Owning your own home gym is invigorating and inspiring, and it’s also supremely convenient. Not only do you never have to leave your house to work out ever again, but you can watch TV while you do it, immediately shower after you’re done using it, and even eat a solid post-workout meal after you’re done working out. Nothing beats the convenience of it. The only thing that stands in your way is money and space. Once you’ve solved your space issue, the money part, you’ll learn, is the easiest part of the whole equation.
Most people who make a home gym have no idea what they’re doing, so they end up buying name-brand equipment, and before you know it, you’re $3,000 in the hole, or more! We’re not about going broke just to be healthy, so here’s how to get the essentials without going homeless.
Make your own power rack
A power rack is an essential piece of equipment for your gym, and you can do all of your power exercises in it, like squats, deadlifts, and even chest press. You could do pull-ups or rope extensions. There is so much you can do in this, and it’s quite possibly the one and only thing you’d need in a home gym if you really wanted to go bare-bones with this project.
Instead of buying a power rack already made, which is like $800 or so, you can build your own. Even if you’re not that handy, this is a simple project.
All you need is pvc pipe, maybe some wood as a platform, and something to fit it all together. You could even use metal piping if you’re able to handle a saw.
All you need is a simple structure that will hold your body weight. You’ll soon find that the fancy power rack in your gym is really just a complex form of engineering to make it look nicer.
Get small and light cardio equipment
Cardio is easy. All you need to do is move around fast enough to burn calories and stimulate your blood-flow. It’s not complicated. You could even just run around the block a few times if you wanted to.
But if you must, stay light and cheap. A cheap cycle bike can be found for less than $200 online usually.
Dumbbells are a MUST!
A good set of dumbbells is awesome for working out, as they’re so versatile. Not only are they perfect for most essential muscle groups, but they’re small and easy to store.
Online, since the invention of flat-rate priority mail options, you can get a 100-lb dumbbell set for less than $100.
