Ideas for Making Your Own Home Gym

How to Make Your Own Home Gym

How does this sound to you: you wake up at 6AM, take a shower, drive fifteen minutes to the gym, spend an hour waiting to get the equipment you want, listening to oldies music you hate, hearing muscle heads grunt and yell while doing ten thousand bicep curls, and watching some gym bunny do curls in the smith machine. Does this seem appealing to you? If you’re anything like me, the answer is a resounding ‘no!’

The solution? A home gym. Note that when I say home gym, I mean ‘a complete gym setup in ones home, not a machine in the corner that does everything. So how do you go about making a home gym, and where do you start?

Location

Before ever considering the equipment you will fill your gym with, you need to decide where your gym will reside. Do you have a spare room? If not, is the basement or garage an option? A barn or other outbuilding? How about a large room that can be divided in half, half for whatever and half for your gym?

The best home gym is placed in a room of its own, but that may not be possible. I am going to write this article under the assumption that your gym will be placed in a spare room or basement.

Your Personal Needs

Evaluate your needs. What kind of workouts do you do? Kickboxing, Mixed Martial Arts, Bodybuilding, lifting, or straight conditioning?

If you’re doing MMA types of training, you will need at least 6′ x 6′ open area to place a punching bag or two that allows you to move around and practice kicks, punches, and forms without tripping over barbells and knocking your head on pull-up bars.

Bodybuilding will need enough space between equipment for a barbell or Olympic bar to be used without hitting walls and other equipment. In my opinion, the ideal gym is a minimum of ten by ten feet. The more cramped it is, the less likely you are to use it.

Fitness Equipment

Now its time to look at equipment; will your gym have a mixture of weights, machines, stations, etc, or will it consist of one or two types of things? What I mean is, will the gym consist mainly of a sparring area with some speed and punching bags along the wall, or will it have many things?

My best advice on this would be to measure your room and draw it on paper. Then count the number of objects that will go into your gym and measure each of them. Finally, on the paper, draw to scale the objects within your gym until you have it laid out the way you want and in a way they can all fit. After you have done this, you can safely start moving in equipment without having to worry about making it all fit.

Comfortable Surroundings

What type flooring do you have? Plush carpet is not recommended, and neither is concrete. Both can be harsh on the body, especially when lifting heavy weights. The solution for this would be to lay rubber mats on the floor where you plan on lifting. This will help firm up the carpeted floor, and soften the concrete one.

A television and radio will probably both be a necessity, unless you plan on working out in complete silence, and don’t use any videos. The radio can be as simple as a boom box on the floor, or as complicated as mounted speakers in each corner of the room. The TV is a little more difficult. You will need to place it somewhere you will be able to see it, but where it is out of the way. The best way to do this is with a wall mount, allowing you to place the TV on a swivel wall mount.

Customize Your Home Gym

What good is a home gym if it’s not your own? Its time to make your gym unique to YOU. What kinds of objects offer you inspiration? What gets you through the last grueling set, or the last murderous machine gun kicks? What pushes you when you can’t push yourself? These are unique to each person, and can range from posters to photo’s to objects. Place these objects in places where you will see them, in places where you are likely to NEED to see them. Cover the walls in posters, or artwork, or whatever works for you. This step is crucial, so take your time. If you make the gym somewhere you want to be, you will be more likely to workout. If, on the other hand, it is as sterilized as a hospital, you will most likely find reasons to avoid it.

By now you should have a good idea of what your gym will be like. Be creative! Take your time and plan it out. Making a gym of your own is a humbling experience. This will be the room in which you reshape your body, push yourself to the limit, and find out what you are really made of. We highly recommend Bowflex and Total Gym Home Gyms. Bowflex Home Gyms Official Store Website, Free Shipping, Click Here Now

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Setting Up Your Own Home Gym

The Necessities of a Starter Home Gym

Are your workout goals being hampered by lack of time?
Are expensive gym dues getting you down?
Perhaps its time to consider setting up a home gym!

Home gyms have their advantages – and disadvantages – just like those high-priced public gyms. But for some, investing in a few basic pieces just may mean the difference between getting in that workout to get – or stay – in shape and allowing your overall health and well being fall by the wayside!

Home gym setups don’t need to cost a bundle or take up an exorbitant amount of space. Just a few basics and a game plan, and your fitness goals can get back on track!

Be Realistic

A practical approach to investing in a home gym is a necessity. First you need to assess your fitness goals – want to lose some weight? Tone up? Increase your endurance? Enjoy better cardiovascular health? Improve strength?

The best fitness goals are well rounded. To get – and keep your body in the best possible shape its best to stick with the three basics – stretching, strengthening and cardiovascular training. By blending these three concepts, you can strengthen your heart and lungs, endurance, metabolism and strength while increasing the amount of calories and fat you burn.

