GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – For a lot of people, getting fit in 2021 means working out at home. But it’s important to make sure any exercise equipment or supplements to help with your fitness goals are as good as advertised.
There are more exercise bikes and adjustable dumbbell sets for sale online than you can count. So which one is the best for you? Susan Bach of the Better Business Bureau says it’s important to do some research or even test things out in a store.
“See if that piece of equipment matches your fitness objectives and if other people have had good experience with that,” Bach told WTAQ News. “Make sure that you set a budget and that you’re picking the piece of equipment that you know that you can stick with and that you like.”
Ideally, you would test out the equipment before buying it to make sure that you like it, and that it’s a good fit for your workout style. It’s also important to make sure that the product and it’s manufacturer have good reviews and strong reputations.
But if you’re ordering your equipment online, there are a few things to watch out for. You should make sure you actually have room for it. Some items can also be very expensive, and very heavy to move.
“Ask about those delivery options before you order them,” Bach said. “When the equipment is delivered, you’ll want to make sure that you open the box as soon as you can to see if all the parts are there. If they’re not, you should not accept delivery of the product.”
Some even offer an in-home service to put something together for an extra cost.
And as you’re on the weight-loss or muscle mass-gaining quest, many people will take some form of supplement. Again, there are a plethora of options online or even at your local shops. But anything that seems to be talking big with marketing should raise some eyebrows.
“Supplements that are promising miracle results are immediate weight loss those are the kind of things that you should steer clear from because those are often too good to be true,” Bach said. “Healthy weight loss is gradual one to 2 pounds per week. So anybody who promises those miracle products should really be seen with a healthy dose of skepticism.”
A lot of complaints the BBB receives about supplements also come from the cost. Many online options will reel people in with a good deal, but catch them unknowingly signing up for an expensive subscription service.
“Before you go online and purchase any kind of supplements make sure that you read the terms and conditions very carefully,” Bach said. “Check the product’s ingredients with the FDA to make sure that there hasn’t been any dangerous recalls or harmful side effects found.”
If you are relying on marketing claims and advertising products to make healthcare decisions, that may not the best option.
“Have a frank conversation with your doctor and see what is a healthy weight loss regimen for you,” Bach said.
For more tips and tricks on buying home gym equipment or finding the right supplement for you, head to BBB.org.
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