A few years before the pandemic, I decided I wanted to build a home gym. For the first time in year, I had space for one – the kids no longer had “toys”, preferring instead to be on electronics or out with friends. I was tired of paying for a gym membership, and even though the gym was less than a mile from my house, I had a hard time finding time to get over there as my work life got busier. And of course, I’ve been so glad to have it during the pandemic.
Here are the five things I use multiple times a week…
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- Bowflex bike – This is the newest addition to my home gym. I’ve had a “deskbike” for years, but I finally bit the bullet and chose a spin bike. I’m not big on attending classes (in person or online) and I never use the iFit subscription for my treadmill, so I opted not to purchase a Peloton or some other bike with a screen. Currently, none of those screens allow you to stream Netfix or Hulu or the like. Had that been an option, I may have made a different choice. But after a ton of research, I decided the Bowflex C6 (or it’s identical Schwinn IC4) was the best option for me. A month into ownership, I still feel the same. (The bike does work with various apps and your own tablet or phone if you are so inclined.)
- A weight bench – While this is certainly not a necessity for a home gym if you are space limited, my current relationship with my bench is something along the lines of “where have you been all my life?” Like the bike, this was a pandemic purchase, so it took a while to get, but it has definitely taken my strength workouts to a new level. I’m loving the Valor bench I got – it’s easily adjustable, stable, and my kid put it together for me in a very short amount of time.
- Strength bands – Did you know you can replicate nearly every strength move with bands instead of weights? The strength workouts I do show both weights and band options for every workout. When we’ve traveled, I’ve been able to throw in bands and still get all my workouts in. I have both the “mini bands” and resistance bands with handles as well as a cloth band that works well for lateral movements. The combination allows for a full body workout that rivals a gym workout.
- Free weights and kettlebells – Over the years I have gathered weights ranging from 1 pound to 20 pounds. Occasionally I wish I had a 25 or 30 pound dumbbell or kettlebell, but those are hot commodities these days! Here’s a trick I’ve learned to add weight: combine your biggest weight with one of the mini bands or resistance bands and you are dealing with a whole new level of difficulty!
- Stability ball – This comes in handy for both stability/balance work and for strength work. It can replace the weight bench if you don’t have one, and depending on how inflated you have it, it adds core work to pretty much every move. (Slightly under inflate if your core can’t handle that level of challenge.)
I am very fortunate that I’ve been building my gym for years and have lots of options. I still love my Nordictrack Commercial treadmill, but it sees considerably less action these days because the weather generally allows for running outside. I’m finding that now that I’ve passed the “50” mark, my body needs a lot more strength training and cross training to stay injury free, so having a robust home gym is one of the best things I could do for myself.
Do you have equipment at home? Do you enjoy working out in a home gym or are you heading back to the gym as things open up more?
I’m joining My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida =for Fit Five Friday!
We don’t have much equipment. It’s really too hot to use the garage and our “extra” room is more of an office. We do have some mats, weights, and straps, but that’s about it.
I wish I did have a home gym…who knew there would be a pandemic and it would last what seems like forever…
I used to go to a small gym but it is still closed.
I wound up buying a stationary bike and mostly I just run, walk or hike outdoors.
I am so happy to have both a treadmill and the Peloton bike though I do wish we had the right space to put everything in one space. And you are so right about resistance bands – you can get a great workout with them and they’ve helped to fill so of the gaps in my free weights collection.
Ah my Schwinn IC8 was probably the piece of equipment that really started the creation of my home gym. That was also before the pandemic. We moved and had enough space for a treadmill as well. I use Les Mills on Demand for Bike classes but also now for strength, step and core. But we just have a monitor in our “gym” so that if we want to just watch Netflix we can. Unfortunately I still don’t have enough space for everything but I can actually store it all in that room now. Bands, kettlebells, free weights, a ball, pilates stuff, and a jump box. But I use the living room sometimes and outside if the weather is ok.
Our gyms have been closed for almost a year. I’ve no plans of going back to the gym until I’m vaccinated. Even then I don’t know…
I don’t see myself ever going back to a gym! I am so happy at my home gym 🙂
I would love a home gym but I don’t have room for it. I do have a Peloton and I am very happy with it.
I would love a home gym but I don’t have room for it. I do have a Peloton and I am very happy with it.
For me, having the equipment at home vs. going to the gym is the difference between doing it or not. I’d like to get a few things, like a weight bench and a squat rack, but for now I’m doing okay with what I have. Btw this is just for strength- for cardio, there’s rarely a reason I can’t run outside because I live in Florida.
I love bands and kettlebells– these were pandemic purchases for me and i love how much you can do with them.
I’m in a NYC apartment, so that tells you all you need to know about space for a home gym. I have ~ 5 dumbbells (three courtest of a moving neighbor), bands and a yoga mat that has made complementing my runs doable, if not ideal. Not sure it’s worth going back to the gym for more weights as I have not missed the treadmill. If I had space, I’d get a spin bike. Probably not Peloton though as I’ve heard they don’t work so well for short people