set of dumbbells and a “cardio†device such as a treadmill, bike or elliptical trainer.
Of course, the factors that will determine your home equipment choice will depend upon your budget, your fitness goals, your available space and your equipment preference (Ex: treadmill versus stationary bike versus elliptical trainer or barbells versus selectorized home gyms). If space is an issue, some pieces of home equipment are “stowable†and can easily be stored out of sight. And one of the best pieces of equipment that one can buy may be the least expensive—a heart rate monitor! Of course, many home “cardio†devices are already equipped with heart rate monitors and, if not, there are many small portable heart rate monitoring devices that can be worn on the chest, wrist or even the finger to help keep tabs on workout intensity (i.e. heart rate). Another simple yet surprisingly effective monitoring device is a pedometer (an automatic step counter) that helps keeps track of the number of steps or strides that are taken when running or, more commonly, when walking. Walking and counting steps is a great way to ease into a personal fitness program and gradually increase workload as fitness improves.
Whatever equipment you choose, just get started and get moving. Itâ€