Building Your Own Home Gym

Working out a gym allows you to use the latest in exercise technology to achieve the results you want. But making time to get to the gym can be difficult. These days – thanks to the affordability of exercise equipment – many people are choosing instead to create their own workout space at home.

There’s a lot of planning and preparation that goes into your own home gym. Whether you’ve been the type who hits the gym every day after work or you’ve been a casual runner who is interested in bulking up a bit, you can create a home gym that meets your needs without spending a fortune. 

Space

Sometimes space in your home may be at a premium, you will probably be able to focus better on exercise if you have a room dedicated to fitness. When choosing a room for your gym, avoid carpet, if possible. (Sweat can gather in carpet and start to smell bad pretty quickly). Also, don’t crowd yourself. Pick a room that has a ceiling high enough for you to raise your hands and jump without hitting your fingers. You’ll also want good air movement in the room and a space that’s free of clutter. 

Equipment

Once you’ve found a space for your gym, the best way to get started is to choose a few versatile pieces of exercise equipment. Your choices may depend largely on what objectives you’re trying to achieve with your workout plan. Following are some great starter pieces to consider: 

Weight machines. Weight training is a fundamental element of most fitness programs, and many weight machines have a variety of features designed to offer users a challenging, total-body workout. Before you buy, research the different seats, weight stacks, handles and cables available in different models of weight machines. Keep in mind that it takes time to build-up the muscle to move up to heavier weights. Start with weights that are going to be most effective for you, and buy more when those aren’t doing the trick. Adjustable dumbbells can also save you some space.

Cardio machines. Cardio is an important part of any workout. Whether you’re a frequent runner or focus mainly on weights, a cardio machine will supplement your workout. The beauty of cardio machines is that regardless of the weather outside, you can still be comfortable and get in a great workout. Consider either a good treadmill that can rise to an incline, or a good stationary bike. If you prefer to run but don’t want to put stress on your knees, get an elliptical. 

Accessories. There are many other great accessories that can help make a workout even better. Mats will make a hard floor a little easier on your back for doing crunches and other floor exercises. Stability balls can help you work your core, and you can easily combine other free weight exercises with them to work two muscle groups at once. A jump rope not only builds muscle, it also provides great cardio. There are a variety of great exercise accessories that can really add to your home gym.

A home gym is a great solution for people whose schedules make it difficult to get to the gym. With the right pieces of equipment and the right space, you can get just as much out of a home workout as you could from going to the gym.

Kristine enjoys working out and writing on the behalf of Sears and other quality products.