Guest post by Edgar James of Garage Gym Planner
Sometimes we tend to ignore the important thing, like keeping yourself healthy and fit. This is probably because of the lack of time, no space on a busy schedule or even just pure lethargy. However, staying fit and keeping a check on your health is a great way to increase your lifeline and live a better quality of life.
Gone are the days when going to a professional or commercial gym was the only way one could follow an exercise regime. Today, with the umpteen resources available and all the free information that one can soak in, working out can actually be made quite convenient. And what better place to try this out than at home?
Setting up a home gym has become a hot trend lately, purely because of how easy and accessible exercising has become. Whether it’s a time constraint or the botheration of having to travel every day, a home gym eliminates these problems and introduces fitness into your life on a more personal level. The only glitch here though is the expense – setting up equipment at home is not an easy affair, as most of these machines and tools are expensive to set up.
However, with careful planning and proper research, one can still set up an effective home gym, and on a budget too!
Here are the questions you should be asking:
What are your fitness goals?
Everyone’s workout regime is different and specific to their body goals and fitness milestones. Which basically translates into exercise programs that are customized to suit your goals and help you achieve. This is why first before you think of setting up a home gym, you need to focus on what exactly your goals are and what is the program you need to follow to achieve them. Once you’ve done this, write it down and keep it as your focus point.
What is your workout program?
There are different ways to design a workout program to suit your goals. You could consult a professional, watch a few videos, sign up for a fitness streaming service or an online consultation website. Of course, if you’re well-versed with workouts yourself then, there’s nothing stopping you! Assessing your program is very important because that is what takes you to the next step.
How much space do you have?
You could set up your gym in the backyard, in your basement, your garage or even in a spare room. Depending on how much available space there is, the stations can be set up too. More space definitely means more stations but, again, you get to decide how much you want to squeeze in and where. An important thing to note is that the more private your workout space is, the lesser the distractions or the temptation to skip working out. Once you’ve finalized on the perfect spot, you move onto the next step.
What equipment do you require?
The equipment is where most of the expense lies. Buying equipment is never easy, especially if you want to purchase based on brand and quality. Some brands have, however, now come up with affordable ranges of equipment that are specially designed for home gyms. To be able to determine which range of equipment comes under your budget, a lot of research and review analyzing has to be done. Buying equipment is nothing short of an investment. If you are looking for a compact but effective home gym solution, you might do well to consider the bowflex pr1000 power rod home gym which can give you everything you’re looking for a workout at home.
Useful equipment that you can buy on a budget
Dumbbells – These can be used with many different exercises and are definitely cheaper than buying standard weight sets. So, unless you’re planning to do any heavyweight exercises, dumbbells can be used as multi-purpose equipment.
Straps – Resistance bands or straps are also not too expensive if you look through different stores, and these can be used with some very effective workouts. In fact, adding a resistance band to just a regular exercise can make it much more optimal.
Bench – Although you could just use a slab with legs as a “bench”, using a proper bench with cushions is safer for your back and can help you avoid injuries. Benches again come in different grades and are not too expensive at the basic level. Benches are great for core and strengthening workouts.
Stability ball – These exercise balls are very versatile and are also widely available for a rather affordable price. They come in different sizes too and even a basic one is enough to pair with some conditioning exercises.
Bars – As long as a bar is sturdy and fixed properly onto a wall or slab, you’re good to go! While some professional grade bars can be quite expensive, basic bars are pretty easy to install and don’t burn a hole in your pocket either.
Some basic precautions when setting up a home gym
- Remember to get your equipment professionally installed if you’re not sure on how to do it yourself. This is so that you’re safe when you exercise.
- Measure your workout space before buying equipment; you don’t want to overcrowd your workout space or buy something that doesn’t fit in at all.
- Go through enough reviews and websites, make price comparisons and also look out for combo deals. Buying anything in haste might just cost you a few extra bucks.
- Consult a professional or someone you know who is well-acquainted with fitness regimes. They would give you some great tips on how to stick to your budget and have a fully functional home gym.
- Try to protect your walls and floors with rubber mats. This prevents them from getting damages like chipping and peeling and also avoids any serious injuries if you happen to slip up.
Finally, take good care of your equipment and follow all the maintenance steps that come with the packaging. This is a good measure to deal with the wear and tear that the equipment goes through because of usage and possible damages.
With the right information and the proper allotment of resources, setting up a home gym can be quite fruitful and can re-introduce fitness into your life on a more comfortable level!
About The Author
Edgar is a prolific fitness writer and editor for garagegymplanner.com. He writes in-depth fitness equipment reviews for home gym owners and motivates others with his personal experiences. A true naturalist and outdoors-man, Edgar loves hiking through forests and reconnecting with nature.
