Will home gym equipment help my reduce-my-paunch-goal?

. I am not looking to get ripped, get a 6-pack in 6 weeks or any of those get-rich-quick / get-slim-quick schemes. I understand "spot reduction" is impossible, I can't focus solely on my tummy and try to get it out of the way. I understand all equipment are the same, and it's ultimately the "one I will use the most that's effective the most". I understand diet and sleep are super important and I am working on fixing those .... So..... why are you asking this question again? I mean, any exercise is better than no exercise. So gimmicky machine wins against no exercise. But if you put up this exercise against, actual exercise like planks, reverse sit-ups/leg curls, and a short dumbbell routine, then yes, it's a load of overpriced horseshit. No one can guarantee that you will use it, and no one can guarantee that if you do use it, you will lose your paunch as we don't know your diet, your other exercise etc etc. Generally speaking, weight training will not shave off fat, though the improved posture and muscle tone etc etc can make it look like that, and I love weight training and generally feel better for doing it. But losing fat on the abdomen can be challenging, and diet plus a lot of calorie burning exercise, not 30 minute weights routines, might be more helpful. You didn't ask, but fyi, you will never be the most self-conscious person at the gym. And you might be surprised by how you think that person looks.

It's important to have correct form when doing weight training so that you're using the muscles you intend to use, and you're not straining anything else. Sometimes it's hard to have correct form on a machine because even though it may be adjustable, your body might be between two points of adjustment, or the way the machine moves isn't exactly aligned with how your body moves. I think free weights are better because you have more control over your form. Use a mirror to check. Also, free weights are motivating because it's such a tangible marker of progress when you can lift something heavier than you lifted before.

Try the bodyweight circuits at Nerdfitness.com. They're free, require no equipment, and should keep you going for a while as you build muscle mass. If you're also trying to lose body fat you'll want to look at your diet as well, though.

I understand all equipment are the same, and it's ultimately the "one I will use the most that's effective the most" I beg to differ: In my experience, the cheap/space-saving kind of home-gym equipment is often crappily put together, and too limited to actually give you what you want. Some years ago I spend about €120 on a rowing machine which started coming apart after about a month of use and practically had only two settings: insanely hard and ridiculously easy. I have never used something like the home-gym setup you are linking to, but I strongly suggest you find a way to try it out extensively before buying.

Free weights are great, but I would also include some core strengthening in combination with diet and aerobic activity. That could take the form of pilates, yoga, or old fashioned crunches/situps. For example, something like http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000NM0RMQ/metafilter-20/ref=nosim/ is progressively challenging on the core. It's amazing how strengthening your core makes everything else easier. And yes, spot reduction doesn't work, but toning the muscle underneath the fat does make a difference.

I think you answered you own question when you said, "I understand all equipment are the same, and it's ultimately the "one I will use the most that's effective the most". Maybe you and a friend? The most effective way to increase strength is to challenge your muscles. This is also the most effective way to fuck yourself up so be careful. Anyway your local Craigslist will be rife with almost free exercise equipment and I recommend some kind of not free weight system as depicted http://www.sears.com/weider-pro-6900-weight-system/p-00614922000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2 because free weights are dangerous when used alone.

If you're looking to incorporate strength training into your overall exercise/nutrition plan and your top goal is to lose weight (and you're right, spot reduction is impossible so the only way that you'll get rid of the paunch is through general weight loss), then I would suggest compound exercises: squats/lunges, pull ups, push ups/bench press, plank, deadlift, maybe dips, etc. Some people swear by burpees and power cleans. Some of these you can do as bodyweight exercises, some you might want to add weights as you progress. What you want to avoid are isolated muscle exercises - bicep curls and calf raises are great if your goal is to improve bicep and calf strength or achieve a certain look, but they're a relatively inefficient way to burn calories and improve overall fitness. If you're more likely to work out with a machine like you linked to then it might be a worthwhile purchase, but if you'll be motivated regardless then you'll probably get more bang for your buck with a pull up bar and a barbell with a couple sets of weights. All this is said while acknowledging that yes, nutrition is going to be 80% of achieving your goal and cardio will be another 15%.

Marketers had a good run of selling doodads from the 80s on, but none of it really worked for people; they'd buy them on impulse, find they lacked the motivation to use them, and be stuck with ugly clothes hangers. These days, though, you do see people losing weight, pretty routinely. That's an amazing thing, and it's because fitness and nutrition knowledge is widely available, and so is support on umpteen forums. You don't need stuff. (Though in terms of things that are useful and maybe not so threatening, I'd vote for dumbbells.) It takes a lot of consistent work to lose weight, a lot of focus and energy. It's not hard, but it takes commitment and you have to push yourself past what's comfortable. If it's the case that your motivation to do the work isn't, let's say, 80%, but your dissatisfaction is high, I would try to make use of more structure and social support to fill in the gap. Classes in something that you like, wherever, or hiking outside if you'd like that, or going to one of those gyms with a friend or even a personal trainer, who can push you. (With support, you don't need a "good" gym, you just need a small range of cardio options and weights.) Or even a DVD - I started with Jillian Michaels and some teensy girly dumbbells, as it happens; I responded to whatever kind of proxy coaching she offered, and those videos set me on a path to deadlifting 185 lbs for 10 [at my peak, can't do it now because of unrelated injuries; others can do better but I'm still a little proud]. Actually I think, really, maybe start with a DVD. (But if you're over 30, maybe stay away from very high impact ('plyometric') programs - if people are jumping a lot, just say no.)

If you want to lose weight, exercise the largest muscles you can for the longest period you can schedule/enjoy. For me that was moderately challenging 20+ mile hikes every Sunday wearing a backpack full of stuff, and consuming only low calorie foods during/after the hike (no trail mix). High intensity interval training and bodyweight exercises are great for getting toned, but most people don't have the muscles, patience, or time to do them for multiple hours several times a week. Trail running or biking are also ways to see the outdoors for longish periods of exercise, if that's entertaining for you. If you want to use exercise alone to lose weight, you will be talking about a serious time commitment that most people with a day job or kids will have trouble with. You will need to combine it with caloric reduction to see results.