Essential home fitness investments for newbies?

buffalodaughter

I've decided to treat myself to a bit of shopping for Mother's Day and want to pick up some workout equipment tonight. I don't have much weight to lose but I'm terribly out of shape and working on getting healthy and trim. Does anyone have suggestions for initial purchases? Anything to avoid? I know I want to focus on strength training but I'm clueless about what type of weights to start out with.
For a HRM I was considering the budget friendly Omron brand from Target:
http://www.target.com/p/Omron-Heart-Rate-Monitor-with-3-Functions/-/A-11003432

Thanks in advance. :flowerforyou:

scrappy25

30 day shred video and a pair of 3 lb weights. Yoga mat so you don't get your carpet sweaty. Time nd determination to work out regularly.

rininger85

depends on how much money you are looking to spend... I ended up buying myself a treadmill and a new weight machine that admittedly sat idle for the past few months that I've had them, but now that I made the decision to get in shape and lose weight I've been using them regularly and its a lot easier than paying for a gym membership and trying to get the motivation to go to the gym I bought both of them at wal-mart, don't think they were terribly expensive but then again I don't know your money situation or how much you want to spend...

my weight machine:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Gold-s-Gym-XRS-30-System/17164463

my treadmill:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Gold-s-Gym-Trainer-410-Treadmill/17164498

JMPerlin

I find that a good couple of resistance bands are indispensable, you can do anything with them that you can do with a weight and they are inexpensive.

BubbleGumKisses

I'm interested in gettinhg some adjustable kettle bells, and i just ordered a motiva pink heart rate monitor for 70$ from amazon.... I stay home and Don't go to a gym, so I watch youtube videos and use small weights on my yoga mat at home... also do lots of walking, hoping to graduate to jogging eventually!! Good luck! it works!

SLBry6024

you need to know what you are able to do. Are you Hard core or easy core type of person. for me I love the kettlebel workout. youget strength and weight train in one plus you work your whole body. but just remember find what work for you

photojunk

A small set of weights 1lb-5lbs a stability ball, yoga mat, a step ( you can use it for cardio and strength).
A good HRM and 30 day shred

skybird455

for me, I work out only at home. I can not live with out my exercise ball and free weights (up to 75lbs). I get full range of motion on the ball lifting as opposed to a bench...takes practice, but those will cost you for both under 50$. I also do HIIT on a treadmill but that was a larger purchase ;0)

MummyOfSeven

I have my HRM, a set of dumb-bells (1.1, 2.3 and 4.5kg) and a yoga mat.
I use the weights when I'm doing various exercises on the Wii, gives me a better workout and burns more calories.
I also have a cross trainer, named Lucifer, that I use to hang coats on ;-)

sthrnchick

My most essentials are weights... I have free weights and dumb bells. As far as cardio... I prefer to run/briskly walk!

victoria4321

Unless you're recovering from an injury, I'd skip any weights below 8lbs. For a newbie working out at home you can do everything you need to get started with just body weight work outs. So push up, pull ups with a chair (you need a pull up bar for this), balance moves, body weight squats, etc etc. There's a lot you can do on the cheap. Another good idea could be a TRX suspension system. I don't have one personally but I took a free class at the gym and it was really good.

amnsetie

I have been told HRM don't work too well for weight work. Spend the money on the weights.
Start with two small dumbells. lift them in the shop to see what weight to start with. As you get stronger buy larger ones and use the smaller ones for other exercises.
Some people start by lifting things already in the pantry. That's ok too if they fit well in your hands.

and what Victoria said.

zenchild

First thing I got was 30DS and a set of adjustable hand weights (3-12 pounds). Since then I've added Ripped in 30, 6 Week 6 Pack, a better yoga mat, rollerblades, an Xbox Kinect, and, most recently, a Polar FT 4 heart rate monitor.
The rollerblades have been the most fun, except for that time last fall when I fell and broke my tailbone. Other than that, rollerblades are fantastic.
The heart rate monitor has been incredibly useful. It allows me to know what I'm burning instead of guessing based on MFP estimates. I figure if I'm going to measure my food, I'm going to measure my exercise.
It also helps to have mini-goals to work towards. I'm 2 pounds away from new shoes.

Spanaval

If I could pick out something for myself, I'd invest in a bench and barbells, and a squat rack. Since that's a lot of dough, I started with a bunch of workout videos and hand weights.

CharleneExtreme

Adjustable dumbells!! You can never have too many

amandanzgirl

I have an elliptical I bought a few months back, I use it most days for 20 - 30 minutes mostly.

I am also trying out a few different strength workout DVD's. The 30 day Shred is good. There is also a whole bunch of vids on You Tube you can try. I have a yoga mat for floor exercises and a swiss ball. I also have a light set of dumbells - 1kg/ 1.5kg/ 2.5kg (or 2.2lbs/ 3.3lbs/ 5.5lbs). I am finding it is about all I need at the moment.

DocGu

My most valuable piece of equipment is a half squat rack with an Olympic bar and plates with a flat bench that adjusts to an incline. When you have that as well as a series of dumbells you can do almost anything.

Reliance bands can replace the dumbells in a pinch.