Being a member of a gym is perfectly fine. You go in, put in a workout, shower and leave. Yes, there are fees and other members but, in general, it’s okay. However, wouldn’t you like to have a gym that is open 24/7 and you don’t have to pay a thing to train there? Oh, and you’ll never have to deal with someone else’s sweat and odor. Of course, the only way you can get that is by making your own gym at home. Interested? Continue reading.
Plan a budget
Many people believe that building a home gym costs an arm and a leg. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Many people spend irrationally on cardio equipment, multi gyms and way too expensive specialist products that simply aren’t even useful in a commercial gym, let alone in your home. But guess what, you can build a completely functional gym for one thousand to four thousand bucks. Check out the places where you can buy used fitness equipment. You’ll find ads and auction sites like eBay that almost always have everything that you could wish for. Know your limits and don’t overspend. Start with the basic equipment and build from there. Your gym can evolve, you don’t have to splash out immediately.
Allocate a space for your gym
Before actually buying the equipment, you need to figure out where to place it. Pick a room in your home that is well-lit and has a proper ventilation source. Many people who are looking to build a home gym struggle with this because not all of us have huge houses with many windows. And you know that fresh air is quite important. Exercising in a dim room that looks as if it was filled by exhaust fumes is not good for your health. And that’s why many people opt for a useful HEPA air purifier and products similar to that one. No one wants to work out in a room full of mold and dust. So bear that in mind since it’s your health we are talking about here.
Equipment essentials
Let’s take you through some essential items that you’ll surely need for your gym. Most of these are basic gym items so you won’t have a hard time finding them.
- Barbell & plate set
This probably comes as the most important piece of equipment that you’ll need for your home gym. Most of your workouts will require you to have these. And when you buy a barbell set, you’ll be able to work on your legs (front & back squats, lunges and deadlift), back (barbell row and upright row), shoulders (military press and behind the neck press), chest (bench press) and arms (bicep curls and close grip bench press).
You’ll easily find all kinds of sets and plates online. Remember that it is okay to go for second-hand goods. Just pay close attention when buying a bar, it needs to be about 7ft wide. It has to be reliable.
- Bench
You need a bench if you want to make the most of what your barbell sets have to offer. It is recommended that you look for a bench that has incline and decline functionality. Even if you think you won’t use these features often, they really come in handy if you change your mind and decide to go for a split bodybuilding style training phase.
- Rack
Bear in mind that this is the biggest piece of equipment and hence it’s the most expensive one. And don’t even doubt its importance. So, go for a robust one since it will most certainly endure the hardest of workouts. Don’t avoid buying a rack, many people do that and they aren’t even aware of the mistake they’ve made. Without a rack, you can’t do hard leg, chest and shoulder workouts. If you want to go one step further, consider buying a rack that can take attachments. Pull up bars are a great addition when you come to think of it.
- Kettlebells
Many believe that dumbbells are a better option but hear this. Kettlebells are more versatile than dumbbells. Why? Well, they can replicate the majority of exercises you’d do with dumbbells and they also bring the element of momentum and functional training to your workouts. That way, they provide you with numerous variations and, at the same time, they don’t require extra space in your home. Clever, right?
Flooring
Don’t forget to invest in proper gym flooring. You don’t want to damage your property. Good flooring reduces the sound level and you should strongly consider commercial grade foam flooring. It is durable and affordable.
Conclusion
That wasn’t so complicated, right? Be creative and be smart when building your home gym. It is a wise investment.