I'm Packing My Home Gym To Take On Vacation

In two days, my wife and I are leaving on a three week vacation to California. We are going to visit some of her relatives in the Sacramento area and then I'm going to show her Monterey, where I was stationed in the 60's and again in the 80's. Then we will visit more relatives in Arizona and return home to Texas. We have also started to get into rock hunting, so we may do a little of that as well.

As always, I want to keep my exercise program as up to date as possible, so I am taking my home gym equipment with me. Excuse me a moment while I put it in the trunk...

Ugh! Oomph! Arrrrgh!

Whew! I was worried it wouldn't fit, weren't you?

Oh. You can't see it, can you? Let me describe it to you. It's a 15 lb dumbbell.

Actually, I don't even need the dumbbell to keep fit while I'm on vacation, but I have a reason for taking it. Each night when I unpack the car at a motel, it will silently remind me that I need to keep my exercise program going at some level. It will also remind me, by being one little lonesome dumbbell, that I am on vacation, so I might be forgiven if I don't exercise at the same level I do while at home. Once it's in the room, it will sit staring accusingly at me, until I pick it up. Sort of like my dog, Diamond, but I'm leaving her with our daughter.

Now, some of you may be saying, "What a wuss!" Only one 15 lb dumbbell? What the heck can he do with that?"

Well, first of all, I have been exercising regularly since 1970, so my body can go into light maintenance mode without much problem. Second, I am 62 years old. Ten years ago, it might have been a couple of 25 lb dumbbells, but we need to be able to adjust our exercise program to meet our ages and abilities. A few years ago, I could run 6+ miles without too much problem, either, but an old soccer injury has cut me down to walking speed.

Anyway, what is my plan, and what AM I going to do with all my exercise equipment?

There's a key word up there. P-L-A-N

If you leave on vacation without a plan, it might turn into a pretty confusing and unrewarding event. Same thing with vacation exercise. If you don't have a plan in place, you are going to arrive at each place, get caught up in whatever else is going on, and then sit in front of the TV at night...or at the bar. It's the same at home, really. If you don't have some sort of exercise plan to think about and work at...you probably won't do anything except for those occasional times that you get this guilty feeling and go walk around the block.

So, here's MY plan.

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I will do Presses, Curls, Rowing, Bench Presses, Squats, and Toe Raises. Yes, you can do a modified bench press with just one dumbbell. I will do five to ten minutes of warm-up and stretching first, followed by three sets of 10 to 15 repetitions of each of those exercises, followed by some abdominal crunches, and a cool-down, Every other day, I will turn my back on my sad little dumbbell, put on my walking shoes and go out for a 30 minute walk. I may miss a day here or there, but when I get back home after 3 weeks of traveling, I will feel just as good as I do now, and I will have had the energy and fitness required to "enjoy" a vacation with the relatives.

I also long ago learned yoga, which I do regularly as well, so I will make sure that some of those evenings in the motel are dedicated to a little yoga session. I have also made sure that all the motels we are staying at have a pool that I can use for a little swimming or water aerobics...or something that looks like it and hopefully won't be mistaken for drowning.

Now, since I am already in excellent health and pretty decent physical condition, this is going to work for me. If you are hoping to start an exercise program, starting it while you are on vacation might not be advisable, but if you are already doing something and are going on vacation, plan ahead how you intend to tackle your exercise needs while on the road. If you are really up the food chain in the area of exercise, you may want to pack a bag with a little more than my itsy-bitsy 15 lb dumbbell.

What you choose to exercise WITH is not that important as making sure you don't skimp the exercise or cut it out all together because you're "on vacation".

Hey, I'm going to be in California! I wonder if Arnold will let me use his gym?

What do you think?

Well, it's time for me to go, but remember one thing...I'll be back.

Donovan Baldwin is a freelance writer living in Copperas Cove, Texas. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa and the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. In his career, he has held many managerial and supervisory positions. However, his main pleasures have long been writing, nature, health, and fitness. In the last few years, he has been able to combine these pleasures by writing poetry and articles on subjects such as health, fitness, yoga, weight loss, the environment, global warming, happiness, self improvement, and life. He has a collection of articles on health, fitness, diet, and weight loss at http://nodiet4me.com/articledirectory/

Home Gym Know How

When you exercise at home, you save cash and time. When you work toward improving health maintenance it often pays off tremendous benefits. We all should exercise at least three times each week for 20 to 30 minutes. Your life will feel richer when you exercise, many people have found this to be true, that is why so many are turning towards building their own home gym.

You can build a gym with just about anything in it. If there is a specific machine that you cannot get enough of at the gym then chances are you can find one for your home as well. The only thing that may stand in your way is the price of home gym equipment. You can generally find some affordable options but some machines are expensive no matter where you buy them from. That is why so many people look for their home gym machines in places like the Buy and Sell, buying used is a great way to save.

