By RMHP
The home gym equipment you’ll need for a killer at-home workout
It’s tempting to stock a home gym with every conceivable piece of fitness equipment, from trendy ab gizmos to a complete set of free weights. But it’s far more efficient (and cost effective) to create a great home gym with a few simple pieces of versatile equipment.
First, identify your fitness goals. If your favorite fitness routines involve weight lifting, then focus on finding some heavy things to stock your home gym. If you prefer cardio, keep that in mind and make it your main home gym focus. Whichever route you choose, aim to pick items that have multiple uses and are space efficient.
Opt for home gym equipment that doesn’t take up a lot of space
You can get a great strength or cardio workout from a home gym that contains just a few pieces of equipment. An entire set of weights or a fancy treadmill isn’t always necessary, either. These guidelines will help you decide what’s best for you.
Weights for a home gym
- The Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells are a great option if you want a variety of different weight options without a bunch of separate free weights cluttering your living room. The weight of each dumbbell can be adjusted from 5 to 52.5 pounds. As they’re relatively expensive when purchased new, check out your local Craigslist postings for a used pair, or search on eBay and Amazon to save big.
- If you don’t want to splurge on high tech dumbbells, anything heavy will do the trick. Sandbags are great for strength training, and you can even fill a backpack with water bottles, canned food, or anything else heavy. Get creative!
- Another fantastic strength training tool is the kettlebell. These can be purchased in a number of weights, but one kettlebell can be used for a variety of exercises.
Strength training at home without weights
Weights are great, but you can easily use your own bodyweight to get a killer at-home strength workout, too.
- Pull-up bars that attach to door frames are great for toning the upper body, and pull-ups are a staple of many home exercise plans like P90X.
- A yoga or exercise mat is another good addition to a home gym, and they’re useful for exercises like pushups, mountain climbers, burpees, yoga, and more.
Cardio equipment for a home gym
If you want to splurge on an at-home treadmill or elliptical, and you’ll use it often and have the space, go for it! For smaller spaces you can still use your own bodyweight and a few simple tools to achieve a great home cardio workout.
Jump ropes aren’t just for playgrounds and are another great cardio tool. They’re fantastic for cardio and coordination, and every home gym should have one.
If you’re stumped for workout motivation, buy or download a DVD set
Choosing a workout plan can be extremely confusing, but there are endless DVD sets available that can help you reach your goals. If you aren’t sure where to start when it comes to working out at home a good fitness DVD is the perfect place to start.
