The Many Benefits of a Home Gym

Are you committed to getting into better shape and leading a more active lifestyle? If so, then you might be considering a gym membership as the best option to reach your goals; perhaps you even belong to a gym already. In reality, however, gyms aren't always the best or most practical option for those looking to lead healthier lifestyles. Instead, it may be a better choice for you to create your own at-home gym.

Home Gym Benefits

There are numerous benefits to having access to an at-home gym as opposed to paying for a monthly gym membership, with a few of the most crucial advantages listed below.

Saves Time

Depending on how close you live to the nearest gym, you could very well be spending just as much time commuting back and forth from the gym as you do working out. What a waste! That's valuable time that could be better spent getting in some extra cardio, lifting weights, or just not being in your car.

When you have a gym within the convenience of your own home, you never have to worry about that commute again. Instead, you're not more than a few steps away from a great workout at home. Not to mention, you don't have to worry about hitting rush hour traffic on your way to/from the gym, or making excuses not to go to the gym because it's raining/snowing and the roads are iffy. Just imagine what you can accomplish with all that time and hassle saved!

Saves Money

In addition to time savings, having a home gym will also provide you with significant monetary savings over time. Of course, you'll need to make an up-front investment to purchase the equipment needed for your home gym, but this will pay for itself each month when you don't have to make a payment on your gym membership. Let's say you currently spend $30 per month on your gym membership; that's $360 you'll save in just one year of having your own gym. And that's a low-ball estimate, considering the national average gym membership cost is more like $40-$50 per month. Not to mention, you'll also save on the commuting time back-and-forth from the gym along with other related costs, such as paying extra for fitness classes.

24/7 Access

Unlike many gyms, when you have your own at-home gym, you're granted access 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sure, there are some gyms out there that allow 24-hour access, but even these are often closed on certain holidays, and some gyms charge extra for 24-hour access. Not to mention, depending on the location of the gym, you may not feel safe working out there after-hours in the first place!

When you have an at-home gym, you can exercise in the comfort and safety of your own home any time you want—even on weekends and major holidays.

No Excuses!

When you're just a few steps away from your home gym, you drastically cut down on your opportunity to make excuses for not working out. When you have a gym membership, it's too easy to make excuses. You might tell yourself, "traffic is terrible this time of day, so I'll skip going to the gym." Or, you might tell yourself that you simply don't have time to venture to the gym for a workout. With having your own gym in the comfort of your own home, just about all of your excuses will be banished, and you'll find that you're able to better push yourself to work out more often.

More Privacy

For many people who have a gym membership, going to the gym is a nerve-racking experience. A lot of people—especially those struggling to get into shape after having been out of shape for many years—feel uncomfortable in a traditional gym setting. They may be hesitant to lift weights or try out various workout machines for fear of not knowing how to use them or being judged by other members. At the same time, they may be uncomfortable or embarrassed to ask staff members for help.

When you have your own gym at home, you no longer have to worry about these concerns in the slightest. You'll have total privacy being able to exercise in the privacy of your own home, and you can work at your own pace without fear of being judged by others.

Setting Up a Home Gym

So, have we convinced you that setting up a home gym is your best option? If so, then you might be looking for a little guidance when it comes to getting started. How much space do you need and what equipment should you buy? How do you make your home gym align with your goals and budget? We've got all the answers for you.

Setting Goals

Designing your home gym begins with defining your short- and long-term fitness goals. For example, are you most interested in losing weight, or do you want to focus on building muscle? Maybe a little bit of both? Your fitness goals will determine a number of aspects about your future home gym, including how much space you'll need and what kind of equipment you'll want to buy.

For instance, if you're focused on losing weight and burning fat, then you'll need to make sure you have plenty of cardio equipment in your home gym. On the other hand, if you want to build muscle, you'll want to focus on making sure you have plenty of weight-lifting equipment, including barbells, dumbbells, and possibly even some weight-lifting machines. Of course, your goals can change over time. You may be focused, for example, on losing weight right now. However, once you reach your target weight, you might decide that you want to start working on toning muscle. Be sure to keep your changing goals in mind as you plan for your home gym.

Making Space

A lot of times, people are hesitant to create a home gym because they simply don't think they have enough space. However, what you may not realize is that you don't necessarily need a lot of space to create an effective home gym. It's all about making the most of the space you have; even a small corner of a larger room is probably enough space to fit a treadmill or exercise bike. Not to mention, many gym equipment manufacturers these days make equipment that can be folded up or otherwise compacted for out-of-the-way storage when not in use. Even a small area of space is likely enough for a dedicated cardio and weight gym, complete with a treadmill and a set of dumbbells.

Choosing Equipment

The equipment you choose for your home gym will depend on a number of other factors, including:

• your fitness goals
• your budget
• the size of the space

If you have a large space with which to work, then you're limited only by your budget when choosing equipment. You can select from cardio machines (such as exercise bikes, treadmills, ellipticals, and stair climbers) to weight machines, free weights, and everything in between. When selecting equipment, however, always look for options that will help you achieve your fitness goals and that will require little maintenance on your end.

Working With Your Budget

Believe it or not, there are ways to create your own home gym on a shoestring budget. Even if you have less than $100 to use towards your home gym initially, that's enough to buy a set of dumbbells for muscle building and a yoga mat for doing some calisthenics. You truly don't need more than that to get a decent cardio workout and build muscle in the process. Of course, as your finances allow, you may eventually want to work towards purchasing at least one cardio machine, but the moral of the story here is that you really shouldn't let a tiny initial budget keep you from building a home gym.

Creating the Right Environment

In addition to having the space and the right equipment, creating an energizing environment is also key to a successful home gym. There are plenty of steps you can take to make your home gym more energizing and uplifting. For starters, make sure the space has as much exposure to natural light as possible, as this helps to fuel and energize the body. If you don't have windows in your home gym (perhaps you're setting it up in a garage, for example), install lighting that mimics natural light as much as possible.

You may also want to consider painting the walls of your home gym an energizing color, such as a bright red or orange. You might be surprised at what a difference a little bit of environment makes in your exercise space.

Overall, building your own home gym is one of the best decisions you can make for your overall health and wellness. And as you can see, setting up your own at-home gym is easier than you may have previously thought. For more help in creating your ideal gym space or to find equipment that meets your needs, turn to the professionals at Gtech Fitness today.