Today, more and more of us are coming to the realisation that we need to include a level of exercise into our weekly timetable. Men, women and children, the elderly, we all need the benefits gained from regular exercise. But the gym environment isn’t for everyone. Gyms can very often be overcrowded if you attend at peak times, the sweaty environment can result in men and women becoming undressed and showing what should be covered in front of non-marriage partners, and when testosterone is ramped up the gym can turn into a Zoo with wild men doing wild things.
A great way to avoid the crazy gym world is to build your own home gym but if you have limited space this can be tricky. In this post we will run down the all-important, essential pieces of exercise equipment you should not go without if a home gym is what you want to invest in. My name is Hanif and I own Criterionfit.com. The goal of Criterion Fit is to help men get a suitable balance of fitness into their lives. We have a number of services and digital products you will benefit from so click the buttons at the top of this page to check them out.
Building a home gym is a great investment that will save you on spending on a gym membership but there may be limits to what you can achieve in the long term depending on your goals. I’m writing this article for the average man that wants to look after his health generally, gain muscle and lower fat. Here are some of the things you shouldn’t go without.
Trainers are essential footwear. Yeah, you’ll be using them outside for running and walking but I couldn’t leave trainers off the list. Running is a great and low-cost way of getting your daily and weekly exercise in. Try running for 30 minutes each day and you’ll be amazed at the changes you see within yourself over time.
Bicycle or Cardio Machines such as an upright bike or rowing machine are great for your cardiovascular system and increasing V02 max. They don’t have to take up much space if you opt for a foldable rower for instance. Your levels of endurance will increase by cycling or rowing regularly which will make other daily tasks easy.
A Pull-up Bar is also essential kit. Work your upper body – arms, upper back and core with a bar. When one can master their own weight that is a true sign of strength.
Using an Exercise Mat for stretching before and after your training sessions shouldn’t be left off since muscles can get tighter and shorter if you leave off stretching for long periods of time.
Skipping Rope is a great warm-up and burns a lot of calories which is an added bonus. There are many types of speed ropes depending on how much you want to get into jumping rope. Well worth investing in.
Weight Benches to elevate your body while doing your bench press is essential. You can find foldable benches and this will help keep the home tidy. There are many strength and cardio training exercises you can do with a weight bench as well.
Dumbbells, Barbells, Kettlebells are all types of weights. Dumbbells are best used for your isolation exercises such as bicep curls and tricep extension. Barbells are the long bar that will go on your bench. The Barbell can hold large amounts of weight, more than your dumbbells since it is longer. Kettlebells are all you need if you have very limited space. Kettlebells have a handle, horns and bell – start with an 8kg or 12kg set first, opting for Olympic kettlebells is best.
Resistance Bands may look like a time waste but you’d be wrong. Great for helping you get the correct form on many exercises, warming up for exercise and building muscle; resistance bands are a good addition to your gym.
Fitness Trackers and smartwatches are always with you so you can stay motivated to keep active and be aware of how what you do affects how your body responds. You can track things such as your heart rate and step count.
Exercise Plans, if you can only manage to invest in one thing this would be it. If you don’t know what to do you’ll do nothing! With an exercise plan like that found in our ‘Old Medicine meal and fitness guide’ ebook or a bespoke plan written for you, you’ll get to your desired goal a lot fast than you’d imagine. With your goals in mind, we at Criterion Fit can coach you all the way until you’ve achieved your goals and beyond. Message us [Here] and let us know you want a home gym plan.
Regular exercise should be an aspect of your day to day life. Since you’ve read this article we’re likely upon the same path. The space you have at home will be an investment in helping you live longer, stronger and with happiness. The equipment brands matter less than the equipment you’ll be using themselves. Just get active and live your best life.
Criterion Fit 