We’re well into the new year now, and motivation to workout always seems to decline as the winter months drag on. This year staying home all the time has also meant you can easily dedicate more hours to sitting on the couch than you do to working out. If you started this year with the goal of working out more often and your plan has fallen by the wayside, it might be time to change things up a bit and bring home some fitness equipment.
5 reasons to buy fitness equipment right now
This time of year is really the perfect time to buy fitness equipment and set up your own home gym or assign a small space you dedicate to working out. Even a space the size of a yoga mat is more than enough. If you’ve never bought fitness equipment because you thought you wouldn’t use it, I think you’ll be surprised at how motivating it is to just have a few pieces in your home.
Virtual runs and rides are mainstream
Back before social distancing, cold Canadian winters put the brakes on outdoor running and cycling. Snow, sleet, and ice make it treacherous to hit the pavement. Even if you avoid skidding on ice or sinking into a snow pile, you aren’t going to enjoy freezing while you run.
I don’t know about you, but looking out at a pile of snow or freezing rain in the winter doesn’t exactly motivate me to go out for a run. That’s why I’m such a huge fan of connected fitness equipment. With a connected treadmill or connected stationary bike, you can run or ride whenever in the world you’d like to. There are different sizes and types of treadmills, from large gym-sized units to smaller, fold-down, and stow away treadmills. Choose a machine with an onboard screen and Wi-Fi access, load up YouTube or sign up for a virtual app like Zwift, and enjoy the feeling of working out somewhere else while you’re still at home.
A rowing machine keeps you fit in winter
Rowing machines are great for a low impact, high-intensity workout, and a good rowing machine will give you an arm and leg workout that will leave you sore the next day.
If you’re like the many people who have taken up outdoor activities like skiing, ice skating, and snowshoeing, you’re really going to appreciate your rowing machine. It helps improve your strength for those types of activities so you can get the most out of your outdoor workouts.
There are even connected rowing machines that let you enjoy a virtual workout while timing your strokes, watts, and calories burned.
Fitness trackers get you off the couch
It can be really hard to stick to your fitness goals 2hen life revolves around your home. One day can blend into another and without even realizing it, you’ve skipped a workout for four days or you’ve spent a lot more time sitting than standing. With a fitness tracker on your wrist, you’ll never wonder whether or not you’re active enough. You’ll know just by looking at your wrist.
There are a lot of great fitness trackers available from brands like Fitbit, Samsung, and Garmin. They will track your heart rate, activity, calories burned, and much more, and they’re a great motivator when you need one.
Pilates equipment keep you in balance
Along with benefiting your body with cardio and strength training, at-home fitness equipment can also benefit your mind. Yoga can alleviate your stress and anxiety while keeping you fit, and Pilates can help you achieve a strong, streamlined and flexible body while relaxing you at the same time.
If you have space in your home, a Pilates reformer set is a great piece of fitness equipment to add to your home gym. It lets you do sets of cardio circuit training so you can boost your muscle strength, release tension, and tone up.
Virtual reality workouts are trending
After a year of living in the new ‘normal’, one of the things that have surprised me the most is how a virtual reality headset can be considered a piece of fitness equipment. Until I tried it myself, I would never have believed that you could get a decent workout with a VR headset on. After working out for a few days with my Occulus Quest 2 wire-free headset and the fitness app Supernatural, I can admit how naive I was about VR workouts.
I’m pretty fit overall, but after a half-hour medium intensity workout in the breathtaking location of Machu Picchu, the pain I felt in my arms and legs was anything but virtual. It’s fun too, and despite how sore I’ve been I’ve gone back again and again. Having a VR headset also gives your mind a decent break from the monotony of your own four walls, and in the Supernatural app there are meditations in exotic locations too.
Smart lights add atmosphere
While they aren’t a piece of fitness equipment, I have a tip to make it easier to motivate yourself to use your new treadmill, rowing machine, bike, or other workout gear you bring home. It sounds simple, but installing smart lights and using specific themes really can improve your mood.
Light therapy is widely used for people who suffer from the gloom of winter, and while smart lights aren’t the same as a therapy light, I’ve felt more motivated since I put them in my bedroom where I work out. I use a sunrise theme set to max brightness, and the orange/yellow glow makes me feel like the room is full of sunshine. It’s a lot easier to get on my spin bike than if the room was full of grey, flat light.
In a winter like this one, it’s all too easy to lose motivation and stop working toward your fitness goals. Having one or two pieces of fitness equipment at home can give you the workout variety you need to keep going. Check out all of the great workout equipment on Best Buy right now, and get the motivation to get back on track.
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