You may catch yourself doing this from time-to-time and not believe it, but it happens to the best of us.  You’re laying in bed, late at night and you suddenly realize you’ve just spent the passed 20 minutes watching an infomercial about the latest exercise gadget and the worst part is, you caught yourself actually thinking about buying it.  What’s happened to you?

Home gym machines have been advertised on television since they were first invented. It may seem odd, but there’s a very good reason for this: People who watch TV a lot are dreaming of ways to get into shape without exerting very much energy.  That’s why all of the weight training equipment advertised on TV try to offer something for nothing.  These advertisers know they need to promise big results (washboard or 6-pack abs) with very little effort (just 2 minutes each day).

What’s the bottom line on all of these things? For the most part, none of them work and almost all over-promise amazing results that you’ll never get.  Does that mean they’re ALL worthless?  No! There are a few “as seen on TV” products I have used and still recommend.  For example, P90X is as good of a workout as you’re ever going to get at home.  But realize something, they’re telling you right in the ad  this is going to take intense work each day for 90 days before you’ll see these results. Bowflex is another piece of equipment you may see on TV which I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.

So, how do you separate the good stuff from the junk?  You don’t.  You let other people separate it.  Both of the items I mentioned were on the market for more than a year before I tried them out.  Believe me, if there’s a product that’s actually working for people, they’re going to tell their friends about it.  So, just keep working out as you are and wait until a good percentage of your friends have mentioned the product before you’ll even glance at it.  Then, look for a deal online.  If it’s really that effective, it’s going to take some work and, most likely, someone is selling it second hand for about half price.

When considering home gym fitness equipment one of the most popular and all round useful items to start with is the elliptical trainer. What then are the benefits of exercising with an elliptical trainer?

Elliptical trainers are a relatively new piece of workout equipment, but are making a huge impact as their benefits are quickly being recognized by fitness enthusiasts everywhere. As the popularity rises of the elliptical trainer, it is replacing the treadmill in a lot of gyms, and homes. The benefits of using the elliptical trainer outweighs those of other similar products.

For the busy mom, businessperson, or student, an elliptical trainer offers a great calorie burning workout in less the time of a treadmill or stationary bike. Elliptical trainers are unique in stationary exercise machines as they work both the upper and lower body at the same time. Depending on the level of intensity, a person can burn a lot of calories in a short period of time. This fits right in with a busy, hectic lifestyle.

An elliptical trainer is also ideal for those who need to have a low impact form of exercise, or are going through some sort of rehabilitation. Instead of the constant shock to the knees, and hip, from a treadmill, with an elliptical trainer, your feet never leave the machine. This means that an elliptical is perfect for elderly and even women expecting a baby soon.

The cardiovascular benefits of an elliptical trainer are superior to many other machines of the same type. Since the trainer works both the upper and lower body, the heart is put under a little more stress. By using the trainer for many months, your heart muscle will be strengthened. This leads to less risk of heart attack, and will lower blood pressure.

However, the main reason most people use any type of exercise equipment is to lose weight. This is one of the best benefits of an elliptical trainer. Since the heart is working harder, the body is more involved, and you have to stay focused on the work at hand, you are burning many more calories than a regular stationary treadmill.

Some people do not get on so well with an elliptical trainer because they prefer to run. Buying a treadmill instead of an elliptical or cross trainer is a good alternative. It is possible to pick up a cheap electric treadmill from a number of sources including eBay and the local classified adds.

One recomendation that the Health and Fitness Connection makes is to consult a fitness trainer if at all in doubt about using home gym fitness equipment. Personal fitness trainers will visit you at home and take you through the best and safe ways to use gym equimpment, setting you routines to suit you.