Atlanta Journal Constitution
By H.M. CAULEY - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday, January 10, 2004

The thought of braving the January cold and elements to get to the gym for a morning workout makes you want to hit the snooze button and say, "Forget it." It's easy to forgo a bike ride, a jog or even an indoor swim on dark winter days when curling up with a blanket by the fire is much more appealing.

Unless you're someone like Lynne Halpern.

The Buckhead jewelry store owner has no such excuses for not working out. Her gym trek is a short trip to the lower level of her house, where an array of equipment makes staying in shape a year-round activity.

Halpern and her husband, Jack, work out about five times a week, sometimes with a personal trainer, using their treadmill, Stairmaster, thigh machine and free weights. They've assembled their gym over the course of several years, since Halpern injured her knee in a skiing accident.

"I went to rehab for that and finally decided, instead of going out in the rain, I needed the equipment in my house," said Halpern. "We use it; my kids use it. Having it means I can't say, 'Oh, it's too cold or I don't want to leave home.' "

The Halperns are part of a mushrooming group of fitness fans who opt to get their workouts at home. According to trends studied by the Florida-based Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, 33 percent of all U.S. households own and use exercise equipment. Sales of exercise machines for home use have climbed steadily from about $1.6 billion in 1990 to about $5.5 billion in 2002. That same year, the best-selling home equipment pieces were treadmills ($1.4 billion); stationary bikes ($300 million); and free weights ($250 million), said Mike May, SGMA director of communications

At no time of the year are sales stronger than in December and January, when the combination of holiday buying and New Year's resolutions inspire buyers to bring home a treadmill or stationary bike.

"It used to be a yuppie thing to get into shape," said Phil Verstraete, a former trainer who now works as the regional sales manager for the Virginia-based Fitness Resource, a company that retails exercise equipment. "Now, people over 40 are hearing from their doctors how important it is to stay in shape and keep their joints healthy." That can easily be done at home with just a few pieces of basic equipment, said Verstraete, starting with the industry's No. 1 seller: the treadmill. Prices for the machine can vary from just a few hundred dollars at Play It Again Sports, a store that sells new and used equipment, to a $5,000 for a state-of-the-art system with digital controls that mark your progress to the top of the Statue of Liberty, the Washington Monument and other landmarks.

"Treadmills are the easiest pieces of equipment to use," said Steve Uria, founder of the Eclipse One-on-One workout gym in Buckhead. "But the elliptical machines are the latest craze because they have the least impact and give you a great all-round workout."

Treadmills have another feature key to a good piece of home gym equipment: They can be used by a range of ages and by users with different levels of ability.

"If you can walk, you can use a treadmill, so you're basically qualified by the time you reach kindergarten," said May. "But they appeal not only to walkers; runners and joggers like them, too. Ellipticals combine the leg motions of a bike with the back-and-forth pull of ski poles to keep arms and legs in motion. They're also easier on the knees than a step or stair machine."

"Ellipticals have only been around for six years, but they're sold more quickly than treadmills," said Verstraete. "People love them because they use a greater variety of muscles in the upper and lower body, which gives the perception of lower exertion."

Like treadmills, the price tag for ellipticals varies by the number of bells and whistles on the piece. At Play It Again, buyers will pay upward of $299 for a used elliptical; new ones start at about $1,000. Sales of stationary bikes, though strong, have taken a backseat to recumbent bikes in recent years. Popular for being easier on the back muscles, recumbent bike sales shot up 50 percent between 1998 and 2002. Spinning bikes have also gained a following among folks who find the action closest to that of an outdoor road bike. Again, prices vary widely, from $100 for a used bike up to $2,000 for a new one.

Stationary bikes "are a no-impact activity, and you don't have to know how to ride a bike to use them," said May. "They can be used by a 6-year-old as well as 96-year-old."

But fitness experts agree that the great cardio workout offered by these machines is just one part of an overall exercise regime. Strength training has become the latest craze, particularly among baby boomers who are fighting the battle against the aging process.

"Cardio exercise does burn calories," said Verstraete, "but if you really want to be thin, you have to do the resistance training. Lean muscle mass burns more calories throughout the day and also strengthens joints and prevents osteoporosis. A $50 set of 2- to 3-pound dumbbells can do it."

For those doing power presses, one of the newest gizmos is a weight bar with an electronic sensor. As soon as one hand leaves the electronic sensor panel in the bar, the cable holding the bar locks into place. A bench with a set of weights and the electronic sensor bar runs $3,299 at Fitness Resource. Free weights are sold for 59 cents a pound. At Play It Again Sports, a complete set of used weights sells from $500 to $700; new ones are closer to $1,500.

If the price of purchasing home gym equipment seems out of your budget, experts suggest comparing the cost with what you'd pay for a gym membership. Add to that cost the convenience of having home equipment available 24/7, as well as a few other perks.

"Some people don't like sharing equipment," said Verstraete. "When you're at home, you're in control of who's on what. Also, at home you can pick the environment -- the music, the TV show to watch. And some people, particularly those just starting out, are often put off by having to interact with others in Spandex."

Getting into shape doesn't have to break the family budget, said Uria, who lists an adjustable bunch, a set of dumbbells, a treadmill and a recumbent bike as his top home-gym pieces.

"By being creative, you can get a home gym for under $100," he said. "A trampoline can provide a cardio workout. Some light free weights and a weight bar with a foam cover are also good. A simple jump rope is not only cost-effective, it's mobile. And you can take resistance bands in different thicknesses to the beach or a hotel room to do curls."

Bill Barney, owner of the Play It Again store in Buckhead, adds another recommendation to his list of free weights, a bench and one cardio machine for home-gym buyers. "No matter what they pick to get in shape," he said, "I always add a big admonition to eat better."

BEFORE YOU BUY

Exercise experts suggest these considerations when making a home gym

purchase:

Versatility: Does it work more than one muscle group? Can it be used by all members of the family?

Safety: How safe is this machine? What controls are in place to make it safe to use?

Maintenance: How easy is it to care for this machine? Will it require professional service? What do the warranties cover?

Size: Does the piece fit well into the space where you plan to use it?

Cost: How does the expense compare with joining a gym with a variety of exercise equipment?

Ease of use: Some stores will send a representative to your house to teach you how to use the machine. Personal trainer Steve Uria suggests that if that option is not available, consider hiring a trainer for one or two sessions to put together a complete home workout using your equipment.