Working at home: turn your average abode into a fitness fortress with these training essentials - Special Section: Better Homes & Bodies

Muscle & Fitness/Hers, April-May, 2002 by Carey Rossi Walker

NordicTrack Elliptical Machine

Here's a compact elliptical machine for a minimal-impact cardio workout in the privacy of your home. NordicTrack's CXT910 elliptical features two-position incline, silent motion and varied workout options. $799 at Sears stores nationwide; www.sears.com or www.nordictrack.com.

Fitness EM Weight Bench/Dumbbells

About two years ago we discovered Savage Fitness, a company specializing in fitness equipment for women (we use the free weights in our "Home Work" articles). Savage has since merged with Danskin to create Fitness EM, which will launch 20 different women's strength. yoga and Pilates products in 2002. Here's the first of the line, the Incline Bench, which features five adjustable positions and a set of 3-, 5- and 8-pound dumbbells and a storage rack. It's a cinch to put together and much more attractive than most home gym equipment. Incline Bench with Dumbbells $149 in sporting-goods stores; www.danskinfitness.com; 800-704-5561.

ParaBody 777 Cable Motion Gym

The unrestricted paths of movement of ParaBody's 777 Cable Motion Gym allow you to train more functionally by recruiting multiple muscle groups as you perform an exercise. Cables and pulleys bring the free movements you're used to in the gym into your home, but in a fraction of the space. Total-body workouts can include familiar exercises such as the chest press, lat pull-down, leg extension, leg curl, hip abduction and adduction, lateral raise, biceps curl, triceps extension and many more. $1,639; www.parabody.com; 866-PARABODY.

Nike Training Gear

There's more to strength training than dumbbells and barbells, as Nike proves with its innovative line of resistance training bands and balls. For the perfect portable gym, check out Nike's Resistance Band Kit, which features a heavy-resistance straight band, medium-resistance Figure 8 band, light resistance circular band and mesh carry bag. All bands also sold separately in varying levels of resistance. The strength training ball pictured on page 84 comes in Five weights ranging from 4 to 12 pounds and Features textured surfaces and finger grooves for improved grip. Lastly, for your more mellow workouts, Nike offers the Yoga/Stretching Kit containing a non-slip yoga mat, foam blocks, a natural cotton strap and carry bag. Nike training gear retails from $10 to $45; www.niketown.com.

NordicTrack Treadmill (opposite page, top left)

Want a commercial-quality treadmill for a fraction of the price? Check out NordicTrack's EXP 1000X, which features a comfortable walking surface, an incline that goes up to 10% and a roomy 20x55-inch deck. Other bonuses include one-touch speed control and ifit.com technology for Internet-based workout programs. $999 at Sears stores nationwide; www.sears.com or www.nordictrack.com.

Life Fitness Bike (opposite page, top right)

Built like the LifeCycles you ride in the gym, the C7i upright bike by Life Fitness features advanced interval training workouts, quiet belt drive and hill/random/manual program options. Using the interactive heart rate capabilities, the bike will adjust the intensity of your program to keep you in the correct heart-rate zone and provide an optimal workout. No need to plug this baby in -- it's self-powered! $1,699; www,lifefitness.com; 888-FIT-4-LIFE.

Vectra Gym

The downside to most weight machines is the lack of balance and supportive muscles recruited during a given exercise. Vectra's On-Line 1600 gives you the convenience of a home gym but the option of either a machine feel or free-weight feel. With the pull of a knob, the restrictions on the weight stack are lifted and you begin to control and balance the weight throughout the exercise, similar to using dumbbells or barbells. More than 22 exercises are possible, including bench press, seated row, shoulder press, at pull-down, squat, standing calf raise and leg curl. If you have the space (and the cash), this is all you'll ever need in a home gym. $3,500; to find a dealer, visit www.vectrafitness.com or call 800-283-2872.