Home Gym Essentials
I often get questions from clients asking how they can create a home gym without spending a ton of money but still be able to get quality products that won’t break after a few uses. Having the home gym of your dreams doesn’t have to mean taking out a loan (although it can if you want it to), having a room solely dedicated to working out or even having a lot of equipment. All it takes is the right pieces to help you get the most bang for your buck and your workout. Here are my recommendations for the essential equipment for your perfect and effective home gym for under $150!
Gym Boss Interval Timer : $19.95 This is the PERFECT gadget to give your workout the discipline and structure necessary to take your workout to the next level. This easy to use timer will allow you to control intensity and allow you to focus on the workout without having to watch the clock. Perfect for circuits, tabatas and intervals – set it and forget it.
Black Mountain Products Resistance Band Set: $27.99 Resistance bands are possibly one of the best items that provide the “best bang for your buck”! Not only are they lightweight and easy to store, but they are portable and be taken with you wherever you go so there are no excuses to miss a workout!
Exercise Mat: $10 -$20 Having a great mat to keep you cushioned during stretching, lifting and cardio session will not only keep you more comftatble, but it will also protect your joints from the hard ground. And if you are a Sweaty Betty like me, it will keep your carpet dry.
Anti Burst Stability Ball: $15.68 A stability ball can be used in place of a bench or for core exercises like crunches and planks. Sitting or lying on a stability ball while strength training will engage and strengthen your core and help increase balance.
Step with Risers: $32 A sturdy step with risers can take your workout to the next level. It can be used as a bench for lifting, a “box” for exercises like jump ups, a great leg toning tool for step ups, uneven squats and lunges as well as for cardio workouts.
Furniture Movers: $10 for a set of 4 at Wal-Mart. Why spend $40 on a set of “Fitness Gliders” when you can buy furniture movers for a 1/4 of the price? Use the furniture movers for low impact versions of mountain climbers, lunges and jumping jacks or add variety to your planks and pushups.
Medicine Ball: $28.52 Medicine balls are great for a multitude of exercises. Slam one of these puppies against the floor for a great upper body and ab workout, use it under one hand when doing pushups or simply use as a weight while you do squats, lunges and ab work. This little guy if fun, functional and a great way to relieve some aggression.
Want a little few more ideas for a complete home gym?
BOSU Balance Ball: $95.98. The BOSU is an amazing functional tool to help improve your balance, strength, agility and speed. The beauty of the BOSU is that it can be used flat side up or flat side down dependent on your fitness level. . The BOSU takes exercises like squats, pushups and planks to a whole other level.
TRX Suspension System: $199.95 The TRX system is great for the traveling fitness freak, an outdoor enthusiast or the average Joe who doesn’t have much space to work out. Hook the TRX up to a tree, pole or sturdy beam in your house and your set for a great workout using just your body weight. Great for all fitness levels.
Bowflex Adjustable Weights: $299.00 If you want to get a good strength workout at home, but don’t have much space, these dumbbells are an ideal solution. With just the turn of a dial, you can automatically change your resistance on each dumbbell from 5 pounds all the way up to 52.5 pounds of weight. It adjusts in 2.5-5pound increments, enabling you to gradually increase your strength without bulking up.
