At the start of each year, every gym in America becomes inundated with sweaty strangers trying to shed those holiday pounds. Although hiring a personal trainer would be ideal, that can be expensive. In a recent poll appearing in the January 2012 issue of FITNESS magazine, both men and women agreed that Jillian Michaels would be the best trainer to kick them into shape. Fifty-four percent of those polled picked Michaels, beating out the 25 percent of votes "Biggest Loser" trainer Bob Harper received. But since hiring a celebrity trainer probably isn't going to happen, why not turn that spare bedroom or unused space in your home into a budget-friendly workout place to help you get fit without stepping foot into a gym.
Cardio
Quite simply, the only way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you take in. A great way to do that is by kicking up your cardio. No matter what size your gym is, you'll certainly have room in your home and budget for this Mini Stepper, available at Overstock.com for about $50. It's low impact and offers adjustable resistance. The Pro-Form Folding Mini Trampoline available for $49.99 from Brookstone.com is another way to get a great low impact cardio workout in a small amount of space. The trampoline can fold away for easy storage. Simply pull it out when you want to burn some calories. A weight hula hoop like this 3-pound one from jfit.com makes a great cardio and core workout. It's $28.95.
Floor Mat
A good surface is an important component of many workout moves, especially your ab routine. Invest in some interlocking rubber tiles. Twenty-four square feet is less than $15 from Amazon.com. Not only will they protect your floors from dings or scratches, but they will also provide a layer of cushion for you. In addition to the rubber floor mats you may also want to buy something with a little more cushion like the Harbinger Eco Fit Exercise Mat, around $40 at BigFitness.com.
Strength Training
A benefit of a gym membership is the access you receive to dozens of high-tech machines and free weights. That heavy and expensive equipment won't fit into your budget-friendly home gym, but that doesn't mean you can't get a great strength workout. Find pieces that pull double duty like the Total Upper Body Workout Bar, $32.95. The bar fits into most standard door frames so you can do pull-ups. Then remove it and use it to work out your back, chest, biceps, triceps, shoulders and abs. Instead of purchasing a full set of free weights, try a space-saving option like the Jillian Michaels 25-pound Sweedweight Set, available for $79.99 at Kohls.com.
Toning and Abs
In addition to cardio and strength training you will likely want to focus on toning those abs. You definitely don't need fancy equipment for this. Pick up an inflatable stability ball like this one from Dick's Sporting Goods. For $29.99 you'll not only receive the ball, but you'll also get an air pump and a DVD to coach you through some great workout moves. "Get a stability ball that is big enough and strong enough for you to sit on and do crunches," says personal trainer Brett Stewart. 'You'll use it for a bunch of other exercises from push-ups to hip raises throughout a good bodyweight routine."
Books and DVDs
Since you won't have the luxury of asking a gym staff member how to work out the backs of your thighs or if you're doing those bent over rows correctly, make sure your home gym also includes some expert materials like books and DVDs. The Men's Health Home Workout Bible is a great resource for learning new moves to hit different muscle groups. There's a similar book geared towards women called the Women's Home Workout Bible.
Mirror
Finally, if you have some space on the wall you may want to head to Home Depot or Lowes and purchase a large mirror. They're easy to install and should only set you back about $50. This way you can not only make sure you're doing each workout correctly, but you can also watch yourself as you begin to tone up and slim down thanks you to your budget-friendly home gym.
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2 Responses to “Get Pumped! How to Outfit a Home Gym on a Budget”
Those are so cool! Yes, who need to go to the gym when you can be resourceful and buy workout DVDs so you can workout at home. Buying tools and equipments are going to be good as well. Yes, the mirror, don't forget the tape measure, or the scale so you can measure your progress.
You have such a wonderful list of equipments, Alison. My exercise has been sidetracked for some time now and I was hoping to get back since my doctor wanted me to lose some weight. I'll definitely look into these equipments for the home.