The market is literally flooded with all kinds of home exercise equipment that claims to help you lose weight quickly. So, how do you know which one is actually the best?
That’s what we’re here to find out.
Read along as we discuss the secrets of choosing the best indoor machines for weight loss. Next, we’ll analyze the most popular cardio and strength equipment for fast pound-shedding.
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How to Choose the Best at Home Exercise Equipment for Weight Loss
If your goal is losing weight, you should review the equipment you’re choosing by focusing on the factors below:
Calories Burned
One of the most important factors to consider is the number of calories you’ll burn. A higher calorie burn means you’ll lose weight faster.
Cardio machines like treadmills and ellipticals are great for burning calories. They get your heart rate up and help you work up a sweat.
Strength-training equipment like weight machines and rowers are also effective for burning calories. They build muscle, which raises your metabolism and helps you burn more calories even when you’re at rest.
So ideally, if you’re space-challenged, you’d need a machine that meets both objectives.
Muscles Worked
When choosing a gym machine to help you lose weight, the number of muscles worked is an essential factor to consider. After all, the more muscles you work, the more calories you’ll burn.
Cardio machines like treadmills and ellipticals are great for getting your heart rate up and burning calories, but they don’t do much muscle building. Still, they provide effective total-body workouts.
On the other hand, strength-training machines like weight machines and rowers can help you build muscle, which will make you look better and help you burn more calories even when you’re at rest.
So when you’re looking to lose weight, choose a machine that will exercise multiple muscle groups. Your body—and your waistline—will thank you for it.
Built-In Programs
A machine with more programs will provide you with more options for working out, which means you’re more likely to find a workout that’s enjoyable and effective.
That means you can juggle between multiple fat-burning and endurance workouts to reach your goal faster.
Plus, a machine with more programs is more likely to have the latest features and technologies. You can get better tracking abilities, which helps you monitor your progress to ensure you’re on the right track.
Workout Intensity Options (Resistance, Speed)
Workout Intensity Options, or WIO, refers to the resistance and speed settings on the machine and how they can be adjusted to suit your individual workout needs.
For instance, if you’re looking to burn many calories in a short period, you’ll need a machine with high resistance and speed settings. However, if you’re just starting, it’s best to go for a machine with lower settings so that you don’t overdo it and injure yourself.
Remember: the key to safe and effective weight loss is finding the right balance between intensity and duration.
Preexisting Health Issues
Preexisting health issues are often a significant factor when choosing a gym machine to lose weight. After all, you want to avoid any injuries or pain that might come from using the wrong device.
For example, someone with arthritis might want to steer clear of machines that require a lot of repetitive motion. Instead, they might walk on a treadmill, which is gentle on the joints. Or someone with back problems might want to use a recumbent bike instead of an upright one.
The point is that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to choosing a gym machine.
It’s essential to consult with your doctor or a certified personal trainer to determine what type of machine is best for you.
Best Workout Equipment for Weight Loss
Weight loss has two components: cardio to use excess calories and weight training to build lean muscle. Let’s review the best machines in each category.
Best Cardio Machine for Weight Loss
Everyone is doing cardio to lose weight. Let’s see what the best machine for that is – and how you can make yours better:
1. Treadmill
One of the best cardio machines for weight loss is the treadmill. Whether walking, jogging, or running, you’ll get your heart rate up and burn calories. Additionally, treadmills are easy to use, and they offer a variety of workout programs to suit your needs.
Pro tip: To build lean muscle, use a weighted vest and hand weights when walking on the treadmill. Alternatively, choose a model with built-in resistance bands.
2. Elliptical
The elliptical is another practical cardio machine for weight loss. Ellipticals are low-impact, which means they’re easy on your joints.
And that means you can use yours for longer. By comparison, runners almost always get hamstring pulls or knee pain. Besides, ellipticals offer a full-body workout, so they effectively burn calories.
Pro tip: Increase the resistance and incline on your elliptical to build up your muscle mass. Even if that decreases your total workout calorie burn, the after-effect will help you lose weight faster. Besides, this strategy helps you avoid weight loss plateaus.
3. Stationary Bike
Stationary bikes are easy on your joints and have a low perceived effort rating. As a result, you can easily start with a 20-30 minute workout, even if you’re a beginner. And that means you can burn more calories than you would on a treadmill right from the first session.
Besides, stationary bikes usually boast a variety of workout programs to suit your needs.
The best indoor bikes will have targeted heart-rate programs or fat-burning workouts to help you melt those pounds away. If you want even faster results, remember to wear a chest strap and choose an indoor bike with upper-body resistance bands.
