$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.

Warm up: 15-30 seconds each for 2 minutes total.

• shoulder rolls
• arm circles both directions
• swing rope from one side to the other
• two foot hops
• boxer’s shuffle (jumping lightly side to side, one foot landing a split second before the other) with or without rope swing

2 – 2:30 skip

2:30 – 3:00 boxer’s shuffle

3:00 – 3:30 skip

3:30 – 4:00 boxer’s shuffle

4:00 – 4:45 skip

4:45 – 5:15 boxer’s shuffle

5:15 – 6:00 skip

6:00 – 6:30 boxer’s shuffle

6:30 – 7:30 skip

7:30 – 8:00 boxer’s shuffle

8:00 – 10:00 skip

What you expected cross-overs, jumping jacks and slalom? This is a beginner skiping routine, which means it’s a lot more important that you get the technique down pat than try intricate or difficult moves. Trust me, this will get your heart racing plenty. Once you learn how to skip, you can move on to more fancy footwork and things will get a lot more interesting.

But one thing has been bothing me. And it’s not the fact that most of the emails I get are trying to sell me books about some new diet or weight loss program subscription. It’s also not the fact that some of these companies (I’m not mentioning any names) don’t find it at all ironic that many of the emails they’ve sent me in the past few years have been for the “last” or “only” workout or diet plan I’ll ever need. Then why do they keep creating new ones I wonder? But I digress.

The thing that bothers me is workout routines that target only one or two muscle groups. Who doesn’t want tanktop arms, a bodacious booty or awesome abs? The exercises in and of themselves aren’t bad. In fact I get a lot of my own moves and ideas from these types of emails. But if I’m spending 30 minutes, two to three times a week working my abdominals, when am I going to have time to work the rest of my muscles.

I know these exercises are a small part of a much bigger fitness routine, so I pick and choose the ones I like and add them to my reperetoire. But some people are so focussed on spot reduction, like getting rid of arm fat for example, that they forget about everything else and think doing eight exercises for their biceps, triceps and shoulders is all it’s going to take to lose fat in that area.

I get why these emails are sent out. If someone is stressing about the state of their stomach an email that screams “banish ab flab for good”, especially if it also specifies there is no exercise required (don’t even get me started on that), is what’s going to entice them to go to the website it came from.

For someone who is inactive and possibly overweight the promise of muscle definition and flat abs in a matter of weeks sounds too good to be true, and it is. If you read the fine print these spot training plans require healthy eating, cardiovascualr activity and even more strength training to be effective. Even then it often takes months to see results, unless you’re starving yourself and working out excessively, which isn’t a great way to make lasting lifestyle chanegs.

So ifyou want to send me emails with exercises suggestions that’s great, but be upfront about what is involved and what results are realistic.