Most Baby Boomers' Home Gym Equipment Ends Up Gathering Dust

Americans probably spent billions last year on physical fitness equipment to fight the aging and body image war, but probably close 90 percent of it went into the closet after a short time, equipment marketers estimate. People in the 35-to-50 age bracket with yearly incomes of $50,000 and more want to live to enjoy the money they're making, and so they invest in equipment and programs. This is according to Michael Simmons, president of California-based Pro-Tec Sports International, a manufacturer and distributor of recumbent exercise cycles.

But most of these people stop using the equipment regularly because they bought the wrong device for the wrong purpose. By far, most of the people who buy sophisticated exercise equipment for home use should buy health equipment. Simmons says industry studies show the majority of such purchasers are past 40, in essentially sedentary occupations. They need aerobic exercise for heart and lungs and muscle tone rather than bulging biceps, but they mistakenly buy home 'gyms' priced up into the five figure range which are designed for anaerobic, lower-oxygen- use workouts. They infrequently use the equipment, and it doesn't deliver the vascular conditioning they need, so they stop the program and store the equipment. The high dropout rate also can be attributed to perceived lack of time and convenience, soreness and boredom, according to Jim Warren, a corporate fitness and conditioning consultant.

What most people who say 'I'm not an athlete' don't realize is that it takes what we call 'foundational' fitness for the average man and woman to maintain the energy, overall muscle tone and freedom from back and other chronic pain to get through 365 days of work, family life and recreation. Jim Warren, who heads California-based FitAmerica Inc., agrees. Warren also agrees with Simmons that changes both in fitness concepts and equipment are good news. Physicians who specialize in aerobic exercise dynamics have scaled down by as much as 70 percent the requirements for effective workouts. Simmons cites an American Medical Association study showing that individuals as old as 90 can exercise in moderation, maintaining body and muscle tone through milder isometric resistance exercises performed for a few minutes every day.

In conclusion, if you are a baby boomer looking to stay in shape your best bet is to go to the gym and take the advice of a personal trainer or other fitness professional. You also need to consult a licensed physician to make sure that your routine is safe. Once you have an exercise routine that you enjoy, then you can think about buying the necessary equipment for your home to make things more convenient. It should be noted though, that some people find it much harder to become motivated when there gym is in the home.

Sources:

Connor, Rico Total Health For Life: Mind And Body, The Baby Boomer's Bible Of Health 2007

Falaschetti, Suzanne Home Fitness: Designing Your Own Home Gym and Workout Plan 2003