Budgeting
Gym memberships can be expensive. Though many offer “no obligation” month-to-month memberships, fees for this arrangement can start at around $25.00 per month or more. Better monthly fees can be obtained when signing a contract for a certain period of time, usually between 12 and 36 months, or taking advantage of special discounts occasionally offered. But many gyms prefer a certain amount of month up front, including a one-time “enrollment fee” which can cost anywhere from $50.00 to $150.00 or more.

So considering the cheapest month-to-month membership plus enrollment fees you will be paying a minimum of $350 per year. An investment of $350 can get you started on a modest home gym set-up, which in the long run can save you time and money (travel and gas especially).
When considering a home gym think about the types of exercises you enjoy – why purchase a stair climber for a couple hundred bucks if you avoid it at the gym? Or buy a row machine if you don’t want to increase the muscle mass of your arms, chest and back?

After considering your goals and exercise preferences, you must develop a realistic budget. Home gyms can be expensive, but you don’t need every piece of equipment you can find at the local gym – there are ways to set up a home gym without breaking the bank!

Treadmills for example can run anywhere from $350 to $7500, whereas walking around your neighborhood is free (except for the purchase of some good walking shoes!). And stationary bikes can cost between $200 and $3000. But a good old-fashioned workout tape will cost you between $10 and $20.
Multi-station gym setups can run anywhere from $1500 to several thousand dollars, whereas an adjustable bench and some free-weights may cost you a few hundred dollars. Dumbbells can cost around $150 and ankle weights or exercise bands $5 to $30. And exercise balls cost between $15 and $30.
Do not purchase “cheap” equipment. You want durable sturdy pieces and a warranty in writing – don’t settle for a poor design or less safety to save a few bucks. Purchasing a reconditioned piece from a reputable distributor may be a way to get professional quality equipment at a discounted price.

Space and Safety
Once you’ve considered your options you must consider the space necessary for each piece of equipment. Treadmills take up around 30 square feet of space; multi-station gym set-ups around 50 to 200 square feet; stationary bikes about 10 square feet and a free weight set-up around 20 to 50.
Safety and traffic flow must also be considered. It is not optimal to place your treadmill in the middle of the family room floor where your family spends most of their time or your free weights in the hallway!

Other necessities for a home gym are lighting, ventilation and electrical outlets.

The Necessities
In order for a home gym to be advantageous you need to focus on the three basics – stretching, strengthening and cardiovascular. You need adequate space, motivation and a few key pieces of equipment.

A starter home gym should consist of a few weights or resistance bands, floor space, an exercise ball and some type of aerobic tapes or aerobic equipment (treadmill, stair climber or stationary bike).

If space – and funds are limited, taking a brisk walk, jogging or jumping rope can perform aerobic exercise. Even strengthening exercises can be done with these limitations by purchasing an inexpensive set of ankle weights or resistance bands.

The Workout
One of the downfalls to having a home gym is the isolation. Some people thrive by the companionship they experience by working out at the local gym. If loneliness is hampering your workout, find a workout buddy to keep you motivated.

Write out your goals and a plan. If you need help invest in a session or two with a personal trainer.

Don’t skimp on the basics. Stretching, for example, helps the body prepare for more vigorous workouts plus it helps increase the amount of motion in your joints, thus decreasing the risk of injury.

Strengthening is important for every workout, not just when you want to “bulk up”. Strengthening increases not only your strength but your metabolism (which helps you burn fat) and bone density as well. To tone without building muscle mass, use smaller weights and increase the repetitions.

Doing calisthenics or remedial exercises such as bicep and triceps curls, abdominal curls, leg lifts and squats can perform strengthening. Performing any exercise on an exercise ball will not only help you increase your strength but help with stretching and balance as well.

Cardiovascular workouts are essential for strengthening the heart and lungs, increasing endurance and burning calories. Cardiovascular routines are those that increase the heart rate for at least fifteen to thirty minutes. Brisk walking, jogging, swimming, stair climbing, elliptical training and jumping rope are all excellent ways to increase your overall cardiovascular health.

Keeping to a schedule can also help maintain your fitness goals – perhaps you can get up thirty minutes early and do a cardio workout or squeeze in some strengthening right before dinner. The beauty of a home gym is scheduling. No longer do you have to consider the “busy times” where equipment may not be available.

Putting It All Together
1.Decide on a budget and stick to it
2.Decide on location or room in your house to set up your home gym and take measurements
3.Research types of equipment for purchase and start with essentials
4.Devise a workout plan and schedule
5.Have a great workout in the comfort of your own home!

For the best Home Gyms, we recommend Bowflex and Total Gym, two of the best names in the fitness business. Bowflex Official Store Website, Click Here Now for free shipping

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The Bowflex – Pros and Cons

The Bowflex has taken over television with its constant commercial airtime. These commercials depict modern titans manhandling enormous weights, implying you will be capable of such a feat upon purchasing this amazing product. The fact remains that the amount of muscle you gain is entirely dependent on how hard you work and how you eat. But is the Bowflex really the best way to pump iron?

