Health Tip: Choosing Exercise Equipment
Before you buy home exercise equipment, it's important to make sure you're making the best choice for you and your lifestyle.
Here are things to keep in mind when selecting exercise equipment, courtesy of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:
* Consider the difference between exercising at home, versus joining a gym. Make sure that you're comfortable with doing it at home.
* Consider less expensive options that offer more variety in your exercise. Look for a stand to convert your regular bicycle into a stationary bike, or consider free weights and a bench instead of a resistance machine.
* Choose a place in your home that is pleasant for exercising. Make sure it's well-lit and well-ventilated.
* Make sure you know how to properly use the equipment before bringing it home.
Health Tip: Make Exercise a Daily Habit
Choosing the right exercise program is one of the first steps toward sticking with your exercise goals.
Try these suggestions to make exercise a tough habit to break, provided by the American Academy of Family Physicians:
* Plan to exercise at a certain time every day, so it becomes part of your schedule.
* Write up and sign a contract, where you agree to exercise.
* Mark your calendar with a daily appointment for exercise.
* Keep a diary of all of your exercises. Log everything you do, and your progress.
* Have your doctor write out an exercise prescription, including how much exercise you should do and how often.
* Try joining a health club or gym. Paying a membership fee may prompt you to get your money's worth and go more frequently.
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