Although there is no question that regular exercise is conducive to getting you fit, there is no similar certainty about which claims of work out equipment manufacturers can be trusted for accuracy or relied on for a buying decision. A chin up bar fastened to a doorway at home will not turn you into Hercules.

The most flagrant abuse you’ll see with work out equipment manufacturers, and not to single them out because as a group they are probably no different from any other kind of manufacturer, are claims that their equipment will provide you with a quick and easy way to shape your abs, lose weight, build huge muscles, or otherwise have a body that looks like a cover art for a fitness magazine.

There is no quick and easy way to tone muscles, lose weight, or get in shape, whether you want to achieve that result with one part of your body or reshape your entire physique. Physical training requires time, work, and effort. There are no shortcuts, and if there is a caution to be learned when evaluating the claims of workout equipment manufacturers that would be it.

What To Watch Out For

The kinds of claims that you want to be the most skeptical about are those manufacturer’s claims that say that their equipment or device can do things such as:

1. Make you burn more calories or lose weight faster than any other similar piece of workout equipment or other type of workout equipment in general.
It is a good general rule that fitness equipment that trains your entire body will probably burn calories at a faster rate than fitness equipment that claims to train only one part of your body such as your legs, your arms, your chest, or as is popular today you’re abdominal muscles. The longer you use the equipment, and the more work you put into it, the more calories you’ll burn. That is a law of physics and biology, there’s no getting around it otherwise.

If you are already in much better than average physical condition and have pretty much the physique that you would like to have, then it makes good sense to go ahead and purchase a piece of fitness equipment that will train and tone one particular muscle group or area of your body. Body sculpting is very hard work but it’s likely that the person who has already advanced that far in physical fitness as a very good idea of exactly the kind of equipment that he or she will need to finish the job. If your body fat percentage is too high then no ab machine or lat trainer is going to produce any definition.

For the person who has set realistic fitness goals for themselves, and has determined that a piece of fitness training equipment would probably help them achieve those goals, their first choice should probably be a piece of equipment that can provide them with a holistic approach to training, that is, one that will provide cardiovascular and aerobic benefits in addition to strength training. The only essential piece of work out equipment is probably a heart rate monitor.

2. Make you lose weight faster in one particular area of your body or tone only the muscles in one particular muscle group.
Your body is one complete unit and as much as we would all like to have a piece of equipment that would that would focus all the body’s energy on removing the spare tire around our middle, this is an unrealistic claim. Losing weight is a function of the number of calories that you consume versus the number of calories that you expend over any given period of time. If you want to lose weight in one particular area of your body the only way you can do that is by losing body mass across your entire body. It may seem that some people tend to pack on the pounds in one particular area or another but even if it were true they would have no different result.

3. Give you effortless results.
There is no free lunch. Muscles get bigger and stronger when trained with weight and against resistance. Body mass disappears when energy output exceeds energy input. You cannot build big muscles while you’re sleeping. You cannot lose weight eating whatever and as much as you want while ignoring the amount of calories that you expend.

Before you buy a piece of workout equipment based on manufacturers’ claims and the huge number of satisfied customer testimonials that you see on the net or in the newspaper or fitness magazines try to get a hold of the owner’s manual or any other specification sheets that the manufacturer may be providing. It may turn out that the manufacturer’s spectacular claims are based in part on the use of their equipment and also dieting or otherwise restricting the user’s caloric intake during the same period of time that the manufacturer claims you can reasonably expect results within.

You should be very skeptical of celebrity endorsements of fitness equipment unless you have information or reason to believe that a particular celebrity is an expert in physical fitness or with that particular piece of equipment that he or she may happen to be endorsing at the time. Before and after pictures from satisfied customers, and customer testimonials in general may be true. Almost certainly some are. You have no way of knowing, however, if the results of the customer providing the testimonial are typical, or if you could reasonably expect them also. The person who works out hard for four or five hours a day will achieve significantly different results with the same piece of equipment than the person who works out for a few minutes two or three days a week over the same 30-day period.

All of the above is the skeptics approach to buying workout equipment, and most other items that we buy in a consumer society. The question still remains, after you have evaluated all the advertising claims, and hopefully have separated the week from the chaff, how do you go about choosing the right fitness equipment?