The Bowflex is generally a good way to exercise, as it can cover your major muscle groups and delivers a solid workout. The question is, does the Bowflex beat out your traditional weights? My belief is that it does not. Just like gym machines tend not to work you out as well as free weights, one multi-purpose machine does not work you out as well as both machines and free weights. To someone who is simply looking to tone up a bit and maybe put on a few pounds of muscle, the Bowflex works.

If you want to bulk up huge and tone your body to perfection, you will have to look somewhere other than the Bowflex. There are little muscles that are worked out by variation. When you dumbbell press, for example, you may work out your shoulders in a unique way when your arms move off to the side a bit. The Bowflex resists these natural movements that are important to developing overall strength and isolation. These muscles may not be important when you are working out on the Bowflex, but the higher weight you lift, the more muscles you will need to be toned and ready to help.

The Bowflex’s major selling point is its convenient. I will not argue against that. You can store it in many places and it is like having a bare necessities gym in your home. The fact is, if you will not go to a gym and work out, a Bowflex is a good choice, because working out on a Bowflex is so much better than not working out at all. The Bowflex is a great machine for people who are looking for a great workout at home.

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Bowflex Treadclimber Review

Review of the Bowflex Treadclimber 5000 Stair Stepper

Offers a Low-Impact Aerobic Workout with Many Features
The Bowflex Treadclimber 5000 Stair Stepper is one of the best workout machines for your home and is rather reasonably priced, especially when you consider what this workout machine can do for you. When we decided to buy the new Bowflex Treadclimber 5000 Stair Stepper for our basement gym, we did so only because we were looking for something that was going to be ultra-low impact because of my wife’s persistent knee problems. The Bowflex Treadclimber 5000 Stair Stepper provides this low-impact but also packs one heck of an aerobic workout and generally, about 20 minutes is all either of us can do, even though we’re both in pretty good shape.

Another reason why we like our Bowflex Treadclimber 5000 Stair Stepper is because it of the computer and level of data it gives you for each workout as well as the options of adjust your workout. We looked at other older models (we almost bought the Bowflex Treadclimber 3000) but they didn’t have the same number of options for regulating how tough your climb was going to be and they didn’t have the updated heart monitor system, which is important for me because I’m kind of addicted to monitoring my heart rate while I’m working out to help me calculate what I’m getting out of each session and how hard I’m pushing myself. Another difference between the newer Bowflex Treadclimber 5000 Stair Stepper and its older version is that there are 12 settings that are distinct instead of just 6 basic ones that seem similar. This offers a whole new level of variation and does indeed, make it seem like you’re on a different machine when you make use of different settings. Furthermore, unlike some of other similar tread climbing machines, this one has wide enough foot pads so you’re confident you’re going to slip off-something I worry about.

When I first looked at the Bowflex Treadclimber 5000 Stair Stepper I was a little disappointed that you couldn’t get up to a run. While this makes for a strenuous workout, it is not impossible and thus should have been included. The settings only take you up to a really fast walk (maxing out at around 4 mph) and for me; this is not always enough, especially during my power-cardio days when I push myself to the limit. Again, while this is fine for my wife, who isn’t looking for something high-impact or super-strong, if you’re searching for something that is going to allow for a lot of speed, then perhaps the Bowflex Treadclimber 5000 Stair Stepper isn’t for you.

In general, the only problem I could find with the Bowflex Treadclimber 5000 Stair Stepper is that it didn’t allow me to work out as hard as I would like to. Nonetheless, it is a good low-impact workout and offers tons of controls for distance, stepping, heart rate, calories burned, and other factors that are important on any monitor. One of my favorite aspects of the Bowflex Treadclimber 5000 Stair Stepper was the price. We looked at older Bowflex models that offered the same basic thing but without the bells and whistles that eventually sold us on it. While you can find relatively cheap ones online, we decided to forgo the shipping costs and went to a local store. I do suggest that you try this piece of equipment before you buy it because these are not for everyone. Friends of mine who have tried ours in our basement gym didn’t like it and didn’t think it was fun or even a great workout, but we love it and recommend the Bowflex Treadclimber 5000 Stair Stepper to anyone looking for a good aerobic workout. The online store currently offers free shipping on Bowflex sports products.

Bowflex Girls

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Bowflex Home Gyms

How Does Bowflex Compare To Other Home Gyms?

Bowflex is often compared to other home gyms, such as the weider crossbow. The bowflex, however, offers many superior features not offered by any other home gym. Its SpiraFlex and Power Rod Technology is unique and the bowflex home gyms offer more exercises than most other comparable home gyms. It costs more because it does more. We believe its well worth the cost. Bowflex offers reasonable financing terms, so its affordable for everyone.

Follow this link to buy Bowflex at best prices and free shipping.

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