Pro tip: Assault bikes and spin bikes burn the most calories of all the stationary bikes, also increasing muscle strength.
4. Rowing Machine
The rowing machine is an effective weight loss equipment because it gets your heart rate up quickly, burning more calories. Additionally, rowing machines are low-impact and offer a full-body workout.
While home rowers may lack the programs and functionality of gym rowers (or even other home equipment), they have one excellent advantage:
They’ll build up your muscle mass.
As a result, you can become slimmer and more toned. And that means your metabolism accelerates so that your body can burn through your fat stores even when you’re not exercising.
Pro tip: Put on some motivating music or start an online workout to keep your head in the game. Rowers are some of the easiest machines to tune off of, so you need that extra oomph to keep you going.
5. Stair Steppers
If you want to lose weight, ditch the elevator and take the stairs. But if you really want to see results, ditch the stairs and get a stair stepper.
Unlike regular old stairs, stair steppers allow you to select the desired speed. That provides a challenging cardiovascular workout that can help you burn calories and shed pounds.
In addition, stair steppers tone your legs and buttocks, giving you a firmer, more toned appearance.
So if you’re looking to lose weight and get in shape, a stair stepper is a great way to do it. Just remember to hydrate with water – not wine – after your workout!
Pro tip: Use hand weights to intensify your workout and lose weight even faster.
Best Strength-Training Machine for Weight Loss
The best exercise machine to lose weight at home isn’t necessarily a cardio one. You can also use some strength-training equipment, such as:
6. Functional Trainers
By targeting multiple muscle groups and incorporating exercises that mimic everyday movements, functional trainers provide a comprehensive workout that can burn calories and promote weight loss.
In addition, functional trainers can increase your metabolism, making it easier to lose weight and keep it off.
Pro tip: Do jump-ropes between sets to keep your heart rate up and accelerate your calorie burn.
7. TRX Bands
TRX bands are a practical way to lose weight because they provide resistance training that builds muscle. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn at rest.
In addition, TRX bands improve your balance and coordination, accelerating caloric burn during your workouts. They are also very versatile and can be used in various ways to target different muscle groups.
Pro tip: Bands are portable and can be taken with you anywhere, so there’s no excuse not to use them!
8. Kettlebells and Dumbbells
If you’re looking to lose weight, kettlebells and dumbbells are two of your best friends. Both weights provide a great workout that can burn calories and build muscle.
In addition, kettlebells and dumbbells are relatively easy to use, making them a user-friendly option for people who are new to working out.
Pro tip: Kettlebells and dumbells come in various sizes, so choose carefully. Both over- and under-training hamper your weight loss.
9. Boxing Bags
Picture it: You, standing in front of a punching bag, working up a sweat as you unleash all your pent-up frustration. It feels amazing, right?
And not just because you got to pretend to beat up someone who’s really annoying you.
Turns out, punching bags can also help you lose weight. How?
Well, for starters, boxing is a full-body workout that requires you to use all your major muscle groups. That means you’re burning lots of calories (crucial for weight loss). Additionally, punching bags help improve your cardiovascular endurance and build muscular strength—both of which are important for weight loss.
So next time you’re feeling stressed (or just need to burn some calories), consider taking a swing at a punching bag.
Pro tip: Keep your muscles tensed, and don’t lock your elbows or knees. That way, your muscles will work harder, using up more fuel from your fat stores.
Wrap Up. Best Workout Equipment for Weight Loss
There’s no shortage of workout equipment to choose from when it comes to weight loss. Treadmills, ellipticals, rowing machines, stair climbers… the list goes on and on.
But ultimately, the best workout equipment for weight loss is your body.
And choosing the machine you like is just a matter of personal preference.
If you enjoy running, then a treadmill is a great option. If you prefer a low-impact workout, an elliptical might be more your style. And if you’re looking for a challenging workout, then a stair climber can definitely help you torch some calories.
So don’t get too caught up in choosing the “right” piece of equipment. Pick something that you’ll enjoy using, and that will help you reach your weight loss goals. Just remember to consider the variables we discussed at the beginning of this article, and you’ll be okay!
Mary advocates for one powerful idea: fitness is about challenging yourself, but it’s not a race against the clock. She wants people to understand that the best fitness equipment doesn’t have to be expensive or very popular. The best workouts and machines should always fit your style and needs, not the other way around. So, Mary’s dedication and hard work are the engines that keep this website going.
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