Truly fast and more permanent results always come with some type of plan. An inclusive regimen that blends the best of cardio workouts, resistance training and of course nutrition. A meticulous well thought out plan that includes these key elements not only brings fast & long lasting results but it also inspires motivation as well.

The Reasons Home Fitness Programs Fail

Read em and weep because the statistics just don't bode well for a man starting out to get in shape today. Over half will drop out within the first six months and of those who remain, over half again will be gone by the end of the year. The main reason for this can be blamed for the most part, on mistaken beliefs and “common folklore”.

Men who simply fail to properly educate themselves about the subject matter, such as methods of effective and proper warm-up and cooling down, proper lifting speed, heavy weight training, safety and more. They simply go at it in a random fashion and become disenchanted when of course they don't see the results that they had “invisioned”.

The Pre-Workout Home Fitness Warm-Up

The fact is that before any workout, even a light to moderate workout, you absolutely “must” warm up and stretch out your joints, muscles and tendons properly. Doing so will not only intensify your overall performance and hasten recovery time but it will also help to prevent stress and impact injuries.

It relaxes and prepares your muscles, while it induces them to become more elastic. You'll also find that you're more relaxed and far able to “focus” so much more intently during your workout sessions after a proper warm-up. It also functions to enlarge blood vessels and increase blood flow which in turn brings more needed oxygen and nutrients to the muscles.

Two Types Of Warm Up Exercises

For optimal effect, there are two basic types of warm up exercises that must be performed and they are as follows: The first will be some type of light cardio regimen that should be performed for five minutes. The next home fitness warm up routine will be 10 - 20 light weight reps in the muscle groups you intend to focus on.

Use 30% to 40% of the weight that you intend to use for your workout routine and make sure to not become exhausted in any way. Over doing it during your initial warm up phase can in fact be “counterproductive”. The goal you see, is to be fresh and invigorated for your main or primary reps.

Focusing On Muscle Groups

There's just no way around it. To achieve “maximum” & well balanced muscle gain, you simply must select out at least one weight resistance exercise for each major muscle group. Another important element that's all to often ignored, is the order in which these muscle groups are focused on.

Always start with the largest muscles in your body first then successively work your way down to the smallest muscle groups. By doing so, you'll insure that you have the strength and energy that's required when it's time to stress the larger muscles. Try it once in reverse and you can see for yourself how your performance level is lessened.

Home Fitness Speed & Intensity

One of the most important factors and one that's so often ignored by men is the “speed or tempo” of a weight resistance workout routine. Another thing worth noting, is that the tempo at which you lift plays an integral part in preventing injuries, such as muscle and ligament tears.

A slow and even lifting rate or tempo will cause the muscle being stressed to perform more work and will result in less momentum. Also a slow tempo ensures a concentration of force throughout the entire muscle group. It insures a “complete” and entire range of motion in the rep.

It's also well worth noting that the “down” part of a rep is just as, if not more important than the “up” part. This means that a nice even lift up followed buy a smooth even return down in any type of lift means that the entire muscle is being evenly and thoroughly stressed. Always return to your starting position after each lift.

The Most Common Workout Mistakes

So just what are the most common home fitness mistakes that are made? The truth is there are several and not only can they hinder your overall development but some of them can be dangerous. Remember a “danger” doesn't necessarily mean that it's something that can send you to a doctor. A danger can be something that can cause even a minor injury that can simply hinder or interrupt your home fitness program.

The first and most common mistake, is using too much weight. Remember that every session is not the “Olympic tryouts”. For maximum effect, use the amount of weight that you can do a rep of ten lifts with. This doesn't mean that you can't test yourself from time to time but bear in mind that maximum weight means maximum risk of muscle and ligament tears.

The second common mistake that you will see people doing is “bouncing or swinging” the weights. It's most commonly done on chest lifts where the weights are bounced up off the chest but it can be done in other types of reps as well. Don't do it. It negates from the intent of a rep and also can result in tears from the down-side of the bounce.

The third very common home fitness mistake is “abusing” your back during any type of exercise or routine. Never arch your back or over rely on your back for support. If you're bending or straining your back unnaturally, you're simply gambling with your health. Back injuries can happen in a split second and may never heal even with surgery.

The fourth mistake that you may find yourself making is training and lifting at too fast a pace. It's just so easy to do. You get your momentum up, the music is blasting, you got your groove on and all you're thinking is “go-go-go”. Take a little bit of time to unwind between reps and try to time yourself so you keep a good steady, even pace.

