More than 160 millions Americans, according to Health Data, are overweight or obese. Considered by doctors and medical experts to be one of the biggest health issues facing the US, being overweight and inactive comes with health issues and dangerous–perhaps even deadly–complications. From heart attacks to high cholesterol, nerve damage to atrophied muscles, being overweight is a serious problem.
Fortunately, people want to lose weight. Gallup reports that half of all American adults have expressed the desire to lose weight.
The only problem is a lack of effort. Though so many people want to shed pounds and adopt a healthier lifestyle, the same Gallup poll points out that less than 25% of those who want to lose weight actually try to do so.
With many people lacking regular access to a fitness center, it can be hard to start working out and adopt a weight loss plan. However, you can purchase exercise equipment for your home–meaning you can easily workout in your living room, basement, or even backyard.
We’ve rounded up the 4 best at-home exercise machines to help you lose weight and improve your overall health.
1. Treadmill
Walking and jogging are both excellent forms of exercise to boost the metabolism and burn calories. While some people prefer to walk or jog outdoors, the weather doesn’t always work in our favor. An at-home treadmill provides convenience for those times when bad weather forces you to exercise indoors. Additionally, many people find it helpful to be able to workout in short intervals.
Treadmills also offer a lot of versatility in terms of getting a good calorie burn for the time spent working out. For example, simply changing the speed or the incline of the treadmill can drastically affect the total number of calories you burn per session. This also keeps each workout exciting and, in turn, prevents exercise boredom. A treadmill can be set up anywhere within your home–you can even place it in front of the television to encourage you to spend more time exercising each day.
2. Rowing Machine
Rowing machines provide a perfect total body workout, engaging both your upper and lower body while you exercise. Designed to simulate the body movements made when rowing a boat, these machines burn a lot of calories as you work all the major muscle groups.
Rowing machines are a great choice for those who are just beginning to exercise or those who are severely overweight. Since your workout is performed in a seated position, there’s no strain on your legs or knees. This can allow you to lose a moderate amount of weight before you try other forms of cardiovascular exercise that can place more of a burden on the joints.
3. Stationary Bike
Stationary bikes are a fun way to squeeze cardiovascular exercise into your busy day. Stationary bikes are usually much more affordable than treadmills or ellipticals, another bonus for people on a budget.
Stationary bikes are fantastic for individuals who are just getting started with an exercise program or those who have suffered an injury of some type. There’s less strain on the legs, knees, and lower back. Stationary bikes make it easy to read a book while losing weight and getting fit too. Newer stationary bike models even offer interval training routines to keep your workouts exciting.
4. Elliptical Machines
Elliptical machines activate all the major muscles of the lower body including the glutes, thighs, and calves. Using the elliptical properly also engages your core for an effective full-body workout.
A major benefit to elliptical machines is that they provide a fluid and smooth motion. This means there is virtually no pressure placed on the joints of the hips, knees, or ankles. However, you are still standing to perform the workout which burns more calories. Increase the machine’s resistance setting and you’ll create a more challenging workout that burns even more calories, resulting in effective weight loss and muscle building.
Get Weight Loss Started With an At-Home Exercise Machine
As you can see, each of these 4 exercise machines offers its own unique benefits to boost weight loss and improve your health. Remember, the most effective piece of exercise equipment is one you’ll use regularly.
Before you buy, it’s important to evaluate your interests when it comes to exercise and choose the machine that best aligns with your goals. The exercise machines mentioned here are all great options for a home gym that will put you on the path toward reaching your weight loss goals.
