How to Create a Home Gym *

*This is a collaborative post.

Your fitness is one of the most important things you can do for your health. If you are out of shape and are considering how you can increase your fitness level and get healthy you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed.

There are a lot of fitness programs on the market and maybe you have tried some of them but have found yourself unable to keep up. Maybe you even got a membership in a gym but find it hard to keep going back.

If you are finding it difficult to go to the gym then maybe the best idea is to bring the gym to you. Creating a home gym means that you can workout whenever you want. It frees you from excuses. If you can find a space or a room in your home you can set up a home gym.

Get a Mat

 A mat is one of the essentials you will need in your home gym. There are two different types of mats that you can buy these are yoga mats and jump mats. Jump mats are thicker than yoga mats and can be used to do intense exercises. Jump mats are particularly useful for core workouts.

Look for a mat that is absorbent and is comfortable enough to be used on any type of floor.

Resistance Bands

Resistance bands are something that you should definitely have in your home gym. Resistance bands do not take up very much room and can be bought at various levels of resistance.

You can use your resistance bands to work out various parts of your body. Create a structured plan for using your resistance bands. This will help you to reap the benefits faster.

Jump Roping is Effective

Jump rope is one of the easiest exercises you can do. Buy an inexpensive jump rope that boxers will use. These jump ropes are lightweight and can be used by both beginners and anyone who has been exercising for a while.

Jump roping is a great warm-up activity or you can use it for a complete workout.

Get Started with Dumbbells

Dumbells are a great way to take your workout to the next level. If you are ready to go beyond just using your body weight for exercises buy some dumbells. You can buy dumbells that are adjustable. They can go from 5 lbs to a much as 52 lbs.

The best part about buying dumbbells that carry such a wide variance in adjustability is that you can adjust them as you get stronger. This is a great way to challenge yourself from one workout to the next. 

Use an Elliptical Trainer

Elliptical trainers are easy to use and give the body a full workout. An elliptical trainer will put less stress on your joints.

There are many elliptical benefits not the least of which is that it helps to improve your balance. You can use elliptical exercises to target specific leg muscles. Elliptical machines offer a wide variety of pre-programmed exercise. 

Buy a Kettlebell

A kettlebell will make a great addition to your workout. Swinging a kettlebell offers you a full-body workout.

It is great for toning and makes a good addition to your cardio exercises. A 15 lb kettlebell is a great way to get started.

There are also adjustable kettlebells these can start off at 8 lbs and go all the way up to 40lbs. Kettlebells don’t take up a lot of space and can be easily tucked into a corner.

Use a Pullup Bar

Pull-ups can be challenging in fact many people quit doing pull-ups almost as soon as they start for this reason. However, if you can stick with it they are a great way to strengthen your upper body.

They will also work wonders for your core. The more you do them the better you will get. You can attach a pullup bar to the door frame of your home gym. This is especially important if your home gym is on the smaller side. 

You can even install a pullup bar in another doorframe in your home. You can do a pullup anytime you want to.

Your Workout Bench

Your workout bench is one of the essentials of a home gym. You will need to get something that is sturdy. A workout bench is a great accessory for a weight training program.

It’s not that you can’t do your workouts without the bench but it will make it more challenging especially when you want to effectively increase the amounts of weights you lift on a consistent basis.

There are workout benches that you easily pull apart and reassemble. Buy a workout bench that you can fold down and slide under your bed. This is useful if you have limited space.

If you do have enough space then you can leave the workout bench assembled.

Your Gym Setup

Once you have gathered all your equipment the next thing to do is to decide on your setup. Your setup should make it easy for you to get from one exercise equipment to the next. 

You can go ahead and draw a rough floor plan. Drawing will help to make the setup look more concrete. Once you get everything set up create a schedule for using the gym, put it in a place that makes it easy to see on a daily basis.

Get Ready for Your Workout

Now that you know how to go about setting up your own home gym do not make the mistake of taking it for granted.

You will still need to be consistent and push yourself to go in and workout even when you don’t feel motivated. Even if you focus on only using a few of your equipment in the beginning, it is good to just get started. 

Once you have perfected using a few pieces of equipment you can start adding other equipment to your workout. The variety will keep you interested in working out on a consistent basis.