So you want to build a home gym but you don’t know where to start? The truth is that home gyms will vary from one person to the next. The equipment that you need if you are looking to enter a bodybuilding competition will be different than if you are just looking for overall health and fitness. With that said, it’s also important to note that you can build a home gym with little space and little equipment and still get a good workout in that will help you build strength and endurance. Today I’m going to share some of my favourite pieces of equipment to include in your home gym and some tips on building your gym at home.
If you are able to dedicate a separate room to be your home gym this is the most ideal situation. I do realize that this is not realistic for everyone so I want you to know that it’s not necessary. However, it is important to note that a lot of people find it much easier to stick to consistent workouts in their home gym if they have a space that is specifically dedicated to this. With that being said, it doesn’t have to be it’s own separate room and it doesn’t have to be a large space. Maybe you have a small space off to the side in your living room that you can use, or a small space in your bedroom. For the most part all you need is enough space that you can put a yoga mat down on the floor. That should give you enough space to do almost anything you want.
For the purposes of basic health and fitness I recommend including the following in your home gym
- 2 sets of dumbbells (a lighter set and a heavier set)
- A couple different resistance bands (long bands or loop bands can be effective)
That’s really all you need to get an effective workout in…and if I’m being totally honest if you only have 1 of those 2 things you can still get effective workouts in.
I personally am a big variety person. I follow a structure each week but I am constantly changing up the exercises, if I don’t I find myself getting bored very quickly. My current gym setup involves the following;
- Adjustable dumbbells (I will say that these guys were expensive upfront but they are hands down one of the best investments I have ever made. I have had them for years and they adjust in increments of 2.5lbs starting at 5 lbs and go all the way up to 50 lbs)
- Long loop bands (anything that you would use a cable machine in the gym for you can usually substitute bands in for, you can also get them with handles instead of the loops)
- Small loop bands (I always recommend if you are going to invest in these go with a fabric one if possible. They are generally a little more expensive but they will last longer than the elastic ones and they don’t roll on you…if you’ve ever used these guys you know exactly what I mean)
- Suspension trainer (TRX is the most well known maker of the suspension trainer and they are the most popular on the market, but if you shop around you can find other variations that are a bit more affordable that will get the same job done)
- Stability ball & Pilates ball
- Bench (there are tons of variations of benches, you can also use an aerobic step if you have one of those in place of a bench)
- Treadmill (although it is nice to have a piece of cardio equipment in your home gym it is not necessary. I love my treadmill and use it a ton because I hate walking outside when its cold, but getting outside for walks/runs is always an option that doesn’t require any fancy equipment)
I want to say first off that the dumbbells and the bands are my most used pieces of equipment. I would say that I’m using at least one of them everyday, if not both. Using the dumbbells and the bands you can give yourself a wide variety of exercises that can help keep you from getting bored and keep you interested in your training. The rest of the equipment I certainly use but not daily. My treadmill gets a lot of use in the colder months as well, but in the warmer months I will take my walks outside instead. At the end of the day if you have a dream to have a large home gym with a variety of equipment start small and build your gym over time. You don’t need to start with a full set of your dream equipment, just start with a couple dumbbells or a couple bands and work up from there.
When it comes to purchasing fitness equipment you can look for things second hand if you are looking to save money (given COVID some second hand equipment is extremely overpriced right now so be aware of that). You also don’t need to buy the most expensive, top of the line stuff you see in fitness facilities for your home gym. Equipment in fitness facilities has to stand a ton of use (hundreds of users a day) so it’s generally more expensive and meant to handle these large volumes. If you (and perhaps your family) are the only ones using your home gym your equipment doesn’t need to stand the same volume of usage and you can generally get away with less expensive equipment. Bands are something that will usually need to be replaced eventually over time but you will still get a lot of use of them if you are the only one using them.
Some of the other positives of building a home gym include
- Saving money in the long run (purchasing some of the equipment up front might be more expensive than a gym membership, but in the long run you will likely pay less to build your home gym)
- Saving time (as a mom I know sometimes time is not something that is disposable for you, building a home gym allows you to save on the travel time and you may also be able to get through your workouts quicker as you won’t be waiting for equipment in the gym)
- It allows your kiddos to be involved in your health and fitness journey (including your kiddos and letting them see this journey from the beginning will help instill healthy habits in them that they will be able to carry through their own lives)
- You can work on your own schedule (no matter what time you get your workouts in, training at home gives you the flexibility to train when you have the time)
- It allows you to break up your workouts if you need to (only have 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the afternoon, having a home gym allows you to use both those blocks of time effectively without having to give up other things during your day)
- And more…
Building a home gym can be effective, efficient and help save you money in the long run. It doesn’t always work for everyone, but if you can make it work for you then it will likely make your life easier, especially as a busy mom. You don’t need big fancy, expensive equipment or to be in a gym to get a good workout in. Remember that you can start small and build on your home gym overtime…you don’t have to run out and buy everything all at once. Even if you find yourself with a gym membership, having a small amount of equipment at home can come in clutch when unexpected things come up and can help keep you accountable to your health and fitness goals along this journey you are on.
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