What is the Best Gym Equipment for Weight Loss and Toning?

Losing weight and getting toned is a challenge for many people. But what if there was equipment that could make the process easier? 

In this article, we will explore some of the best gym equipment for weight loss and toning. 

We will also discuss how to use this equipment properly to achieve the best results.

Why are you trying to lose weight?

Before we begin, what is your goal? 

Weight loss can be achieved in many ways and for many reasons. Is it purely aesthetics that you're after? 

Perhaps you want to achieve a healthier lifestyle? 

We will discuss weight loss as it relates to both of these goals.

How much weight do you want to lose?  

For those who are going for aesthetic purposes, the number of pounds lost per week is less important than how this weight loss is distributed throughout the body - the more likely it seems that a good portion of the weight lost was fat, rather than muscle.

For those concerned with improving their health, a higher weekly weight loss may be preferred, even if that weight consists mostly from what would traditionally be considered 'lean mass.'

Aesthetic Weight Loss - What can you do?

Weight loss is a rather broad term, at least when it comes to what equipment one should use.

There are a number of different types of activities which induce weight loss in their practitioners. 

These include: aerobic training, resistance training, and interval training to name a few.

For those just starting out with weight loss regimens but have been exercising regularly for some time now - all three types can be done from home without any gym equipment whatsoever.

For those who prefer the ease of access that comes along with frequenting a fitness centre though, there are a number of equipment options available.

Resistance Training - what can you do?

Those looking for weight loss through resistance training will be interested in building muscle.

The most important thing to remember with this type of weight loss is that it requires ample protein intake, meaning lots of lean meat and protein supplements.

For those just starting out, there are several gym equipment options which can help: dumbbells, barbells and adjustable benches.

A good way to begin incorporating weights into your routine is by doing what's called a 'split' routine – this means exercising each major muscle group on its own day, allowing 3-5 days between workouts for recovery (remember your muscles grow as they heal!).

This provides the needed time for what's called 'muscular hypertrophy' to occur – that is, the actual building of muscle fibres after they've been damaged.

With resistance training, there are two types of muscular hypertrophy - sarcomeric and sarcoplasmic.

Sarcomeric hypertrophy involves what are called myofibrils, which when built result in what people refer to when saying 'tone.'

It should be noted though that what most people think of when they hear this term isn't really an increase in protein or other cellular matter (such as what occurs in weight gain), but instead what happens is a thickening of the actual tissue itself, making it denser than before.

This results in what looks like toning, but actually isn't what occurs when someone is increasing what are called intramuscular triglycerides, which are what make muscle tissue grow in size.

They do this through what's called glycogen supercompensation, which does require weight gain to occur.

This means that for those who are resistant to training and not eating enough carbohydrates or letting their body recover long enough pre-workout, what they're doing will not be building any new muscle fibres.

For the purposes of weight loss though, what will matter is less about types of hypertrophy and more about what stimulates them - progressive overload.

Aerobic Training - what can you do?

The most important thing to keep in mind with aerobic training for weight loss (and health) is that one should do what they enjoy.

This is important for a few reasons – the first being that it helps keep one engaged in their workout, which as we all know is what'll help them stick to it long-term.

The second reason is what's called 'exercise adherence' or what scientists call 'behavioural adherence.' 

This essentially means what will happen if someone does what they enjoy doing from a psychological standpoint, meaning those who are more likely to follow through with a weight loss plan over a longer period of time.

Aerobic training can include running, biking and swimming depending on what you're most comfortable with.

The best thing about aerobic workouts for weight loss is how accessible they are – almost everyone has access to a road/sidewalk to run on, or can find a pool in which to swim.

This means that what this type of training requires in the way of gym equipment is what one has access to in their surrounding environment.

What about strength training?

One should note that what has been described here are just some examples of what you can do at home without any gym equipment - there are so many different weight loss regimens out there because what works best for one person may not work well for another.

With regard to resistance and aerobic training, what could be most important when it comes to weight loss is what type of exercise will get someone excited enough to stick with it long-term.

While the previous two types were outlined for simplicity's sake, weight loss and toning comes down to what someone enjoys and what they'll do consistently.

How much space do you have at home?

What about gym equipment - what works best for what?

Treadmills are what you'll usually find in commercial gyms because what they do well is simulate what it's like to run outdoors.

They have moving arm-pedals which measure one's heart rate, and are what you'd typically find if you go to what's called a 'cardio theatre' where people can watch while working out.

Ellipticals are what many people use at home, although what they're most similar to is the stair-master (which has been discontinued).

What makes these machines ideal for weight loss is that it tones the legs by simulating movement what one would see when climbing stairs or running.

This can also help increase what's called 'eccentric strength' which is what allows a muscle to lengthen, which is what helps with preventing injury – what this means for someone trying to lose weight is that the workout will be more effective and one will see results faster.

Treadmill vs. elliptical: what are the differences?  

Treadmills tend to be what most commercial gyms have because of what they can do in terms of metrics – most have an incline option as well as different speeds depending on what type of workout one wants from it.

Ellipticals also usually come with fan options, but don't typically include an incline option like treadmills do.

This makes them ideal at home since one won't need to worry what type of incline to add when they workout. What is also great about ellipticals, however, is that they simulate what one would see if they were running outside.

This means that it provides more resistance than what you'd get with a treadmill, which can be what helps tone the body more quickly.

What's your budget?

What you'll usually find at what can be called a 'megaplex' or what's what gyms that have everything from the cardio theatre to what they call 'the jungle gym,' which is what has all of the cardio equipment outside on a deck.

These types of amenities are what typically cost more, but what you'll get is access to a wide range of weight loss machines as well as high-tech metrics on many different pieces.

Treadmills tend to run what one would expect them to – there aren't a lot of bells and whistles with these machines, so it forces one to be more creative with their strength training options.

They also don't come with any sort of tracking, which will allow someone who is trying to lose weight to more easily track their progress on their own.

The biggest difference you'll see between what treadmill and what an elliptical can do is what they simulate, which is what makes ellipticals a better option for toning the legs and glutes.

What's important to remember about gym equipment is what it ultimately comes down to isn't what machine provides the best stats or what piece of equipment has all of the newest technology – instead, it's what type of exercise one will enjoy and do consistently that will ultimately lead to sustainable weight loss results.

Also know that when someone is looking at different options for something like this they need to project ahead - while there are some short-term investments in what types of weights or machines what do what what one will need, what they'll have to think about what what they have the space for and what's best what them what type of equipment should be bought.

Wrapping Up:

When it comes to choosing gym equipment for weight loss, there are a few things that you need to consider.

What's important is what type of machine will make you enjoy your workout – this could be something like an elliptical that simulates running outdoors or a treadmill that has incline options.

Another thing to think about is what features the machine has – does it come with tracking capabilities so that you can monitor your progress?

Finally, another factor that should be considered is budget – do you want something high-tech and luxurious or are you okay with something more basic?

Ultimately, when choosing gym equipment for weight loss, it's important to find something which fits both your needs and your lifestyle.