While you can get a lot of essential fitness equipment for under $50 you’ll add a lot of fun and challenge if you can spare just a few hundred more.

$200 – You could choose to blow it all on a bargain basement elliptical trainer, which is an ok choice if you find one that’s comfortable, easy-to-use and the right size in that price range. It’s also a good idea if you’ve already got a number of strength training accessories, such as resistance bands, free weights and balls. But if your fitness cabinet is bare, you’re better off starting out with a variety of versatile pieces rather than one big item that will most likely end up gathering dust. Dumbbells, resistance bands and stability balls are a must. You can get all three for $50 to $80.

Videos add variety

Most people find the more variety they have in their fitness routine, the more likely they are to stick to it. Buying fitness videos ranging from Pilates and yoga to dance and kickboxing (or Carmen Electra’s risqué Aerobic Striptease series for something really different) can give you that variety for about $10 to $20 bucks a pop. The equipment you buy should complement the variety of videos you choose.

Equipment that offers cardio and strength benefits

A BOSU ball costs between $80 to $100 and is great for doing butt and thigh toning squats. It will also let you really target your core and upper body by adding difficulty to planks and push-ups. You won’t be missing out in the cardio department because a BOSU’s good for that too. It can be used in place of a step for extra intense aerobic workouts. Why buy a machine that has one boring use when you can spend less and have a lot more options.

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At-home workouts using soup cans and staircases (or anything else you can covert to strength building or calorie burning equipment) are great if you’re low on cash or hesitant about shelling out for quality products right away. But there will probably come a point when you’ll want to try new things. You’ll also realize that spending money to keep your body in shape is a really good investment. Until then I’ve got you covered.

$10 – Ok, so it’s not much, but at least it’s a start. If you spend that $10 wisely it can actually go a long way. There are three items your money can get you that will help tone your entire body and burn calories fast. A jump rope for high-intensity cardio and one or two resistance bands. It’s really as easy as that. The best part is that all three items are easily stored and can be taken with you to work and while you travel, so you can fit in fitness anytime, anywhere.

$50 – With more money you can afford a decent set of free weights, which will help increase your metabolism by building muscle. Look for dumbbell sets with at least three different sizes and avoid any that offer only super lightweight 1, 2 and 3 lb weights, which won’t provide much challenge. A set of 3, 5 and 8 lb weights is much better, and you’ll be able to double them up to increase the resistance when you need to. The second thing you should spend your money on is a stability ball, which can cost as little as $10 or $20 and is great for exercises that target abdominals. If you’ve got a few dollars left over, and you should if you took the time to seek out the best deals, a resistance band is the only thing missing. You can use it on its own, or with the weights and ball to really add some challenge to your workout.

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There’s no denying that the acrobatics exhibited in pole dancing or strippercise classes will get you a toned, sexy body. But what about those women who don’t possess the exhibitionist gene? Well they’ll just have to exercise with a different sort of pole, or rather set of poles.

These poles are similar to the ones used for cross country skiing and the activity that’s becoming more popular everyday is called pole walking, Nordic walking or any variety of other names used by companies selling their own brand of ergonomic walking sticks.

The premise is simple and effective. Using your upper body while walking engages more muscles and burns more calories, while not making you feel like you’re working harder. The numbers being touted are 20 to almost 50 percent more calories burned while walking with poles. Pole walking is also said to be good for posture and balance, as well as being easy on joints. Basically it’s beneficial for men and women of all ages and abilities.

Since most of the time I’m not that crazy about cardio I like the idea of doing more work and not feeling it. I also like that It would allow me to work my upper body aerobically without using a rowing machine (which I don’t have access to) or gripping the moving handlebars on a cross trainer (which I find uncomfortable).

A coworker of mine just earned her Urban Polling certification (I neglected to mention there is a specific technique you have to use getting the most benefit) and will be leading classes so I’ll check one out and let everyone know what I think. Anyone else hopped on the Nordic walking bandwagon yet?

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What is a BOSU, you ask? Well it looks like half a stability ball attached to a hard platform and the name stands for BOth Sides Up. It can make your workout both harder and easier, and at the very least, a lot more interesting.

Balance on it – When you get your feet off solid ground, by standing on either the ball side or platform side of a BOSU you’ll be improving your balance and strengthening stability muscles in your feet, ankles, legs and core. When you add weights to one or both hands and perform upper body exercises, you get two for the price of one.

Make push-ups easier/harder – Grip the handles on the BOSU’s hard side and it’ll take pressure off weak wrists for more comfortable push-ups. Make the move harder by tilting to each side as you perform the push-ups. Place your hands on the ball side and it creates more instability. Place your feet on either side and you’ve got two entirely new and challenging push-up exercises.

Modify squats and lunges – Placing one or both feet on a BOSU for squats and lunges also challenges new muscles and adds variety to a strength training routine. If you’re really steady you can even step on the hard side for added unsteadiness.

Use it as a step – Step aerobics can really scorch calories. Use your BOSU in place of a step to follow along to a step-aerobics video or make up your own, adding cardio intervals to any workout.

Work your core – Almost everything you do with a BOSU involves working core stabilizer muscles, but you can also use it to directly target the front, sides and innermost muscles of your abdomen. Regular or reverse crunches while balancing on the ball side, planks with arms or legs elevated, wood chops with extra instability – the options are endless.

Keep in mind BOSU’s don’t come cheap. If you’re just starting out or have never worked with the equipment before make sure to try it out before you buy. But if you’re looking for a tool that will help you in the strength, balance and cardiovascular departments look no further.

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Here are a few hints. It will help your body build muscle, but it’s doesn’t provide resistance. It can bring relief to sore, achy muscles but it doesn’t require costly appointments. And finally it can help with your balance but it’s neither a BOSU ball nor a wobble board.

If you guessed foam roller you really know your stuff. If you belong to a gym chances are you’ve noticed that these cylindrical shaped tools have earned a spot on the floor or in classes in the past few years. You may have noticed people rolling around on them or standing atop one while they lift weights and wondered what exactly this piece of equipment is supposed to do.

Admittedly a foam roller sounds a lot more boring than the BOSU. And it may seem completely unnecessary to those who don’t stretch after a workout anyways. But all those preconceived notions couldn’t be further from the truth.

Why foam rollers are breaking away from the pack:

1.Price – Sure if you have a membership at a fully equipped gym it doesn’t matter to you how much the equipment costs. If you’re looking for something useful at home you may not want to spend over $100 a pop, which is what a BOSU can set you back. Foam rollers on the other hand are often under $20.

2.Massage – Using myofascial release massage techniques (more on this in the next post) you can smooth out knots and target trouble spots without having to rely on a professional. If you get a foam roller to use for nothing more than self-massage, it’s still worth it.

3.Versatility – Foam rollers aren’t just good for muscle massage. By performing exercises while standing in different positions on the roller you can challenge your body’s stabilizing muscles and improve balance. It’s a great way to increase the difficulty of exercises you already do. Just try standing still on a foam roller and you’ll know what I mean. It takes a lot of practice to master the foam roller and you will really know you’re getting somewhere when you’ve worked up to just one full squat.

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