Perhaps the best way to approach the task of purchasing fitness equipment is to start from the physical fitness goal that you want to achieve and then work backwards toward a particular piece of equipment, or perhaps several, that will best help you achieve that goal. It does not have to be electrical or sophisticated. It could be neoprene hand weights, or a balance ball, or a dumbbell.

Everybody says they want to be physically fit and although we all have a general idea of what that means you do not see the term defined very often. Physical fitness will mean something different to each person, so here is a good general definition that seems to cover most people.

Physical fitness is the ability to function effectively throughout your day, whatever physical activity your day may involve for you, and still have enough energy left over to handle unexpected stresses and emergencies so that you can finish the day tired but not so exhausted that one night’s rest cannot recharge you completely for tomorrow.

There Are Five Components to Physical Fitness:

Muscular strength – this is the greatest amount of force that a muscle, or a muscle group can exert in a single effort.

Muscular endurance – the ability of a muscle group performed repeated movements have less than maximum force for extended periods of time

Cardio respiratory endurance – the efficiency in which the body delivers oxygen and nutrients needed for muscular activity and transport waste products from the cells.

Flexibility - the ability to move a joint or any group of joints through an entire normal range of motion.

Body composition – the percentage of body fat that the person has in comparison to his or her total body mass.

Improving the first three components of fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and cardiorespiratory endurance will have a positive impact on body composition and result in less body fat. Weight loss is always a big deal when it comes to physical fitness, and probably cannot be separated from it because excessive body fat detracts from all the other fitness components and reduces performance. In addition, excessive body fat detracts from appearance and generally has a negative effect on overall health.

Athletic ability is not the same thing as physical fitness. A person is considered to be athletic when they have better than average ability for speed, muscle power, agility, eye-hand coordination, or for soccer players, eye-foot coordination. If you want to excel in a sport then you have to train all five components before specializing in any: flexibility for golfing, muscle strength and endurance for boxing.

Physical fitness is holistic. Very specific training can improve any one of the individual components of physical fitness within the limits of a person’s ability, but a true physical fitness program seeks to improve or maintain all five components. If all this is terribly complicated then maybe you would benefit from membership in a commercial gym where a personal trainer could work with you on form, count, cardio and core strength. A gym will have a line of bikes, ellipticals, treadmills and dumbbells that you could try.

Choosing The Right Work Out Equipment

The right work out equipment for you is probably a combination of things to help you achieve each of the five components of physical fitness. Different people will have different goals that may emphasize one or two individual components of physical fitness over the others. Will the equipment help you achieve your goal – whether it’s to build strength by lifting weights, improving your cardio endurance, increasing your flexibility, or getting to a marathon runner’s body fat percentage?

Will you use the equipment? How many expensive elliptical machines, treadmills, and exercise bikes do you think are sitting unused and gathering dust in basements, patios and garages? It’s your money and you can spend it any way that you want but why not spend $10 for a fancy jump rope to see if you are that committed to improving your cardiorespiratory endurance and flexibility before spending $1000 for an elliptical trainer? How about a yoga mat? You only need the floor to do push ups.

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Weider

4 Reviews
Weider Kettle Bell Workout
Model: WAWKB4008
$197.00
Adjustable Kettlebell with workout DVD and fitness journal.

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To help you get the most from your workout, the PowerBell comes with a PowerBell Workout DVD that engages every muscle in your body. Hosted by former U.S. Special Forces member and professional Kettlebell trainer Michael Skogg, the DVD takes you through a full-body, functional workout that delivers real-life results. In total, the PowerBell supports more than 1,000 strength and cardio exercises, from basic moves to advanced routines. Finally, the PowerBell includes a fitness journal that helps you track your workout progress.

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Assisted dip station with quick adjustability, assisted multi-grip push up station, push away VKR/dip station, fold away assist pad, step for VKR, 80 lbs total assisted resistance, ergonomic stitched seats, exercise chart.

Knee Raise
To lose inches around your waist and develop ab muscles worthy of showing off, use the stable vertical knee raise (VKR) station, which also helps tone your oblique and hip flexor muscles. And, if the VKR arms interfere with your pull-ups, the armrests can be folded upward and out of the way.

The perfect combination of comfort, style and versatility, the Weider Club 290 Power Tower uses innovative features, like the fold-away VKR station, while improving on the classics, like a multi-grip pull-up station, for fast effective workouts.

