Monday, April 26, 2010

Why Home Exercise Equipment is Better Than a Gym Membership

Everyone buys gym memberships with the best of intentions. You plan to go several times a week. You plan to take advantage of classes or sessions with personal trainers. You have every intention of formulating a plan, and sticking to it. The problem is: the gym is too easy to avoid. And the reasons for avoiding it are just too good.

It's not just laziness. Commute times are getting longer and longer: the last thing you want to do before or after work is spend some more time driving to a gym and fighting for a parking space. That's assuming you even have the option: if you have kids to pick up or drop off, or chores to do at home, you may simply not have the time you feel you need to get a good workout at the gym.

This is where the benefits of home exercise equipment really show. You can snatch a few minutes here and there on the treadmill while dinner's cooking. You can watch your kids while you work out. You can watch your own DVD's in the comfort of air conditioning set to your preference while you use a stationary bike, elliptical or treadmill. You can listen to music you like, set up some aromatherapy that you find inspiring, or do some reading while you exercise. And when you're done, you can take a shower in the comfort of your own bathroom, with all your favorite shampoos, soaps and towels right there waiting for you.

Most importantly, how many times can you look at a piece of exercise equipment before you run out of excuses? If you're thinking, "You have no idea how many", you might be surprised. Every time you see it, you're reminded of the benefits it offers you, and you start thinking of ways to work it into your schedule almost without trying.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Want a Home Gym? Good Idea!

Looking to get into shape or live a healthier lifestyle? Home gyms can accomplish these tasks while being very convenient and practical. Many people want to work out, but donít like to work out in public, or donít have the time to drive back and forth to the gym. For these people home gyms are the perfect solution.

With todayís exercise equipment you can get a great workout in the privacy of your own home with no long lines, no matter what time it is day or night. No matter what you want to accomplish, whether muscle building or to slim down, home gyms canít be beat.

Many people love treadmills, stair masters and ab exercises to lose weight and increase muscle tone. For men and women that want to bulk up, there are plenty of weight benches and universal systems that can have you bulked up in just a few months.

Home gyms are reasonably priced. You can find a great treadmill or stair master with great features and accessories for less than $300. If you want to work out with dumbbells or weights, then finding a set is extremely easy and the price tag is usually less than $100. So if you are sick of working out in public, waiting on long lines or commuting to the gym, work out at home.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Ultimate Home Gym

With the increase of outlandish club membership fees, many people are considering building their own home gym, complete with cardio and weightlifting equipment, workout mats, full-sized wall mirror-even the all-essential clothes hamper. Is this a practical solution for you? Read on for some things to consider before making this transition.

Finally! You can work out in the comfort of your own home all alone. There's no one ogling while you flex those gluteus muscles. No one sneering at you as you take your time the finish your cycling routine. No one to make small chat with.

While it may sound appealing now, there are some practical questions to address before investing in your own gym-at-home. For instance, regarding space, what types of dimensions are you working with? And is the structure of your workout space durable enough for the weightiness of the equipment you'd like to set up?

Are you motivated to actually get the type of work out that you require? While some people feel uncomfortable working out in public places, the advantage to doing so is that you're expected to do some type of workout in the gym. It takes a lot of discipline to get out of bed (or up from that cozy sofa) and exert yourself in your own home gym, particularly if you live alone. On the other hand, inviting a friend to join you for a home workout can add some impetus to your routine.

Do you live in an apartment? If so, would the use of your home gym disturb your neighbors? Would the use of a home gym conflict with your leasing agreement?

Quite naturally, one would consider the costs involved in converting a spare room into a home gym. While prices vary (home gym equipment can range anywhere from $200 to well over $3,000-just for starters), you'd want to consider your particular needs. You might ask yourself: Is the cost of the equipment worth the amount of time I can spare to work out? Does the brand of equipment matter, or can I get the same type of workout with a lesser known brand? Am I comfortable with purchasing used equipment, or must I have new equipment?

Before committing to these and other factors for converting that back room into a workout area, see your family physician prior to beginning any workout routine. This is not only common sense, it's also essential in getting the maximum benefit of your routine. While you might envision bench pressing 250 pounds, your doctor might not agree, given your past history with your bad back. Besides, your doctor knows your physical condition likely better than you, so make sure he or she is well aware of which items you'd like to purchase for your workout regimen.

Now that you've considered these and other questions, it's time to actually purchase your equipment. Are you familiar with all the options available to you? Do you have any knowledge of the hundreds of brands that are out there? If not, you might want to consider running background checks on various consumer web sites. Make sure you receive a more-than-adequate warranty along with your purchase. A simple fly-by-night warranty might be okay for the purchase of that TV remote control, but given the enormous finances involved in equipping a home gym-and the strenuous use of equipment-make sure that you don't come out short-changed.

Still determined to have that home gym? Good for you! Now invest in a pair of good workout shoes and get to work!

Friday, April 23, 2010

The Bowflex Home Gym System

The Bowflex has been first made popular through the media of the Infomercial, which is a 30 minute television presentation. It is now being broadcast all over the Internet in a variety of ways, including in consumer forums and consumer reviews.

If anyone wants to learn about the Bowflex machine all then have to do is search with the word ìBowflexî in a favorite Internet Web browser. A well of useful information is available to those who want to tap into the information about the latest developments about the Bowflex home gym machine.

Some websites representing the Bowflex home gym have links to review articles as well as a photo describing the attributes that make the Bowflex machine so popular. Also there are articles on this site representing the amazing capability of the Bowflex machine to withstand all kinds of pressure.

One article posted on Bowflex Equipment.com tells how that personís household Bowflex machine survived a hurricane. The story regarding the capability of the Bowflex to withstand a hurricane was told by Sean Cuda of Orlando Florida. The hurricane that occurred in Orlando Florida where Sean lives happened at approximately 9 p.m. This hurricane had blown down a 110 pine tree on top of this familyís house and garage but the Bowflex machine remained unharmed.

The Bowflex machine was said to have saved the rest of the garage as well as the kitchen and the home office attached to the garage. The way that the Bowflex machine was stores actually kept the roof and walls from collapsing.

Those who are interested in purchasing a Bowflex home gym and want to learn more about the quality of the Bowflex machine can refer to this story. Quotes from the owner of this machine are available for use as well. This information is noted at the Bowflex website.

This is such an amazing story and is one that can help build anyoneís confidence in the Bowflex home gym system. Other user reviews of the Bowflex system are available on the Bowflex Equipment website as well.

