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Home Fitness Equipment

Home fitness equipment can be a significant investment, so you'll want to choose wisely. At Fitnessgiant.com, we carry an extremely wide range of products. We have steps and resistance bands, yoga mats and balance balls, jogging strollers and aqua exercise equipment. We also have weight benches, elliptical trainers, and home gyms ranging from simple resistance band setups to full-scale commercial style combinations.

Cardio, of course, is your most important exercise component. Unless you plan to get your cardio workout by running outdoors, swimming, tennis or some other sport, your first investment should be something that gets your heart rate up. Treadmills, steppers and stairmasters, upright or recumbent exercise bicycles, and elliptical trainers are all popular choices.

Rowing machines may not be the first type of equipment that comes to mind, but they offer an excellent cardio workout. They work both upper and lower body, using 82 percent of the body's muscles, and provide the best overall workout next to cross-country skiing. Rowing machines are easily stored and maintained, and are generally lower in price than other cardio equipment.

The Body Trac Glider, which offers gas shock resistance and a multi-function electronic monitor, can be had for under $150. The Conversion II Recumbent Bike/Rower offers two machines in one. Magnetic resistance offers smooth operation in either mode. At the top-of-the-line is the First Degree Fluid Rower. When using this machine, you are actually rowing against water resistance, which can be adjusted to 20 different levels of difficulty. It has an auto-start computer and optional cordless heart monitor and back support kit, making it suitable for all users.

Home Fitness Gyms

Is this is your first experience shopping for a home fitness gym? If so, you're likely to be pleasantly surprised at how easy and affordable it can be. Today's home gyms pack a multitude of options into a conveniently small space, and prices range from a few hundred for a resistance band system that folds up into approximately 22 x 28" to several thousand for a multi-station gym that can be used by up to four people at the same time.

The Band Flex Gym offers a versatile, compact system for both strength training and cardiovascular exercise. A lat tower, leg unit, preacher curl attachment and adjustable bench provide a wide variety of resistance exercises that can be safely done without a spotter. The apparatus also has a sliding seat so it can be used as a rowing machine.

The Body Solid EXM2750 Biangular Gym offers an exceptional range of options at a mid-range price. Biangular technology is a multi-directional resistance system which allows you the range of motion you'd get from free weights plus the safety of a guided apparatus. This allows up to 25 percent more muscle interaction. All in all, there are more than 50 different exercises you can do with this compact machine.

We can also put together a custom gym for you at Fitnessgiant.com. Just choose a home fitness gym and a treadmill, and we'll give you a generous discount on the package. All our home gyms have a lifetime warranty and include free shipping!

Home Exercise Equipment

You've decided you'd like to set up a room where you can do most or all of your exercising at home, rather than going to the gym. Now, you're faced with a multitude of decisions. What types of equipment do you need? What should you get first? Here are a few principles to keep in mind when choosing home exercise equipment.

Some people exercise to bulk up, others to trim down. But no matter what your body type or your intentions, everyone must do cardio exercise. Your heart is your most important muscle, and most fitness experts recommend 30 minutes a day of exercise that gets your heart rate up. Treadmills simulate running outdoors, but are easier on your joints than streets and sidewalks. Stairmasters, steppers, and exercise bikes will also get that heart pumping without abusing your joints. Elliptical trainers, especially those that involve the upper body, are very popular now, and may be your best choice for all-around cardio work.

Strength training equipment can run the gamut from a simple set of barbells to a complete home gym. An advantage of machines over free weights is that they restrict your range of movement so that you are much more likely to use good form. Remember that it's better to do a few reps slowly and perfectly than a whole lot with ragged form. You'll not only work the muscle more efficiently, but you'll also have less chance of injury.

At Fitnessgiant.com, we have an amazing range of equipment to help you exercise at home. We carry everything from jogging strollers to massive home gyms. And if you need help deciding what equipment is best for you, just give us a call and we'll be happy to help you choose the home exercise equipment that is right for you.

