Well let's get serious. While being a housewife and mother is the hardest job on the planet, it doesn't mean you cannot take a little time out for yourself each day and begin an exercise routine and start getting back into shape! There are some great home exercise products on the market today that are excellent for beginning a new fitness regimen at home. Balance/Core Training products are geared towards flexibility and toning while step platforms and cardio exercise equipment liketreadmills and exercise bikes will help burn calories. The best part is you can still watch Oprah and do a load of laundry and exercise at the same time!

Exercise Equipment Products

Now let's explore some of the exercise products out there and find out what to avoid. How many of you remember the "Thigh Master"? Okay, you are laughing now aren't you? This became a piece of the "exercise graveyard" at my house (at least that is what my husband called it.) Our graveyard consisted of a Thigh Master, an old cross country trainer, various odd-shaped, sand-filled dummbells, and a crooked step platform. In each instance when I purchased fitness equipment, I opted for the latest "As seen on TV" gadget or the cheapest product that promised quick results. All of these items eventually had a nice layer of dust on them and a covering of cobwebs. Can you relate to this scenario? Every fitness ad on TV shows the slim, toned beautiful people and we just can't fathom ever looking like that. It is inconceivable right? Well we could if we had thousands of dollars and a good plastic surgeon. Most of those toned bodies have had a little help with a nip and tuck here and there. So let's get back to reality and implement an exercise routine and purchase quality fitness equipment that will help us acheive reasonable results. Oh and let's keep looking for that stretch mark removal cream while we are at it!

Cardio Exercise Equipment

After years of exercising on and off I finally decided to invest in a good treadmill and stick it right in the master bedroom. No corner in some remote part of the house for me, as it would start collecting those dreaded cobwebs. After two years of owning a treadmill I can actually tell you that I have used it on average about 3 times a week. It is the easiest form of exercise as we all know how to walk. In fact, my mother, who has been at least 100 pounds overweight her whole life has never done any exercise. She has dieted her weight off 5 times in her life only to see it come back on. Well, I finally talked her into buying a treadmill and starting out slow and building up endurance. Keep in mind she was 67 at the time so she needed to make sure she was using a piece of exercise equipment that was not hard on her joints. Well, within one year she lost 100 pounds and became the thinnest she has ever been. Now she did combine the treadmill routine with a good diet, but WOW! Look at the results you can get from just walking briskly for 30 minutes a day. Most treadmills come with incline capabilities and pre-set programs and computer readouts. Take a look at the Landice Treadmills with features that include built-in programs, user programs, and wireless interactive heart rate control. A Landice treadmill is a great investment for your home exercise program. So house wifes unite! There is a great qualityexercise equipment that you can use in your home and get results just as if you were going to the gym.

Weight Training Equipment

Now the other fitness product I purchased was a home gym and a set of dumbbells. You want to talk about really reshaping your body? Then weight training is a must. I saw the fastest results when I combined cardio exercse with a simple weight training routine. Ironcompany has some great home gyms, but one of my favorite is the Marcy Smith Machine which is a Spotter Free Smith Personal Trainer w/utility Bench. This equipment has it all for serious training at home and it is offered at an awesome price. It is also very easy to use. If you want to get that back end in shape then you will love the Smith Machine as it allows you to perform squats without a spotter. You do not have to squat heavy, just go light and do alot of reps and your rear will be toner and tighter. This system also includes a Lat bar, tricep rope, shiver bar, ankle strap, single handle and chromed V-bar for upper and lower body home workouts

Let's Get Healthy

Let's change the way we think about ourselves and our bodies. How about setting a goal with some reasonable results? After all the main goal of an exercise routine should be a healthier you...not just a slimmer and toner you...but those can certainly be the fringe benefits. I am not even going to conquer the subject of dieting as I am no expert. I have been on so many diets and the only one that I can really stick to is the chocolate cake diet. So lets summarize what we have learned here. Do not buy into the get thin quick schemes....they do not work. Also, do not always buy the cheapest exercise products out there...most of the time you get what you pay for. Purchase a piece of exercise equipment that suits your current fitness level and one that you will stick with. If it is too hard to do, then you probably won't stick with it for long. Treadmills andexercise bikes are perfect for a home workout program.

Remember, we do not have to be desperate to get into shape. There are great options out there for us! Purchase some home fitness equipment and start getting back into shape. Let's vow together to throw away those old lady underwear and get healthy and sexy!