Furthermore, you can find out specifically of what quality the Bowflex materials are made of. Likewise, you can find out online what the capabilities of the Bowflex machine really are, such as how easily adjustable the Bowflex is for any personal workout.

The type of information you will find associated with the Bowflex machine are articles on different exercise programs as well. All these articles will help you understand how to use your Bowflex machine safely for best results within a short period of time.

Those who are dedicated can make great use of the Bowflex machine. If you have any question about the machineís capabilities all you have to do is research the machine online and find out for yourself. There are many links, forums, articles, available for those who want to learn more about the effectiveness, durability and capability of this machine.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Smith Machines Home Gyms Pack Power Into Good Designs

Check out any gym where weight training is going on and youíre likely to see a back-up at the Smith machines. These powerhouses for muscle building are favorites of serious trainers and those just starting out. With an ability to mix up a work out, this gym machine is great for commercial settings. But what about Smith machines home gyms? Are these worth to review for exercising at home? You bet!

Exercise home gym reviews written by professional trainers who are into building strength and overall fitness love Smith machines for their private gyms. This machine will enable the user to do a lot of exercises on a single piece of equipment, plus they can be reset to accommodate different users.

Some of the better manufacturers of Smith gyms produce machines with a lot of options for home use. The better features, for example, include angle changes, benches that adjust, leg extension ability and more. Review descriptions of these machines to see some of the exercises you can do at home to develop the lats, pecks, legs, arms and more with ease.

A Smith machine is appropriate for almost total body work outs. Add in just a few extra exercises and youíre covered, making these gyms perfect for private use. A well-made Smith provides counter balance and easy control. It will move with simplicity and puts less stress on the muscles than other pieces of gym equipment. Fitness equipment reviewers say the best thing about a Smith is the fact it is designed to help a person lift ñ a lot ñ without needing a spotter, which is great for a home setting.

If you want to equip a home gym right, start by reviewing all options including a Smith machine. Combining a lot of different weight training features into one solid piece of home exercise equipment, this equipment is perfect to help a person get fit and stay that way. Plus, think of the time youíll save running to the gym!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

The Proper Ways To Exercise On Home Gyms

When using home gyms you will often be working by yourself at home and may or may not be working out properly. While home gyms are great ways to exercise and get into shape, they wonít be very effective if you donít know how to use them properly. You could also end up hurting yourself on one.

There are proper ways to exercise on home gyms. Before actually using a piece of equipment you may want to do some stretches. Some easy stretches are the hamstring stretch, touching your toes and bending from side to side. A good measure of how long to hold a stretch is to count to fifteen. You should also exhale as you move into your stretch and inhale as you release. Be sure to do a few sets of each.

When using a piece of equipment with weights on it you can easily do damage to yourself by spraining or tearing a muscle or simply crunching a finger thatís inadvertently placed. Be sure to pay attention to where your body parts are at all times when using a piece of home gyms equipment. Also start off on the light set when using weights. If you think you can lift thirty pounds try starting with fifteen pounds and work your way up from there. This will reduce your risk of injury and sprains.

Also you should pay attention to make sure your body is in the proper position to make most effective use of the piece of equipment you are on. If working with your arms on a weight or tension machine keep your back straight and align your head and neck with your torso.

There is lots of advice about using home gym equipment online at home gyms reviews and its freely available for people to access.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Purchasing The Right Home Gym For A Fitter You

Exercise is an activity many of us want to or mean to do but do not get around to, due to lack of time, self-defeating negativity or just plain laziness. But all is not lost -- solution is at hand if you invest in a good home gym.

The most important thing when buying a home gym is for you to first decide on your workout goals and requirements. There are different training methods for the various areas of your body, such as for your legs, calves, shoulders, chest, arms, back or abs etc. Some people exercise for overall fitness while others prefer to focus on toning and strengthening specific areas of their body. Depending on your focus and requirements your home gym equipment may be as simple as comprising of only barbells, weight-plates and racks, to more complex multi home gyms.

Simple home gym equipments such as power racks are suitable mainly for simple weight training exercises but they lack versatility. Multi home gyms allow variety in your fitness regimen. A good home gym lets you perform many types of exercises from bench press and leg curls to sit-ups and butterfly.

Another thing to consider is that home gyms are usually used by more than one user in the household, so it is more cost effective to purchase one that best meets all the users' requirements. It is more practical if the home gym provides more than one workstation with two or more weight stacks so that more than one user can workout at the same time.

Home gym equipments nowadays include frames, cables, pulleys and weight-plates. To ensure you purchase a good quality home gym, check that the frames are made of rustproof steel, and test the cables for strength and durability. It should have a good combination of weight-plates to suit different needs. The bench should be adjustable for perfect body positioning for different exercises. Also check whether the individual components come with a lifetime warranty.

Home gym costs can range from $350 to more than $3,500 depending on the complexities of your home gym equipment. You could also buy your home gym equipment in parts, and some brands even offer options for various additions. Buying home gyms can be mind-boggling so it is recommended that you go read up on home gym reviews by health and fitness experts to learn about the pros and cons of different home gym brands available on the market.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Pro Home Gym Equipment

Exercise has become an integral part of everyday life of most people. An individual spends at least some part of his life in exercise. Exercise can be done with equipment or without equipment. Gym equipment helps in exercising a specific part or group of muscles or organs of the body. Today a wide range of gym equipment are available in the market.

The most common gym equipment are multigyms, treadmills, swiss balls, dumb bells, bar bells, rowing machines, exercise bicycles, balance boards, abdomen exercisers resistance bands and punching bags. There are various facilities, equipment associated with gym equipment like heart rate monitors, sauna baths, swimming pools etc.

A multigym consists of incremented weight plates that move up and down on steel guides. It usually consists of attachments for exercise of chest, arms, thighs, calves, shoulders and pectorals (sometimes called wings or pecs).

Treadmill is an equipment used for running without moving any distance. It consists of a conveyor belt which slides on rollers on which the individual can run or walk.

Swiss ball or yoga ball is a rubber ball of 50 to 85 cm which is used to develop balance and exercise the abdominal and back muscles.

Dumbbells and bar bells are the traditional gym equipment. They consist of variable or fixed free weights attached to a small or long bar. They are lifted against gravity to tone muscles like biceps, triceps, forearm muscles, chest and shoulder muscles etc. They usually come in pairs.

Rowing machines are gym equipment designed to stimulate rowing in water. They are used to exercise pecs and back muscles.

Exercise bicycles are stationery bicycles with resistance discs for wheels. They are used to exercise thigh and calf muscles.

