I used to workout at an expensive gym. It was a $150 per month subscription and came with all the rad gear you could find in the market.
However, I had to give up on it as my business went down and there was some serious need to cut back on my monthly expenses. Eventually, I started working out at home and as soon as I got my income streams back, I decided to keep with this habit and invest in a home gym.
Now, building up my Home gym wasn’t cheap but it definitely paid off in the long run. I’ve spent almost what I would’ve for three year’s membership but I’ve been working out for more than 5 at home and I’ve literally saved thousands and a lot of time that went into commute.
However, if you’re on a shoestring budget then maybe you don’t need all the fancy equipment I bought for my Home gym. In this post, I’ve discussed the bare essentials that you need to get started with to build your strength and physique. Anything that’s not in this list is just a good to have or even luxury.
Finding the right space…
Well, before you head out or sit in (Amazon Baby!), to buy your fitness equipments, you need to make sure that you have a space that is big enough to be able to accommodate heavy weights, weight benches and power racks.
Apart from being spacious, it needs to be a little secluded too. A place where you can just zone out and focus on your workouts.
Here are two suggestions that I think fit the profile:
1. Garage : Garage gyms are norm. If you’ve a free garage space, it’s the best place to set up your home gym.
2. Terrace : Unless you live in India (like I do) and it doesn’t get too hot in the summers, building up your gym on the terrace is amazing. You get to feel the fresh air, the warm sun and you build your spiritual self as much as your physical one.
3. A room with a view : Sometimes, an empty room with huge windows is all it takes. You should also install a big mirror to make sure that your form is correct and you’re doing it right.
Once you have the space ready, you can go ahead and get yourself the essential equipments that cover 95% of the workouts you’ll need to do.
6 Bare Essentials for your Home Gym
Power Rack
No matter what anybody says, if you aren’t doing your squats right, you ain’t working out.
Squats and Deadlifts help you build up the core strength you need to develop all other movements.
A power rack enables you to lift heavy and safely. When working out alone, safety can be a big issue, you need to minimise risk as much as you can.
Olympic Barbells and Bumper Plates
Because lifts.
Adjustable Weight Bench
You cannot do a complete body workout without a good adjustable weight bench. From chest to forearms to core, you can workout pretty much body part on a single weight bench.
Adjustable Dumbbells
When you’re on a budget, it makes sense to make the trade-off of getting a set of adjustable dumbbells instead of a whole weight rack and 10 sets of dumbbells.
Yes, it can be a bit of hassle to shift weights but the amount of money you end up saving is definitely worth the few extra seconds.
Skipping Ropes
Skipping ropes are a great way to warm up and even as a post-workout cardio to burn that extra fat and maintain lean muscle mass.
Foam Roller
It’s the cheapest way to prevent injuries and muscle tension. Get one and use it after every workout, you’ll thank me in 10 years. You can get one for around $25.
Moreover, using foam rollers increases your mobility and range of motion which in turns helps you lift better, move faster and enhance your overall performance.
These are the 6 essentials that I would recommend you getting for your home gym.
If you still have extra money lying around after getting your basic gear and supplementation in order, you can go ahead and gift yourself a rowing machine and you can complete your cardio even during a zombie apocalypse. ?
Well, that’s my list. Do you think I missed out on something? Let me know in the comments section below. ?