Nutrition and Body Building

Any home fitness program must include some type of nutrition plan as well. It's simply impossible to cover such a complex topic here but what I can tell is what not to do. Don't diet when your attempting to add muscle bulk and don't go on any drastic fad programs. “Do” buy a good book on the topic from a reputable source and read it.

Nutrition is like good looks. Everybody can use a little improvement, so if you think your diet is perfect and you're “good to go”, then for sure you need to delve into the subject. There's just so much that is known now and remember that what you eat is what your body will be building its self back up with.

See larger image Men's Health: The Book of Muscle : The World's Most Authoritative Guide to Building Your Body (Hardcover) By (author) Lou Schuler, Ian King List Price: $35.00 USD New From: $16.60 In Stock Used from: $14.51 In Stock

Buy Fitness Equipment You Will Use

So how then, how can you be sure that you're getting the absolute best buy for the money that you spend? Also how can you be assured that what you buy will end up being used regularly? After all, so much of what is sold today ends up languishing unused or not being used to optimal effect.

You Don't Have to Spend a Lot of Money

The fact is that the amount of money that you spend, doesn't nessecarily correspond directly with delivered results in all cases. This is because in the end, it's you, not the equipment that ends up providing the results, if any. What this means is that if you shop smart when you buy fitness equipment, you can get quality gear that delivers results without having to spend a lot of money.

Take a Look at Some Newer Developments

Consider taking a look at some of the newer developments that have come about in very economical equipment that has in fact been getting great reviews. Smaller lighter workout tools that also take up far less room. In fact, all things considered, you don't even need a separate room in your home or apartment to create your own private gym now.

The Perfect Ergonomic Pushup

The Perfect Pushup is but one way to buy fitness equipment on a budget. What they are is two separate round rotating devices with rotating handles on them that you use to push yourself off the floor. They make for the perfect ergonomic pushup and the surprising thing about them, is that they only cost around $30.

See larger image Bowflex SelectTech 1090 Single Dumbbell (Sports) List Price: $399.00 USD New From: $299.50 In Stock

A Better Padded Rubber Floor Mat

Take padded floor mats as fine example. If you're like most people you might be drawn to mats like the Bowflex home gym rubber mat or another similar brand name mat. What you may not know, is that there's a better option available right down at your local livestock feed and grain store.

Thicker - Heavier - Better

It's thick and heavy sectional mats that fit together like puzzle pieces. These mat sections can be purchased as you need them and are a whole lot more durable then your standard brand name gym floor mats. Their made for the floors of horse stalls and are about an inch thick.

The Perfect Ergonomic Pushup

Another fitness equipment home gym accessory item that's been getting rave reviews is the “Perfect Pushup”. What it is, is a set of rotating handles that cost only around $30 that are used to perform the “perfect ergonomic” pushup. Rather than your hands being stationary, they rotate as you push your body up. Worth looking into!

The Ultimate Doorway Pull-Up Bar

Another highly rated fitness equipment home gym accessory item in the $30 range is the “Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar”. It's so simple. It quickly pops into a doorway for doing three types of pull ups and pops right out when you're through. No screws or bolts because it's your own body weight that keeps it snug in place. Great reviews!

See larger image Bowflex Revolution FT Home Gym (Sports) List Price: Price Not Listed New From: Check Amazon For Pricing In Stock Used from: $1,825.00 In Stock Release date October 12, 2007.

So Much to Chose From

It's pick and choose from a vast trove of machines and devices now. Of course there is the classic free weights that through it all, haven't become even close to obsolete by any means. However; once you venture beyond free weights, the sky is pretty much the limit with regards that all that modern innovation and technology now have to offer. Home gyms, weight training machines, cardio equipment, running, walking and peddling machines and the list just seems to go on and on and on.

Exercise Hasn't Gotten Any Easier

There are however, a few things that you should be aware of before you sign on the dotted line for any piece of home fitness equipment though and the most important fact being that no piece of machinery as of yet makes exercising any easier. That's right! The old “no pain, no gain” rule still applies, so the first item to scratch off your list is any device that promise results with little or no effort and there are a few of them out there.

Beware of False Promises

If you haven't yet heard of these type of devices then consider yourself fortunate. They're an insult to ones intelligence and they generally consist of some type of electrical contraption that delivers a small shock to the body part it's attached to. The result is muscle twitches and this is supposed to cause in increased strength and body mass and even weight loss. Believe it. If there was so much as an ounce of truth to their claims, every weight loss and fitness center on the planet would be out of business tomorrow.