Balance board consists of a board fixed on a bearing. It is used to develop balance.

Abdomen exerciser consists of an inclined board with leg rollers for doing sit ups. It is used to exercise the stomach and abdomen muscles.

All the above equipment except free weights have attached electronics to monitor number of cycles and other parameters. Resistance bands are elastic bands and in these the resistance of the band to stretching is used to exercise muscles like quadriceps and deltoids.

Punching bag consists of sand filled cushioned bags or other rugged material bags for practice by boxers. They are either hung from the ceiling or fixed on a stand.

Most professional gyms have the above mentioned equipment along with other facilities like swimming pools, sauna baths, steam baths etc.

For a home gym, a multigym with a few dumbbells and barbells are sufficient for workout of the entire body. The starting price of a multigym is around 1500$. The cost of other equipment varies according to the make.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

How To Maintain Your Home Gym Routine

Many people get home gyms and find that they often end up in a corner or the empty bedroom with boxes of stuff piling up around them. Donít worry dear reader this is a common problem for many people. You neednít fear the home gym turning into just another item or set of items that you bought with out thinking.

You were thinking werenít you. Of course you were. You purchased this home gym to improve your life, your health and to feel better about yourself. You just lost your motivation. Lack of motivation may seem like a big thing to you but its easy to get back.

One of the first steps is to remind yourself of why you purchased the treadmill, the exercise bike the weights, etc. Because you wanted to get in shape, just like Richard Simmons right. Well maybe not exactly like Richard Simmons. But his story is an inspirational one. How he lost all that weight and now heís a famous exercise guru. The same thing could happen to you. All you have to do is get back on that treadmill.

Secondly, sit down, do not pick up the remote. I know its tempting but ignore it for a few moments and decide when and how often you are going to use that home gym. Nothing says you have to spend hours at a time in there. Thatís one of the perks of having a home gym. So you can jump on the rowing machine for that fifteen minutes between when you get home from work and the kids get home from school. Fifteen minutes a day and youíve all ready made more use of your home gym than ever before.

Thirdly, once you come up with a schedule stick to it. A good way to get motivation to do this is to promise yourself a special treat for each time you use your gym, like a bubble bath.

This is a sure fire way to get the motivation to maintain your home gym routine. You can also look up home gym reviews to get an idea of which pieces of equipment will work well for you in your gym.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Great Things About Home Gyms

Wouldn't it be great to have all the benefits of a fitness club, right at home? Presses and weights and mats and benches take up a lot of space, and not every home has room to store this stuff, let alone use it. Some home gyms can be folded up and tucked out of the way, but many are stationary monstrosities. It's important to know what you're getting before you buy.

When shopping for home gyms, look for equipment that will help you realize your personal goals. Some equipment targets one or two specific areas of the body. Others, called complete home gyms, offer you the opportunity to perform a variety of exercises without having to reset the equipment.

There are many of different types of complete home gym systems, ranging from budget-wise department store systems, to premium bow-flex styles. If a simple setup is all you require, do a little research and be sure it's what you need to achieve results. There is no point in making the investment and lugging the equipment home if it's not going to do the job for you.

Set realistic goals for yourself. Review your goals before you shop. You may be tempted to create your own home gym with several different pieces of equipment. While this can be an option for serious trainers, you may find that you have more equipment that you will ever use. Home gym equipment is not cheap, so it's possible to deflate your budget with just a few basic pieces. Determine your budget, and stick with it. Shop for equipment you need at a price you can afford. Even if you start with a few basic barbells, a yoga ball and a floor mat, it is possible to have an affordable home gym.

Finally, give careful consideration to the space you have available. Don't bring home a bench press, sparring bag, treadmill and spinning bike if your workout space will be confined to an 8x8 foot recreation room. Be realistic and buy equipment that can be folded and stored out of sight whenever possible.

Set your physical goals, determine your budget, measure your space, and then go shopping. Don't just design a workout area. Plan a home gym that will work for you.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Home Gyms Review: 5 Tips To Get The Most From Your Home Gym

A home gym can help you build an incredible looking body, skyrocket your metabolism and shave years off your age.

If you choose wisely, you'll have all the tools you need to accomplish these goals (and more). But not everyone knows where to start or how to get the most from a home gym.

When clients ask me about buying home gym equipment, here are 5 things I tell them to get the most from their purchase:

1) Buy a well rounded piece of equipment:

Unless you have hundreds of square feet in your home to dedicate to multiple pieces of equipment, you should look for a home gym that covers all the major exercises (including the ones you don't like), such as chest, back, legs (hamstrings & quadriceps), shoulders, biceps and triceps.

2) Make sure your home gym is stable:

There's a saying, 'You get what you pay for.' Most of the inexpensive home gyms you buy from a local department store have very narrow bases, so they tend to rock. Stay away from home gyms that do not have a good stable base.

For a basic rule of thumb, look at home gyms that are more 'square' or 'as high as they are wide'. As an example, you won't want a home gym that 10ft high x 2 ft wide x 2 ft deep, unless you are going to anchor it to a concrete floor.

3) Put your home gym in a place you will use it:

If you leave your home gym in a room you normally don't go into to, odds are high that you aren't going to use it. The more inviting the room where you place your equipment, the more likely you will use it (how many of us really want to work out in a dungeon?).

If there's only one place you can place your home gym, then work on the room. Maybe add a coat of paint or put up pictures that inspire you. Add a stereo system or a wall mounted television. By making the room inviting and inspiring, you'll ensure that workouts will be enjoyable.

4) Make a simple & short workout routine:

Don't go making or using 'Mr. Or Ms. Olympia' home gym workouts. That's the first big mistake that people make when they first get their equipment. Instead, start by making a workout that is only 30 to 45 minutes long. That's less than a 1 hour TV show.

Do this workout 3 to 5 days a week. Remember to work all your muscles (not just the ones you like) for optimum results. It helps to keep a record of your workouts on paper so you can see just how far you've come.

If you're stuck on what to do, don't worry. Many home gyms come with beginner workouts. But again, don't go all out and kill yourself the first few workouts - start from where you are and build on it. Consistency is key for a killer body.

5) Write your workout days on the calendar:

Like any important appointment, make an appointment with your home gym. You need to make the effort to put yourself, your body and your health first - especially at the beginning stages. Experts tell us it takes 3 to 6 weeks before actions become habit. Once you've built the habit of working out, it will get easier.

To help you stick to your exercise appointment, get loved ones to encourage you and make you accountable. Once you get past the 8-week mark, you'll feel (and look) so great you'll wonder why you didn't get a home gym sooner.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Home Gyms Checklist: Are You In The Know?

