If you want to start doing cardio training at home in order to help you meet your goals of improving your fitness levels, losing weight or just generally increasing your vitality then getting a piece of home cardio equipment should be at the top of your list.
If you’ve used any of the cardio machines in a gym such as the treadmill, the elliptical trainer or the stationary bike then you might have assumed that it would cost a large amount of money to get a piece of equipment of this type for your home. The reason you might have made this assumption is that the fitness equipment in the gym is for commercial use and is therefore more robust and kitted out with all kinds of features and settings to suit every type or trainer and their specific needs.
The good news is that buying a piece of home cardio equipment needn’t be an expensive ordeal and if you are prepared to shop around and reduce your expectations a little you can get a great piece of home gym equipment at a low price.
Why Do Cardio at Home?
Before you decide to hand over your hard earned cash for something like this you should be clear on exactly why you want to do cardio exercises at home. There are loads of great reasons to do so though so if you have the space and the budget then getting one of these machines can really increase the amount of time you have available to train as you care no longer constrained by the opening hours of the gym or the weather outside being suitable. Some reasons for choosing to workout at home include:
- Being able to train at any time of the day or night whenever you choose
- Not having to join a gym and pay expensive membership fees or travel back and forth each time you want to train
- Make it easy for the whole family to improve their fitness or lose weight by providing them with an exercise machine
- Do something else at the same time as exercising such as watching TV, reading or even some work at your desk!
The above are just some of the great reasons as to why you might want to start doing cardio training at home as opposed to the gym. But now the question is what type of home exercise equipment should you go for and how much will it cost?
The Best Home Fitness Equipment
As I mentioned earlier in this article the cardio machines you might be familiar with from the gym are of a commercial standard and are designed to be used non-stop for many years by all types of people of different abilities and sizes.
You probably don’t have the budget or the space at home to install a full sized commercial treadmill and there is no need for you to do so as your goals can still be achieved on a more modest piece of equipment.
If you must do running training then the budget treadmills won’t be as good as the commercial versions but they are still worth looking into but if you really want the best value for money home fitness equipment then you should consider getting a small or folding exercise bike. The reasons you should consider getting a folding stationary bicycle is that they offer the best combination of low cost, high quality and minimal space requirements.
The Advantages of Folding Exercise Bikes
So if you really want a piece of home exercise equipment that is easy to store away when not in use and won’t take up half of your living room when you are using it then you should definitely consider a folding exercise bicycle. If you are on a budget they are great because they can be purchased for as little as $130 for a well-regarded model with lots of positive customer reviews such as the Confidence Fitness Space Saving X Bike which is great for endurance training and fat burning steady state cardio sessions. As these compact exercise bikes are easy to setup and move around they are great for those who want to vary the places they do their cardio such as in front of the TV, looking out the window or even out in the garden when the weather is nice. They don’t require any power from the mains so you don’t have to worry about trailing leads and bearing near to a power outlet to do a workout. There are a number of options to choose from such as the aforementioned Confidence Fitness Space Saving X Bike to the quirky but ingenious FitDesk X Compact Pedal Desk which actually has a stand to hold your laptop allowing you to workout while working or playing games on your computer!
Other Convenient Home Cardio Solutions
If a folding exercise bike doesn’t appeal to you then you might want to consider a non-folding compact exercise bike but if cycling really isn’t your thing then there are still lots of great budget options to choose from.
Budget Rowing Machines for Home Cardio
While these budget rowers can be just as affordable as the foldable exercise bikes they do take up rather a lot more space but if you feel you would prefer to row and would be more likely to use this type of equipment, then taking up a bit more space is a worthwhile sacrifice. Rowing is not only a great way to get fit and burn calories but it can also be an excellent way to tone your upper body and tighten up any lose bits such as you upper arms and back.
You can view the best-selling home rowing machines by clicking here now.
Mini Steppers for Home Cardio on a Budget
These devices take up even less space than the folding stationary bikes but are a little harder to use and require quite a bit of stamina to master. But these are good things as it means you are getting a great workout that can really help to tone your upper legs as well as burn those unwanted calories. They are also probably the cheapest option so along with taking up the least space they also cost the least.
For the most popular mini steppers click here now.
Home Elliptical Trainers for a Real Workout
A home elliptical trainer at a price that will suit most budgets is never going to be a good as the commercial grade elliptical trainers you will find at a gym but for a reasonable price you can still get a good value product that will suit those who don’t like running, cycling or rowing but still want to get fit without overusing their joints. Something like the Horizon Fitness EX-59 Elliptical Trainer doesn’t cost the Earth and gets good reviews from happy customers and is definitely worth a look if you feel that one of these machines will get more use from you than the other types of home cardio equipment.
