As a new year’s resolution, getting fit is up there in the popularity stakes with quitting smoking, finding a new job or giving up alcohol. Getting in shape is the goal of millions as dawn breaks on the 1st of January. It is, however, not only one of the most common resolutions, but also one of the hardest to see through. There are many reasons for this slip in determination; however motivation to stick with your regime can be greatly increased if you choose to buy fitness equipment for use at home.

For many, getting fit is not only hard and arduous work, but also expensive and time consuming. More often than not, the first step is finding and joining a gym; however, this frequently tends to be neither affordable nor practical in the longer term.

A few of the right one-off purchases can give you the perfect set up to start your January mission. What's more, you'll be able to do it all within the comfort and privacy of your own home. Forget the thumping music and garish videos typically found in most gyms and enjoy working out in front of your favourite television show. Being at home allows you to dictate the pace, length and time of day of each of your sessions.

So, when it comes to setting up your own personal gym, where to start? Well, results don't come much easier than with the Reviber Vibration Plate. Simply standing on the machine for 10 minutes every other day could well help both tone and strengthen your muscles. Sessions on the vibrating plate can reduce body fat, enhance your balance and posture, assist metabolism and much, much more. Originally developed to maintain the muscle tone of astronauts on long missions, vibration exercisers have a range of speeds and settings for you to adjust as you progress.

At the slightly more active end of the scale are products such as the easy glider. This particular machine enables you to effectively work every major muscle group; the legs, arms, torso and core can all benefit from regular sessions on the glider. In addition, it does so without any of the jarring and potentially painful impacts of jogging or lifting weights. Essentially, you will go for a fluid, yet vigorous, power walk without actually having to venture outside. Perfect for the dark evenings of winter, the easy glider will also tell you exactly how many calories your last effort burned.

The best home exercise equipment should be both easy to assemble and understand, as well as being easily storable. In this regard, the mini pedal cycle is perhaps the perfect product. Small and easy to carry, it even enables you to work out while sitting down and can be comfortably stowed away when not in use. The cycle can be placed on the floor or your lap depending on whether you want to work arms or legs and both can significantly benefit your cardiovascular system. The machine tones calves, arms and shoulders as well as increasing the muscular strength in these areas. Again, a calorie counter is displayed to tell you how the session is going.

Of all the enthusiasts who set out to the gym in early January, a great number invariably and inevitably fall by the wayside as cosy nights in become a far more attractive proposition to travelling in the cold and dark to pound yet more time away on the treadmill. The chances of actually quitting are, however, slim as most places will have their users tied down to lengthy contracts paid for in monthly instalments.

This considerable financial waste and stress can be avoided by working out at home. A few key purchases can soon see you enjoying all the healthy and cathartic benefits of a good work out without the commitment to doing so greatly impacting on your time, money and social life.