I bet you're frustrated over the long lines at your local gym. Furthermore, I bet you don't appreciate being charged an extra $45 every month for a gym membership that you might not even use any more. Well, a home gym might just be the answer to what you are looking for. Buy the home gym equipment once and you don't have to keep paying the fees over and over again. Home gyms can be a sound investment for anyone looking to install one in their basement or workout room. Let's take a look at a few tips that might come in handy for anyone looking to install a home gym in their home.

1) Don't discard used equipment, but be sure and pick up a good deal on other people's discarded equipment (if that makes any sense). Used equipment can provide you a really good deal because some people (myself not included) go on exercise binges and buy equipment that they just quit using after a month or two. Their investment can certainly be your gain. Look through classifieds and on Ebay to research the best exercise equipment that you can possibly afford. Often times, you will find that the equipment that you are after is priced very reasonably.

2) Consider buying commercial fitness equipment. A lot of the time, the regular home gym equipment that you want to buy isn't what you are used to using at the gym. Find out what types of stuff you like the best and do some due diligence. Look for commercial fitness equipment dealers and you should be able to shop for the same stuff that the local workout spot has for you.

3) Get knowledgeable about the different types of home gym equipment. All equipment is not created equal. Figure out what the different types of equipment are and what the advantages and disadvantages of buying different stuff is. There is an large array of equipment available. Make the right decisions.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Home Gyms Can Improve Your Relationship With Your Partner!

Yes you read it right, home gyms can improve your relationship with your
partner! But how?.... you must be thinking, well if you can carry on reading I
will enlighten you with this important information. Gyms at home are highly underrated, there are a wide choice available on the market, weider home gyms are one of many if you are looking to purchase quality discount home gyms.

So how can a gym improve your relationship? well that is easy. Owning a home gym has many benefits:

-You save money on gym memberships
-You can workout at home any time you wish
-Your own home gym is open 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week
-You get rid of that unslightly fat and put on some lean muscle
-Your health, strength and stamina increase

Voila! there it is, now your partner can have nothing to complain about ever
again.

There are things you need to take into consideration when buying a home gym.

You need look at your budget, a quality gym thats going to last a lifetime isn't
cheap - but it is a cost you won't have to endure again. The higher end gym
equipment comes with a lot of warranty and some even go as far as giving you lifetime warranties on certain parts of the gym, which considering the price you paid is expected.

You need to think about space. Do you have the room in your home for gym
equipment? you don't want to start setting up your gym and find it is not going to fit! I suppose you could always extend your home to give your equipment room to breath.

Don't always go for the cheap equipment, money saving is admirable but
throwing it away is plain stupid. Look for the discount deals on higher end gyms and there are always discounts and special offers, a little browsing through some great sites will help you find the very best equipment. Finally you want a gym that looks good in your home and doesn't stick out like a sore thumb compared with the rest of the decor.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Home Gyms Can Be Made More Effective

Are you excited? Youíve gotten a new home gyms system after looking online at various home gyms reviews and youíre looking forward to working out with it. You may all ready have been trying it out like a little kid on Christmas, that is after you figured out how to put it together first. This is great and you are on your way to becoming a fitter and healthier you.

One thing you may not have realized though is that home gyms can be made more effective if you make use of the right accessories to go with your home gym equipment. What sorts of accessories you wonder? Well certainly not a cool pair of glasses or a set of sparkly shoelaces on your tennis shoes. After all youíll be working out at home where none will see you.

In terms of accessories you can buy a heart rate monitor to help you figure out whether youíve achieved your target heart rate when exercising. Some pieces of home gym equipment all ready have this device as a part of their repertoire so it may not be necessary for you to buy one. But if you donít you may want to get one. It will make it a heck of a lot easier than trying to take your pulse, keep exercising and counting heart beats while watching the clock.

Also if you have a treadmill you may want to pick up one of those pedometers. Some treadmills come with this simple measure to help you figure if youíve run or walked the equivalent of a mile or not. If yours doesnít you can get a pedometer to measure the number of footfalls you make while using the machine and it will help you to figure up your mileage. Depending on your stride you will have anywhere from 1600 to 2000 footsteps in a mile.

Monday, April 12, 2010

The Advantages of Having Your Own Home Gym

If you want to commit to a fitness lifestyle but your current lifestyle and commitments keep you from getting to the gym, then you may want to create the possibility of setting up your own home gym. Iím sure we would all like to make fitness a full time priority. However, that it becomes challenging (especially if you have daily commitments). We understand that we need to work out and be persistent with our efforts. However, we have little time blocked out to do it.

This is where a home gym can be effective for you. Donít get me wrong, gym memberships are a great thing to have as well. However, having an area to set aside to exercise can be a valuable asset to people that make fitness a high priority. In this article I would like to discuss three advantages of having your own home gym:

Flexibility is a benefit that can have major impact on our lives. You will be able keep your commitment to your fitness. With Home Gyms, you can work out at any time. You will also have less time constraints to skip work outs. Home gyms are also a time saver for weekends. You can only allocate a half hour of your schedule to weight lifting and then spend the rest of the time being with your family.

A perfect example of the flexibility of a home gym is when you experience an un-expected schedule change. If you wake up late and miss your opportunity to go to your gym, you could always get a quick work out at home before you leave for work. You could also use this advantage at night time as well. If you miss your morning workout, you can always work out in the evening when you get home from work.

Privacy is also and advantage when you have your own home gym. I find the most important benefit to having privacy is that you get to focus on your routine. Since there is less chance of socialization (than there would be at the gym), you can really dial into your work out. Also, you can watch or listen to what ever you want while youíre working out.

Finally, the best part of having a home gym is that you have control. For example, a gym membership is an expense. If for some reason life throws you a curveball where you have to cancel your membership for any reason, you can use your home set up to your advantage. Your health would not be a casualty.

One downside to having a home gym is that the equipment can be expensive. So it is important to do proper research on gym equipment. You do not have to buy expensive items for your home gym if you donít want too. You could buy basic weights and a bench to start off with and then get more equipment as your financial situation allows for it.

So if youíre a person with many daily commitments and canít make it to the gym all the time, then consider investing in home gym.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Home Gym Workouts

Home gym workouts need not be any less effective than workouts done in a gym, provided certain basic principles are observed. A home gym is unlikely to have the same professional equipment as a commercial gym, so some adjustments will be necessary. Here is how to get the best results from a home gym workout.

