What are the "essentials" for a home gym?

S

Swoofie

New member
Ok, sooo I was cleaning out my car today and found my gym-membership card (they switched to finger-prints and phone #'s for quicker check-ins awhile ago). I knew my membership was expiring soon, so I checked the date to see when it did, and realized it ends this Saturday!

After a short mourning period, I sat down and thought about what to do next. I could dish out another $300 for 2 more years, or try and do my workouts at home. I already have a treadmill, so I'm considering maybe buying a few more things and making it a simple home-gym type of thing. If I were to make a home gym, what are the absolute essentials I'll need?

An adjustable bench and weights? Exercise ball? Pull-up bar? I'm not 100% on what to get, and any suggestions of input would be nice. I am considering re-joining my gym since everything is there, but I am on a sorta budget, so a home gym would be like...a "life-time" membership and no gas spent driving there. Anyway, yeah...any help would be great.
 
It really depends on you. Although... $300... probably not going to get you too much quality equipment unless you want to just stick with weights.
 
It is very individual as to what should be in a home gym due to different goals and levels of fitness but I would suggest a basic bench (one that can incline and decline if the budget allows) 1 barbell and 2 adjustable dumbbells along with a selection of weights to go on them the stronger you are the more weights you need. alternatively bands are a good cheap lightweight option instead of weights.
 
Have you thought about getting p90 or the p90x video training? (no, I don't really know much about it.. I've just heard lots of good things)
 
You might want to get a medicine ball - there are heaps of exercises that you can do with that apparently. Look some up online. I don't know what else sorry. I don't think you'll get much with $300... but IMHO that's mighty cheap for a gym membership! I pay $35 a fortnight! Maybe join again for the 2 years and in the meantime save up to deck out a nice home gym?
 
Yeah, I'd stick with that gym. I pay about $50 a month (25 GBP), and that's at discounted student rates at what's regarded as a cheap gym in my area.
 
If I spent $300 on equipment I'd probably use it religiously for about 2 weeks and then drop off.
If I make a special trip to the gym I do a reasonable workout for an hour or so. Maybe not so hard that I want to vomit but so I know I've worked out.
 
Hm, actually, I'll rejoin a gym, just not the one I'm currently at. I decided to check out the gym at my school, and its a lot cheaper. So I figure, once school starts up again in August, I'll get a membership there. That way, I can plan my workouts in accordance with my class schedule, and I save the gas, since it's one trip to school & the gym! Yay for savings! And 3-months is $64, so almooost the whole semester. If I go for the 6-month membership, its $84, which is still really nice as well.

For now, I can definitely work something out for the next 3 months of summer. I'll probably buy that bench & weights Trusylver suggested. I saw an adjustable bench for $47 at Walmart, which was pretty cheap compared to other stores, and it got nice reviews too, so I know its a good deal. I'm also considering dishing out another $25 for a pushup/pullup bar. I'm trying to join the Army, so I gotta consider the sort of things they do during basic.

Anyway, thanks for the input from everyone! Any more suggestions are still very much welcome.
 
Um... No....
its a lot cheaper.
If I go for the 6-month membership, its $84, which is still really nice as well.
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LOL....
84x4 = $336
300 for two years is actually the better deal.
$64x8 = 512.
If you really want to save money.. your best plan is probably just to do the 6 month at your school. Although it's a bit more expensive, you'll probably be saving a lot of travel time.
 
Monster said:
Um... No....

LOL....
84x4 = $336
300 for two years is actually the better deal.
$64x8 = 512.
If you really want to save money.. your best plan is probably just to do the 6 month at your school. Although it's a bit more expensive, you'll probably be saving a lot of travel time.
Click to expand...

They have a year membership for $150 and 2 year membership for $260 as well. So yeaaah..don't go spew math junk at me lol. I get enough numbers at school..I'm on vacation!

*Edit*
Oohh..and I forgot to mention, that the $300 cost is actually bought through a prepaid card from Costco. I forget the actual cost for my gym, but its over that amount just for one year! I haven't actually checked if Costco still sells that membership thing either, so yeah..
 
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Depends on your goals. If your goal is to use whatever is the absolute best for burning a crapton of fat and look toned as hell, then getting a weight bench + squat rack + freeweight is what will be best to compliment your treadmill. And do simple things like a chin up bar, swiss ball to slightly compliment it, things that are basically free.

If we're talking sport training, or activity specific training, or rehab in any way, then that changes things dramatically as you have specific goals in mind.
 
Jynus said:
Depends on your goals. If your goal is to use whatever is the absolute best for burning a crapton of fat and look toned as hell, then getting a weight bench + squat rack + freeweight is what will be best to compliment your treadmill. And do simple things like a chin up bar, swiss ball to slightly compliment it, things that are basically free.

If we're talking sport training, or activity specific training, or rehab in any way, then that changes things dramatically as you have specific goals in mind.
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I'm not looking to get super toned and whatnot. I'm just trying to lose overall weight and get in shape for the Army. I bought an "Iron Gym" for a push-up/pull-up bar, and I have a few light weights at the moment. I did look up their physical fitness tests, and I'm asking my friend whose already enlisted what I need to do to get ready for that.
 
If you want to lose weight...its best to lift it (plus cardio). Get adjustable dumbbells, the plates should go for no more than .60 cent a pound...search some garages sales or craigslist.
 
You can buy exercise machines at Thrift Shops (Goodwill, Salvation Army etc.) cheap. I got a Stamina stationary bike for $60. I also have a Stamina rowing machine that I got online for $160. Resistance Bands are cheap under $20. That a a couple of weights is all you need.
 
Is their a sears outlet near you? I saw the same model elliptical I bought a few months ago for around 900 on sale..at the outlet for around 300...I was mad...But realized if I had waited I wouldn't have lost the twenty lbs I've already lost. I use it about six days a week..I love it..lol.
 
Swoofie said:
I'm not looking to get super toned and whatnot. I'm just trying to lose overall weight and get in shape for the Army. I bought an "Iron Gym" for a push-up/pull-up bar, and I have a few light weights at the moment. I did look up their physical fitness tests, and I'm asking my friend whose already enlisted what I need to do to get ready for that.
Click to expand...

If you're trying to do anything related to military, I would forego any type of fitness equipment and work with what you have - push-ups, curl-ups, hills, get a backpack and fill it with sand, sprints, stairs/stadiums, general calisthenic exercises. Boot camp won't have you lifting weights or using any kind of equpiment other than a rifle. If you invest in anything, invest in a weighted bar that's a little heavier than a rifle (M16 ~8lbs). Hold it out in front of you for timed intervals and build up until you can do it for a loonng. longg.. time.
 
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