How To Setup Your Own Home Gym (Simple Guide)

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Getting Set Up: It's OK To Start Small!

Luckily, you don't have to build your home gym in a day, and you can start small if working with limited space or budget.

Affordable and space-saving home gym equipment worth considering include:

Resistance Bands: Resistance bands are effective for doing both upper and lower body exercises. When used during bodyweight exercises, resistance bands can strengthen stabilizing muscle groups and offer extra intensity for challenging exercises. In addition, as your body adjusts to the workload, it needs more time for rest and recovery, which means you're ready for that subsequent incremental increase in weight or reps.

Resistance Tube With Handles: A resistance tube with handles is excellent for workouts in the living area, bedroom, or balcony. Power Tubes with Handles are our favorite for quick and easy full-body training at home. However, remember that you're limited to the types of exercises you can perform with them. An effective home gym should have various pieces of the best exercise equipment, which allows for both upper and lower body workouts.

Medicine Ball: A multi-use functional piece of fitness can be used to do a range of different workouts, including cardio, strength training, and stretching.

Studies have shown that medicine ball training can be more effective at boosting throwing and swinging performance than conventional strength training.

But it is not just for weekend warriors since they help increase the amount of power generated for weight room staples like the bench and shoulder presses, too.

Yoga Mat: Another great addition is a yoga mat. This multifunctional piece of exercise equipment can get used for stretching or doing bodyweight exercises. Additionally, a yoga mat provides a protective barrier to keep sweat from going on the floor.

Jump Rope: A jump rope is an excellent way to get your cardiovascular exercise without spending a fortune. But, keep your neighbors in mind if you live on the second floor or have people living downstairs. Jumping around could cause ceilings to shake!

Stability Ball: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has proven the stability ball as one of the most compelling pieces of fitness equipment on the market today.

Supportive Shoes: Supportive shoes help keep your feet safe and support your body, whether walking, jogging, running, or doing aerobic exercise. While it might cost a little more, comfortable shoes help you to not feel miserable after a day on your feet. In addition, healthy feet enable you to maintain good posture and healthy joints.

Advantages of wearing athletic shoes that fit include:

Wearing the correct size shoe will prevent injuries.
Athletic shoes that fit your feet can make you more agile and improve your performance.
A snug athletic shoe that fits well will provide better protection for your foot and ankle.
Shoes that don't fit or are too tight or loose can cause blisters, calluses, corns, bunions, hammertoes, neuromas (a type of nerve entrapment), and other problems with the feet or ankles.

If you're not sure about which size is best for you, then try on different sizes until one feels like it's just right!

Your Television: While this might sound counter-intuitive, online streaming services open a world of options for kickstarting your fitness routine at home. People with Smart TVs or streaming devices can access a massive library of workout videos that mimic popular fitness classes, such as yoga or body pump.

Some of the benefits of online or on-demand fitness classes include:

On-demand fitness classes allow you to choose what time and location are best for you.
You can try a new class without committing to it, which is good if you're unsure about the type of workout or instructor that would be best for your goals.
It's more convenient than joining a gym - no need to drive there, find parking or inconvenience yourself. Anyone can sign up online and stream instructional content when it's most suitable.
The convenience also means that on-demand fitness classes are perfect for people who have busy schedules. There's no need to fuss or feel guilty about missing a workout because of getting stuck in traffic or other deterrents.
They're cheaper than going to the gym! Many on-demand fitness classes are free, while others range between $10-$20 per month with no contract required.
Finally, most on-demand fitness apps offer some form of accountability by tracking your progress over time and providing reminders when it's time to work out again so that even those who are busiest can stay motivated!

If one class doesn't work out, then another will! Many different types and fitness classes and workouts are available, ranging from yoga sessions at home to high-intensity interval training boot camps.

Add Some Cardio Equipment!

Getting in enough cardiovascular exercise burns excess calories and helps provide a host of other helpful health benefits.

Again, when setting up a home gym, you'll find a wide variety of cardio equipment that can fit into nearly any budget.

Here are some of the picks that are worth considering.

Stationary Indoor Bike: Stationary indoor bikes are a great way to get your heart rate up and burn calories. Some of the popular brands today include Peloton, Schwinn, and Keiser.

In recent years, these brands have integrated technology to make indoor biking more interactive by adding on-demand biking programs, courses, and classes that make indoor biking more fun.

Some of the benefits of using an indoor bike include:

Indoor bikes are a great way to stay in shape without the hassle of weather.
The bike is easy on your joints, unlike running.
Less expensive than other gym memberships and equipment.
You can do it anytime you want - even if you don't have time for a shower or dinner!

Bonus Tip: If you are looking for a Peloton alternative to save money, if you already have a tablet, you could use the Echelon EX-15 Smart Connect bike. Then you could use the Echelon app, Peloton app, or both. If you don't already have an app, it's still cheaper if you buy a tablet. You could look for a used tablet or you can get a new iPad for around $300. Space gray is probably the best color to use with the Echelon bike. Or you could get a Fire HD Tablet to save even more.

