Reaching your fitness goals can be a daunting task if you do not have the right exercise equipment. The American Heart Association recommends that everyone should get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. If you don't have time to hit up the gym 4 or 5 times a week, it may be difficult to reach your fitness goals at home without the right equipment. The exercise equipment you purchase needs to be specific to your individual needs and be tailored to your health goals.

A common problem with exercise equipment is the "bandwagon" workout. A new piece of exercise equipment is released and it is apparently the best piece of exercise equipment on the market. What happens is tons of people run out and buy it, bring it home, use it once or twice, only to discover they really don't like it. The piece of exercise equipment quickly becomes junk or clutter and takes up free space in your home. Before you ever purchase a piece of exercise equipment, you need to try it out first. The gym close to your home should offer a trial membership. Sometimes you may have to pay a little extra for it, but it is definitely worth it. What type of activities do you enjoy? If you enjoy biking, walking or running, you should consider a treadmill or a stationary bike.

Exercise equipment is not cheap; in fact it can easily cost you thousands of dollars. If you don't have the money for it, you shouldn't purchase it. Consider a gym membership that has small monthly dues instead. At least that way you can use all the expensive equipment for a smaller price. Be careful to purchase the piece of exercise equipment that is cheap or on sale. Read online reviews about it and make sure you know exactly what you are paying for. If you have a small amount of money, consider purchasing a yoga mat and yoga book or some resistance bands.

You must also consider how much free space you have in your home. A large treadmill or elliptical machine won't fit easily in a home that doesn't have enough room for it. If you purchase the piece of exercise equipment only to discover you don't have enough space for it, try cleaning out your garage. Your garage needs to be similar to your home because no one will exercise in a garage that stinks and is either burning hot or freezing cold. A good rule of thumb to follow is; if you don't have the space, don't buy it.

How can you purchase the right piece of exercise equipment? It is difficult to determine exactly what type of exercise equipment you need if you don't know your fitness needs. Of course you must be consistent with your exercise routine, but you need to find the machine that works for your body. If you want to lose weight, you need to use the exercise equipment that is meant to tone and firm your muscles as well as provide weight loss. Aerobic exercise combined with weights and other strength conditioning exercises is the best thing you can do.

Assess your exercise goals. If possible, sit down with a personal trainer and evaluate your goals. Salesmen only want to sell you an expensive piece of exercise equipment so do your best to avoid them. No matter what your goals are, you need to lift weights and have a good weight training program in place if you expect to obtain an all-over fitness regime. You can purchase a treadmill, but you won't tone up or lose weight without some weight lifting.

Here are some good tips to follow when you decide to shop for exercise equipment:

• Search for a store that carries an extensive line of high quality exercise equipment. Wal-Mart is not going to sell a nice ProForm or NordicTrack treadmill.
• Don't listen to the salesman; pick a piece of exercise equipment that has all the features you want. If you don't enjoy biking, don't purchase a stationary bike. Find something that you know you will use on a consistent basis.
• Read the warranty. Exercise equipment warranties should be extensive and impressive. You should search for a warranty that is more than 90 days. After all, you will never get a chance to properly evaluate a machine in 90 days.

When you are walking around the store, ask yourself a few key questions:

• What are my fitness goals? Do I want to tone up, stay in shape, or is this for rehabilitation purposes?
• What is my current fitness level and do I see myself expanding on this?
• How much spare time do I have to dedicate to exercise?
• Will I get bored using this equipment?
• How many people will be using the exercise equipment?

Keep in mind that all exercise equipment is manufactured differently. Some exercise equipment is more efficient at burning calories that other equipment. The treadmill is a standard piece of exercise equipment that has been around for years and has proven results. You need to understand how a treadmill works before you can go out and purchase one. When you are shopping for a treadmill, you need to ask yourself how many people will be using it, for how long (minutes or hours), and how much do they weigh? A quality treadmill will start out at around $1,500 up. A treadmill should have a smooth feeling, a steady pace, and a normal belt. Average belt sizes are 18'' wide by 52'' long. Most quality treadmills include a standard warranty that is lifetime on the frame, 3 years on parts and 1 year on labor.

To pick a treadmill you should start looking online at product reviews. A few of the best brands on the market are Nordic Track and ProForm. Nordic Track is the number one selling brand of treadmills on the market. They are given high reviews for smooth cushioning, quality build, and excellent warranties. ProForm offers the best value for budget treadmills. They are manufactured by ICON, the same manufacturer of Nordic Track.

With a treadmill, try and stick with one that generates 2hp of continuous power. This is perfect for an individual who enjoys running, if you want a treadmill just for walking purposes; stick with one that generates at least 1-1.5hp of continuous power. With a treadmill, you get what you pay for. If you shop at Wal-Mart and pick up the $500 treadmill made of plastic, don't be surprised when it breaks down in a couple months.

Another great piece of exercise equipment is the elliptical machine. Elliptical machines are preferred by many people for their ease of use, and ability to rehabilitate joints without causing pain from excessive pressure. Elliptical machines are primarily driven by the legs, with the arms pulling on handles. You can adjust the intensity or keep the movement easy for beginners or those looking to rehabilitate muscles or joints.

Like a treadmill, an elliptical machine has a wide price range, anywhere from $200 up. Similar to a treadmill, you get what you pay for. An elliptical machine that costs $200 will probably begin squeaking over time and won't have a lot of resistance, thereby leaving you with a terrible workout. To pick a good elliptical machine, look at the motion and stride of the machine. The stride should be at least 21'' and the motion of the machine should feel smooth and quiet. Your elliptical machine should not feel jerky and shouldn't make a lot of noise.

Avoid purchasing an elliptical machine from Wal-Mart; instead try to purchase one made by ICON; ProForm and NordicTrack both manufacturer quality elliptical machines.

If you are looking for a cheaper piece of exercise equipment, the stationary bike is a great piece of home exercise equipment. Like treadmills and elliptical machines, stationary bikes offer a great cardiovascular workout in the comfort of your own home. When selecting a stationary bike, you need to look at the seating position and resistance level. Depending upon your situation, you may want a stationary bike that has a seat so your can lean your back against it. Most people choose the standard seating position as if you were on a real bike outside. The resistance level of a stationary bike is also another factor to keep in mind. If you purchase a stationary bike and decide the highest level of resistance is too easy, you are stuck with a piece of exercise equipment you may never use. Be sure to try out the stationary bike before you purchase them.

The average price of a stationary bike is around $200-$2000. Most stationary bikes come with the same features, the more you pay, the more extra features you get like a heart rate monitor and personal training programs. Like the other pieces of exercise equipment, stick with a name you can trust like ICON.

You really should spend time at the gym using the exercise equipment before you buy it. You can't get enough experience using the exercise equipment for 10 minutes in the store. Give yourself enough time to obtain a thorough evaluation of the exercise equipment.