Home Is Where the Gym Is - Tips For Setting Up Your Home Gym

Tips For Setting Up Your Home Gym

Call them fitness centers, health clubs or whatever terminology you choose, they have come a long way in the past decade. Some are glamorous and high tech; some are comfortable and low-key. There would seem to be an atmosphere for everyone. But in truth, many people have valid reasons why they would rather not go to the gym. For them, a home gym is a much more attractive way to get in their daily or weekly exercise. Fortunately, setting up a home gym can be a fun experience that doesn't have to cost a fortune or require a degree in fitness education.

There are many rural communities that do not have a public gym. Or there is only one and it is always soooo busy. Some people can't afford the membership and others just aren't comfortable working out in front of anyone else. For many people it is a matter of motivation. It is much easier to hop on the treadmill when it is only ten feet from the couch. But ask someone to go out in the cold to start the car, drive to the gym and then back again and it quickly becomes easy to just put it off all together. For a host of reasons, many people are much more likely to exercise regularly when they have the equipment they need right in their own homes.

Claim Your Space

The first step in creating a home gym is to find an area to use. You may clean out a section of the basement or garage. Perhaps you are lucky enough to have an entire room you can devote to your equipment. How much space you have will determine what type and how much equipment you can include. If there is a particular machine you have your eye on, you will need to make sure you have room for it.

Will you be able to leave your equipment set up or do space limitation dictate that the gym will need to be torn down after each workout? With home fitness equipment that has heavy parts such as weight stacks, or expensive electronics, such as some elliptical machines, you may want an area that can be secured from children.

Assess Your Goals

The next thing to consider is your exercise goals. Are you focusing on aerobic exercise? Do you want to lose weight? Maybe you are trying to bulk up. Different types of equipment work best for different goals. If an overall workout is what you want, you will need several types of equipment.

Consider Your Budget

Closely tied in with your exercise goals is your budget. You may have Olympic goals but a student's budget. In that case, you may be better off to use the equipment at the school or Y club. Off course, you don't have to buy new equipment. There are many places to purchase quality used equipment at reasonable prices. Several experts recommended going this route if you are new to exercise and not certain you will stick with it.

You don't have to buy everything at one time. Many of the most impressive home gyms have been developed over several years, with pieces added as budgets allowed. Start with the basics, whether that be a good set of weights and a quality bench for those looking to add strength or bulk or one piece of equipment that you know you enjoy and are likely to use often.

Select Your Equipment

Some people choose equipment that is the hardest to find available at the fitness center. Elliptical trainers and treadmills are very popular as are exercise bikes, rowing machines, and stair steppers. Others like the versatility of free weights, Smith machines, or other multi-purpose home fitness equipment. Some people have workouts that target certain areas of the body, so they incorporate ab machines or dumbbells. Keep in mind that most experts recommend that any kind of heavier weight lifting be done with another person to spot you to be sure you are using correct form and to help with the weights if you suddenly reach your limit.

Many fitness experts feel that one piece of equipment does not a home gym make. If you are using your equipment to replace a fitness program at a health club, you will need to incorporate some of the same versatility. This usually requires some equipment for aerobics and cardio, and others for strength training and endurance. This could be as simple as an aerobics video and a quality elliptical trainer. The point is that you get a good workout.

Some people develop home gyms to supplement the time they spend at the fitness center. Maybe there are days you know you can't make it to the gym, or some exercises you would rather do in private. Let the health club pay for the big buck equipment, and select the less expensive pieces for your home gym.

Comfort Counts

Whether you choose to create a single-station or multi-station home gym, the important thing is that you use it. One way to make exercise more appealing is to make your space attractive. Make sure there is adequate light and good ventilation. If you will be doing exercises on the floor, invest in a comfortable mat. Maybe you want to decorate the room with inspirational or motivational posters or pictures of athletes or power lifters you admire. The main point is that if the space is not comfortable and welcoming, you will be less likely to use it.

As a society, we just don't get as much exercise as we used to. Fitness centers have done an excellent job of trying to help address this concern, but some people are not comfortable with a public workout. Others just like the convenience of working out at home. There are a variety of reasons people choose to set up a home gym. With a little planning and self-assessment, the options are plentiful, and the results can be very effective.

About the Author:

C.J. Gustafson is a successful writer for Best-Home-gyms.com, publishing home gym reviews on weight lifting equipment, recumbent exercise bikes, elliptical machines and more.

Copyright 2005 Best-Home-Gyms.com

Permission is granted to publish this article on your site only if the author's byline is included and all links are hyperlinked.

