The current global economic situation has led to us all paying closer attention to our personal, financial outgoings.
Many of us are being forced to cut back on luxuries and gym membership is no different.
Depending on the quality of the gym and its physical location the membership costs can actually be astronomical.
This may be OK if you attend every day, but for those infrequent users the costs may start to look unjustified.
So, what is the alternative? It's simple...
buy a key piece of fitness equipment that you can use at home.
When shopping around for fitness equipment you need to consider several factors.
Firstly, consider the style of exercise that you enjoy.
Dumb bells may be affordable but do you really want to spend all your time lifting weights? And if you hate running you need to avoid buying a treadmill.
Think about your previous sessions in the gym and what pieces of equipment you most enjoyed.
And don't forget they don't need to be mind-bogglingly expensive.
A simple gym-ball and yoga mat can achieve great results if you perform the exercises correctly.
You should then consider where you will locate the equipment.
This may seem like an irrelevant consideration but aside from the issue of space you also need to workout in an environment where you feel stimulated.
There is little point putting a treadmill in the garage if throughout most of the year it is either too cold or too dark to go in there.
Bedrooms are also not ideal.
I think many women would hold their hands up and confess that their exercise bike is now commonly used to hang clothes from! And this is hardly going to get you in decent shape.
Finally, think about the areas around your body that need that extra attention.
Do you want to simply shape up your legs or do you need an all-over body workout? If you are looking for a piece of toning equipment to give your entire body a workout then consider equipment such as a Vibration Plate, treadmill or cross trainer.
By investing in a piece of apparatus that will exercise your entire body you will really start to see the benefits in no time, both around your physique and in your pocket.