Should You Add a Home Gym?
Going to the gym is a great way for you to keep motivated and healthy throughout your busy week. While you may enjoy your gym, it can be tempting to want to cut up your membership card and build your own personalized home gym.
While that can be a great option, here are a few things you should consider before you take the home gym leap.
photo/ Steve Buissinne
Space
The first thing you will need for a home gym is the space. Sure you can add a treadmill in your living room to give you a workout, but that is not considered a home gym.
A home gym offers multiple pieces of equipment and should be it’s own space. You may not need a bike, treadmill and elliptical, but you should start with an adjustable dumbbell set, a few kettlebells, and some free weights.
If you are looking at doing a lot of lifting or using tall equipment then you will do best in a room that has seven foot ceilings. This will also allow you to have a fan in the ceiling that won’t effect your workout needed height. If you are doing dead lifts, then you will want to be on a sturdy first floor or possibly in the garage.
Having a TV or a good stereo system will save you from having to use earbuds that can fall out as you go. You can play music to keep you motivated or catch up on your favorite show while you work out.
Costs
Looking at workout equipment can seem like a large all at once cost, but when you break down your gym membership pricing, you will be saving money in the long run, and having tangible pieces of equipment that you are investing in.
Purchasing your equipment new is good because you are getting something brand new out of the box that doesn’t have any previous owner mileage or defects on it. Also if new gym equipment does not work, you have a way to take it back.
Some new gym items come with a try it for 90 days offer that allows you to try out the machine before you completely purchase it to see if this particular piece will be a fit for you.
Buying secondhand gym equipment is a great way to get a really nice workout machine without paying the hefty price tag that some come with. If you are looking to save money by purchasing a used model, make sure that you are shopping smart.
Make sure that any used equipment comes with a warranty. This means don’t buy a treadmill from an online yard sale from someone you don’t know. While it can save you a lot of money, you are also taking on the possibility that it may not work well and there are no take-backs or warranties to fix it when it does give out.
You don’t have to purchase everything for your home gym all in one fell swoop. If you are not advanced in weight training then you can purchase your weights as you go, starting with one or two sizes and adding on as you go.
One of the best things about having your own home gym is that you are able to build it to suit you. If you want to add in a bike for cycling then you can when you want to. Start with a bike or wait and add in one a few months later.
Access
When you have a gym in your home, the only commute is the time it takes for you to get up and walk to that room. This can also be a negative aspect if you lack the motivation to get up and go to the gym.
Just imagine, no waiting to use your favorite machine, no need to pre wipe down the weights because the guy in front of you was sweating profusely or sneezing. The equipment is yours and set up the most optimal way to enhance your workout.
You don’t have to avoid unwanted eye contact or worry about getting hit on while you are trying to work out. You will also not have to worry about being exposed to other people’s germs, especially during flu season.
If you don’t enjoy being completely alone then you can invite a friend over to work out with you or opt to take a class or two weekly to keep you in a social loop. A lot of gyms offer spin, Zumba or other workout classes that you can pay for without being a member.
If you have the space, then a home gym can be the perfect option for you. However, if you crave being social or having a workout group then it may not be the best route for you to take.
Author: Allen Michael
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