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So, you've decided to work out at home? How do you start to build a home gym? This guide will give you some key pointers and tips.
Decide where your equipment is going to go
Have you got enough space?
The first stage when creating a home gym is to find a suitable area to use. You may decide to use a use part of the bedroom, study or garage. Perhaps you are lucky enough to have an entire room you can devote to your equipment. Some equipment is very much focused on saving space, such as the Nautilus SelecTechs or the Vision T9450F folding treadmill.
Make it comfortable
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. If you are doing strength exercises, have a mirror so that you can check your posture and technique.
Make it interesting
We'll admit it? running a treadmill is not the most interesting activity for 30 minutes! A personal trainer is the best form of motivation, but failing that we'd always recommend putting a TV or music player into your home gym. If you want to work out for 30 minutes, 3 times a week, then why not watch your favourite soap opera at the same time?
Decide how much you are able to invest
Remember it's an investment
Unlike gym membership, which is a monthly expense, a home gym is an investment in equipment that can last many years. And if your retailer offers an interest-free "buy now pay later" scheme, why not take advantage? You'll get up to a year of use for no cost whatsoever.
Better to go little by little
It's much better to buy one piece of your home gym now and add to it over time. That way, the outlay won't be prohibitive and as you'll have the excitement of new pieces arriving every so often. As far as we're aware, you can't buy a car like this! Or a swimming pool.
Don't under-spend
We know this sounds like a sales pitch, but we mean it? don't spend too little. Why invest in a large machine that won't be comfortable, may break down and will eventually become an expensive clothes hanger. Go for the best machine you can afford: you'll use it more often.
Decide what equipment you want
Build a balanced gym
Your space and budget constraints will help determine what type and how much equipment you can include. But we would always suggest that you get some pieces to cover cardio training, strength training and stretching.
Match the gym to your exercise goals
Your exercise goals may determine how much of your budget and space you allocate to each; if you're trying to build more muscle, for example, get a great set of weights and bench, a fitball and a skipping rope; if you're trying to lose weight, buy a fantastic treadmill, a stretch mat and some adjustable dumbbells.
Which particular products should you get?
This is the "it depends" answer. All of the above will help determine this, but only you will know whether you prefer to do a cardio workout on a crosstrainer or a treadmill. Only you will prefer one brand over another similarly priced one. Only you will know if you're more comfortable with free-weights or multigyms.
Take advice and try them out
Try out the equipment before you buy it, talk to sales people at specialist stores, talk to friends. Some machines will feel better, some will work better and some will look better (and we know that looks aren't everything, but if it's in a spare room or an interior designed house, you don't want an ugly mess!).
Look after it
Get it installed
Most specialist retailers will have a specialist team who can deliver and install the machine, and make sure it works before they leave. There's nothing worse than taking delivery of a treadmill on a pallet, carrying up to the spare room, disposing of all of the packaging, building it and then finding out it doesn't work.
Look after it
Most pieces of fitness equipment don't need too much care but a wiping off sweat, keeping free of dust and a bit of TLC will ensure your equipment lasts a long time. If you have quite a few pieces and are short of time, a lot of retailers will offer a preventative maintenance contract (basically an MOT for your machines).
Upgrade it!
If you are using a certain item in your gym and have owned it for more than 5 years, it's certainly worth investigating getting an upgrade. As you can imagine, the advances in technology over the last few years mean that almost all pieces of equipment are now safer, more comfortable and easier to use.
More information is available via our main articles page.
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