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Tips On Building Your Own Home Gym

By Brad Scott

Workout Equipment - What and Where

Join a Gym: Yes or No

Most people think that to be in shape, you have to belong to a health club. This is not the case. Health clubs are great, but they are not for everybody. Different health clubs have different benefits. Popular clubs like Bally, 24 Hour Fitness and LA Fitness not only offer basic cardiovascular and strength training equipment, but they also offer pools, saunas, racquetball courts, basketball courts, day care, pro shop, aerobic classes, juice bars, and plenty of other amenities. They also keep trainers on staff. Smaller chains and local clubs may offer reduced versions of the above. The health clubs are also a fantastic place to network and meet new people with common interest.

On the other hand, health clubs can be very intimidating. Everyone seems in such good shape, the commercials show nothing but beautiful people and some people may feel out of place. Although the health clubs welcome everyone, if you are not inclined to join, you can get a great workout in the privacy of your own home. Constructing a home gym is easy and can be done as elaborate or as simply as you like.

Building a Home Gym

If you decide that the health club scene is not for you, you can make your own home gym. Home gyms have the advantage of being more convenient, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. However, before you go out and buy the latest piece of equipment you saw on the infomercial last night, here are a few guidelines to ensure you get most for your money.

  1. Determine your overall goals and needs. If you are not planning on being a bodybuilding, you don't need 500 pounds of resistance.

  2. Determine what space you will dedicate to your home gym. It can be as small as the backside of a door, an entire room or the full garage.

  3. Determine if your workout will affect other people. If you live in an apartment complex, resistance tubes, bars and cables may be less disruptive to your neighbors.

  4. Determine your budget. Set your budget before you go shopping. Nothing is more frustrating than over spending or being disappointed by being sold on equipment you can't afford.

  5. Shop around and try out different pieces of equipment. An exercise machine that looks great on TV or in the paper may be completely uncomfortable or too complicated. You want to make sure you are spending your money on equipment you will use.

These guidelines will help you to pick the perfect home gym set-up for you and your family. If you want a home gym and are having trouble figuring everything out, Sport and Life Fitness offers home gym design services for any price range. We have designed complete systems for under $100 to over several thousand dollars.

About the Author:

Brad Scott is Owner and President of Sport and Life Fitness in Melbourne Florida. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and is a Certified Fitness Trainer and Specialist in Sports Conditioning with the International Sports Sciences Association. With over 20 years of experience, Brad offers a wide variety of fitness solutions for most anyone. Visit him online at www.SportAndLifeFitness.com today and start your fitness journey.