Home Fitness Equipment
Cardio Equipment for Your Home Gym!

The focus of this page is to present you with Home Fitness Equipment options for your cardiovascular exercise program. If you have a home gym, you're going to need some cardio equipment to perform the cardio program you've planned for your complete weight lifting program.


If you've read much here at Weight Lifting Complete, you'll know that cardiovascular exercise is a requirement because a weightlifting program is more effective with cardio included! You will build more muscle and lose more fat when you include cardio in your program.



When you plan your cardio program, you need to have at least a few different cardio activities to perform throughout the weeks of your weightlifting cycle. You'll get better results from doing different cardio activities, you'll become healthier, and you'll have more fun with different activities!


You're going to need a few different pieces of home fitness equipment for your home gym. Trust me on this one. Get you two of your favorite pieces of cardio equipment that you can rotate for your workouts.


You'll also be able to do outside activities like jogging, bicycling, roller blading, playing sports, and more. But, you need to have some cardio equipment because its more convenient and easoer for you to stay consistent with your cardio workouts.

There are several different cardio machines you can go with for your home gym. I've got 5 different options for you. As discussed, you should choose two of the cardio machines listed below and purchase them for your home gym.

1. Rowing Machine
   
   A rowing machine should be one of your choices! You just can't get much better than this for cardiovascular exercise. Your entire body will get a great cardiovascular workout using a rowing machine.
   
   The rowing machine is one of my favorites due its low impact nature. My body doesn't handle high impact activities very well. For example, running really hurts my knees due to its high impact nature. You don't have to worry about that with this machine.
   
   

   WOW Words of Wisdom! "A rowing machine is the best cardio machine available! You just can't beat it when it comes to full body exercise. If you want to burn more fat, choose a rowing macine." --Josh

   
   
   
2. Treadmills
   
   I like treadmills because you can do a few different things with them. I personally choose a treadmill as my second piece of cardio equipment because I think walking on an incline is a great form of low intensity cardio for burning fat. I would choose one that goes to a fairly high incline.
   
   I also use the treadmill for a special type of cardio exercise. I put the treadmill on the highest incline possible and lean forward onto the treadmill.
   
   You are forced to push upwards onto your toes during every step when walking on a very high incline. This really works the calves and is guaranteed to build those calves if you are lacking in the lower leg area.
   
   
   
3. Exercise Bike
   
   Exercise bikes are another good option for your home fitness equipment. I used an exercise bike at the gym I worked out in several years ago. I used it for warm up purposes and cardio directly after my workout.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   If I had to make a decision between the machines on this page, though, I would choose a machine that gets your entire body involved. A rowing machine and elliptical machine really gets the upper body as well as the lower body involved.
   
   

   WOW Words of Wisdom! "An exercise bike really works the lower body hard. The upper body does not get worked at all. Choose an exercise bike along with another cardio machine that works your upper body." --Josh

   
   If you are really into bike riding, I suggest you get yourself a good indoor exercise bike trainer. Use the exercise bike for your cardio program and really work on getting better each time you do your cardio.
   
   
   
4. Elliptical Machines
   
   I really love elliptical machines because of the low impact nature of these machines. They actually have no impact on your knees!
   
   I use an elliptical machine for most of my cardio programs. They have worked very well for me.
   
   An elliptical trainer also works your upper body at the same time as your lower body. It doesn't work your upper body to the extent that a rowing machine does, but it does a decent job anyway.
   
   
   One tip for buying an elliptical machine is to not go cheap. A good elliptical machine will cost you some money. I've had a cheap elliptical machine before, and it did not last very long. You don't want to waste your money on a cheap machine.
   
   
   

   WOW Words of Wisdom! "Do not buy a cheap elliptical trainer. You want to really compare ellipticals and make a good choice. Look for elliptical reviews and ensure you are getting a quality elliptical machine! Don't waste your money." --Josh

   
   
   
5. Recumbant Bike
   
   A recumbant bike can leave your hands free to do other things while doing low intensity cardio. You could set up a television with a video game console if you wanted and still be able to do your cardio program. Don't try this if you are doing any form of high intensity cardio.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   You can really do some great high intensity interval training with a recumbant bike. You can really dig in and work those legs with this cardio machine! A recumbant bike gives you a great cardiovascular workout.

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