Everyone knows the health benefits of going to the gym on a regular basis, but many people struggle to go to the gym throughout the week and this could be for any number of different reasons. If you want to get into shape but you find it difficult to visit the gym on a regular basis, then you may want to think about setting up your own home gym.
It is much easier to get a good workout when you do not have to leave your own house, plus many people prefer to exercise on their own or away from the public. With that in mind, here are a few tips for setting up your own home gym and achieving your fitness goals.
Find A Suitable Space
First, you need to find a suitable space in your home. Putting a treadmill in the lounge is not going to work because you need to have a space which is dedicated to exercise and away from distraction. You do not necessarily need a huge amount of space, so somewhere like a garage, attic or basement can work very well.
Identify What Your Goals Are
You should then think about what type of gym you want to build and, most importantly, what your fitness goals are. If you want to improve your fitness, for example, then you will need space for machines like cross-trainers, exercise bikes, rowing machines, and treadmills. If you want to bulk up, then you may want weight machines, a bench press, and free weights. It can be good to have a combination of these if space permits and you have no specific fitness goals.
Layout
The layout will depend on the space that you have to work with, so you will want a space that is comfortable and practical. As an example, you will not want your exercise bike to be tucked into the corner facing the wall. Instead, it should be facing into the room, while you may want your free weight section in front of a mirror on one of the walls so that you can check your form while you lift.
Flooring & Walls
Before purchasing your gym equipment and getting started, you need to address the flooring. It will need to be firm yet supportive, and if you have free weights, than you will want rubber flooring which will absorb impact and stop you from damaging the weights if they are dropped. You can decorate the walls any way you like but, as mentioned before, you may want to think about having mirrors on one or a few of the walls to stay focused and check form.
Lighting & Ventilation
If possible, it can be helpful to have at least one window so that you get natural light and ventilation flowing through. This will not always be possible, in which case, you will need to think about artificial lighting and some form of ventilation whether this is the use of fans or air conditioning, particularly important in a small space.
Purchasing Equipment
You will now have the foundation for your home gym and you can start to purchase machines and equipment. As mentioned, this will depend on your fitness goals, but no matter what you purchase, you should always invest in high-quality items. This is so that the equipment will be safe and work as it should, as well as not deteriorate in quality over time. Safety is incredibly important when it comes to exercise, which means that you need machinery of the highest standard.
Funding
Purchasing gym equipment, as well as setting up the space in your home, can cost a vast amount. It means that taking out a loan can be a great way to fund the home gym, and it is possible to secure this even if you have a poor credit rating! As with any loan, you simply need to make sure that you are able to afford the repayments and that you meet the basic criteria; this quality site has lots more helpful information about loans for those with bad credit.
Safety
As mentioned, safety is a very important factor when it comes to exercise, particularly if you are working out at home by yourself. Your home gym should contain a fully stocked first-aid kit and a fire extinguisher, as well as an easy exit in case of a fire. A defibrillator machine is also a good investment to make.
Entertainment
Many people struggle to work out if they have no form of entertainment, so this is another area to consider. One of the major advantages of having your own home gym is that you do not have to listen to your headphones or the music that is played at the gym. It means that you could set up your own hi-fi system in your home gym and have a flatscreen TV to keep you entertained while you workout!
Maintenance & Cleaning
It is also important to note that your home gym will also require regular maintenance and cleaning, especially if you are using it frequently. The machines and equipment should be checked over and there may be repairs that need carrying out from time to time. Additionally, you should also wipe down machines and equipment with antibacterial spray and keep the entire space neat and clean so that it is a healthy and safe space to exercise.
These are the main steps that you need to take to set up your own home gym. It can be difficult to get to the gym multiple times throughout the week, but with your own gym, it is easy to get a workout in whenever you like, which should help you to achieve your fitness goals much faster.
Additionally, it can be nice to workout on your own without any distractions and somewhere that you can play your own music or watch television! It can take time and money to set up your own home gym, but you will start to reap the rewards almost immediately, and it will also save you money in the long run when you factor in how expensive gym memberships can be.