Cardio
It can never be quite the same at home. Gym workouts often commence with either running, or exercises using a treadmill or elliptical trainer. If your home gym is especially well equipped, you may well want to start in the same way. Most will not be so lucky, and will need a different type of exercise to warm up with. You could just go for a run outside, or you could use something like a small trampoline to get your blood moving.

Chest
Here again if you have a weight bench available, it is ideal for this stage of your home gym workout. Use bench presses, either with dumbbells or barbells. Dumbbells will allow you more freedom to develop your body evenly. Not many will have access to this facility, however, and in this case you will need to improvise. Try some declined pushups. They are hard work, but if you feel that you are not getting the necessary work load, try raising your feet. That will be much harder, but if you need it harder still, try using one hand.

Legs
Legs are not the easiest part of the body to build using home gym workouts, but with a bit of ingenuity, a lot can be achieved. It will, of course, be easier if you have a bench. You can then employ basic leg curls. Using weights, try squats as they are very effective in developing the thighs. Calves are more difficult to deal with, but if you can stand on your bottom step with one foot, without your heel touching the step, then you can raise yourself using that one foot. This is a very physically demanding exercise, and will yield good results.

Arms
The arms are much easier to make part of a home gym workout. Although professional gym equipment is always a help, to develop your arms you only really need a set of dumbbells. Perform basic curls to build the biceps effectively, and work your triceps by doing easy seated triceps extensions. As well as these, make use of the dumbbell kickback, as this is a proven workout for those just starting.

Hopefully this guide will have illustrated what can be done with home gym workouts, and that you can get a lot of results from them.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Home Gym: The Know How

On and off you exercise at home, you save change, time and work toward to improve health maintenance. We all should exercise at least three times each week for 20 to 30 minutes. Your life will feel richer when you exercise, so build up your home gym today.

Look for the yard sales or garage sales, estate auctions, and department rackets to save you when buying your own home gym equipment. There are many guides for team now that a person can have their own specialist gym in the basement or backup room for a part of bit of nothing.
Get your walking in regardless of the weather by picking up a treadmill at the yard sale. The newer treadmills will provide you with the distance, heart rate, and even calories that you can burn. Treadmills are great home gym equipment that gives you alternatives in loosing weight, toning up, etc...

Dumb Bells are bargain basement gym equipment to issue you with weight resistance tools. You can buy dumb bells cheap, get them in many sizes to help tone the upper arms, and build strength. Dumb Bells will help you get stronger deserved from your own home.

Aerobics are fun to do when you have a friend over. Get in a few laughs as the two of you learn new steps and journeys of aerobic exercises. Learn to do aerobicsí and raise your heart rate by picking up an old CD or display from the Goodwill store. Enjoy your club and have fun doing aerobics in your living room in topmost to the TV.

Older exercises; like mendacious on the floor and performance sit-ups, push-ups, etc are easier when you have equipment at home. You can watch the sporting programs on TV and enjoy extensive exercise shows to help you setup your own routines that work for you. Turn on the television and lay flat on the floor to workout with the instructor. This is an on sale way to conventional healthier living.

Become mending and happier by refreshing stress with exercising at home. When you exercise, using your own home gym equipment, you will save money by not having to pay those expensive gym costs per visit. Having your own home gym gives you the advantage of working out more regularly. You have your own home gym, you can stay out of the cold weather and still workout.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Home Gym Know How

When you exercise at home, you save cash and time. When you work toward improving health maintenance it often pays off tremendous benefits. We all should exercise at least three times each week for 20 to 30 minutes. Your life will feel richer when you exercise, many people have found this to be true, that is why so many are turning towards building their own home gym.

You can build a gym with just about anything in it. If there is a specific machine that you cannot get enough of at the gym then chances are you can find one for your home as well. The only thing that may stand in your way is the price of home gym equipment. You can generally find some affordable options but some machines are expensive no matter where you buy them from. That is why so many people look for their home gym machines in places like the Buy and Sell, buying used is a great way to save.

And don't forget that you can get your walking in regardless of the weather by picking up a treadmill at a local yard sale too. The newer treadmills will provide you with the distance, heart rate, and even calorie counting that you need to know just how much fat and calories you are burning as you work. Treadmills are great home gym equipment pieces that give you alternatives in losing weight, toning up, and so much more.

Dumb Bells are bargain basement gym equipment that help you with weight resistanceand toning in a big way. You can buy dumb bells cheap, get them in many sizes to help tone the upper arms, and build strength. Dumb Bells will help you build a stronger and fitter body from your own home. They are easy to store as well and they take up next to no room whatsoever.

Aerobics are fun to do when you have a friend over. Get in a few laughs as the two of you learn the new steps of aerobic exercises. Learn to do aerobics' and raise your heart rate by picking up an old CD or display from the local thrift store. Enjoy yourself and have fun doing aerobics in your living room right there in front of the TV.

Older exercises like ones where you recline on the floor and performance sit-ups, push-ups, etc are easier when you have equipment at home. You can watch the sporting programs on TV and enjoy extensive exercise shows to help you set up your own routines that work for you. Turn on the television and lay flat on the floor to workout with the instructor. This is a very cheap way to healthier living and all you need is a bottle of water for cool down!

When you exercise using your own home gym equipment, you will save money by not having to pay those expensive gym costs per visit and by driving less and wasting less gas. Having your own home gym gives you the advantage of working out more regularly too. When you have your own home gym, you can stay out of the cold weather and still workout.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Home Gym Full Body Training Routines

We all know how difficult in might be to make it to the gym after 9 long hours at work. I bet it has happened to you as well.

But what do you do when you don't feel you have the energy to stop by the local gym on your way home? Or may be you don't have the time for a workout at the gym. You can only use 20 - 30 min.

Whatís the solution then? It could be only one - a full body workout at your home gym.

But first take this from me. If you don't have a home gym set up already, don't even think of missing a workout. Go to the local gym where you are a member. Missing a single workout can set a path for a habit. Vice versa, not missing a workout won't let you think of such an option.

So, letís suppose that it's one of these days when you can't make it to the gym, and are planning on working out at home. That means you have a gym of some sort, already set up.

In this article I want to advise you on your choices for a full body routine. The workout you will pick however, will all depend on how your home gym is equipped.

For example you might have a home-gym machine. Or you might be a hardcore bodybuilder. Then you have free weights as your main equipment.

If you belong to the first group - you own a home gym machine - this is the part you should be reading.

The simplest home gym machines are equipped for at least several exercises such as: bench press, lat pull down, seated rows, biceps curls, triceps push-downs, leg extensions and standing hamstring curls.

