Build Your Own In Home Gym

In Home Gym

If you’ve decided that working out at home is the right thing for you, the first logical step to make the process a success is choosing the right equipment for an in home gym. What items you need depends on a lot of factors, such as your physical conditions, your goals, and your budget. Whatever your fitness level, here are some tips on setting up a basic gym that gets you moving:

Choose the Right Space.
In an ideal world, you will have a room especially set-up to work out. If that seems like a faraway dream, you will need to look for alternatives to make the most of the space you have. A basement is a great place to set up a gym: it’s out of the way, you won’t bother other home residents with loud music or the treadmill running, and it’s a safe spot if you have children or pets who can get into the equipment and injure themselves. If you live in a small space, your best alternative is to look for equipment that can be moved, so you’re able to set up a workout area anywhere (such as your living room) for an hour, and then pick up and return to your normal activities. In all cases, the area surrounding you should be of obstacles and away from anything breakable or potentially dangerous.

Get the Basics First.
At the least, you will need a mat and some dumbbells to establish a basic workout. If you don’t know how to plan your own routine, getting some exercise DVDs should also be at the top of the list. When choosing weights (whether dumbbells, a weighted bar or a barbell), make sure you have at least two different sets (a lighter and a heavier one) so you can switch between them depending on which muscle group you are working on.

Don’t Go Overboard.
It’s easy to get caught in the advertising frenzy and spend hundreds of dollars on complicated equipment you’ll never use. If you’re on a tight budget, a basic gym consisting of dumbbells, DVDs, and a mat should be enough to get you started. More expensive equipment is fine if you have the money and the space for it, but you don’t need it to get started. This is especially true of anything that promises quick results, spot reduction, or a complete body change in just a few minutes. Nothing like that will happen and it may result in disappointment and abandoning your workout completely.

Buy Equipment You Enjoy.
Working out is hard and unless you make it fun enough to feel entertained, chances are you’ll give it up quickly. If you hate yoga, for example, forget buying medicine balls or foam blocks, even if you know people who swear on their effectiveness. Instead, think of what you like doing and build your workout (and your home gym) around it. Like to walk? Get a treadmill. Need a way to blow off steam? Buy a heavy bag and some boxing gloves.

In the end, any home gym that makes you want to get in and work out is a success, not matter what equipment you have there.

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