There's No Place like Home: Building a Home Gym

In today's ever-evolving rat race, time is one of the most valuable commodities we have and we cannot afford to waste it. Between running from work to home to soccer games and social events, time eludes us. While gym memberships are great for accountability and motivation, who has time to drive to the gym every single day? Enter the home gym.

Starting a home gym is a great way to get started, providing you are familiar with the five fundamentals of fitness and you don't plan on entering any competitions soon. Building a simple home gym takes minimal time and requires just a few essentials. In addition, a simple home gym won't break the bank.

The first pieces of equipment that are recommended are 2 x 10 pound dumbbells, 2 x 5 pound dumbbells, and 2 x 1 pound dumbbells. The dumbbells will be used for strength training the upper body. You will find that having different size dumbbells may come in handy, especially when reaching muscle fatigue and muscular failure. Dumbbells will add resistance to your workout and help you move up to the next strength and endurance level. Heavy weights are not necessary for getting in shape.

Next on the list is an exercise ball, also known as a flexi-ball or Swiss ball. These are great for stretches, core strengthening, and doing abdominals. In addition, you can do squats for your legs using the flexi-ball and practice balancing techniques safely. Make sure you get a fitness ball that is sturdy and preferably double-lined for added protection against possible blow-ups. Cheaper is not necessarily better. Fitness balls also make great foot rests when watching TV.

Let's not forget an exercise mat. When doing stretches and abdominals, the floor may be too hard on your back and knees. A good mat will protect your back by having a thick pad of cushion. They also come in handy if you want to take them to aerobics class for cool downs and abdominal exercises.

Resistance bands are one of the most useful tools to purchase for a home gym. Not only are they useful for home use, but for traveling as well. They come in various degrees of difficulty and don't take up much space. Many people attach their resistance bands to their door handles at home. You can use resistance bands anywhere and for strength training and balance exercises. Experiment with different varieties of bands. They are fun and easy to handle, and are color-coded according to varying degrees of resistance and difficulty.

A pair of weight-training gloves is an essential part of working out with weights. A good pair of gloves will protect your hands from calluses and protect your jewelry from scratches. There are gloves that have weights inside them for added resistance when doing aerobics or any type of cardio routine. They won't make the weight any lighter however so exercise caution if using gloves with built-in weights.

Other pieces of equipment that may be purchased for your home gym include an aerobic step for your aerobic videos, an abdominal wheel, a chin-up bar, ankle weights, and a good jump rope. Treadmills and elliptical machines are great for cardio, provided you the financial resources necessary.

You can make your home gym as simple or as elaborate as you choose, depending on your budget. The important thing is that you can now exercise in the comfort of your own home.