Choosing a Home Gym
Choosing the right home gym for your fitness needs can be overwhelming as there are many products to choose from. If you are thinking of creating a gym in your home, it's helpful to consider your needs and budget before embarking on this endeavor. Once you've outlined exactly what you're looking for and what your fitness needs are, it is much easier to select the right set-up for your home.
Determine Your Goals
Ask yourself some questions. Are you buying for yourself or for your family? How frequently do you or your family members intend to use your home gym? Are you looking to supplement a regular gym membership with a home-based set-up or would this be your primary means of working out? Other factors to consider include whether or not you have enough room for equipment, what your budget is, and whether or not you prefer free weights to machines. In addition, outline your fitness goals. Do you hope to bulk up, tone your muscles, lose weight, or increase flexibility? If you enjoy aerobic exercises such as yoga in combination with resistance activities, then your set-up will look much different compared to someone who wants to body build.
Equipment Advantages
There are three kinds of specific set-ups you could choose for your home gym, or incorporate elements of each depending on what you're willing to spend. For clarity, this article will consider each individually to better outline their unique advantages.
Free Weights
Free weights are one of the cheapest ways you can increase your fitness at home. Small, reliable, and easy to use, a collection of free weights can provide varying stimulation if several weights are used and maintain muscle tone. Any barbell exercise can be done with free weights, giving you a variety of options to tone just about any muscle. Even better, they don't require an additional room to store. Simply stash them under the bed or in the closet until the next time you're ready to use. Unless you regularly bench 400 pounds, free weights can be purchased in a spectrum of sizes, and the recommended way to use is buy at least two sets within ten pounds to give your muscles additional stimulation. However, the disadvantage to free weights is that frequent weight lifters will soon outgrow their size.
Resistance Band Machines
Infomercials abound for popular machines such as Bowflex and Bandflex, which incorporate the resistance band technology to give home-gym users a stimulating and challenging workout. You can do resistance band exercises simply using an exercise band but machines like the Bowflex give you much more range while ensuring less accidental injury with use. Great for general exercises and quick at-home workouts, you'll love how easy a resistance band machine is to operate. Even better, they require less space than traditional weight-based exercise equipment such as a barbell bench. However, the disadvantages to resistance band machines is that they oftentimes have variable resistance, which can affect progress due to inconsistency. They also don't build muscle tone as nicely as weight-based equipment and free weights do.
Weight-Based Exercise Equipment
For bodybuilders and those serious about building muscle, weight-based exercise equipment is the way to go. To maximize your workout, go for a Power Rack. Not only does this device let you train safely alone at home, but it gives you plenty of challenging exercises with the ability to increase weights as you get stronger. Additionally, this multi-faceted device lets you target your weak zones through a range of motion. If you prefer a smaller machine to work with weights, try a bench with rack where you can safely bench as well as do a variety of other exercises.
Best Equipment for Cardio
A workout isn't complete without at least 30 minutes of cardio. Of course, you can always save money and run in the great outdoors, but if it's cold out or you're short on time a way to do your cardio indoors provides a convenient option. Many women enjoy the low-impact elliptical, which is great for home-based gyms as its upright incline means it occupies less square footage. Another space-saving option is the York C202 Seated Cycle, which provides endless options and a variety of challenges to your everyday workout. Runners will enjoy Reebok's Edge 2.2 Motorized Treadmill which is perfectly priced for the home gym and one of the best designed in its class.
Additions to Consider
Maximize the efficiency of your workout and save space by incorporating these exercise items. Strengthen and tone your midsection with an exercise ball or increase your flexibility with a Cool Board Balance Board. Jumping rope is a quick easy way to change up your cardio routine and a medicine ball will help you increase your power.
