Want to save money and workout more? Home Gym Benefits You’ve Overlooked

Admit it, at least once you’ve said “I’d workout if it was more convenient.”

Convenience is one of the main reasons that I run {and one of the main you don’t, hello icy roads}. While my list of gear has grown over the years, technically all I really need to do is put on my shoes and walk out the door to get my sweat on.

That being said, I’ve also told you I’m recommitting to STRENGTH! I need more muscles to stay stronger and injury free as I age and continue to run. Which brings us to our next topic in the Back To Basics series.

In case you’ve missed any previous back to basics posts:
What does basic mean? (Bodyweight workout)
7 habits of highly fit people
Body weight workout
Kitchen essentials (plus slow cooker recipe)
Next: Running essentials

BASIC PIECES FOR A HOME GYM

Here are 5 pieces to get your home gym started without breaking the bank:

Strength
Resistance Bands: You can do a ton with a set of resistance bands! They are also portable, light weight and don’t take up a lot of space.
–OR–
Weights: If you’d prefer weights, go for a set that has interchangeable plates so you can gradually increase the weight without needing a ton of new dumbbells.

Personally I have both, along with a kettlebell, because I like options. But that’s the great thing about a home gym, you can slowly add on over time as you figure out what works best for you.

Cardio
Jump rope: At 10 calories a minute this childhood fun is one of the fastest ways to torch calories at home! Consider adding just a minute a week (doing it 4 times a week) to increase your cardio slowly and burn the butter.
–AND/OR–
Watch: You know I love all my fancy GPS running watches now, but for the first 3+ years that I ran it was with a good old Timex watch. Really all you need to know is how long you’ve been going and this one also counts down so you can use it for jump rope.

Of course if you wanna go big, I’m all about these cardio machines and a treadmill>>

Yoga/Stretch:
Yoga Mat: Have you ever heard the term “on the mat”? It’s a phrase yogi’s use to refer to getting focused on the moment and enjoying their practice. Having a mat is a reminder to get focused and though you don’t need one to practice, there is something really nice about having one.
–AND–
Pilates DVD: I’m a big fan of Pilates for runners as it works the core. Not just the abs, the whole core, which provides better stability and injury prevention.

Organization
Create an area that feels like your sweat space. Maybe it’s just a corner of the living room where you have some brightly colored baskets with your gear or maybe you’ve got a whole spare bedroom where you can go to town. Either way find a way to create a space that feels like yours.

Misc:
The one thing I wish I would have bought when I started working out is a foam roller…it’s worth the pain it causes to skip the pain of an injury! Of course having water bottles and a towel to mop up your sweat are also great.

BENEFITS OF AN AT HOME GYM

1. Time Saver – Not only can you train on your schedule, but you actually save a ton of time. No more packing a gym bag, driving to and from the gym…and let’s be honest chatting in between sets or after class. The social aspect of a gym is great, unless “time” is your number one excuse for missing a workout. Plus you’ll never wait in line for the treadmill again or be kicked off after a 30 minute limit.

2. Save Money – The numbers are staggering on gym memberships that go unused. An initial investment in at home tools can make it seem like training there is more expensive, but that goes back to following the 5 tips of only buying what you need and growing your tools overtime. Remember that two of the most effective tools are free: moving your body and body weight strength exercises.
3. Excuse Proof – Time, weather and fatigue are generally the 3 largest excuses thrown out when it comes to workouts. Your home gym immediately eliminates the first two by putting it right at your fingertips and not even requiring you to leave the house to battle the elements. It turns out the home gym is also great for lagging motivation. It’s much easier to commit to doing just 10 minutes when the equipment is readily available.

If you begin to feel that going to the gym means you must put in a minimum of 30 minutes to an hour, it can feel overwhelming at the end of a long day. Instead, simply thinking of walking for 10 minutes or lifting weights for 10 minutes feels manageable and tends to lead to completing the full workout rather than skipping it all together.

4. Privacy and Focus – I’ve often heard from new runners that they feel uncomfortable in the gym where others are looking at them. I totally understand and it’s probably why I started my own workout routine years ago in the privacy of my living room with just Billy Banks Tae Bo encouraging me to sweat it out! Not only that, but I was free to try new things and decide what worked for me rather than what a class instructor wanted  me to do.

5. Family Encouragement – It’s not a secret that the US is rapidly gaining weight. One of the best ways to turn this around is making active living part of the entire family lifestyle. By bringing workouts home, the idea that you don’t need to go anywhere to get healthy starts to take hold and many find their spouse or kids getting interested in learning about their workouts.

How often do you workout at home?

What is the best at home gym gear you have?

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