Exercise: Creating a Home Gym

My home gym, pictured above, took shape as a matter of happenstance. Our last child permanently moved out and our neighbor decided to trash her functional treadmill at right about the same time. Physical therapy for my knee was actually making it worse but I realized that my knee felt better after cycling. And that old rowing machine didn’t look so great in the family room. A guest room home gym was born!

For other related posts, info on rowing can be found here: https://lindawbrowning.com/2023/01/20/exercise-rowing/ and cycling here: https://lindawbrowning.com/2023/01/27/exercise-cycling/

Although this was a budget friendly approach, I would have been better off by actually planning for a home gym. There is a lot of useful information on this topic, as many people switched to working out at home during the pandemic. Some found that a home gym is actually preferable to a gym membership. It’s always available and you don’t need to dress or drive to get there. Here are some ideas that I hope you’ll be able to use to further your exercise goals:

• Allow your fitness plans to determine the type of space and equipment you’ll need. And don’t get that equipment all at once. “Start off with a few things you know you’ll use right away and build from there. Your home gym should be customized to you. Stock it with items you know you’ll use” (1).
• Find a spot with some space, but most importantly, it should be an area that can be permanent. It’s not convenient to move around a lot of heavy equipment on a regular basis (2).
• You don’t need bulky equipment like weight lifting machines (in most cases). A few dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands can go a long way. (These are in the background of my photo, with an organ bench serving as my rack.) And although you see plenty of cardio equipment in my photo, this really isn’t necessary if you can jump rope or move freely about the space (3).
• Buy secondhand equipment when filling out your home gym – no rush though! There are stores in my area that specialize in this, but many social media platforms also advertise used equipment. You might get lucky and find neighbors who are downsizing and score some great deals.
• It’s helpful to have access to a television or monitor if you like using fitness apps or YouTube workouts. I do have one across from the equipment shown in the photo. It can make cardio time more enjoyable!
• Choose quality equipment, particularly for exercises you do frequently (4). Here’s where I made my biggest mistakes. At the time, I didn’t realize how much I’d love cycling. Buying one of the least expensive stationary bikes on Amazon was not a good move.
• Save enough floor space for other forms of exercise, like stretching or yoga. I bunched my equipment together for the photo, but there is some space for floor exercise in my home gym. Think about space saving equipment if you are tight on room, like a door mounted pull up bar, a TRX system, or resistance bands that you can attach to a door (5).

What can you add that will help you achieve your goals? It doesn’t need to be a major purchase. But it does have to be something that you will enjoy using. It’s much more likely that you’ll stay with whatever form of exercise you actually enjoy.

“Enjoyment is the key to sticking to an exercise plan. Choose an activity you enjoy, not one you think is ‘good for you’” (6).

(1). https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-create-a-home-gym-youll-actually-use/amp/

(2). https://garagegymexperiment.com/2021/11/09/the-home-gym-guide/

(3). https://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/how-build-perfect-home-gym

(4). https://www.tonal.com/blog/best-home-gym-setup/

(5). https://www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/how-to-build-an-at-home-gym-on-a-budget/

(6). https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/physical-activity-choosing-the-one-for-you