How to Create the Perfect Home Gym
With January just around the corner, many of us are already thinking about the changes we want to make in our lives. Improving health is a massive focus for many at this time, especially after all the overindulgences of the festive period. Creating your own home gym is a great way to improve your health and fitness without costly gym memberships and social anxieties that working out in public can bring. If you like this idea but don’t know where to start, check out our essential considerations…
Fitness goals
The first and most important consideration is your fitness goals. How do you want to work out? Most people have preferences for certain types of exercise and many have physical limitations that make some types of exercise unsuitable. Having said this, you will want enough variety to keep you motivated.Think about what it is you want to achieve (weight loss, muscle gain, cardio fitness etc.) and plan your gym around this. If you’re not sure how to achieve your goals, this is the time to do some research on the best exercises or fitness plans for your needs.Space
Do you have space in your home to make the dream of having your very own gym a reality? If you have a spare room of adequate size for your needs, great. Otherwise, you could consider building an extension or getting a custom designed garden room to perfectly meet your needs. It’s essential you have enough space to meet your workout needs. If you only have a box room big enough for one treadmill, the likelihood is you will get bored quickly and give up.[adsense]Budget
Most people will not have an unlimited budget for their home gym so you will need to be realistic. Once you know your fitness goals and the space you’re working with, you will be able to make the best use of your budget. If you’re on a lower budget, it’s not necessary to have all the high-tech equipment – budget equipment can still get you the same results. If you want variety without the cost of many different machines, consider getting low cost equipment such as hand weights, kettlebells and a matt and installing a TV in your gym. You can use home workout DVDs or even access free tutorials on YouTube to give you a great total body workout at a low cost.Another way of saving money is by buying the items you want second hand on social media, classified ads or auction sites. Do bear in mind, though, that you will probably have to collect large items in person when buying this way.A final budget tip is to start basic. As long as you have the essentials to kick start your routine, you can upgrade equipment and try new things later on. This will help you to spread the cost and keep you motivated later down the line (nothing like a shiny new toy for renewed motivation).Home Gym Equipment
Once you have a clear idea of your fitness goals, space and budget, you can make a list of the equipment you need. Here’s a list of great basic, and versatile, equipment you may want to consider for starters:Barbell and plate set
Foam matt
Hand weights in a range of sizes
TV/DVD player/internet access
A cardio machine (e.g. bike, treadmill, cross trainer)