There are some very cheap elliptical trainers on the best-seller list which you can view here.
Home Vibration Platform Machines for Something Different
If you want to try something different at home and get in shape without expending too much effort then you might want to give these home vibration platform machines a try. They aren’t that cheap and do take up quite a bit of space and aren’t easy to move around although there are mini versions available such as the very affordable Mini Crazy Fit Whole Body Massager for those with space concerns.
There are lots of different types of vibration trainers to choose from which you can see here.
The Best Home Cardio Equipment for You
As you can see there are lots of options available when it comes to choosing a piece of home cardio equipment and they all have their pros and their cons but at the end of the day the best machine will be the one that you will use the most.
There is no point getting the most expensive treadmill if you aren’t going to use it and would’ve been better off with a $100 mini exercise bike you would’ve used a few times a week.
So when it comes to making your choice, be honest with yourself and pick one that is likely to get the most use rather than the one which looks the best and has the most positive customer reviews.
If you want to get in shape at home and don’t have the space for any cardio machines then take a look at some of our other home training articles such as:
- Working out at home on a budget
- How to get in shape at home without cardio machines
- Why weight training is the best way to lose weight for everyone
We hope you found this article helpful and if you have any questions please leave a comment below.
If your idea of a relaxing evening doesn’t involve going to the gym and pounding away on the treadmills or exercise bikes then you can still achieve your fitness goals of losing fat and getting in shape without ever setting foot in a gym or leaving the house.
Cardio training is an excellent way to improve your fitness levels which has great health benefits but it is also an ideal way to burn off those calories. Doing a cardio session in the evening after a hard day at work can be quite difficult to get motivated for but if you combine it with watching your favorite film or TV show then it can make it much more tolerable. If you are watching something engrossing then you might even forget you are doing any exercise at all! If you pick a show that it a set amount of time then you can workout alongside it and be sure you get your allotted amount of exercise in. Pick a 30 minute show for a quick workout and something lengthier for a more thorough workout. But what equipment do you need to get in a cardio workout in front of the TV?
The mini exercise bike is perhaps the archetypal piece of home workout equipment for those who want to get in a home cardio session while doing something else such as working at their desk or sitting in front of the television. Due to their relatively low cost and small size they aren’t a large investment in terms of cost or space requirements and they can easily be stored away when not in use. They are very simple to operate and don’t require any setup once they have been initially assembled. This means you can quickly whip out your mini exercise bike when you decide it’s time for a workout and get straight to work without having to fiddle with any settings or additional equipment. You can either sit on your sofa or settee and place this piece of small exercise equipment in front of you or you can use it while sitting at a desk with the mini stationary bike at your feet under the desk. These mini exercise bikes can also be used to train your arms if you place them on a desk or table but for the best results we recommend you operate them with your legs but it is nice to have an extra option for your workouts. These products would make a great choice for someone who works at a desk all day and would like to burn off calories while they work as well as being perhaps the perfect accessories for a productive evening of television viewing.
When most people start working out their initial goal is to “lose weight” but this phrase can be misleading as what their actual goal is is to lose fat. In fact they might not even really want to lose any weight at all!
Use a tape measure to measure the key parts of your body. Choose the main areas of your body you think that would give you a good indication of whether you are losing fat or not such as your belly, hips, thighs and upper arms. Make sure you measure yourself in exactly the same positions each time. A good idea is to measure yourself at the widest point, so for your belly find where you are the biggest and measure there each time. Do this once a month to allow enough time to pass for there to be a noticeable change and don’t get despondent if there isn’t a change as when it comes to getting in shape patience is definitely a virtue. If you are doing weight training as well as cardio which you really should be as it is 
Take a photo of yourself at regular intervals to record the change in your body’s composition. If you are quite overweight then at first you will notice your fat deposits starting to reduce in size and visibility and then once you get to a low body fat percentage which could be less than 20% for men and maybe under 30% for women you will then see some muscle tone and definition start to become visible. This is where your weight loss might start to slow but do not worry! This means you are still losing fat but are gaining lean mass or muscle which will keep your weight level or even increasing but will result in a great new look which is toned, healthy and athletic looking. Try to ensure you take the photo in the same place such as the bathroom or the changing rooms at the gym to keep it consistent as different lighting and positions can make it harder to determine if there are any changes from photo to photo. I wish I started doing this when I first decided to get in shape as it can be a great motivator for you to see how far you’ve come and when you don’t feel like going to the gym a quick look at the photos of yourself looking fat and out of shape can give you that 
Measuring your body fat is probably the best way to keep track of your fat loss progress but it is also quite tricky to do, especially by yourself. The cheapest and easiest way to get a measurement is to use a pair of 
Undoubtedly the hardest part of reaching your goals whether they are losing weight, getting fit, increasing your strength or putting on some muscle is staying motivated for long enough to keep on training or eating the right foods.
