How to build a mid-priced home gym

3G Cardio AVT 3.0 Vibration Machine (MSRP $2,499, $1,999 AHF price)

Editor’s note: This is the second in a three-part series on how to build a home gym. Today, we take a look at how to put together a mid-priced gym.

Do you want to build a high quality home gym, but aren’t able to spend like a company president? Fear not – that’s doable.
Here are five tips to build a mid-priced home gym. The following equipment choices are ones I believe rank among the very best in their price range and will help you get both a good cardio and strength training workout in your gym. Of course, you may find some comparable models you might want to substitute.
Octane Fitness Q35c Elliptical (MSRP $2,199, AHF price $1,999) – Get Octane’s mid-range elliptical that’s sure to deliver top-notch form, function and results that exercisers want. The new Octane Fitness Q35c features contact heart rate monitoring and enhanced X-Mode workout booster to let you get even more out of your workout. From the natural fluid motion of Body-Mapping Ergonomics and QuadLink drive to the informative electronics and variety of pre-programmed workouts.
Inspire FT1 Functional Trainer (AHF sale price $2,495) – A home gym that rivals almost any on the home gym, but for about $1,000 less than comparable models is this do-everything gem from Inspire. The Inspire FT1 enables users to have complete freedom of movement in any direction or plane while performing weight resistance exercises. These free-flowing exercises are designed to move the way your body naturally moves. Many of the freestanding exercises incorporate core, secondary, and stabilizing muscles, giving you a more efficient workout.
LifeSpan TR1200i Treadmill (MSRP $1,499, AHF sale price $999) – Anyone who’s ever shopped for treadmills knows you can spend $5,000, $6,000, $7,000 or even more for an elite model. Be careful trying to buy a bargain treadmill, though, because you might wind up with a flimsy model that’s too shaky to run on, or worse yet breaks down.
The LifeSpan TR1200i gives you a happy medium – it saves you a ton of money but is also a high quality treadmill that you can run on. The feature-rich TR12000i treadmill includes a USB data port that automatically saves your time, distance, calories, heart rate and steps as you workout so you can track your fitness activity in your online LifeSpan Fitness Club account.
3G Cardio AVT 3.0 Vibration Machine (MSRP $2,499, $1,999 AHF price) – Vibration training is the fastest growing segment of the fitness industry and provides a great way to train for strength, flexibility and even massage. However, however it’s not cheap to own a vibration trainer in your home, though, as these machines routinely cost $4,000, $5,000 or even up to $10,000.
However, people can enjoy all of the benefits of vibration training with the affordably priced 3G Cardio AVT 3.0 Vibration Machine, which comes at an MSRP of $2499. At Home Fitness has this ingenious machine at the remarkable price of just $1,999.
Vibration training has been touted by everyone from professional athletes and celebrities, to the couple next door and even senior citizens and people battling chronic diseases in some instances. Vibration machines create instability, which the body senses and reflexively contracts muscle tissue involuntarily to stabilize and react to the stimuli.
As a result, all three types of skeletal muscles are instantaneously called into service because of the near-immediate level of fatigue. No longer is there a “progression of muscle fatigue” as in traditional strength training.
AVT can work up to 95 percent of the muscle fibers, compared to as little as 20 percent with traditional strength training. In significantly less time than using traditional exercise methods, people can get a much better workout.
Many experts state that people can get great benefits from performing AVT training just 30 minutes three times a week.
Exercise balls – Shop around for exercise balls, they provide a great way to do a variety of core strengthening exercises.
If you have the financial means to plan a mid-priced home gym, there are some incredible options to consider when dealing with your local specialty fitness store, such as any of At Home Fitness’ four superstores in Arizona or their website www.athomefitness.com.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. Consult a doctor before making any significant changes in your exercise routine or diet. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com