Lately there has been a new found love for getting a home workout routine, and just doing at home activities in general. For many of us, this is because of gyms being closed around us.
For others, their gym may be open but they do not feel safe given the circumstances surrounding the pandemic.
One way or another, finding out how to get a home workout in is crucial!
Ultimately, a home gym or garage gym is something you might want to look into building if you fit into any of the categories:
- Unable to find time for the gym
- Local gyms nearby are closed
- Social anxiety, or just not wanting to be social in general.
- Cannot afford a gym membership
That is just a small list of some of the reasons why you might be interested in starting up a home gym in your house.
Can’t afford a home workout gym?
Even if you don’t have the money to build an actual gym, there are much more affordable home workout options. For instance, you can follow a strictly bodyweight exercise routine – like this one here.
An alternative to strictly body weight exercises can be achieved by spending no more than $50.
Here are 3 items you can purchase to fuel every workout you will need:
Exercise Bands (Links to Amazon)
Finding motivation for a home workout
One thing I have personally experienced as I switched from going to the gym, and different classes is the lack of motivation. Sometimes it is hard to climb out of bed and go into the garage or living room for a workout. My solution to this problem is actually quite a simple one…
Create an excuse TO workout, not to avoid the workout.
AND!
Use some kind of app, book, or video to guide your workout or keep you focused.
For instance, my favorite way to learn new exercises in yoga or with the exercise bands is to watch a Youtube video during my workout. I try to find a video that demonstrates a particular movement.
Before I know it, I am having fun learning new exercises and don’t even realize it is actually a workout.
Now, once you start working out in your home you are going to have the constant urge to want more things. For those of you who can spend a little bit more money on equipment, this next section is dedicated to you.
Best Items to Purchase for Home Workout
Many of you know that I am a big believer and enthusiast of cardio, you can read my ‘best cardio breakdown’ here.
With that being said, I am going to start this list off right away by listing out several variations of what I believe to be the single most impactful item during a home workout.
An exercise bike… Also known in other variations as a stationary bike, or recumbent bike, or even an airbike.
On a scale of beginner to intermediate to advanced – I would place the variations in the following order of difficulty:
- Recumbent bike – Beginner
- Stationary bike – Intermediate
- Air bike – Advanced
The reasoning for those difficulty scales is because I see a lot of recommendations for people to buy an airbike like the Rogue Echo Bike or popular Airdyne from Schwinn.
The average fit person would definitely be exhausted after a short 15 minute ride on one of those things.
When something is that tiring, it will be hard to find motivation to do it again in the future – trust me.
That is why I seriously recommend you just purchase a stationary spin bike, and for those who are overweight and need a more comfortable seat option – a recumbent bike.
Best Stationary Bike 2020
I have rode several stationary bikes at different commercial gyms, and below are my favorite and recommended picks. Click the picture to purchase!
Sunny Health & Fitness Exercise Cycle Bike
Sunny Health & Fitness Exercise Cycle Bike With a 49 lbs flywheel, and up to a 275 lbs weight limit - this bike has a very strong and durable frame. This bike is one of the better quality bikes you can purchase in this range.
Schwinn Upright Bike 170 Series
The Schwinn 170 from the upright bike series is among the spin bikes you would see at your local or commercial gym. This is pretty much the gold standard for bikes at this price range. Additionally, it provides options for bluetooth connectivity and a heart rate sensor.
Concept2 BikeErg 2900 Stationary Exercise Bike
The Concept 2 BikeErg is hands down the best spin bike you can purchase if you wanted something to last you a lifetime. Concept 2 is a very well known company that is even partnered up with Rogue fitness to create top quality equipment. They offer spin bikes, rower machines, ellipticals - you name it. The only catch with this bike is it is a little bit more expensive than the previous ones I listed - however, the quality is simply unmatched.
For those of you who want something a little more comfortable to ride, read on…
Best Recumbent Bikes of 2020
I don’t recommend purchasing anything too crazy in price range for this bike, because the quality you get from going past the models I am about to recommend is simply not worth the price for a home workout.
Nautilus Recumbent Bike Series
The Nautilus R614 and R616 are some pretty amazing pieces of equipment considering they outprice most of their competitors by a fairly high margin. The main difference between the two, is that the R614 model has a slightly less comfy seat and no bluetooth option. If that isn’t a game breaker then this is the model for you.
Schwinn Recumbent Bike Series
The Schwinn 270 is a bike that I personally have in my garage because my parents enjoy a comfier seat and ride during their cardio sessions. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, and I even prefer this bike on days where I want a more casual ride. It feels practically the same, if not better than most models I have used in commercial gyms. If you want a thick seat, back rest, and bluetooth connectivity - this is your ride.
Bonus items to aid your home workouts
Once you have a yoga mat, some exercise bands, an optional pull-up bar – and a way to do some cardio – there is only one route to take to make your home workout even better.
Filling it in with weights and machines, of course!
I am now going to list out the products in the order that I would purchase them for my exercise area:
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells
Adjustable dumbbells are a great option to save space, and also to save money if you do not want to purchase an entire standalone set. The bowflex is the cheapest, and budget friendly option - however I recommend purchasing Ironmasters or Powerblocks first if they are available - for better comfort.
Powerblack EXP Stage 1
These are a bit higher quality than the bowflex adjustable dumbbells, and can be expanded with the stage 2 and stage 3 kits to increase the weight to 70 and 90 pounds respectively. An absolute key item for a home workout.
Last, but not least – the most desired piece of gym equipment by everyone: a functional trainer.
The best choice here, although much more expensive than other items is:
XMark Functional Fitness Trainer
You will find these in practically every gym and you will also find that you can do pretty much any exercise you can think of on these things. If you have the extra money and want to never step foot in an actual gym again - consider investing in this bad boy.
Conclusion
That concludes my working out at home advice guide for everyone looking to stay healthy while at home. I strongly encourage you to check out other informative articles I write, as well as my recommended supplements section.
Thanks for reading!