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The Best Home Exercise Machines For Getting Fit (And Why)

Exercise is vital in keeping well both mentally and physically. It boosts mood, relives stress and improves memory. It helps you look good and feel fit. When we think of exercise, the places our minds conjure up include brightly-lit gyms, running tracks and aerobics centers.

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But the right equipment can help you get the same effects from the comfort and convenience of your home. What is the right equipment? Let’s take a look:

1. Treadmills

Treadmills are easy to use. They provide an efficient aerobic workout and are a great option for anyone looking to lose weight and get fit. Treadmills allow you to set and maintain your desired pace, so they can be effectively used by family members with different exercise requirements. Some of the benefits of using a  treadmill include:

  • Reduced impact. Treadmills provide a relatively soft surface for your feet (unlike, say, a concrete road). Modern treadmills are even equipped with shock absorption, further reducing the impact on your joints.
  • Heart health. Treadmills improve circulation and reduce bad cholesterol, like any good cardio workout.
  • Better bone density. As a result, you are better equipped to fight diseases like osteoporosis.
  • Easy to use. Treadmills require virtually no set up to get started. You can easily adjust your workout level by pushing a couple of buttons.

2. Elliptical cross-trainers

These are fundamental gym equipment and provide exercise that mimics walking, running and climbing stairs, giving you a full body workout. Other benefits include:

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  • Accelerated weight loss. Cross-trainers burn fat faster than a stationary cycle, for instance.
  • Full body workout. A cross-trainer works all your muscles, providing a full-body workout where you can exercise your arm, leg and stomach muscles simultaneously.
  • Joint protection. Cross-trainer workouts are impact-free which makes them a great option for people who experience joint problems.

3. Rowing machines

Rowing machines use up to 86 per cent of your muscles, increasing endurance, strength and muscle definition. Like cross-trainers, they provide a full body workout. Other benefits include:

  • Accessible to beginners and experts. You don’t need to be a regular gym-goer to use a rowing machine effectively. It’s also a safe option for people with vision problems.
  • Excellent cardiovascular exercise. It’s good for the heart as well as the lungs, and regular rowing has been shown to improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
  • Low-impact. This makes it safe to use for people with joint problems.

4. Punching bags

Life makes us all want to throw punches, so you may as well get a workout out of it. Punching bags require very little space and provide a full body workout that has benefits that stretch beyond toned arms.

  • Part workout, part self defense strategy. Punching bags will give you a great workout but they’ll also give you something else: the ability to defend yourself in a dangerous situation with a couple of well-placed punches and the confidence that comes with skill.
  • Better balance and coordination. This means better balance in your everyday life. It cuts the risk of falling and injuring yourself, which is especially valuable for older people.

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