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Regular gym vs home gym
Whether you are a new to working out or an expert, a home gym can be a good option for you. This list of the Top Home Gym Must Haves For Every Budget And Fitness Level will help you find exactly what you need. I will cover all of the tiers from beginner to expert, and share options for every budget.
Let’s face it, fitness looks different for everyone and that’s completely ok! In fact, it should be that way because there is no one size fits all when it comes to what each of us need. One thing that is important is finding some sort of fitness routine that you LOVE doing. If you don’t enjoy it, you won’t get the most out of it.
Some people love going to the gym, while others love working out at home. Maybe you fall somewhere in between and love the convenience of both, depending on the weather, or your schedule for that particular day. The good thing is there is something for everyone!
My experience
I personally used to work out at the gym and used all of the equipment they had to offer. I love strength training! The only problem is that I have developed some limitations over the years to what my body can do. Mostly due to back and knee issues. So, what do you do in that situation? You adapt!
Through collaboration with my doctors, I have found the types of workouts I can do, along with learning what specific things I should avoid. For me, anything with running, jumping or lifting super heavy was off the table. BUT….I can still strength train with dumbbells, walk, and do other things like some yoga, pilates etc.
So I decided to get all of the things I’d need to workout at home. I find working out at home great, especially since I have to swap exercises for my personal needs. This makes any kind of class setting tough. At home you can watch class setting type videos, but pause when you need to and take time to adapt an exercise.
I also like that it’s convenient and I’m able to do it in any weather. This helps me get rid of any excuse that could come up to why I can skip a workout. 😉 It’s really helped me, and I think it could help you too! Even if it’s just convenient for you on those off-gym days.
You do you!
Make sure to consult a doctor about what exercise is best for you before you start any new fitness training program. Following trends just to follow them won’t necessarily help you achieve your goals. You may even feel obligated to jump on a trending fitness program because of pressure from those around you.
Don’t let this be that case for you! Remember health and fitness should be specific to you and your needs. Go at your pace and do what brings you joy! If any program stresses you out so much you don’t enjoy it or it causes you physical pain, it probably isn’t the right fit for you. That’s okay! There is something out there to fit everyone’s lifestyle and goals.
After all, the goal to health, fitness and wellness is to make it a lifestyle and not just a chore or something you feel forced to do. If your goal is to have a healthy lifestyle, it has to become part of who you are and what you do on a regular basis. So why not enjoy it?
Three tiers of fitness equipment
Now that you know your reason WHY, let’s dive into how you can make home workouts just as effective as gym workouts. Below I am breaking this into 3 tiers: beginner, intermediate, and expert. I will also highlight different price points for each to make it easy to find what works for you. No matter what tier you fall into, a great workout is easy to attain.
Each section will have a list of a few equipment options, with a ($) for low price point all the way up to ($$$) for higher price point. This should make it easier to find what you’re looking for.
BEGINNER:
This is for anyone just starting out. If you aren’t sure where to begin or what equipment to use, this list is for you. The good news is you can start small and simple. This list is all you need to start.
(NOTE: THIS IS ALSO A GREAT PLACE TO START ON A BUDGET)
- Dumbbells – Anyone can start with a set of dumbbells. Beginners should start with anywhere from 2-10 lbs depending on your ability. Some may even be able to start with heavier weights, but we are starting on the low end for the purpose of this list. You can find my favorite dumbbells in this range HERE. ($)
- Resistance Bands – This is a great option when you want to be able to travel and get a workout in, or if you don’t want any bulky equipment. You can work your entire body with resistance bands. Just use caution with these and be sure to get a few different sizes so you can alter the amount of resistance. Beginners should always start slow and increase as you get stronger. Check out my favorite bands HERE. ($)
- Yoga Mat – This is a great option for workouts with or without weights. Whether you just need a soft, flat surface to workout on, or you love doing yoga, pilates etc, this is a must-have. It’s also easy to roll up and take with you as needed. You can find a great option HERE. ($)
- Exercise Ball – This is a great option to do a variety of total body exercises on. Helps with strength, flexibility and balance. Check this one out HERE. ($)
INTERMEDIATE:
This is for you if you aren’t completely new to working out, but don’t consider yourself an expert either. You’ll want to start with the beginner list and add these items in below.
