Selecting a new piece of exercise equipment can be daunting because there are so many possibilities. Before you buy, investigate the resources that are readily available to you. If your office building or neighborhood has an exercise room or program, check it out and try the equipment. Ask your friends what they do. Visit a YMCA, commercial gym, community college or any other nearby facility that offers classes or memberships. Make notes on everything that is available and what appeals to you. DON'T give in to high pressure sales people to buy equipment or memberships until you know exactly what you want.

There are lots of advantages to having exercise equipment in your own home. You can exercise whenever it's convenient, in any weather. You never have to wait in line. You have privacy -- a real plus if you're embarrassed about your weight or lack of fitness. You can watch television or listen to music while you exercise.

But good exercise equipment can be expensive. Make sure you know just what you want before you buy. If you have access to a health club or gym, try out the pieces that interest you. It's best to work through the first several weeks of a new exercise program on someone else's machine just to make sure you're comfortable, can master the movements and -- hopefully -- enjoy the activity. That way you're less likely to end up with an expensive clothes hanger.

Once you've settled

on the type of machine you want, find a store that carries several different models displayed so you can try them out. Remember that health clubs buy extremely heavy-duty equipment; many machines built for home use are lightweight and poorly constructed. If you buy a machine that doesn't move smoothly, rattles and shakes, or fails to give you the range of resistance you need, you won't enjoy your workout. You don't necessarily need to buy the most expensive machine -- you can do without all the electronic gadgetry. But do buy the sturdiest, smoothest-operating model you can afford.

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