Weider 390 Power Tower Reviews

Customer reviews Item Description: Weider Club 290 Power Tower Model #WEBE2998 Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 2 Reviews Summary: The Amazon reviewer had problems assembling the machine but was happy with its performance. The Weider reviewer uses it for pull-ups and finds it performs as described.

259 out of 536 people found this review helpful.
User Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Very sturdy piece of equipment
By Dan (Kentucky) on Aug 21, 2009

I like the fact that you can raise the arms out of the way. Those arms can be very annoying at the gym when doing pull-ups. Shipping took a little while and was a little “bruised” when it got here is only reason for 4 stars. Worth the money however.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
User Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Seems ok, assembly not optimal, October 3, 2009
By DC “NY” (NY)

My purpose for purchasing the 390 was for the pull-ups. My doors can’t handle the weight of those pull-up bars which are sold everywhere, so the 390 seemed like a good substitute. A secondary reason was the dips.

Considering that there are no weights on this machine, the whole thing is surprisingly heavy. Nothing that a grown person or two can’t re-position occasionally, mind you; just heavier than expected, for a non-weight exercise unit. (amazon.com)

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Get a total body workout with the Weider® 8980 system. It boasts a SpaceSaver® design and depending on the exercise and the number of vinyl weights selected, this product’s cable-and-pulley system offers up to 175 lbs. of resistance. Stations include low and high pulleys, standing squat, pull up, VKR, and dip. It comes complete with a safety shield, ankle and hand straps, and an exercise chart. Includes 150 lbs. of weights for all your muscle building exercises.

High Pulley (15+ exercises) and Low Pulley (40+ Exercises)
Pulleys offer a much larger range of motion, which makes them very versatile so you can perform more exercises to target those harder to get areas.

4-Roll Leg Developer
Build and develop your quads, hamstrings, glutes and hip-flexors with this 4-roll leg developer.

The Weider Club 8980 W System has everything you need to build muscle and lose weight. The high and low pulleys offer a combined fifty-five exercises to target hard to reach areas. Be the first to write a review.

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The Body Works 5000’s innovative resistance mechanism turns your body weight into natural resistance for a wide variety of exercises.With over 100 body-shaping exercises, the Total Body Works 5000 helps you firm, tighten and define your entire body, while allowing you to increase overall strength and flexibility.

Flexibility-Strength Training
An unrestricted cable and pulley system gives you greater versatility and greater range of motion, allowing for a wider variety of exercises that strengthen muscle and increase flexibility.

Adjustable Incline
Easily increase or decrease the intensity of your workout by simply changing the incline of the Body Works glide board, giving you seven, easy-to-change incline option.

Over 100 Body-Shaping Exercises
This versatile system offers 100+ exercises to define and shape your arms, shoulders, back, abs, hip, thighs, and calves.

Four Adjustable Power Bands
These durable resistance bands increase weight resistance beyond your own body weight, giving you up to 50 lbs. of additional resistance.

Space Saving Design
This Total Body Works 5000’s convenient slide away technology allows for quick and easy storage.

Workout Guide
Learn which exercises focus on what muscle groups and how to properly perform specific exercises, along with additional exercise suggestions, with this helpful workout guide.

Weider Total Body Works 5000 Reviews

92 of 94 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars I finally found the perfect workout machine., May 12, 2006
By Zeb Weedrick (Furnessville, IN United States) – See all my reviews

I looked at the “Total Gym” machine (the one pushed by Christie Brinkley and Chuck Norris). I went to their website and requested their free video; a few days later, I got a phone call from them, telling me that if I bought it that very day, I could save $100. “I want the video”, I said. I never got the video. That sent up “red flags” in my head for the Total Gym people. I resent being hustled. (amazon.com)

786 out of 1521 people found this review helpful.
User Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Tough workout
By Charlie (Flint, MI) on Jan 19, 2009

This thing give a tough workout. at the low settings I get a killer cardio workout and at the highest pitch I can burn out fast. It says you can do like 100 exercises but so far I’ve just focused on 10 or 15 of them. (weiderfitness.com)

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Weider home gym strength training equipment is the low cost alternative to Bowflex and other higher price options. The first question you should ask yourself before shopping for any particular brand or model of a home gym is whether or not you will have the self discipline to use it in a purposeful way. People tend to stay motivated and continue to workout at commercial gyms because there is a variety of exercise equipment and because of something like the peer pressure we all felt in high school. There won’t be anybody else to push you with a home gym.

