Increasingly busy lives mean that fitting in an hour at the gym can be tough. Even though you know it’ll make you feel better and give you more energy, it’s so easy to just go home, and slump on the sofa and promise you’ll start again tomorrow.
If time is of the essence or you simply don’t like going to the gym (hello hefty memberships and long queues for equipment), then a home gym could be the answer. Perfect for fitting in a workout around your schedule, they can be a lot cheaper to set up than most people imagine.
Check out our tips to help make sure your gym is the best it can be.
First off, you need to find space where you’ll be able to set up your equipment so it’s readily available. For most people, an area that’s about 6 x 6m is perfect.
You don’t need to spend a fortune on your gym for it to be an effective workout space. While a treadmill, bike or rower are great to have for your cardio, they can be expensive. Not having these doesn’t mean you won’t get a good workout though. The following will provide you with a great workout and best of all, they won’t break the bank.
Hand weights
Perfect for strength training, they don’t take up too much room and instantly make any exercise that little bit more challenging.
Resistance bands
One of the most versatile pieces of equipment, there are lots of different exercises you can do with resistance bands. You can target smaller muscles and they’re great for toning and strength. They’re easy to store too – just put them in a bag or fold them up small and tuck them away.
Stability ball
Challenge your muscles and core by incorporating a stability ball routine. Even just sitting on one of these while you’re watching the TV can tighten up your middle and they can help with your posture too.
If you’ve got a bit more to spend and are working with a larger space, these items will add a little extra to your workout.
Cardio equipment
A treadmill, rower, bike or cross trainer will help you to fit in a nice chunk of cardio each time you workout.
Weight bench
Put those hand weights to good use with a weight bench. You can also use it for core exercises too.
Medicine ball
Perfect for switching up your weight training, both hands will be on the ball as you lift, squat or push off. You can also do a lot of the moves you’d do with a Kettlebell with a medicine ball.
Even the best home gym won’t do much if you never use it. Drawing up a few different routines will help to keep you focused. Try and include a couple of shorter workouts too, so that even if you’ve only got 15 minutes you’ll make the most of every second.
With the right equipment and a bit of planning you’ll have everything you need to stay fit, healthy and focused!
Got a big home gym project planned? Then check out our Wishlist and email us your plans, we would love to help you make that home gym a reality.