While your body is the only piece of fitness equipment you need, a couple of simple key pieces of equipment can make achieving fitness goals easier and more enjoyable if you know what to get and how to use it.
Exercise balls
An exercise ball is the best thing for more challenging and varied abdominal work – it may look like a faddish gizmo, but it's actually a very good training tool. The big bouncy ball, originally used in rehabilitation, has become a mainstream fitness industry item. It's a ball, seat, bench and stretching rack all in the one.
An exercise ball is great for ‘core training', which means everything between your neck and your pelvis.
Cardio machines
A ‘cardio' machine (equipment for cardiovascular training), such as a treadmill, rowing machine or stationary bike, has many advantages. You can easily get 30 minutes of exercise in, at a time that suits you.
Tips:
- Consider a rent-to-buy program before purchasing a treadmill. It's a great way to see if you'll use it.
- Whether you like to jog, step or row, don't pay retail price for exercise equipment. Look at the ‘For Sale' section of your local newspaper, check out garage sales, or try online auctions.
Dumbbells
Free weights are my number-one choice for resistance training – the guys have it right! They are portable and easily stored, can be adjustable, have a huge range of exercises for the whole body and use more muscles compared with weight training machines as you have to stabilise your movement yourself.
Tip: The main disadvantage is that many exercises require professional instruction to ensure safety and effectiveness and they can take a while to get used to. For free weights to work, you need to lift them slowly against gravity. By changing body positions you use different muscle groups. The exercise ball is handy for this, as is a chair or a bench.
The equipment wish list
- A pair of well-fitting shoes, suited to the activity you're doing.
- An exercise ball – check on the box that it's the right size for your height, and inflate at home with a foot pump.
- A small collection of free weights (dumbbells) – an adjustable set to share with your partner is best.
- Exercise videos for ideas and variety – yoga, pilates, kickboxing, ballroom dancing.
- Cardio equipment such as a treadmill or rowing machine – on loan if possible, until you know you'll use it.
This is an edited extract of ‘Fit & Fabulous For Life After Babies' by Fiona Thomas Hargraves. Published by Allen & Unwin. RRP $35.