If you are committed to a home gym or to a strength training program, and you will be working out by yourself some of the time, then maybe you should stay away from weight benches and free weight. A bench press can quickly turn into a crisis even with safety equipment. It happens.

Here is an overview of some of the Weider home gym systems. You can get detailed information and helpful home gym reviews from the links to a specific Weider home gym.

Total Body Works 5000 innovative resistance mechanism turns your body weight into natural resistance for a wide variety of exercises.

The Weider 8630 home gym upgrade. Get a total body workout with the Weider® 8980 system. It boasts a SpaceSaver® design and 175 lbs of total resistance. Stations include low and high pulleys, standing squat, pull up, VKR, and dip. It comes complete with a safety shield, ankle and hand straps, and an exercise chart.

Sports and fitness trainer. The Weider Club 390 Power Tower gives you everything you need for a great workout. The Dip and Pull-Up stations come with a fold-away Assist Pad, giving beginners an extra boost. Add up to 80 lbs. of assisted resistance.

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1. Weider Home Gym | Club 8980
2. Weider 8630 Home Gym
3. Weider Home Gym | 390 Power Tower

The perfect combination of comfort, style and versatility, the Weider Club 290 Power Tower uses innovative features, like the fold-away VKR station, while improving on the classics, like a multi-grip pull-up station, for fast effective workouts.

To lose inches around your waist and develop ab muscles worthy of showing off, use the stable vertical knee raise (VKR) station, which also helps tone your oblique and hip flexor muscles. And, if the VKR arms interfere with your pull-ups, the armrests can be folded upward and out of the way.

Weider Club 290 Power Tower Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent piece of equipment, September 25, 2009
By Carlos Sanchez “Fish Trader” (USA)
Amazon Verified Purchase(What’s this?)

The W. club 290 is very well built and was easy to assemble, if I was able to own only one piece of exercise equipment this would be it. amazon.com)

202 out of 417 people found this review helpful.
Very sturdy peice of equipment
By Dan (Kentucky) on Aug 21, 2009

I like the fact that you can raise the arms out of the way. Those arms can be very annoying at the gym when doing pull-ups. Shipping took a little while and was a little “bruised” when it got here is only reason for 4 stars. Worth the money however. (weiderfitness.com)

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1. Weider Gym Equipment 290 Power Tower
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Define and strengthen your muscles with these adjustable weights. Cushioned for comfort, they’re easy to use and produce amazing results.

Put an entire set of weights at your fingertips without investing in several different pairs of dumbbells with the Weider Speed Pac hand weights. The Speed Pac weights work like a weight stack at the gym. When you want to change weights, simply move the selector pin to the desired weight range–the storage tray includes a color-coded weight guide–and you’re set. Each Speed Pac weight varies from 2 to 12.5 pounds (in 2.5-pound increments) and includes a cushioned hand grip.

Weider Gym Equipment PowerSwitch 25 Features

• Two 12.5 lb. Adjustable Weights
• Adjustable Weights (2.5-12.5 lbs.)
• Round Plates
• Storage Tray
• Convenient storage tray with color codes

Weider Gym Equipment PowerSwitch 25 Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Hand Wts., May 7, 2008
By G. W. OMary “omaryg” (CA)

Got these hand wts. about 2 months ago and have been using on a regular basis. Strong point is being able to easily adjust the wts. for a varity of exercises. Good product would recommend strongly.

Not 25lbs each., August 14, 2008
By Steve Breckenridge (Nephi, UT)

When ordering this item, I thought I was going to recieve two 25lbs dumbells. What I recieved was two 12.5LB dumbells – so this was a disappointment.

However, I do really like them, and they are very easy to use.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
Money well spent, November 16, 2008
By Harold StoneJr

I am very pleased with the Weider PowerSwitch 25 lb.pair. It is very easy to switch from one weight to another and is done in a couple of seconds. I use them every day to help strengthen my Trapezius and Deltoid muscles. I find Weider products to be of good quality at an affordable price.

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