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Work! Kids! Errands! With today’s increasingly packed schedules, who has time to go to the health club constantly? One way to supplement your health club workout is to purchase fitness equipment and workout at home.

With the tremendous variety of fitness equipment now available, deciding which machines to select can be daunting, so consider the following:

Budget: How much money do you have to spend? The saying "You get what you pay for," directly applies to fitness equipment. Compromising here won’t pay off in the long run, as lower cost equipment can give you a poor exercise experience, and / or break down fairly easily so you won’t get the results you want. If you are serious about exercising, spend more money up front so you will be more likely to enjoy the machines for years. Consider this purchase as an investment in your health.

Physical Space: How much room do you have? You’ll want everything to fit comfortably. In addition to measuring floor space, note ceiling height, as some home gyms may be tall. Bring these dimensions with you when shopping.

Your Goals and Preferences: Do you want to burn fat or do you want to strengthen and tone? Do you prefer a treadmill, a stationary bike, or an elliptical cross trainer? Are you more likely to use free weights such as dumbbells or selectorized machines? If you don’t know, purchase a guest pass at a local health club and try different pieces. Many high quality health club equipment manufacturers, such as Life Fitness also produce similar models for home use.

You will find higher quality products and greater selection at fitness equipment specialty businesses rather than at general sporting goods stores. Fitness equipment specialty businesses often have certified fitness professionals (make sure you ask) who can serve as consultants in selecting, setting up, using, and maintaining your equipment.

What are the best pieces of fitness equipment to purchase? According to Gregory Florez, President of Fitness First Inc., a company that specializes in testing fitness equipment and in home personal training, the best ones are those that you will use consistently.

"Although treadmills are popular, you may prefer a stationary bike or a stair climber’" says Florez. "Consider what activities you like or find interesting to help identify the best equipment for you. For example, did you like riding a bicycle when you were young? Does cross country skiing interest you? Questions like these can help you buy something you will like and use on an ongoing basis."

In addition to treadmills, bicycles, and stair climbers for fat burning, elliptical cross training machines, and rowing machines are good choices that can also work the upper body. For weight training, choose from multi unit home gyms, free weight systems, benches and dumbbells. Some companies such as Vectra make a full line of home strength equipment to meet your needs.

Take your running shoes or workout clothes and try each machine for several minutes to determine what you prefer. Also ask about warranties, service technicians and spare parts. Manufacturers who expect their products to last, back them up, and you need to deal with a company who will be there to help you after the sale has been made.

Once your home gym is set up, commit to use it regularly. You may find that you have even more energy than before to handle your work, the kids, and errands!