Thatís actually plenty. You can complete the whole body in a single session.

Your circuit workout:

/Warm up/
Crunches 2-3 x 15 - 30
Seated bench press 3 x 10 - 12
Lat pull-down 3 x 10 - 12
Front cable raises (machine behind you, lower pulley cable between your thighs) 3 x 10 - 12
Standing biceps cable curls (lower pulley cable, facing the machine) 3 x 10 - 12
Standing triceps push-downs (using the lat-pull down handle) 3 x 10 - 12
Leg extensions 3 x 12 - 15
Standing hamstring curls (facing the machine) 3 x 12 - 15
/Cool down/

You have more options for replacing some of the exercises:

Replace seated bench press wide grip with seated bench press close grip.

Replace lat pull down with seated rows (facing the machine).

Replace standing biceps cable curls with lying cable curls (lie down on the floor on your back and place your feet on the rolling pads for support).

In case that you belong to the second group - you are a hardcore enthusiast or bodybuilder, the least equipment you have (I would guess) is an adjustable bench, a power rack, an olympic barbell set and a pair of dumbbells with adjustable weights.

For you I'd suggest two circuit routines. You can do only one of them or you can do two circuits, using both if you feel you have energy (and desire) to do that:

Workout One/Circuit One

/Warm up/
Crunches 1-2 x 15 - 30
Flat bench press on the rack 2-3 x 12 - 15
Barbell rows 2-3 x 10 - 15
Seated dumbbell overhead presses 2-3 x 12 - 15
Barbell curls 2-3 x 8 - 12
Barbell lying triceps extensions 2-3 x 12 - 15
Squats 2-3 x 10 x 15
Stiff Leg Dead Lifts 2-3 x 10 - 12
/Cool down/

Workout Two/Circuit Two

/Warm up/
Reverse crunches 1-2 x 15 - 20
Dumbbell flys 2-3 x 10 - 12
One-arm dumbbell rows 2-3 x 10 - 12
Dumbbell lateral raises 2-3 x 10 - 12
Seated dumbbell curls 2-3 x 8 - 12
One-arm overhead triceps extensions 2-3 x 8 - 12
Lunges (holding a pair of dumbbells) 2-3 x 12 - 15
/Cool down/

Note that the number of reps is slightly higher than what you would normally do should you have worked out at the gym. I did it this way intentionally. My advice is that you use 50 - 70% of your One Rep Max due to the fact that you don't have a spotter. If you think you can go heavier please do, but at your own risk.

Thatís it. Now that you finished your workout you deserve a nice, chilled protein shake. After all you are at home and can make it any way you want, right. And, yes, you should feel good because you didn't miss your workout.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Features Of Home Gym Equipment

Home gym equipment is a great way for you to stay in shape, stay healthy and keep and build muscle tone. There are many home gym equipment reviews online that tout the benefits of the home gym. You can exercise at home in relative ease. The equipment allows you to work muscles productively that you normally would have trouble exercising and the equipment is usually more effective in helping you exercise. It helps you to maintain proper posture and follow through in the correct motions.

Many users of home gym equipment have or use multistation pieces that allow them to workout on several types of machines in one. The multistation home gym will often allow you to work out your arms, legs, abs and buttock or thighs.

Its usually composed of a pulley or sliding bar system that ëtransformsí into different positions when you wish to change your workout routine. The multistation home gym increases tension using these pulleys which equate to measures of five or ten pound increments.

You may wish to check out some home gym equipment reviews to find which multistation gyms people prefer. It is very important to find the right ones. Your workout routine will undoubtedly place a lot of stress on the machine and you want to look for the machine that will stand up to the abuse. In a worst case scenario your multistation home gym will break while you are using it and may cause you an injury.

All home gym equipment must have a steel or aluminum frame in order to be strong enough to support you during exercise. It should come with a warranty because it is a big purchase and you need to get your monies worth. Also its important to make sure that this home gym equipment works when you get it and that it has a return policy that the company will honor.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

The Decision of Whether to Exercise At Home Or Gym

Making the decision of where you will go to exercise is a very important step in reaching your goals of fitness. A lot of factors will go into this decision, and each one should be evaluated well before you start exercising. Once you have made a decision on where you will go to exercise, you can move on to deciding how you plan to work out.

As you probably know, exercising at home has many advantages. The finance department is one of the best advantages. With the gas prices being what they are today, it is quite obvious that you'll save money on fuel as well as wear and tear on your vehicle by choosing to exercise at home.

Memberships to a gym can often be quite expensive and may include other things that you don't need such as child care or swimming pools. You also won't need to be concerned about the latest trends of exercise gear as you most likely will be exercising by yourself at home.

Keep in mind that working out at home does require a bit of financial obligation. Even though you may plan to run, it is very important that you have high quality running shoes. This statment applies to any type of equipment that you may purchase to use at home. If you go out and buy cheap equipment, you'll probably end up getting hurt or getting frustrated because you aren't making any progress.

Along with the financial gains, exercising at home may also help those who don't like to work out in public. If you are worried about how you look in gym clothes, it is very comforting to know that the only person who has to be with you when you exercise at home is you. Also, when you exercise at home, you don't need to worry about time at all.

Those of you who are motivated by being with people you know or come to know while working out away from home, a gym may be a better idea than working out at home. At the gym, you'll also more of a selection of equipment as well, far more than you'll have at home.

If you need other services than just weights and equipment, the gym may have just what you need. If you plan to swim a triathlon, you'll find the swimming pool at the gym to be just what you need to prepare yourself. Swimming is also a great exercise for your body and cardio, as it will work muscles in your body that you probably didn't even know you had.

Gyms will also offer you classes that you may find very motivating. If you attend class on a regular basis, you may be motivated enough to continue so you don't have to defend yourself when asked where you've been or what you have been doing. You can also meet new people in class, or just help others along if you choose.

All in all, making the choice of exercising at home or at the gym is a choice you should make based on your goals and personal preference. The most important decision you'll need to make is to determine what type of environment you want to be in and how you want to accomplish the fitness goals in your life.

Once you have given it some thought and weighed out the pros and cons, you'll have no problem making the choice. Always keep in mind that once you've made your choice, you can always switch if you aren't happy with the choice you made.

Monday, April 5, 2010

How to Create your Home Gym With a Minimum of Equipment

Training at home could prove as a good solution for the ones interested. The effectiveness of this type of training could compare to the one of working out in the gym, as long as some factors are considered.