Strength Training Equipment

If you're getting plenty of cardio exercise such as running, biking, swimming or using a cardio machine, congratulations. But cardio training is only half of the fitness equation. You also need to do strength training, especially of the core muscles of the abdomen and back. Strength training increases your overall fitness, allows you to burn more calories during ordinary activities, and can help prevent osteoporosis.

There are many approaches to strength training. Some people work to develop bulky, well-defined muscles. Lifting heavy free weights and using resistance machines are common means of bulking up. Others are more concerned with developing the central muscles of the abdomen and spine for better balance, flexibility and posture. Pilates is a very common method of core conditioning.

The Pilates method, first developed in 1926, emphasizes concentration and control, much like yoga. However, the Pilates method also builds lean muscle and can dramatically reshape your body with a low impact, no sweat workout. Many Pilates exercises can be done without any equipment at all, but a small investment in equipment can increase your options tremendously.

At Fitnessgiant.com, we have several choices in Pilates equipment. Our portable Pilates Anywhere set includes three SPRI Xertubes, three door attachments, an exercise mat and an instructional video. For home use, we have three styles of Pilates reformers, including two with jump boards to add cardio exercise to your workout. The Pilates Premier and AeroPilates support 32 different exercises, while the AeroPilates Pro XP555 allows you to perform 50 exercises.

Dumbbell Sets

For many people, buying a set of dumbbells is their first step toward strength training at home. That's a great place to start, since dumbbells are inexpensive, require little space, and are easy to use. They're available in an awesome range of weights, from cute little one-pounders to Olympic behemoths, so everybody can start at their own level.

If you're new to strength training, Fitnessgiant.com carries posters and The Great Dumbbell Handbook to help you get started. Always do five to ten minutes of aerobic warm-up to loosen up your muscles. Use only as much weight as you can handle while maintaining perfect form. Lurching through a set of reps with too much weight won't help you reach your goals and might lead to injury. Aim for smooth, controlled motion with a weight just heavy enough to lead to near-failure on the last rep.

At Fitnessgiant.com, we carry an excellent assortment of dumbbells to get you started. Twelve-sided or hex dumbbells won't roll when you set them down. Rubber or vinyl coating looks attractive and quiets clanging metals. Chrome dumbbells keep their good looks over time. Adjustable dumbbells let you change the weight without having to buy several sets.

You can buy dumbbells individually or in an assortment of sets. We can even create a custom set for you, if you wish. We also carry benches and storage racks for your home gym. Consider, too, our Workout Combo, which includes a 3 - 25 lb. set of hex dumbbells, a Bodycraft Flat Incline Decline Bench and The Great Dumbbell Handbook, all for around $500. Wouldn't that make an excellent gift for that special someone on your list?

Commercial Exercise Equipment

Fitnessgiant.com is your source for commercial exercise equipment for your gym, personal training studio, fitness center or rehab clinic. We carry three series of selectorized equipment, as well as free weights and cardio equipment. We carry only the best quality equipment at the most competitive prices.

The Pioneer Basic Selectorized Series offers 11 machines, including leg press, extension and curl; hip adductor and abductor; chest and shoulder press; pulldown and row. Back pads and seats are easily adjustable, and there are foot-assisted arm levers. The Giant Series has 27 machines. These include ab crunch, calf and glute machines as well as several combinations. The Giant series has state-of-the-art bent tube frame design and fiberglass-reinforced nylon pulleys with sealed ball bearings.

The Legend Series offers 37 machines, plus free weights. They have four, seven and eight-station combinations, which can be all you really need for a small studio or apartment/hotel fitness center. For larger gyms, they also have cable and pulley sets plus selectorized machines for neck, pecs and delts. Legend offers a lifetime warranty on welds and frames.

We have a huge selection of cardio machines at Fitnessgiant.com. These include rowers, steppers, elliptical machines, treadmills, exercise bikes and rehab machines. We also have a fluid technology UBE and several upper and lower body ergometers. Despite our excellent selection, there might be a machine you need that we don't carry. Just let us know, and we'll do our best to fill your request!

