When it comes to building your own home gym, it can be very overwhelming to know where to start. Many people start with the exercises they like to do and buy the equipment needed to do them, and build from there. This is a great strategy for those who are experienced enough to know what they like to use when they work out, but for fitness newbies, it can be a little more confusing. You also have to make sure you’re not spending money on “trending” products that won’t last, used for workouts that you’ll never do a month after you get them. Let’s talk about building your foundation.
Work With What You Have
Many people have much more than they think just around their house and they can workout with these things without having to buy a thing. Hello, free gym! Look around to see if you have these items that can easily be used to build your own workout.
Floor (Open Space) – Strength Training
- Push-ups (All different kinds, including pike push-ups, tricep push-ups, diamond push-ups, etc.)
- Tricep dips
- Reverse push-ups
- Crunches
- Reverse crunches
- Yoga
- Dancing
- Lunges
- Really this list goes on and on…
Stairs – Cardio
- Walk up and down
- Run up and down
- One or two-legged jumps up and down the stairs (being very careful, of course)
- Lunges onto the stairs
- Calf raises with your heels hanging off the edge of the stairs
- Single-leg step ups (Check out my Total Body Workout 1 to see how)
- Single-leg squats
- Hip hikes
- Tricep dips with your hands on a higher step
Open Walls – Strength Training
- Wall squats, single-leg wall squats
- Wall push-ups
- Hand-stand push-ups (only for the advanced workouts)
- Planks
Soup Cans or Water Bottles – Strength Training (Hello, free weights!)
- Bicep curls
- Tricep push-backs
- Shoulder press
- Kettle-bell swings
- Inverted rows
- This list can really go on and on as well…
You Get the Idea
You can really use just about anything you already have laying around your house, or as a part of your house, to get a good workout. All it takes is a little creativity and you don’t have to spend a dime!
However, the more you delve into the health and fitness world, you’ll find that it’s a lot easier to purchase a few basics upfront. These are foundational pieces you can use for multiple exercises and multiple muscle groups, but don’t cost a lot of money (with a few exceptions).
One Quality Piece of Cardio Equipment You Enjoy
Cardio equipment is great for accelerating your heart rate and building your endurance and machines like treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes or stair steppers are great for accomplishing this. If you want to compare a few of them, check out my article Treadmill VS. Elliptical, and get a better idea of one you might like. The important point to note here is that this will likely be the most expensive piece of equipment you purchase for your home gym, and it’s totally unnecessary. You can get a great cardio workout doing HIIT workouts, or simply getting outside and walking, running, or riding your bike. But, I love my treadmill and I find it much easier to ensure that I am getting my regular cardio workout done when the weather is less than perfect or you have little ones napping upstairs and you can’t get out of the house.
Free Weights
By free weights, I’m not saying you have to purchase an entire set with a free-standing weight rack. By all means, if that’s you’re cup of tea, go for it, but you can also accomplish the same goals for much cheaper. I would recommend 3 good pairs of weights to start. One set that you could comfortably do 10-12 reps of bicep curls with, one set a few pounds lighter and one set a few pounds heavier. For example, when I started to build my own home gym, I purchased a set of 8 lb. weights., a set of 10 lb. weights, and a set of 5 lb. weights, and for most women, this will cover your bases pretty well. It all depends on your current fitness level and what your short and long-term goals are.
I also prefer weights with a rubber or textured surface like the ones listed below. While the metal weights work just as well, I find textured weights easier to hold and they don’t scratch my wedding rings that I rarely take off. Find a set that feels good in your hand and do a couple moves with it to make sure you won’t let go of it easily and it will be functional to use like these:
Exercise Ball
While it’s not necessary, a great tool to have in your home gym is an exercise ball. You can expand your realm by a ton of exercises, especially those focused on your core. They are also very helpful for those expecting mamas trying to stay in shape with growing bellies, as well as those that may have had back issues in the past that have difficulty getting down on the floor to work their abs. The biggest thing to look for when purchasing an exercise ball is the size. You want to be able to sit on it and still touch the floor, but you don’t want it to be too small because you won’t be able to use it as effectively. For most people of average height, 65 cm is a good diameter. For those that are taller, a 75 cm ball is going to work better, and likewise, those who are shorter would want to purchase a 55 cm ball. Here are some great options in each size that include a pump for inflation.
Yoga Mat
The last piece of foundational equipment to add to your home gym is a yoga mat, and these mats don’t just have to be used for yoga. Don’t get me wrong, if you’re going to incorporate yoga into your regular routine, they are necessary to provide a non-slip surface to practice your moves, but there are a ton of planks, crunches, etc. that you will want a little cushion for. There are a few different types, but you really don’t need to spend on lot on them because there isn’t a lot of difference between the different priced mats. Here are some great options that won’t break the bank.
3 Keys to Remember…
- Use what you already have – Look around! You may find that you have a lot more than you thought when it comes to equipment that can be used for your workouts.
- Focus on versatility – You want to build your home gym with versatile products that have many uses to get the biggest bang for your buck.
- Start with a solid foundation and work from there – Only purchase the tools you will need initially. Make it easier on your budget and buy more equipment as you need it.
Home gyms don’t have to be expensive and they are so convenient when you’re just beginning your fitness journey. These tools will give you a great foundation you can grow upon as you build your own personal gym. If there are any products you love and have to have in your home gym, leave me a comment below and let me know what they are!
This post contains affiliate links, which means that I may be compensated if any purchases are made from the links in this post. But rest assured, I will never recommend a product I don’t love myself.