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Make a home gym work for you
With the right props and advice, you can turn your living space into an efficient workout area.
Every year, thousands of people buy fitness club memberships, hoping that the bright lights, glitzy machines, and peppy instructors will propel them out of their exercise ennui. But sizable portions of new patrons fail to show up at the gym after a month or so, having slimmed their pocketbooks but not their waistlines.
Because aerobic exercise is crucial to heart health, it's important to find another way to get motivated to move on a regular basis. For some people, setting up a home gym may be a more convenient and affordable option.
Plan your program
"An effective exercise routine has to be enjoyable as well as meet your basic fitness requirements," says Dr. Elizabeth Frates, director of wellness programming at Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. For optimal health, you need at least 150 minutes weekly of aerobic activity vigorous enough to speed up your heartbeat and bring out a light sweat. In addition, you should follow a strength-training program that works all your major muscle groups at least twice a week on nonconsecutive days. Finally, adding stretching and balance movements can help you stay...