Recently, we bought a Total Gym XLS. It was not a spontaneous decision, but one we had researched for months. We had been shopping online and the only thing I regretted from possibly buying via the Web was that it was likely I would not get to talk with anyone who had used one. That changed when I stopped by PlayItAgain Sports in my hometown to pick up some baseball gear for my son's team.

PlayItAgain Sports has been around for 20 years and has over 400 locations. Each store is owned and operated locally. They carry both new and used sporting equipment. Shoppers can even trade in or sell their own gear back to the store. We've "recycled" baseball cleats, rackets, and even sold used golf balls to the store in our area. It's the first place we go when our kids take up a new sport or outgrow the gear, and even though it's a regular in our life, it had not occurred to me to inquire there about a Total Gym. But, while waiting in line at the checkout, I had a moment to gaze around the store. I noticed a rather large selection of treadmills, stationary bikes, and other equipment. When my turn came, I asked the clerk if he was familiar with Total Gyms. Turns out he was and, even better, he had owned one and even had one for sale in the store! It was previously owned and priced at what we expected to pay (about 50% less than new). He lead us through a demonstration and answered our questions. We compared it to other exercise equipment in the store and decided it really did meet our need.  We paid for it, came home and set it up and everyone in the family has been working out on it regularly.

The range of exercises are diverse enough to keep the workout interesting and challenging. It's loads of fun and the device itself is really well-designed piece of equipment. Ours came with DVDs and a Training Deck card pack demonstrating each exercise. I watched the DVDs and went through the cards to select the exercises that fit my need. I keep them grouped in the Total Gym's card holder and pull them out to guide me through my workout.

It's been a terrific supplement to making me stronger for running while working body parts that don't directly benefit from running. I'm very pleased to have both forms of exercise part of my life. The Total Gym is totally awesome as are the folks at PlayItAgain Sports!