Wild claims are often made about the newest fad in exercise equipment C You will be surprised to find out which products fitness professionals say are truly most effective when used consistently and correctly.

Challenge, consistency and using effective fitness equipment are the main components of any successful weight training workout. Infomercials generally offer products and information that stray from this principle. A workout, to produce results, must (1) be time and cost-effective so you are able to maintain a consistent training program; (2) include movements that train a number of muscle groups together so you can develop more strength and coordination, and burn more calories; and (3) continually provide sufficient variation and challenge so you will continue to experience results. The following is a list and description of some fitness equipment that assists you to satisfy all three criteria for a good exercise program. You can find much of this equipment easily on the internet.

Exercise Balls: - also known as Swiss balls, fitness balls and many other names - are probably one of the most versatile pieces of exercise equipment you could have in your home gym. You are able to exercise all major muscle groups with the help of a ball. A burst-resistant exercise ball can act as a platform for many weight training exercises that you can do on a bench. The difference is the ball adds instability and flexibility, allowing for greater range of motion and forcing you to exercise both your movement and stabilizing muscles. Not only do you strengthen your muscles, but you also develop better coordination and balance.

Free Weights: Free Weights generally refer to dumbbells and barbells. It often refers to any non-machine based weight training exercise as well, using medicine balls and resistance bands. Weight lifting is the hallmark of all resistance training. It presents the greatest challenge and benefit to your body. Your body adapts to this challenge by growing stronger and becoming more coordinated. Lifting free weights also duplicates the movements we make in the natural environment. Unlike many bodybuilding machines, free weights require you to use many muscles at once to execute a movement.

Resistance Bands: This equipment builds both strength and flexibility. They help you firm up your chest, arms, abs, and legs. Bands can sometimes impose as much tension on the muscles as free weights, yet they are extremely light and portable. If you have joint pain and stiffness, they prove to be an excellent way to train. Resistance bands complement your free weight workout in that they provide the most resistance at the end of a movement, unlike free weights and cable machines, which load the most resistance at the start of a movement.

Ankle and Wrist Weights: This equipment accompanies your aerobic and weight training to add more dimension and variation to your workout. Even when performed consistently and diligently, your workouts stop producing results when you do not incorporate variation and challenge. Ankle and Wrist weights help to solve the stale-workout problem by adding resistance to your movements both during weight training, walking and aerobics.

Balance Discs, Balance Domes: As does the above-discussed equipment, balance discs and domes add variation to your workout by adding instability. It bears repeating that workouts get stale, and do not produce increasing benefit unless you challenge your body with something different and unexpected. Balance domes and discs allow you to do your regular exercises, but on an unstable surface, forcing you to exercise various supporting muscles, develop more coordination, build stronger ankles and burn more calories.

Medicine Balls, Rebounders, Jump Ropes: This grouping of equipment assists you to not only develop strength and coordination, but also trains power, quick reflexes and the ability to partake in athletic activities. With medicine balls, you can strengthen your core, a necessary step to strength-training your arms and legs. A rebounder is a mini-trampoline that returns the medicine ball with speed and force at different angles. You develop cardiovascular, muscle strength and coordination all at once. Jump Roping is known for its intense cardio-vascular effects, but is also an excellent way to develop power and coordination.