by Tiffanie Grady-Gillespie, Certified Physical Trainer, Certified Corporate Wellness Coach, WickedFiTT
Before I get started, I just want to emphasize the fact that you don’t need fancy or expensive pieces of equipment to get a great workout. All you need is a plan, your favorite sneakers, some music and motivation. Anything else is just icing on the cake (Oooh bad reference… anyway… .)
Let’s start off by talking a little more about this plan.
Claim your space. There can be a full-room gym in your house, a garage gym, an office corner gym or whatever you have the room to use. The size will determine what and how much equipment you will fill it with. Remember, resistance bands, jump ropes and other small items are great and take up little space.
Determine a total spending budget. Be honest with yourself, and be realistic. We don’t want to break the bank.
Now the fun part — shopping. Checkout prices on different sites and make a list of what you need; look for sales. Check out sites like Offer-UP and Facebook Marketplace or some sweet discounts on used items.
Great starter essentials
Dumbbells: I think if you add anything to a home gym, a couple of sets of dumbbells are all you need with the most versatility.
- Maybe 3 pounds to 20 pounds to start. Adjustable dumbbells are another great option if you don’t want to take up a ton of space.
Kettlebells: I love using them for swings, goblets and unilateral strength work like single-leg deadlifts, shoulder presses and rows.
Don’t forget those bands and a mat.
Barbells: If you’re used to strength training with dumbbells, a barbell can be a fun way to do something different.
- TRX is another one of my must-have items. You can install them anywhere, they’re extremely lightweight, and you can get a total body workout
If you have the room, a spin bike is pretty compact, and there are great treadmills that can fold up and fit almost anywhere. And don’t forget about all of those fun online apps for ideas.
So, there you go. You don’t need to spend a fortune to get fit. With a little bit of searching, and some creativity, you can create a home gym that won’t break your bank. Now go crush those 2025 goals!
