Chances are you're trying to get in shape, given the current emphasis on fitness and good health and the federal government's growing concern about overweight Americans. If so, perhaps you're thinking about buying some home exercise equipment. But before you buy that home gym, exercise bike or treadmill, do your homework. There are lots of choices on the market. You don't want to burn your money instead of calories.

Thousands of people have paid big bucks for exercise equipment, vowing that they would use it faithfully if only they had it in their homes. Well, take a look at the next yard sale you come across. Check out the exercise equipment for sale; it looks like new and barely used but is selling for a fraction of what the owner paid for it.

But if you're sure that you have the will power to use the equipment faithfully at home, then shop carefully and buy the kind that is best for you at the best possible price. Carefully evaluate advertising claims until you understand both the financial and lifestyle commitment that's involved in making such a purchase.

Lots of different equipment options exist, ranging from whole rooms set up with multiple machines to simple bar bells for weight lifting exercises. There are exercise bikes, rowing machines and skiing machines.

Treadmills are the most popular home aerobic equipment, says the National Sporting Goods Association. The price? You can pay anything from $300 to $4,000. Home gyms can cost $2,000 and stair climbers run from $1,500 to $3,000. Before spending your money, use these consumer tips.

Know your major goals.
Do you want to improve your strength, flexibility or cardiovascular fitness? It's unlikely that any one piece of equipment will meet all your goals.

Test the equipment.
Give any piece a fair workout before you bring it home. Go to the store dressed for a test run. Better yet, sample the equipment in a gym. Even if you don't belong to a gym, some will let you try out their machines as a prospective member. Afterwards, ask yourself if you'll use the equipment on a regular basis.

See through outrageous claims.
Face it, getting in shape takes work. No piece of equipment can make pounds or inches "easily" disappear. Watch out for claims that say otherwise. Don't believe those TV ads with the impossibly slim young woman or man telling you how many inches they lost using a "low-cost" item. The "before" and "after" testimonials may exaggerate typical results.

Consider all the costs.
Don't forget to consider any shipping costs, especially if you should need to return equipment for repairs. Check out the manufacturer's warranty and where you can get service and parts if something goes wrong.

Check several stores before you buy anything. Prices can vary tremendously. Why pay more than you have to for the same model?

Be practical.
Do you know how large the piece is and where you'll find room to store it? Do you have a convenient place where you can exercise easily and safely, perhaps while watching TV?

Check out the product reviews.
One way to evaluate an exercise product is to see what the pros say about it. Product reviews can guide you to well-built equipment that will withstand your most vigorous workout.

Talk with your friends.
One of the best ways to test a particular kind of exercise equipment is to talk with someone you trust who uses something similar. This person may help you learn how to get the most benefit from the equipment as well.

AARP Resources

Fitness Safety
Pulled muscles don't lend themselves to fitness. Build these safety tips into your fitness program.

Ride Your Way to Fun and Fitness
Biking is a fun way to add fitness to your life.

Stretch for Flexibility
Why flexibility? It benefits you in more ways than you imagine. Here are the hows and whys.

Work Out Your Stress with Physical Activity
Put physical activity at the center of your stress-busting program.

Additional Resources

Pump Fiction
The Federal Trade Commissions explains how to evaluate advertising claims for fitness products.

What You Need to Know to Purchase a Treadmill
The organization that certifies fitness instructors helps you pick a treadmill.

Consumer Search on Health and Fitness
See what reviewers have to say about treadmills, stair steppers, exercise bikes, and other fitness equipment.

Books

Find these books online at Barnes & Noble.com.

"Fitness Over Fifty: An Exercise Guide from the National Institute on Aging,"Hatherleigh Press, 2003.
For greater fitness, balance and less stress, you can't beat regular exercise.

"Fitness for Dummies," Suzanne Schlosberg and Liz Neporent, John. J. Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 1999.
An easy-to-follow book for beginning exercisers.

"Weight Training for Beginners," Tony Gallagher, HarperCollins Publishers, 2003.
Color photos guide you to successful weight training in your home.