The first, and at the same time the most important of these, is owning the necessary equipment. If, besides this, you also have a partner who trains with you, the exercises can be as effective as the ones performed in the gym. Of course, we are talking now about the ideal situation of affording a gym in your own house.

Even with these conditions fulfilled, some practitioners, especially the more extrovert ones, might lack the stimulating atmosphere, the sharing of experience, the communication that they can find in the gym.

In most of the cases, what you can do at home is improvise a room or just a corner of a room, for fitness. Besides, most of the times you have to train by yourself. As these are the most frequent situations, we'll deal with them now. Anyway, it is preferable to have constant training at home, rather than interrupt it a lot because the gym is too busy, too far, too expensive, etc.

The minimum of equipment necessary for training at home includes: an adjustable bench, a set of two dumbbells, with increasing weights, a barbell, with free weights and a fix bar for pull ups. This equipment will enable both executing basic exercises (squats, bench presses, pull-ups, sit-ups, etc.) and diversity of exercises, necessary for avoiding routine.

The main disadvantage of not having a partner to train with is reflected in the amount of loading in some exercises, which cannot reach its maximum. There are many exercises which can be loaded to maximum without any risk, even if there is no partner to assist you (pull-ups, dips, shoulder presses, barbell curs, dumbbell curls, etc.).

An advantage which comes from training at home is that you can choose the training time without any restraint. Moreover, the speed of exercising can be increased a lot if the practitioner chooses to execute supersets, tri sets or giant sets. You can also save time, as you are not distracted by casual conversation, by waiting for the machines to be available, by having to change the weights for every personal series of exercises, etc.

In the extreme case when we can only afford as equipment a mattress, chairs and a towel, we can focus on exercises using the weight of the body (push-ups, reverse push-ups, between chairs push-ups, squats, sit-ups, crunches, hyperextensions, lunges, plyometrics, plunks, etc.).

All the exercises involving the body weight are considered as really demanding, because they mobilize more stabilizing muscles that ensure coordination and balance. The body-weight exercises are often introduced in the programs at the gym due to their proven effectiveness. They are also used in training and testing people in special troops, as these need a lot of force and discipline in their training.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Why to Buy A Home Gym

Television advertisers are forever taunting us with newer, easier and more effective ways to work out. Buxom and brawny models make the equipment look as though it's doing he work for them. But like all things, if workout equipment looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Before you buy a home gym, there are many sources of information to consult. Pick up a fitness magazine, research on the Internet, or ask for advice at an exercise equipment store or fitness center. The simple fact is that you are the only one that can really decide just what kind of home gym you'd like to use. Shop around to find the best equipment available to help you achieve the body you'll want to see in the mirror every day.

Setting personal goals is important, but make them realistic goals. Don't buy a home gym in hopes of working away the pounds until you reach the perfect size four. Many size fours are not all that healthy. See your doctor for a complete physical, and have him or her conduct a body fat analysis to determine your ideal weight. If you have health concerns, your doctor might suggest that you workout in a supervised facility where your progress and activity are monitored. Only after you have set realistic, achievable goals should you set out to buy equipment.

When you're ready to buy a home gym, make sure it's one that will grow with you. Avoid buying an expensive all-in-one unit that you'll outgrow in a few months. It's a good idea to start with the basics. If you're new to exercising, buy an exercise bike or treadmill to start getting in to shape. An inexpensive total home gym is another option. These are available in most department and fitness stores. Check your local newspaper, as you can often find home gyms listed in the classified section.

Finally, your lifestyle needs to factor in to your buying decision. If your life is already hectic, don't kid yourself into believing you'll have time to workout on a huge system. You might be better off with a bicycle for commuting to work, and a set of personal barbells to keep by your desk at the office.

Don't be fooled by exercise equipment that looks too good to be true. Achieving personal fitness goals takes time, dedication and hard work, and no fitness gizmo will do the job for you. Shop around before you buy a home gym. You'll be a stronger person for it.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Bowflex - The Home Gym Alternative

After the eighties, the awareness of exercise and bodybuilding has increased, and with increased interest the demand for gym equipment has also increased. These days there are large number of home gym equipments available in market to choose from, but all equipment isnít equally beneficial. Each and every gym equipment has its merits and demerits, almost every model you want to name. Available review and comments say the same thing. Here are results of those findings.

First of all, available review divides equipments into two categories. Most popular gym equipments with rods and bars, which provide resistance needed for exercise. They easily fold up and cover very little space. They are easy to use and convenient. The second type of home gym equipment mostly consists of large and heavy machines, which cover lot of space and need enough body power to perform exercise.

Bowflex falls in first category of gym equipments, which comes with rods and bars. The machine has it's own strengths and weaknesses. Many consider it as one of the most useful equipment.

Some salient features of Bowflex.

1)The Bowflex is very easy to assemble and it covers less space than any other heavy gym equipments.

2) Bowflex provides you the facility to perform 15 varieties of programs.

3)If your exercise time with Bowflex do not match with that of the instructors even than you can perform your exercise, as Bowflex comes with excellent media material on how to use. There are also Bowflex Treadmill machines available.

4)If you have any heart problem, then you can access your heart rate and capacity to perform workouts with the help of unique ìHeart Rate Gripî feature.

5)You can move freely because the space provided within the treadmill is enough.

6)You can make adjustments at desired angles with the help of the given adjustment keys.

7)Some of the Bowflex models come with a fan, which can be switched on at various speeds to perform cooling effect at the time of exercise.

8)With the help of specially designed ìStrike Zone deckî you experience a smooth landing on the deck and do not sense a painful feeling at your heels as you experience the bare machine.

9)There are still many facilities that are embedded such as displaying the time, the distance, speed, calories burnt and heart rate while performing the workouts.

10)A three-horse power motor of Bowflex can produce different speeds starting from 1 mph to 10 mph to perform different levels of workouts.

The price of Bowflex ranges from $1500 to $3000. Of course, it is not cheap but it is strong and sturdy, high quality strength trainer, which will do everything that you need. It also includes a lat pulldown, a chest press, a 200 pound weight stack, and a leg extension/curl feature. It can approximately provide you a guarantee of 10 years and about 2-year guarantee for the spare parts.

Workout on Bowflex on a regular basis will help you reach your goals if you can not maintaining consistency.