Elliptical Machines

Elliptical trainers are fast becoming the most popular of all cardio training machines and are about to overtake the previous favorite, the treadmill. Treadmills provide only a lower body workout, and jogging or running on them can be hard on joints. Ellipticals, on the other hand, work both upper and lower body with little or no impact.

At Fitnessgiant.com, we have a wide range of elliptical machines available for you. You may be surprised to learn how affordable an elliptical trainer can be, even when packed with features. You can purchase a combination of an elliptical trainer and step machine, for instance, for an affordable price from Fitnessgiant.com. You can also get programmable machines with up to 12 preset programs, or you can program your own course with up to 16 levels of resistance. Feedback can include time, distance, RPM, speed, watts of resistance, program level, heart rate, calories and average speed.

The Stamina Programmable Elliptical Machine offers 12 pre-programmed workouts and can store four custom programs. Resistance is provided by a rear magnetic braking system. Feedback includes target heart rate and working heart rate, and the Body Fat Monitoring system can show your body mass index, fat percentage, and metabolism rate.

ECB models are another option. ECB means the machine uses the eddy current brake system. This resistance system works electromagnetically, with an aluminum disk spinning between magnetic fields. This provides a very smooth and quiet operation, and because it has so few moving parts, it is reliable and durable, and requires little maintenance.

Exercise Bikes

Stationary exercise bikes provide a safe, comfortable and highly affordable means of low-impact cardiovascular exercise. There are several factors to consider when purchasing one of these popular machines. Two of the most important factors are positioning and means of resistance.

Exercise bicycles come in two basic styles, upright and recumbent. With an upright exercise bike, your legs are directly below your torso, as they are on a regular bicycle. On a recumbent exercise bike, your legs are stretched out in front of you and you can lean back as you ride. Recumbent exercise bikes are easier on your back, and especially recommended for beginners and people with age or health issues. With either style, take your time adjusting the seat and pedal positions. At the fullest extension, your knee should be bent just enough to prevent locking.

Resistance can be provided by fans, belts, gears or flywheels. Most modern bikes use magnetic resistance, which is easily adjusted by the user. Since there are few moving parts and no friction (the flywheel never touches the magnets) these exercise bikes are highly durable and easy to maintain.

At Fitnessgiant.com, we have an excellent selection of exercise bikes, both upright and recumbent. You'll be amazed at how economical this option is for your cardio fitness program. The 4600 Recumbent Exericse Bike, for example, offers magnetic resistance, adjustable arms and a multi-function electronic meter for feedback, yet costs under $300. The Conversion II offers both a recumbent exercise bike and a rower in one piece of equipment. Visit our site and see all the other options available to you. And if we don't have exactly the machine you want, we'll get it for you.

Free Weights

In Olympic weightlifting, there are only two events, which every contestant must do. These are the two-handed snatch and the two-handed clean and jerk. In the snatch, the bar is pulled from the floor and extended to full arm's length overhead in one motion. The best lifters can lift 2.5 times their own body weight in this event. In the clean and jerk, there are two steps. First the bar is lifted to shoulder level, then fired into the full arm's length. Since the lift is accomplished in two stages, more weight can be lifted, and the best lifters can lift three times their weight.

For most people, training with free weights isn't so much about developing power in these two techniques as about firming up and defining muscles and increasing endurance. Using free weights, simple sets and the pyramid system. Simple sets use lighter weights for more repetitions, while the pyramid system increases the load and reduces the reps. Simple sets are the only method recommended for any but the most advanced lifters, since it allows you to lift with better form and less risk of injury. No matter what technique you use, be sure to warm up effectively and allow muscle groups recovery time between workouts.

At Fitnessgiant.com, we offer an excellent variety of free weight sets. We have Olympic weights in sets of 300, 400 and 500 lbs., in a variety of plate styles. We also carry traditional, Duracast and lightweight sets, so you can find the most appropriate equipment for your needs. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. We'd love to help.