I don’t live anywhere near an organized gym.
- There was now way to keep a membership.
I wasn’t willing to drive over 40 minutes each way. Instead, I set up a home gym. Initially, I only had very little equipment. I invested into basics, including some hand weights, a yoga mat, kettlebells and resistance bands. I eventually bought a jump rope, mini trampoline and an incline bench. I saved up to afford a more expensive piece of equipment. Before spending my money, I spent some time on research. I don’t have a ton of space, so I needed to be sure I’d be entirely satisfied with my choice of machines. I originally planned to buy a treadmill because running is an especially beneficial workout. The drawback is that running is tough on the joints. There is a significant impact on the knees, ankles and feet. I started checking into various types of stationary bikes on the market. The advantage of a bike is that there is no impact on the joints. I wasn’t happy that a bike only works the legs. I finally bought an elliptical. The elliptical offers all of the benefits I want with none of the drawbacks. It’s one of the only types of machines that involves both arms and legs. I can increase both resistance and exertion. Operation is nearly silent, which makes it so that I can workout at any time of day or night. I don’t bother anyone. The machine doesn’t require much space and doesn’t put stress on my knees, ankles or feet. I chose a model that includes a touchscreen, a variety of programs and tracks my distance, time and calories burned. A built-in fan provides cool air, and there is a convenient holder for my water bottle.