subject: Setting Up An Inexpensive Home Gym [print this page] If you are not one of them then you probably know at least one person who has purchased some type of exercise equipment that is now collecting dust or clothes. My wife currently has an elliptical and a treadmill in our bedroom. You can barely see the treadmill under the pile of clothes.
I'm a gym guy myself so I do not need any equipment at home. But I am constantly asked by patients and clients about what piece of equipment should they buy. Some have dropped thousands of dollars on fancy machines and full olympic weight sets. A waste of money and space in my book.
When it comes to exercising, I am a simpleton. I want the most bang for my buck with the least amount of time. I actually love working out and cannot remember the last time I have gone a week without exercising. But with working sixty hours a week and having four kids my time is limited. I do three full body workouts a week and even though I go to a gym, almost all the exercises I do can be done at home with minimal equipment.
Here is all you need to set up a inexpensive and space friendly home gym. The first thing would be a pair of adjustable dumbbells. There are several companies that make these. They are basically one dumbbell that adjusts from about five to fifty pounds by turning a dial. These are great as they only take up the space of one pair of dumbbells but you have a full set. You may purchase a stand separately. Dumbbells are great as you can perform a large variety of exercise with them including squats, step ups, presses, bent over rows, curls, etc. The choices are almost endless. Look for models with more metal then plastic parts as they will hold up longer. These have become pretty popular lately so you should not have any trouble finding them at your local sporting goods store or warehouse club. They cost about $300-$400.
The next piece of equipment would be an adjustable bench. You can spend a few hundred dollars on a nice one but your best bet is to check on Craigs List for a used one. This will allow you to perform bench presses and inclines, seated overhead presses and even step ups or one leg squats if it is sturdy enough.
Another great piece is a pull up bar. You can get a new free standing one for about $150. It has grips for pull ups, pushups and dips. A little more space is required but a great addition. Another option is the pullup bars that fit in the doorway. They are a little cheaper but work pretty well.
With those three pieces of equipment you can do an extensive workout with minimal cost and space requirements. If you want to go really cheap a good selection of various resistance elastic bands or tubes could be all you need for a basic set up.