Do not forget to consult an expert before starting to workout with Bowflex to ensure its benefits and to know if you are fit for it.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Benefit From Using Home Gym Equipment

Nearly everyone today has been educated on the benefits of getting regular exercise. Yet still there are an average of sixty percent of American adults not getting enough exercise, while twenty-five percent of the population isnít active at all. Whether this comes in the form of housecleaning for an hour or strength training at the gym--exercise keeps your muscles strong, your heart strong, and your body in shape. You may find that having home gym equipment to exercise on is a great way of staying active so that you can stay healthy.

Doctors have found that the more active you are the healthier you are in many studies. There is a direct correlation between physical activity on that home gym equipment and a lowered risk of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, colon cancer, and muscle, bone and joint problems. Also if this wasnít all ready enough to have you looking up home gym equipment reviews on the internet, exercise can literally make you feel better mentally and emotionally.

Plus you donít have to exercise for hours a day every day of the week to receive these benefits. Most doctors suggest that you exercise three to five times a week for about a half an hour each time to remain happy and healthy. On a piece of your home gym equipment thatís only one and a half to two and a half hours of exercise each week. More than likely youíll get addicted to the exercise once you get into a routine and end up exercising more than that on a weekly basis.

Anyone can benefit from the exercise that they get from using home gym equipment. As mentioned previously there are many home gym equipment reviews available online for you to look at in order to get an understanding of the wide variety and availability of home gym equipment on the market.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

A Home Gym and Walking = a Great Exercise Program

With the busy lifestyles today few adults with families can afford to take the time necessary to go the health club or neighborhood gym on a regular basis. Heck, even if it's within a short distance, we're talking about several hours commitment per session. Who has time for that!?

Still, we all recognize that exercise is just downright good for you. If you name any random 10 medical conditions and diseases, I'm willing to bet money that some form of frequent exercise is a good treatment or preventative measure for at least 9 of them. Diet and exercise pop up as treatments and preventative measures in so many of the diseases that ail us today, and both of these areas are a good place to focus on if your concerned about your health. Even just some simple walking for exercise can go a long way to improving your health. Walking for exercise is fun, easy, and is a great stress reducer but more on that in a minute.

Another idea is that of home gym equipment. now we're not talking about enough equipment to fill up the basement or several bedrooms. What you want is something that you enjoy that can be done in the privacy of your home whenever you desire. My son, who's working on his muscle tone has a resistance weight training program with 1 piece of equipment. The wife likes the aerobic action of a small trampoline and treadmill. The idea of home gym equipment need not be a daunting enterprise, just something that will save hours and allow the exercise program that your desire right from your own home. Another great workout however is simply walking!



The great thing about walking for exercise is that you can do it anywhere. You have absolutely no excuse for not getting up and walking around for at least 30 minutes a day. So itís raining out? Take an umbrella! Seriously, just get out for a short walk around the block a couple times and you'll thank yourself for it later. If its absolutely miserable out, just walking around your house or apartment a while is better than nothing.

Walking for exercise is extremely low impact, and so anyone of any age can do it safely and frequently without worrying about damaging themselves. Running and other more strenuous forms of exercise can cause all kinds of joint pain and soreness, and isn't recommended unless you are in otherwise good shape.

A lot of recent studies into different forms of exercise are showing that walking is every bit as good for you as running or other more vigorous exercises, you just need to do it longer. If you are walking for exercise, go for at least 30 minutes or even an hour. The more the better, as you can't hurt yourself by walking too much.

There are a lot of exercise programs that are beginning to realize the benefits of walking for exercise. As it is something virtually anyone that can walk can do, there is a huge target market for walking programs. I'd recommend any program that motivates you to walk frequently. Even without one, there are hiking and walking clubs all over the place to join. Not only can walking for exercise be a way to maintain good health, but it can be a good way to meet new people and form new networks.

With so many benefits and virtually no cons, you can't go wrong with walking for exercise. Its only drawback is that it takes time to do, but it is time well spent. What is the value of good health and longevity? Add on a favorite piece of gym equipment and you have everything needed to develop a healthy workout and exercise program without the inconvenience of going to the gym all the time.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

8 Cheap Home Gym Essentials

You can put together a cheap home gym that gets the job done if you buy the essentials. As long as you stick with the proven equipment list -and stay away from the latest ab-flexor- you can't go wrong.

The following are my 8 home gym must-haves:

1) Dumbbells
Dumbbells are essential for the home fitness gym, necessary for presses, arm exercises and even a few core exercises. There are many kinds of dumbbells out there, from the cheap to the boutique. All of which fall into one of two types: fixed weight or handles only.
Handles are plate loaded. This requires you to slide the weight plate on yourself and then fasten the weight with collars. Most handles are either standard or Olympic. Standard are smaller in diameter than the Olympic version. Youíll want to coordinate any plate loaded barbells you purchase with your dumbbells. That way the plates are compatible. Standard handles start at around $8. Olympic handles are pricier and longer. This added length actually takes getting used to on a few exercises.

2) Barbells
You need a good barbell, and, like dumbbells, they come in standard and Olympic. Again, definitely be sure that theyíre compatible with your dumbbells. Although, an Olympic bar wonít fit on a standard bench, a 7-foot standard bar will work on an Olympic bench.
A standard barbell set includes a 20 pound bar, 2 dumbbell handles (with collars) and 85 pounds of plates. A unit like this will run about $100. This isnít a lot of weight, so you'll probably want to buy more before too long.

3) Bench
In a truly cheap home gym, you can use any old bench for presses and one-arm rows. Make sure that itís 2 to 3 feet wide and solid. A piano bench could work if itís heavy enough. Otherwise, a picnic bench also works well. Get creative: you can put something under the front or rear to have an incline or a decline bench.

4) Chin Up Bar
A chin up bar can be constructed out of any material that will support your weight. You can find a chin up bar for $10 to $40.

5) Swiss Ball
Although I think that these are somewhat overused, they can add a little variety to your home fitness gym workouts. In addition to making you look more sophisticated by simply having it around the house, they also increase balance and tend to strengthen the core muscles. You can find one for $20.

6) Jump Rope
Jump rope for cardio: $5. Simple.

7) Stairs
If you have a few stairs in your house, you can add a couple outstanding exercises. These include the lunge and the step-up. Since they elevate heart rate, both are good if youíre performing circuit training. And, if you live in an apartment building with several flights of stairs, your cheap home gym includes a free stairclimber.

8) Yard
If you have a backyard, you can always do basketball style conditioning drills, such as sprints and short intervals. Make sure to build up your joints and tendons first with slower, more deliberate strength training to avoid injury. And if you have solid walls, you could bounce a medicine ball. This move is good for ab development and keeping a high heart rate.

Now that you've built it, don't forget to use it.