Treadmill: You might be somewhat surprised to learn that the treadmill got patented in June 1913! As such, it is a classic piece of cardio equipment for any home gym configuration.

As a result, people today have a wide variety of treadmills from which to choose, ranging from relatively inexpensive and straightforward options to more expensive and advanced models with all the bells and whistles.

Among the most notable reasons to consider a treadmill include:

Treadmills are a great way to get in shape without having to leave your home.
You can work out on the treadmill while binge-watching your favorite TV show.
Treadmill workouts are more efficient than running outside because you're not battling against the wind and other elements like rain, snow, or extreme heat.
There's a reduced risk of getting injured by running over uneven terrain or stepping on an unexpected object that could cause injury.
Treadmills allow you to control the intensity of your workout, so it's easier for beginners and those with joint problems who might need a lower impact exercise routine.
Many treadmills come with built-in programs that automatically adjust speed and incline levels, making them perfect for people who want a little guidance when they start working out but still want complete control over their pace and intensity level.

Elliptical Machine: The elliptical machine is an excellent cardio machine, but you can also use it for less intense cardio workouts. Ellipticals offer a practical and low-impact cardiovascular exercise that works your upper body, lower body, core, and glutes in addition to providing resistance when you pedal with the front of your feet or push off the back on each step.

Among the benefits of using an elliptical machine are:

Elliptical machines offer lower impact than running and walking, which is beneficial for those with joint problems or recent surgeries.
It's easy on the knees and back because of the low-impact motion.
The elliptical also offers upper body exercises that you can do at the same time as your lower body workout.
You don't need other cardio equipment to get a full-body, calorie-blasting workout.
You can do different types of workouts on an elliptical such as interval training, hill climbing, and sprinting.

Outdoor Bike: An outdoor bike is a flexible and functional piece of exercise equipment perfect for both exercise and commuting.

The best thing about a bike is that it's not limited to use on the street. You can easily convert your outdoor bike into a stationary exercise machine by adding an indoor trainer, or you could pop them in your garage for cold winter months!

Some of the benefits of an outdoor bicycle:

You can use outdoor bikes for transportation, exercise, and leisure.
They're great for the environment because they don't produce any pollution or greenhouse gases.
It's easy to find one that suits your needs - there are all types of bikes, including mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, road bikes, and more!
And finally, outdoor bikes are just plain fun!

Rowing Machine: The first patented indoor rower dates back to 1872 after inventor W.B. Curtis patented the first water fitness machine for exercising on land.

The most important discovery for air rowers was the invention of the flywheel, which served as a store of rotational energy implemented in modern models.

Rowing machines provide an intense, full-body workout but can come with a price tag between $200 to $900, depending on the manufacturer and model you choose.

Some of the advantages of using a rowing machine include:

The rowing machine is a low-impact cardiovascular workout that strengthens your heart, lungs, and muscles.
It's easy on the joints because you're sitting down while working out.
You can burn as many a 1Kcalories per hour with an indoor rowing machine - more than running or biking!
Indoor rowing machines are compact and take up less space in your home than other exercise equipment.
They're great for people who have joint problems like arthritis or want to avoid injury from high-impact exercises like running or biking.
Rowing machines provide a complete body workout by targeting all of the major muscle groups in your legs and arms, as well as your core abdominal muscles.

Don't Forget The Weights!

Weight training plays a significant role in shaping and toning your body, whether you're in maintenance mode, bulking up, or losing weight.

Weight training also helps to build muscle mass, which can lead to more weight loss over time. Therefore, it's important to include not only a variety of exercises and machines but also different weight loads and repetitions.

Types of weight equipment you should consider adding to your home gym configuration include:

Weight Bench: A weight bench is a must-have for anyone looking to target the chest, back, and core muscles specifically. Weight benches come in various configurations, including:

Flat Bench: A flat weight bench commonly gets used for doing chest exercises. A flat bench is an ideal way to target the muscles in your lower back.

Incline Bench: This type of weight bench provides a steeper incline than its counterpart to target more muscle groups like the hamstrings and glutes.

Decline Bench: The decline bench press is an excellent exercise for the muscles in your lower chest. This subtly inclining angle activates your lower chest muscles as you push weights away from the center of your body.

Weight Rack: Adding a weight or power rack is an excellent investment for your home gym that will allow you to perform many weightlifting exercises using a bench press, squats, and calf raise.

Barbells And Dumbells: Barbells and dumbbells are essential items needed to start a home gym. This equipment is excellent for building muscle mass and strength if you know how to use them properly!

Summing Up

As you have seen, setting up a home gym does not have to take a lot of time, space, and effort to enjoy the comforts of working out in your home.

You can start off with simple equipment and gradually upgrade over time if needed.

Not every person will have the same equipment requirements. Your needs may differ if you are just trying to sqeeze in some exercise during your free time compared to if you training and investing hours in the gym.

The best part is you can make your home gym your own so make it safe, enjoyable, and effective.