Having some fitness equipment in your home is great for convenience. With workout equipment on hand, you don't have to travel to the gym (or wear masks or social distance while working out), and you have immediate access to your exercise toys, so you're much more likely to get and stick to schedules. And as inspiring as this can be, it can also be frightening given the sheer amount of things that are promised. fast results if you just take action now .
Of course, it's difficult to determine which products can help you achieve the best fitness results, or which equipment you personally will use the most. After all, many avid athletes inevitably used cardio equipment as oddly shaped clothes hangers or hid dumbbells under the bed only to find them mummified in dust bunnies years later.
That's why when my personal training clients ask me what to buy and what to skip, I always answer, “It depends.” Here's what it depends on and how to make the best decision for your personal gym and fitness journey.
Assess your current fitness habits, likes and dislikes
When you're feeling super excited to build your gym, it can be tempting to go all in on cardio equipment, weights, mats, rollers, bands, and whatever else you think a good gym needs.
Slow down your throw. "Start with one piece of equipment that you already know and love," says psychologist Lisa Lewis, Ph.D., who specializes in working with athletes. In the gym, what equipment is your main jam? If you prefer group fitness classes, what type do you usually gravitate towards? In short, what do you already feel skilled at? Feeling competent is critical to your enjoyment of any activity and your motivation to continue doing it. We like to do what we think we're good at, so make your first purchase something you know you'll love. If you enjoy running, consider a treadmill. If you've been skipping indoor cycling classes, a stationary bike may be for you. If strength training is your main activity, some adjustable dumbbells can make a big difference.
On the other hand, if you've never used a certain type of equipment before or just glanced at its techy dashboard and you were overwhelmed, this is probably not the place to start. “When we start from scratch, we have less motivation at our disposal,” Lewis says. To develop a habit, build your confidence and skills, then you can increase the number of gear purchases.
Finally: don't buy equipment you know you don't like! Even if you think you "need" to run, bike or lift weights, the only thing you really need to do is move. As I tell my training clients, the best form of movement is the one you enjoy. It's 100 percent true that this is a form of movement that you'll actually be doing, and it's also the one that will best help you foster a healthy relationship with both exercise and your body. And life is too short to do workouts you hate.
Evaluate your options to find the one that works best for you
When choosing the equipment you want to use in your home gym, it is important to determine your overall budget, space requirements, and then start searching in earnest. Otherwise, people tend to go into their search already hooked on a top-notch option, even if it doesn't fit their budget or living space.
Most home fitness equipment can be divided into four main categories. I recommend thinking about each one before making any moves.
Consider cardio equipment to get your heart pumping
Cardio machines tend to be the most expensive piece of equipment for the home, with treadmills leading the way in popularity and price. Elliptical trainers, exercise bikes, and rowing machines typically have a slightly lower price tag.
Here, one of the main cost factors is the interactive technology, i.e. the built-in features that allow you to join live or pre-recorded training sessions that are included in the product. Bells and whistles are expensive, and for those who usually like to spend time in the gym and don't attend classes, they aren't really necessary. However, for those who do best when working out and exercising with friends, connected, interactive features can greatly enhance motivation, enjoyment, and commitment.
Grab free weights to make strength training a habit
Dumbbells, kettlebells, barbells, even medicine balls and suspension machines all work to develop strength. I typically recommend that my clients start with a dumbbell set consisting of light (5 to 10 pounds), medium (15 to 25 pounds), and heavy (30 to 50 pounds) weights. An adjustable set also makes sense and may be the most compact and cost-effective option, especially for people who are short on space or who anticipate accumulating what amounts to a full dumbbell rack.
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