Assessing Your Options

So then, just what are your options and how can you get the absolute best results from what you do finally settle with in home fitness equipment? The fact is that if you didn't know it already, you do now and that is that while there are no guarantees there are however some valuable nuggets of wisdom that you can incorporate in your decision making process. Tips that those who have achieved success have passed along for people like yourself to use if you choose to.

Do What You Like to Do

“Do what you like to do”. Now that may sound very simplistic but it is really quite amazing how many people fail to take this simple bit of advise into account. The selection in home fitness equipment is so vast today that no mater what activity suits you best, you can easily find a machine or device that can replicate that activity in your home. Running, walking, riding a bike, rowing, stair climbing, weight lifting, boxing. It's all there and I'm sure there are a few more that I left out as well.

Don't Fall for Slick Advertising

The advertisers who promote home fitness equipment today are far more sophisticated than they ever were in the past. It's not just the pictures of the perfect specimens of humanity that they show on their equipment that you have to worry about either. Easy payment plans are rife on the Internet for instance but without exception that will have interest rates up around 25%. Pay no mind to customer reviews that attest to astounding results or incredible weight loss either. Most of them are simply written up by web site owners themselves.

Buy Home Fitness Equipment You Can Afford

So stay within your budget and always go with top quality gear. If you're not operating on a big budget then consider going with a nice set of weights for instance, rather than a lower quality piece of complex equipment that's only going to break down in the coming months or years. Also don't forget that there is a huge market in used and refurbished home fitness equipment now. Still yet, another thing that too many people have forgotten about is deals that can be found in their local newspapers classifieds.

See larger image Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells (Sports) List Price: $549.00 USD New From: $398.99 In Stock Used from: $395.00 In Stock Release date August 21, 2008.

Stamina InStride Electronic Stepper List Price: $90.00 Sale Price: $54.00 You save: $36.00 (40%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Rating:

Description

Limited in space but still want a great cardiovascular workout? Look no further than the Stamina InStride electronic stepper, which offers a footprint of only 12 inches wide by 16 inches long. As a result, you can use your InStride stepper just about anywhere--in front of the TV, while on the phone, in your sunroom, outside on the patio, or even at work...

Features

• Electronic stair stepper that takes up a mere 192 square inches of space
• Small enough to fit in a corner, in front of the TV, or in a travel bag
• 2 hydraulic cylinders create stepping motion to boost cardio
• Battery-operated fitness monitor times each workout and counts steps
• Measures 12 inches wide by 16 inches long; weighs 20 pounds

It has really only been in the past decade or so that the technology in fitness machines of all types has gone through their most notable advancements. This doesn't mean that there weren't fitness machines prior to that because there were lots of them. It just means that in more recent times they have become more advanced in their functions and features and also frankly, more durable.

An Amazingly Broad Range of Prices

The stair stepper is a fine example of this. For example to begin with the range in all the various makes and models is absolutely incredible now. It's not just the number of types, but the price range as well. For instance, you can now find a simple working mini stair stepper being sold at WallMart with a price tag in the area of $50.

The Inexpensive Mini Stair Stepper

The $5,000 StairMaster By StepMill

Then the very top model currently on the market is the StepMill, made by StairMaster and it features a a price tag of a little over $5,000. Of course there are many more types and models in between these two extremes in prices but it just goes to show the incredibly broad range in diversity that's out there on what is in effect the same machine.

So Just what Defines a Stair Stepper?

Well almost the same machine. This is because in truth, what actually defines a stair stepper isn't in the machines themselves but rather the stair stepping motions that you're legs are doing when using them. In the end, this is why there is such diversity in price, form and feature functions in this one particular category of fitness machine.

The StepMill By StairMaster

Do You Really Need a Stair Stepper Downstairs?

This is also a great time to point out one other very important fact that you may want to consider. This is that given that the stair stepper is so singular in its functions. That is that it will really only allow you to do stair stepping exercises. If you have a set of stairs available in or near your home, you may want to consider that you're money may be better invested elsewhere.

Perhaps Other Types of Fitness Gear?

After all, do bear in mind that the machine is going to take up space and if you have nice set of stairs already, why not consider making better use of that space and money on perhaps something like a compact weight resistance machine or a treadmill for instance?