How To Build A Better At-Home Gym

*Courtesy of The Fitnessista

There are so many ways to add some oomph to your home workout routine, and many of them are inexpensive additions.

Here are some ideas if you’re looking to work out at home more often. For each category, the options range from lowest cost to higher cost. You can easily shuffle to accommodate your budget.

Cardio

Your own body weight. There are no excuses for this one! You can get in an awesome strength and cardio workout, using your own body weight. All you need is a little motivation and a little space! Here are some of my favorite bodyweight strength and cardio workouts.

Gymboss timer. This is a great way to add in some intervals during your workout. I especially love using my Gymboss for Tabata rounds at home.

Jump rope. This is a wonderful and inexpensive option to get in a cardio workout. One of my favorite jump rope workouts: 15 seconds on, 15 seconds off x 30 rounds (15 minutes total).

Treadmill, spin bike or rowing machine. This is where it gets a little more expensive, but this equipment can be a valuable investment if you’re going to use it. We have a spin bike in our little home gym, and I’ve used it so many times, especially when I want to sneak in a quick naptime workout. I would love to add a water rower eventually!

Strength

Resistance bands. These are lightweight, compact, and perfect for strength training. I’m also a huge fan of the resistance band loops, which can be used for a variety of exercises.

TRX straps. I’ve always been a fan of TRX, but have really started to implement it in my own routine in the past year. 

Dumbbells. I recommend two sets: light and heavy. For women, light can range from 3-10 lbs, and heavy can range from 10-30 lbs, depending on the exercises you’d like to do.

Barbells. These are more expensive for a home gym options, but can be an effective way to change up your strength training routine. Bonus: there are a TON of BODYPUMP workouts on YouTube, which you could do at home with your barbells. I like to practice BODYPUMP with a pair of dumbbells, which still works well!

Kettlebells. If you enjoy training with kettlebells, these can be a great addition to a home gym. Once again, I recommend a light and heavier bell. 

Flexibility

Stretching strap. You can a strap to assist yourself in stretches and avoid over-stretching. 

Mat. Not totally necessary, since carpet works, but can be an inexpensive addition. You can find a yoga mat anywhere from $20-100.

Foam roller. These run about $20-40 and can help to reduce tight muscles from the buildup of fascia. 

Rumble roller. This is the foam rollers’ evil cousin; it works deeper into the muscle and is a more intense option for those who are used to foam rolling and need more pressure.

DVDs or full workouts

Youtube. The beauty of YouTube is that it’s FREE! There are a lot of fantastic workout channels, including Sarah Fit, Zuzka Light, Tara Stiles, Purely Twins, Fitness Blender, and Melissa Bender. I post workouts on my channel, too.

Fave fitness DVDs. DVDs or digital downloads will contain full classes, or are segmented into smaller classes. Some of my all-time faves are here.

Monthly online memberships. Daily Burn, Physique 57, Barre3, and Bar Method all offer online class options. They’re usually around $30 per month, which is less than an average gym membership.

 Do you work out at home, or do you prefer the gym atmosphere? What’s your all-time favorite YouTube fitness channel or workout DVD?