Updated May 01, 2014.
If your goal is to lose weight, you probably already have at least some of the key ingredients you need for success: Motivation, a willingness to change, specific goals and a plan to reach those goals. With your mental plans in place, you'll need a few essentials tools to make weight loss a reality. Having the right cardio equipment, strength training gear, clothes and other accessories makes it easy to start and stick with your weight loss program. Find out more about the essentials tools you need to begin your weight loss journey.
If you want to lose weight, strength training is a must. There are a number of strength training benefits including building lean muscle tissue, strengthening your muscles, connective tissue and bones and protecting you from injury. The good news is, you don't need tons of equipment to get a great strength training workout. A basic home gym will include things like dumbbells, an exercise ball, resistance bands and other essential equipment. Below you'll find a comprehensive list of the best home fitness gear to help you get started with strength training.
Like, strength training, cardio is essential for losing weight. Getting your heart rate up on a regular basis strengthens the heart, builds endurance and it burns calories, keeping you on track with your weight loss goals. Also like strength training, you don't need much equipment to get a great cardio workout, but there are some great options out there including treadmills, elliptical trainers, home exercise videos and basic exercises you can do without any equipment at all. Check out your cardio options:
The right clothes can make the difference between a great workout and a very uncomfortable one. If you're planning on exercising regularly, which is what you'll need if you want to lose weight, you'll want clothes that are comfortable, flattering and that will keep you dry and cool or dry and warm, depending on the season. Below you'll find a variety of options for every exercise season:
You don't need many extras to get in a great workout, but there are tools out there that can make exercise more fun and more effective. Having great music to listen to, headphones that stay in place and a heart rate monitor to help you stay in your target heart rate zone are just a few things that will help you get the most out of your exercise time. Below are a few ideas for exercise tools, websites, music players and other gear to consider as you get started with weight loss.
All the gear in the world doesn't do you much good without workouts to follow. If you're just getting started, you may need some guidance for how to set up a complete program that includes cardio, strength training and flexibility workouts. One option is to hire a personal trainer, a good choice if you don't know where to start. You can also use the resources below to find free programs and workouts to get you started on your weight loss journey.
If your goal is to lose weight, you probably already have at least some of the key ingredients you need for success: Motivation, a willingness to change, specific goals and a plan to reach those goals. With your mental plans in place, you'll need a few essentials tools to make weight loss a reality. Having the right cardio equipment, strength training gear, clothes and other accessories makes it easy to start and stick with your weight loss program. Find out more about the essentials tools you need to begin your weight loss journey.
1. Strength Training Gear
If you want to lose weight, strength training is a must. There are a number of strength training benefits including building lean muscle tissue, strengthening your muscles, connective tissue and bones and protecting you from injury. The good news is, you don't need tons of equipment to get a great strength training workout. A basic home gym will include things like dumbbells, an exercise ball, resistance bands and other essential equipment. Below you'll find a comprehensive list of the best home fitness gear to help you get started with strength training.
- Before You Buy Home Fitness Equipment
- Best Home Fitness Equipment
- Reader Favorites: Home Fitness Gear
- Core Strength and Stability Gear
2. Cardio Equipment
Like, strength training, cardio is essential for losing weight. Getting your heart rate up on a regular basis strengthens the heart, builds endurance and it burns calories, keeping you on track with your weight loss goals. Also like strength training, you don't need much equipment to get a great cardio workout, but there are some great options out there including treadmills, elliptical trainers, home exercise videos and basic exercises you can do without any equipment at all. Check out your cardio options:
- Before You Buy a Treadmill
- Before You Buy an Elliptical Trainer
- Best Budget Elliptical Trainers
- Best Budget Treadmills
- Cardio Video Recommendations
- Top Cardio Videos
- Home Cardio Workouts
3. Exercise Clothes and Shoes
The right clothes can make the difference between a great workout and a very uncomfortable one. If you're planning on exercising regularly, which is what you'll need if you want to lose weight, you'll want clothes that are comfortable, flattering and that will keep you dry and cool or dry and warm, depending on the season. Below you'll find a variety of options for every exercise season:
- Spring Exercise Essentials
- Summer Exercise Essentials
- Fall Exercise Essentials
- Winter Exercise Essentials
- How to Buy Athletic Shoes
4. Workout Tools and Accessories
You don't need many extras to get in a great workout, but there are tools out there that can make exercise more fun and more effective. Having great music to listen to, headphones that stay in place and a heart rate monitor to help you stay in your target heart rate zone are just a few things that will help you get the most out of your exercise time. Below are a few ideas for exercise tools, websites, music players and other gear to consider as you get started with weight loss.
- Best Exercise Tools, Websites and Gear
- Top Music Players and Accessories
- Great Workout Songs
- Fitness Calculators
- Heart Rate Monitors
5. Workouts and Weight Loss Programs
All the gear in the world doesn't do you much good without workouts to follow. If you're just getting started, you may need some guidance for how to set up a complete program that includes cardio, strength training and flexibility workouts. One option is to hire a personal trainer, a good choice if you don't know where to start. You can also use the resources below to find free programs and workouts to get you started on your weight loss journey.
- Workouts for Beginners
- Exercise and Weight Loss Programs for Beginners
- Workout Finder
- Workout Center
- Exercises by Muscle Group
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