Right now a lot of people are vowing to make up for all their holiday excesses, get in shape and lose weight in the coming year. Admirable goals, for sure. If you’re one of those people, and you’re planning on buying exercise equipment to help you out, keep a few things in mind. First of all, do some research before spending any money. Don’t just go buy whatever the local store has on sale. Decide whether you need strength training or cardiovascular equipment. Do you even need a machine, or would you be just as well served by a bench and some dumbells? Learn what to look for in a treadmill depending on how you intend to use it. Walkers and joggers have different requirements. If you learn ahead of time about your options, you stand a much better chance of not having equipment that gathers dust or serves only as a clothes rack in a few months.