Avoiding the
Muscle Hustle:
Tips for Buying Exercise Equipment
A diet of regular exercise can help.
Which exercise is best?
The one you're really going to do.
If you're considering buying fitness equipment for home workouts, remember that it can represent a sizable financial commitment as well as a lifestyle change. The Federal Trade Commission advises all workout "wannabes" to exercise good judgment when evaluating advertising claims for fitness products.
Before you buy, the FTC wants you to:
Look for equipment that offers a total workout.
The best route to overall fitness is one that incorporates a variety of physical
activities as part of a daily routine.
Remember that no exercise device can
burn fat off a particular part of your body. To turn a "beer
belly" into a "six pack stomach," you must combine sensible eating with
regular exercise that works the whole body. The reason: Everything you eat has calories
and everything you do uses calories. Your weight depends on the number of calories you eat
and use each day. Increasing your daily physical activity will burn extra calories.
Be skeptical of outrageous claims. Shaping up is hard to do. Ads that promise "easy" or "effortless" results are false. And many ads that make big claims about the number of calories you'll burn also may be deceptive. Some of these claims are true only for athletes who already are in top physical condition; others may not be true for anyone.
Think twice about dramatic testimonials or before-and-after pictures from satisfied customers. These may not be typical. Celebrity endorsements don't necessarily mean the equipment is right for you, either.
Get the total cost of the product before you buy.
Total cost includes sales tax, shipping and handling, delivery, and set-up fees. Get
the details on warranties, guarantees, and return policies. Check out the company's
customer service and support, too, in case you need replacement parts. Try any toll-free
numbers to see whether help really is accessible.
For More Information
Exercise And Fitness Equipment
About's exercise guide has lots of information about fitness equipment.
If you have any questions or comments on senior health nutrition, fitness, etc., go to the Senior Health Forum where we are talking about the following:
The information contained in these pages
is for educational / reference use only.
Sources:
FTC
Graphics:
Public Domain
