If you have decided that it's time to get in shape and you have heard that getting a home gym can help you accomplish that, then there are some things you need to know before you go shopping.

First of all, what do you plan on using your home gym to accomplish? Is it just to lose weight? If that is the main purpose of buying a home gym, then you may not want to buy it at all. The truth is, aerobic exercise is far more effective at helping you lose weight then strength training, although a home gym can help you build up your muscle mass which can accelerate your weight loss in addition to the aerobic exercises that you do. The point is, don't expect a home gym to be the most effective method of weight control.

On the other hand, if your goal is to tone your body or condition it, or perhaps just develop a few extra curves in certain places, then a home gym can be very effective. So what choices do you have when looking for home gym equipment?

The first category to choose from is free weights and dumbbells. They have certainly stood the test of time and proven that they can help build muscle mass. However, you need to be sure to use the correct form when exercising with free weights or you can actually do bodily damage instead.

That's where home gym equipment comes in. Home gyms are usually strength training machines that provide a structured way of performing each exercise. And they are usually designed to help you maintain proper form as you do. They also provide a convenient way of storing the weight stack or plates that are used so that it's all more organized.

This kind of strength training machine usually breaks down into two categories, the first being machines that utilize rods or bars to provide resistance when exercises are done. The second more expensive machines still use weights to provide resistance to your muscles, but they tend to be much larger and more bulky, and therefore take up a lot more space in a room.

To get good solid quality equipment, expect to pay at least $500 or more to get a wide range of exercises that will allow full body conditioning. There is a lot of home gym equipment available for sale online, but before you buy be sure to personally try out the equipment in advance. Make sure that you go through a complete workout routine on the equipment first, and then you will know more about whether or not it will meet your needs.

After doing your research off-line you can then go online and often save quite a bit of money by doing so. Whatever equipment you choose, be sure to also get the proper training on how to use it effectively to get the results that you really want.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including fitness. You can find the best home gym equipment and home gym reviews by visiting our Home Fitness website.