Exercise Equipment That You Don’t Need (Pt. 2)
Exercise Equipment That You Don’t Need (Part 1)
Indoor Cardio Machines
Indoor cardio machines are in the homes of millions of Americans. These include treadmills, stair-climbers, elliptical trainers, rowing machines, etc. However, most of these machines are never used to burn additional calories. Instead they are used as expensive coat hangers and dust collectors.
Indoor cardio machines are not useless. They can actually help you lose weight and improve your health if you use them on a regular basis. When I was over 330 pounds, I bought a recumbent exercise bicycle. I put the bike in front of my television. I was only allowed to watch television if I was riding the bike. So, I had two choices: exercise more or watch television less.
If you do not have an indoor cardio machine, you do not have to buy one. You can do aerobic activities inexpensively. Read and use the strategies in the Don’t Go Broke Activity Plan.
Heart Rate Monitors
Heart rate monitors are devices that measure your heart rate while you exercise. As your heart rate increases, the calories you burn increases. So heart rate monitors can also give you an estimate of how many calories you burn while you exercise. Heart rate monitors are great but unless you’re training for a marathon or triathlon, you do not need one to do aerobic exercises.
It is true that as your heart rate increases, the calories you burn increases. It is also true that as your heart rate increases, your respiratory rate increases. So, as your respiratory rate increases, the calories you burn also increases.
If you monitor your respiratory rate, you can gauge your calories burned. The key is to exercise to the point where your respiratory rate barely allows you to carry on a conversation. If you are not able to carry on a conversation because you are breathing too rapidly, slow down or stop.
If you have a heart rate monitor use it. Training in your target zone is an effective way to maximize your calorie burn. However, if you do not have one, do not fret. Self monitor your respiratory rate and leave the heart rate monitor at the store.
Home Gyms
Millions of Americans have home gyms. Most of them never use it. Most of them bought the gym after seeing an infomercial or bought it as a New Year’s resolution.
People who purchase home gyms always have good intentions. They bought the gym thinking it would help them lose weight or get in shape. Unfortunately, the gyms cannot work out for you. You actually have to use them.
If you already have a home gym, use it. Some of them are actually pretty good. You can get a great workout using them. My home gym is the small and ultra-portable Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbells.
However, if you do not have one, do not buy one. These gyms are expensive. Read the Don’t Go Broke Activity Plan and learn how to strength train with relatively inexpensive equipment.
Exercise Equipment That You Don’t Need (Part 3)
Exercise Equipment That You Don’t Need (Part 4)
Weight loss can be enhanced and better maintained with strength training. For more information on my favorite strength training tool, read my review of the Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbells.
Photo by normanack.