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Many of us desire to pursue fitness training. We have made attempts in the past to become more physically fit by purchasing fitness equipment. Unfortunately, this fitness equipment has been banished to the garage, basement or the back of the closet. While the equipment is gathering dust our fitness level does not improve. Over time the amount of money we have spent on unused fitness equipment discourages us even more.

I know it may sound like a waste of good money after previous bad purchases, but have you considered investing in a rowing machine? Not like the one you purchased from a mail-order catalog, a pneumatic piston contraption that felt nothing like real rowing. The one that broke within a week, just like the home gym sitting in your garage. I mean high quality equipment. It's like your mountain bike, but you can use it for just a few minutes while watching TV, instead of getting sunburned outside.

If you can find a good rowing machine, it will feel like you are actually on the water. Another nice thing about these machines is that they are very quiet. You can still watch TV while you exercise. These machines are no impact, and they are easy on your joints.

The best thing about rowing is the full-body workout that it gives you. It works your legs, arms, and even your back. For a complete workout, just add in few pushups for your chest and triceps, and you've got a fully balanced workout.

Rowing works the entire body and a rower trains multiple areas of the body. Are you trying to increase your strength? To do this, you need to increase the resistance on the rowing machine and do short sprints. Do you want to increase your endurance? Decrease the resistance and go for a longer period of time and a greater distance. Do you like to compete? There are rowing machine competitions. You can sign up for one of these to maintain your motivation and have something to work towards.

Even though money for the best machines is usually money well spent, it is wise to beware of diminishing returns. Spending $1000 on a rowing machine from a brand new company may or may not be a great deal. By purchasing from an established and reliable company, however, you are more likely to be able to find replacement parts when you need them. However, buy used when in doubt. Most people who love rowing would never give up their rowing machines. However, machines sometimes break and the owner doesn't realize it can be easily fixed. You can sometimes get an excellent deal this way.