If your goal is to lose weight or put on some quality muscle mass then take a photo of yourself now or find one of you looking less than flattering and pin that image up around the house. I am currently using a photo of me from a holiday a while ago on the beach with my top off looking larger than I thought I was! I’ve set this image as my computers desktop background and also printed a copy out and stuck it on the fridge. This means when I am on the computer and look at the desktop or press the alt and tabs keys to scroll through the open windows I get to see myself at my worst.
Most people have some idea of how they want to look when they have reached their goals and if you need motivation to lose weight or gain some muscle then this fitness motivational tip works wonders. When you are scheduled to go to the gym but just don’t have the drive or motivation to set off simply fire up Google Image search and type in something like 
Once you speak your goals out loud and tell other people about them they become real and take on a life of their own. At worst no one will be that interested but at least the goal has now been spoken and it will motivate you on to reach it now that other people know about it. By sharing your goals you might just get someone interested enough to keep checking on your progress to see how you are doing. Having someone on your back and keeping an eye on you can really help you stay motivated when you don’t feel like training or skipping that extra slice of cake.
This might sound a bit airy fairy but it is still worth a try and keeps you in a positive state of mind which is very important. If your goal is to lose weight and no longer be fat don’t focus on how you hate being fat but focus on how great it will be when you are thinner. If you want to lift heavier weights don’t focus on how much you can lift now but focus on how much weight you want to lift. This goes for other things too. If you want more money then don’t say to yourself “I don’t want to be poor” but say “I want to be rich”. Just thinking about negative words like fat, weak or poor will put you into a negative state of mind which will zap you of your motivation. Make sure you goals are positive such as:
There is nothing like a bit of instant gratification to keep you on the straight and narrow and when it comes to workout motivational tips there is no exception. Set mini goals and targets such as hitting a certain weight on the scales, reaching a specific dress size or doing a set number of workouts in a week whether that means hitting the gym or working out at home. Make sure your goals are specific and that you know when they are reached and not vague targets like ‘eat healthy food this week’ ‘go to the gym as much as possible’ or ‘look good naked’. Those are all subjective and you can talk yourself into thinking you have met them when perhaps you haven’t. Keep the goals specific!
Having some money on the line is a great motivator for all sorts of goals, targets and objectives. If I told you to go to the gym every day for a year you’d probably tell me that that was impossible for you as you are far too busy and couldn’t possibly spare the time. If I told you I’d give you a million dollars if you went to the gym every day for a year you’d magically find the time. Well I’m sorry to break it to you but I’m not going to offer you any money and I don’t think anyone else will. But having a friendly bet with a friend that you can reach a certain goal should keep you motivated to lose weight or get faster, bigger or stronger. You can challenge each other to both meet a goal or you can be the only one with a goal and make it a simple bet: I bet you I can do 100 press-ups by Christmas. Again, make sure the goal is specific so there is no room for your partner to weasel their way out of it.
Find a local event that matches you goals and sign up for it. If you goal is to run faster then sign up for a running race. If you want to get toned and in shape then sign up for a wet t-shirt contest. Make sure the event or competition is related to your goal so you are working not only towards your goal but to avoiding public humiliation at the event you have registered for.
If you just can’t get yourself down the gym and these motivational tips did nothing for you and you still need motivation to lose weight or get in shape then hand over some of your hard earned cash for a personal trainer. Knowing there is someone waiting for you to arrive and will call you up when you don’t make an appearance at the gym should keep even the most unmotivated people focused on the task in hand. Plus the amount of money you will lose by not showing up will be an extra motivating factor.
If you want to lose weight and get in great shape while training at home without the need for expensive cardio equipment or doing boring cardio exercises then this article is for you.
A vigorous workout with weights burns almost as many calories as a cardio workout but one of the two main benefits of training with weights is that during the hour or two after your training session your body has a metabolic spike which means that your body continues to burn calories at an accelerated rate even if you have finished working out and are sitting down relaxing. Your body burns these extra calories in a bid to help your muscles recover from the weight lifting exercises you have just performed.
Although the information in this article can be applied to people training in a gym the main purpose of this piece was to show you that even if you want to train at home and your goal is to get in great shape then you can do so without the need to do cardio at home.