A gym is a great idea: all that equipment, all that trained instructors, all that advice. However, it also means going back and forth, and that always means a lot of time for most of us. The better if we could exercise in the comfort of our homes. The question is, how do we turn our home into a home gym? What the hell do we go out and buy?
Well, it would all depend on what you like. For example, if lifting weights is what you enjoy and feel comfortable with, the first purchase should obviously be some weights. You will be glad to know that they are also very reasonably priced and you can buy a game for less than $50 in most cases. It should include a combination of weights: handheld dumbbells that can be 10lbs and 20lbs, as well as a barbell with weights that can be changed continuously. You can get plastic or metal dumbbells, but today, plastic may be the safest option. Metal may sound good, but plastic ones filled with sand may be a better idea.
After a while you can upgrade to a weight machine, but this of course costs a bit more, depending of course on the many configurations available. They come as simple resistance machines as well as multi-station weight stacks. Singles have rubber straps that you can adjust for tension, while multi-stations have adjustable weights and cost upwards of $1,800.
Climbers are also popular nowadays and you can get one for around $100; they assure you a cardiovascular training and you need very little space. You can strengthen your calves and thighs with this with low impact on the joints. Check and see if it is a trustworthy brand before you buy because there are a lot of flaws here. Some of course can cost much more, up to $1,700 and you should be able to expect 5+ years of service from these. Most in this category have pedals that can be adjusted, as well as the angle, speed, and distance between the pedals. They also come with digital readouts like a heart rate monitor and other details like calories burned, distance traveled, speed, etc.
At home, more and more people are buying a treadmill and it costs between $200 and $2000. Take a look to see if they give smooth operation, have a non-slip surface and have a high degree of speed and resistance. These also come with dashboards and digital readouts as well as controls. There should be possible adjustments in the higher priced ones.
Well, then you’ve decided what you want to buy, maybe one piece of equipment, maybe more. Once you do that, also make your resolutions to exercise at least five times a week, if not every day. Otherwise, all that good gear will go to waste.
