Hi, I'm Heather your iFit personal trainer.  I wrote this as a response to a question asked of me about my recommendation for a home gym. The best home gym in my opinion would be the following;

# 1 Cardio Machine:

 A solid piece of cardio equipment based on individuals preference and physical condition should be the first priority. They come in all price ranges.

• Treadmill (otherwise known as the staple fitness product for any home also the most popular)

Great for anyone at any fitness level. You can be a beginner to exercise or an extreme athlete and still achieve an amazing workout by having the option to change the speed from ranges of 0 mph-10 mph and also incline from ranges of 0%-10%.

• Elliptical (great for those with knee trouble)

Ellipticals are perfect for those wanting to decrease impact on the joints. Ellipticals are also a great way to burn calories due to the option to add resistance and speed at the same time.

• Bike (great for those with back, hip, or knee trouble)

Bikes are great for providing low impact to those who have knee, hip, or back pain. It is also a great way to burn calories because you are primarily the largest muscle groups in the lower body.

# 2 Strength Equipment:

• Light, medium, and heavy sets of dumbbells. (very affordable)
• Weight Bench
• Weight System for those who can afford it. I think you can do more with dumbbells and they take up less space.
• The best would be a Free Motion Cable Cross. It is a very sturdy cable weight system that allows you to do almost anything. The cost for this is around $3,000.

# 3 Core/Flexibility:

·     Soft mat for stretching and core work.

·     Stability ball for core work. This can also be used in place of a bench.

·     Foam roller. This is a cylinder that you can roll out tight muscles on. They are under $20 and are GREAT!

If you would like I can send you product recommendations and images as well. ICON manufactures products under the top home fitness labels including; Reebok, ProForm, NordicTrack, Healthrider, Weider, Gold’s Gym etc.

If you need anything else, you can email me or comment on this article anytime!