Creating a Home Gym to Improve Your Fitness

It’s no secret that many people would like to be more fit. Me too! Some would like to lose weight, while others simply want to look more toned. (Both for me!)

Thankfully, you do not need to spend hours a day at the gym or spend thousands of dollars to create a home gym. Neither is true. You can successfully get fit at home, and you can do it as affordably as you want.

I am a living example!

Here’s how to create a home gym to improve your fitness.

Make Room for Cardio

Doing cardiovascular exercises has many benefits. It strengthens your heart, can improve blood pressure, and even helps strengthen your lungs. Creating a space for cardio exercises in your home gym can mean many things. Some people love to use a Peloton or other smart stationary cycles.

Others prefer to watch dance videos and follow along. You would need a space for a television and something to play music, or get a piece of equipment.

Try a rowing machine (that is what I have), an elliptical, a stair climber, or another cardio-focused piece of workout equipment for your home gym. You can often get them secondhand (especially after the pandemic!) if you want to save a bit of money.

Learn to Use Hand Weights

Another simple piece of workout equipment that can improve your fitness from home is a good set of hand weights. You can learn to do many different movements to mimic the same exercises you can do at the gym.

Think about chest presses or other movements similar to deadlifts. You can also do weighted calf raises to improve the muscle strength and tone in your calves. Hand weights are affordable because you can simply buy a couple of different weights at a time.

An even lower-cost option? Use bags of rice, beans, or water bottles!

As you build your muscle strength, buy new ones to help you continue to move forward with your progress.

Discover What You Can do with Cast Iron Kettlebells

Getting a cast iron kettlebell opens up new options for your home workouts and is an essential part of any home gym, especially when you want to improve your strength. What makes a kettlebell unique from just using a hand weight is that it’s designed to be lifted with 2 hands and can be swung to create a workout using functional movements.

Bending and lifting, picking things up quickly, and even doing deadlifts is made easier with a good kettlebell in hand. Thanks to the rising popularity of workouts like CrossFit, kettlebells have become popular. You can easily use them at home. Just be sure to focus on good form for each of your movements to avoid injury.

Try CastleFlexx to Build Your Core

I have now added CastleFlexx into my weekly workouts. Its primary purpose is to help with lower back and leg pain (a great device for stretching after an international flight or walking Chicago or Lisbon for the day!) but it also is great for strengthening the core. Really in my experience, it is helping me build full-body strength as well.

Each CastleFlexx unit has a 2-pound detachable magnetic weight to adjust the intensity. It rolls up tight and would be easy enough to throw into a suitcase. I am a total newbie so I am using the videos they have on their website to help me pick and choose which workouts I want to do.

If I can use this, anyone can! And while I do not have any chronic pain or injuries (knock on the proverbial wood) I can see how CastleFlexx would help.

Invest in a Good Mat

A mat like a Yoga mat or similar can provide a comfortable surface to work out on. The benefit of using a mat is that it can protect your knees and back when you do workouts.

The soft surface provides added cushioning that gives you increased comfort when you’re working out. A mat can also be used when you need to sit on the floor or do any exercises from lying on your back. These are helpful for workouts using hand weights and other strength training activities. Additionally, if you’re adding in bodyweight workouts, a mat is perfect for those beginner push-ups.

Try a Workout Bench

Doing exercises up off the floor is made easier with a workout bench. They are better than just using a chair because they typically have a larger surface area and are cushioned. Additionally, they may have an inclined back so you can lean back for lifting heavier weights. Whether you are using a barbell or dumbbells, a workout bench is excellent for your home gym. It’s a simple piece of equipment with many uses.

Working out from home takes a certain mindset. You need to be focused and committed during your workouts so you don’t get distracted by chores and other things you could be doing at home. Giving yourself even 30 minutes a day can help you make huge strides in your health and fitness.

Working out from home is convenient and gives you back more time in your day because you don’t need to commute as well. It’s important to learn how to safely do exercises, especially with weights, learn to stretch adequately, keep hydrated, and rest as needed. You’ll find yourself able to sustain workouts and get the results you want from home.

Bonus: Here is a FREE simple daily fitness tracker I created that will help keep you motivated!

How about you? Do you have any home fitness tips? Do share!

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