gyms with machines and home machines -which is best for you? Do you use your workout time to socialize, to be with friends and to lunch later? Many people do that to their advantage. Many, like myself, prefer keeping our activities separate, choosing to concentrate on one thing at a time - like exercising in the gym and socializing at a favorite restaurant, place of worship or entertainment center.
From one who has at least five different home machines, each targeting a specific body area, his answer is: to each his own. He prefers exercising at home, because going to the gym takes extra time and he doesn’t need the social time. Even though his exercise equipment, the treadmill, elliptical, Ab machine and such is expensive, it’s effective and very much worth it and he enjoys the comforts of home. A gym enthusiast might say: I don’t have the room at home; machines are too expensive and I’m not a mechanic to assemble them; furthermore I need and enjoy the company. So indeed, to each his own.
The trainers at the gym, as well as the instructions with the exercise equipment you buy, advise a routine of aerobics, AB workouts, and finishing off with light weight exercise. Diversity is the key and so are the machines; they are my way to shape up and fly right!