---

Google News Updated : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:07:30 GMT 'Wrestler' brings Venice fest to its feet - Hollywood Reporter Hollywood Reporter 'Wrestler' brings Venice fest to its feet Hollywood Reporter - 52 minutes ago By Eric J. Lyman VENICE -- "The Wrestler" was the toast of the Lido on the Venice Film Festival's penultimate day, with star Mickey Rourke's interpretation of an aging wrestler struggling to come to terms with the end of his career creating a buzz that ... 'The Wrestler' wins Venice Film Fest top award The Associated Press Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler. TIME Bloomberg - Reuters - Monsters and Critics.com - Los Angeles Times all 327 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:14:35 GMT Buckeyes survive Ohio's threat, 26-14 - The Associated Press The Associated Press Buckeyes survive Ohio's threat, 26-14 The Associated Press - 35 minutes ago COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Beanie Wells didn't play. The Ohio Bobcats sure did. Lightly regarded even in the Mid-American Conference, Ohio put a scare into No. Ohio State Football: OSU 26, OU 14 The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg ESPN USA Today - Columbus Dispatch - Chillicothe Gazette - SBR Forum all 172 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:31:47 GMT Boeing Machinists Take To Picket Line After Talks Collapse - CNNMoney.com Washington Post Boeing Machinists Take To Picket Line After Talks Collapse CNNMoney.com - 1 hour ago NEW YORK (AFP)-- Boeing machinists took to the picket line on Saturday as they launched a strike that has halted production and could cost the US aerospace giant more than $100 million per day. Low strike pay could limit length of Boeing work stoppage BloggingStocks Boeing machinists walk off the job MarketWatch Wall Street Journal - New York Times - AHN - Reuters all 2,440 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:46:08 GMT McCain, Obama battle over economy, leadership - AFP Telegraph.co.uk McCain, Obama battle over economy, leadership AFP - 51 minutes ago COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (AFP) - Economic issues dominated the campaign trail Saturday as presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and John McCain battled over who could best lead the nation in troubled times. Reuters Politics Summary Washington Post Barack Obama, John McCain say they hate meddlers ... but both ... Los Angeles Times Intellectual Conservative - WGN - Financial Times all 650 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:15:37 GMT Obama, McCain to Honor Victims of 9/11 Together - Voice of America ABC News Obama, McCain to Honor Victims of 9/11 Together Voice of America - 1 hour ago By VOA News US presidential candidates Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain have agreed to appear together on September 11, the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Conventions, Anything but Dull, Are a TV Hit New York Times Comment by John S. Baick Professor of History, Western New England College Newsday - CNN - Argus Press - Bloomberg all 4,236 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:01:14 GMT Journals week in review: news from One Microsoft Way - Ars Technica Washington Post Journals week in review: news from One Microsoft Way Ars Technica - 1 hour ago By Emil Protalinski | Published: September 06, 2008 - 01:15PM CT First Gates-Seinfeld ad leaves us scratching our heads. The first Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates ad has arrived. Seinfeld ads only part of Microsoft push United Press International Windows Vista: The OS About Nothing InformationWeek New York Times - Slashdot - Apple Insider - CRN all 499 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:27:03 GMT "Bangkok" a skillful action excursion - Reuters E! Online "Bangkok" a skillful action excursion Reuters - 15 hours ago By Stephen Farber LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Everything is relative in the realm of hyperviolent movies, and compared to this summer's other assassination thriller, "Wanted," "Bangkok Dangerous" is a model of restraint and moral rectitude. 'Dangerous' prosperous at box office Variety An Assassin Arrives to Turn Off the Lights New York Times Boston Herald - Boston Globe - Roanoke Times - Buffalo News all 251 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:41:52 GMT RSS feeds Increased Website Traffic

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

How Can I Find The Treadmill I Want?

Treadmill ratings are published in lots of places. If you... Read More

Automatic Dehydration Return Sportswear Sensors

I propose Sportswear, which senses the amount of moisture from... Read More

Types of Exercise Equipment

Depending on the kind of exercise you want to do,... Read More

Recumbent Exercise Bikes - Advantages

There are so many exercise bikes available that it's easy... Read More

Can I Lose Weight with an Elliptical Trainer?

Many people begin a fitness program to lose weight. Sure,... Read More

Cracked Up Glossary Of Common Gym Terms

If you've ever had occasion to visit a gym, you've... Read More

Tips To Help You Find The Right Gym

Taking those first few steps towards establishing a Fitness Lifestyle... Read More

Exercise Bikes ? No Excuses, 30 Minutes A Day On A Bike Will Change Your Life

Exercise bikes are the ideal home exercise equipment. We are... Read More

Proform Treadmills and iFit Technology ? The Right Combination for Workout Success!

We all want to achieve the toned and slender look... Read More

The Horizon Elliptical Trainer

The Horizon Elliptical is an affordably priced elliptical that comes... Read More

Workout Shoes - Shoes for Strength Training

I've always worked out in just a plain pair of... Read More

An Informative Home Gym Review

There are several well-known manufacturers of home gyms worth mentioning.... Read More

Handy Consumer Guide Best Buy Treadmill Evaluators

Consumer Search is an online forum that basically reviews the... Read More

Elliptical Trainer Reviews

Elliptical Trainers are becoming a very popular piece of fitness... Read More

Daily Treadmill Workouts are a Great Way to Keep in Shape

Serious runners and walkers eventually turn to treadmill workouts so... Read More

Treadmill Comparison: 3 Things You Must Know

Buying a treadmill? You'll probably be making several treadmill comparisons... Read More

Elliptical Trainer Benefits

Considering an elliptical trainer? Wondering how an elliptical trainer can... Read More

5 Sure-Fire Tips To Save You $1000s On Your Home Gym

It always amazes me when people say "Home Gyms are... Read More

Balls That Could Be The Remedy For Your Workouts

The attic door swings open.Behind the ancient bumper pool table,... Read More

Home Is Where the Gym Is - Tips For Setting Up Your Home Gym

Tips For Setting Up Your Home GymCall them fitness centers,... Read More

Elliptical Exerciser

Several years ago elliptical exercisers were introduced to the fitness... Read More

Star Trac TR4500HR Treadmill - A Review

When you're searching for a treadmill for your home or... Read More

Proform XP 590s Treadmill

The Proform XP 590s Treadmill - Storage Is XPedientThe Proform... Read More

What You Need to Know Before Buying a Pedometer

Question: What's small, weighs about an ounce, and comes in... Read More

Manual Vs. Motorized Treadmills

When people go to purchase a treadmill, one of the... Read More