And don't forget that you can get your walking in regardless of the weather by picking up a treadmill at a local yard sale too. The newer treadmills will provide you with the distance, heart rate, and even calorie counting that you need to know just how much fat and calories you are burning as you work. Treadmills are great home gym equipment pieces that give you alternatives in losing weight, toning up, and so much more.

Dumb Bells are bargain basement gym equipment that help you with weight resistance and toning in a big way. You can buy dumb bells cheap, get them in many sizes to help tone the upper arms, and build strength. Dumb Bells will help you build a stronger and fitter body from your own home. They are easy to store as well and they take up next to no room whatsoever.

Aerobics are fun to do when you have a friend over. Get in a few laughs as the two of you learn the new steps of aerobic exercises. Learn to do aerobics' and raise your heart rate by picking up an old CD or display from the local thrift store. Enjoy yourself and have fun doing aerobics in your living room right there in front of the TV.

Older exercises like ones where you recline on the floor and performance sit-ups, push-ups, etc are easier when you have equipment at home. You can watch the sporting programs on TV and enjoy extensive exercise shows to help you set up your own routines that work for you. Turn on the television and lay flat on the floor to workout with the instructor. This is a very cheap way to healthier living and all you need is a bottle of water for cool down!

When you exercise using your own home gym equipment, you will save money by not having to pay those expensive gym costs per visit and by driving less and wasting less gas. Having your own home gym gives you the advantage of working out more regularly too. When you have your own home gym, you can stay out of the cold weather and still workout.

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Home Gyms: Secrets to Your Back-In-Shape Program

Today, there are several different brands of fitness equipment for your use in your home that are available. The market is wide open for people who are searching for the ideal fitness machine that suits their specific needs, workout style and fitness goals. For some though, this procedure can be tedious and time consuming to chose the best home fitness gyms. So here?s some great guidelines that will make the proper selection much more easier and convenient.

1. Decide your realistic fitness goals by writing down your objectives with a weight loss program. Ask yourself what specific exercise machines meet those goals as you check out home gym reviews. You might consider an elliptical machine, rowing machine, stair stepper, exercise bike, or treadmill for you fitness training at home.

2. If gaining muscle is your primary goal, then start with a weight bench and/or free weights. Home gym equipment is also very appropriate for this goal. Free weights are preferred by some people because they also help by building your balance while you gain muscle mass.

Home gym machines combine various exercises targeting certain muscle groups when using a single workout machine. This often saves you space and is safer because it does not require a spotter which is usually needed when using free weights and when you design your home gym area.

3. Visit professional gyms. This can be a great method to find your ideal home fitness equipment. Learn the name brands of each particular equipment that you like. Then check whether the manufacturer provides a home exercise gym version. Nautilus is an example. They manufacture equipment for either residential or commercial users.

4. Next, consider the latest trends in home gym workouts and . Resistance training using flexible rods rather than actual weights has become pretty popular. Manufacturers who popularized resistance trainings are Bowflex and Weider home gyms. These units offer flexibility on your movements which create smooth lifting tasks for your joints.

5. Consider your budget. Purchasing home exercise equipment can be a somewhat complex decision besides dealing with your room dimensions home gym requirements. Find the right product that is truly worth its price. Home gym equipment enable you to save significant amount of money compared to a long-term, costly membership with local gyms. It also saves you valuable time wherein you can workout with your total fitness gym at your own chosen pace and convenient schedule.

6. Take the initiative. Those who cannot afford to purchase home fitness machines can stick to the traditional way of exercising. While it?s less scientific, it?s however more practical. Simple tests can be done. These can quickly gauge your general individual fitness training at home needs. These tests act as benchmarks for future exercising tests and fitness routines.

- Step 1 is to test measures your aerobic endurance. A one foot high bench should be used. For three minutes, do a cycle of stepping on and off the bench. One foot after the other at a steady beat of four cycles, consistently maintaining your pace throughout your fitness home workout.

- Push ups will test your upper body strength. Men can apply the standard style used in high school gym classes or in military training. Only the toes and the hands are touching the floor. Women can apply other options like using the "knee bent" position style push up.

- Sit ups will test your trunk and abdominal strength. Lie on a cushioned or carpeted floor. Bend your knees at an approximate 90 degrees angle. Feet should be flat on the floor and hands placed on your thighs. Start squeezing your stomach, by pushing your flat back and raising high enough so that your hand slides down on your thighs until you touch the top of your knees.

- Squats will test the strength of your lower body. Stand with your feet apart at a shoulder's length. Squat down lightly touching a chair making a right angle at your knee as you sit. Do this simultaneously until you are exhausted.

Having a home gym exercise routine is the key to you achieving a successful fitness level when either using specific fitness exercise machines or by sticking to traditional non-equipment exercises described above.

For more valuable home gym information, including great home fitness gyms selection advice, then try visiting KeyHomeGyms.com where you will find helpful information about workout equipment, the best elliptical machines resources and the latest home fitness equipment that will get you back into shape as fast as is possible.