You don't need to pay for a health club membership or buy lots of fancy equipment to stay fit. You don't even have to leave your room if you don't want to. That's because it's easy to set up your own private gym for getting and staying fit.
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How do I set up a gym at home?
If you want to have a gym at home, there are a couple of things to think about before you run out and buy a bunch of equipment. The equipment you need depends on things like whether you want to
get stronger,
lose weight, become more
flexible, or all of these! And you can put together a good home gym without spending a lot of money. You don't want to blow your budget on one exercise machine that you'll get bored with in a matter of weeks. Of course, the size of your exercise area has a lot to do with the kind of exercises and equipment you can use. A small bedroom may be fine for
stretching or
yoga, but the ceiling may be too low for
plyometrics like jumping rope.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- What are my fitness goals?
- How much money am I willing to spend on my gym?
- Where will my gym be? back to top
What are the advantages of having a home gym?
A home gym gives you privacy if you're shy or self-conscious about exercising in front of people. And having your own workout space means that you can exercise whenever you're ready. You don't have to wait in line to use a piece of equipment, wait at the water fountain for a drink, or wait for a ride home. And you don't have to show up at a set time for your exercise class. Class starts when you start!
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What are the disadvantages of having a home gym?
On the downside, many people buy exercise equipment and stop using it because they get bored doing the same thing or because they aren't comfortable with the equipment. You may end up with a stack of
fitness videos that you never take out of the box, a five-pound weight that becomes a doorstop, or a stationary bike that becomes a clothes rack. You can't get fit watching exercise equipment collect dust.
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What kind of equipment do I need?
Don't be dazzled by shiny chrome weights or movie stars hawking their latest abs gadget on television. These are expensive and they won't make you more fit than a plain dumbbell or an elastic fitness band can. Whatever you decide to try, here are a few inexpensive basics you might like to have:
