Dumbbells

With home gym equipment, Kevin says it's all about thinking small.

By Kevin Valluzi

Q:What is the single best piece of home gym equipment that can work out major body parts and is compact enough for small spaces? - Michele


A:Hi Michele. Glad to hear that you are looking into doing some strength training. The best piece of equipment, hands down, is dumbbells. Dumbbells, more than any "machine," will give you a great total body workout.
That being said, you might want to get either a bench or a stability ball to complement the dumbbells. Now if space is a real issue, you might want to consider buying a pair of SportBlocks by a company called PowerBlock. This is one set of dumbbells with an interlocking pin that lets you change the weight from as little as three pounds to as much as 24 pounds, in three-pound increments. They are very sleek and comfortable and I highly recommend them

Using dumbbells in your workout program will ensure that you're using your supporting muscles and not just the targeted muscle. It's also much better for you to use dumbbells and do as many exercises as you can standing up. This will again ensure that you are using your whole body and also will get your heart pumping faster which in turn leads to a better overall total calorie burn. Not only during your workout, but long after your workout is over as well.

So there's your answer Michele. A simple pair of dumbbells is your best bet. Good luck with your training!