- Dumbbells – At this point you can add in heavier dumbbells. A good range for the intermediate level is 10-25 lbs. This allows you to increase your strength and have a good range of weights to choose from. You can find a good brand HERE. ($$)
- Bosu – When you’re a little farther along on your strength training at home, you can try this one. It can be a great, challenging tool to use to increase strength and balance. Find a great option HERE. ($$)
- Workout Bench – This is a great option to add variety into your dumbbell workouts. Many of these benches can be used flat or have the option to raise up one side to different levels. This helps to work on exercises in a variety of angles. Also great to use as a step up. I like this option HERE. ($$)
- Treadmill, Exercise Bike, Or Elliptical – This one could also be listed in the beginner category but since it has a higher price point I wanted to add it here. A great choice if you just like walking and getting in your steps while listening to music or watching TV, or you like to run. Find my favorite treadmill HERE. ($$$)
EXPERT:
This doesn’t mean you have to be professional, but you do workout a lot and have a lot of experience under your belt. You know having a full gym at home is what you prefer. At this point you already have all of the equipment from beginner to intermediate, and want to level up even farther.
- Dumbbells & Heavy Duty Weight Bars – Just like the lower two tiers, individual weights like dumbbells are essential for any home gym. At this point you can add heavier weights of 25lbs and up to your home gym. You can find them HERE. ($)
- Adjustable Height Pull Up & Dip Station Multi-Function Home Strength Training – This is a good one to add variety into your fitness routine. It allows you to use bodyweight for pull ups, dips and a variety of core exercises. You can find one HERE. ($$)
- Bowflex Home Gym – This is total body gym equipment that uses cables for resistance training as good as you’ll find in a gym. It does take up a little less space than the full body gym I’ve mentioned third on the list. Check out the Bowflex gym HERE. ($$$)
- Full Body Home Gym Equipment – If you really want the full gym experience you can find equipment like this that allows you to do a ton of different exercises. There are a lot of different price points and options with these. Check out one example HERE. ($$$)
Fitness App Subscriptions
A great way to level up your home fitness routine is to use a free or paid fitness app. You can use them on your phone, iPad or even TV. Many of these not only include workouts but also come with nutrition tips, recipes, meditation, and tips for stretching etc.
Often times when we are making up our own home fitness routines from prior experience or just things we pick up over the years. The problem with that is that we don’t always continue to progress. Not to mention when we have freedom to go at our own pace, we may not be pushing ourselves to full potential.
This is where I find incorporating a fitness app subscription works best. They allow you to level up your fitness routine and push yourself to see progress faster. It’s a great way to keep from getting bored too. That makes your success rate higher and you’ll find yourself making it something you want to keep in your life forever.
That’s pretty much the goal! Health and fitness should be a lifelong part of your routine. We will always need it, so why only focus on it just sometimes? The best way to combat yo-yo dieting and fitness levels is to get consistent with it. Make it a part of who you are and what you do for real sustainable change!
Here’s a few of my favorites:
1) FREE Nike Training App– Love this app for beginners or those on a budget! So many options from beginner to intermediate. Whiteboard workouts to go at your own pace or class style. It has a lot of options for everything from strength training to yoga and pilates.
2) Fit Body App by Anna Victoria– this is a great app if you want to go at your own pace. Great options for strength training, yoga, and even postpartum options. You can get a free 7-day trial and then subscriptions start at $19.99/month. There are discounts if you pay for a whole year.
3) Apple Fitness Plus App– if you have any apple products (iPhone, iPad, Apple TV etc) then this is a great option for you. This is currently what I’m using. I LOVE the wide variety of strength training, yoga, HIIT, Pilates, mindful cooldown’s and meditations! I believe it’s $9.99/month, but an even better deal when you get it with Apple bundle for workouts, arcade, news and music. You will usually get 3 months FREE with a new device purchase.
Top Home Gym Must Haves For Every Budget And Fitness Level
Hopefully this post gave you a good idea of where to begin and how you can slowly add to your home gym over time. Depending on what you need and what your budget is. There are options for everyone.
The main thing is keeping a consistent routine of some sort of fitness, movement and mobility in your life. This is the best way to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Just be sure to consult your doctor to find out what type of exercise you specifically need.
Social Media
Be sure to follow me on social media HERE to stay up to date on all the latest health and wellness tips for living a Holistic Lifestyle. I share a balanced 80/20 approach that anyone can benefit from. If you want to learn more about this, check out my post HERE.
