There are many benefits to working out at home, some of which include:

• No wasted time driving to and from a fitness club, especially during rush hour. Instead, you can workout in the morning before work, or once you get home. And if you are a stay at home Mom, you can put the little ones down for a nap, and get in a workout while never having to take your children to a sitter or daycare.
• No waiting in line to use the equipment. The busiest times in the gym are probably when you are going too. One friend of mine pointed out that a popular nationwide chain gym in the local area takes him almost 2 hours to get in his 45 minute routine. Working out at home however, you are the master or your domain.
• Workout on your schedule, rather than just when the health club is open. Forget weird holiday hours. Perhaps your only free time is late at night. Working out at home, your gym is always open.
• No expensive monthly membership fees or long-term contracts. Gyms make a great deal of money from those who want to get fit, pay for long term contracts, but never use the gym facilities. Many of us want to get in shape, and get serious enough to make a commitment by purchasing a contract, but then quite often, the gym-experience can be a turn off, and we just waste our money, and skip the hassle of working out at the gym.
• Motivation to workout as you pass by the equipment every day. Many people will say that the gym motivates them. I tend to see the gym as more intimidating at times, where “at home” equipment calls your name, and is in your own comfortable setting.
• No meat market. Crowded gyms have many eyes, and enough pick-up lines to write a bad novel.

For an effective home gym, all that is required is a little bit of planning. And to get you started, I come fully equipped with enough gear for most workouts, and in many cases, enough for us to fulfill your future workout regimens as well. Nevertheless, it’s great to have your own equipment at home for a variety of reasons.

First, don’t fall into the trap of purchasing random fitness equipment because of fancy advertising for the latest infomercial fad or the great “sale” at your local fitness store. That type of purchasing leads to a house littered with equipment that’s only use is as a clothes hanger or dust collector. This often happens because the equipment is either useless, poorly constructed or quickly loses its value because it doesn’t progress with your fitness level.

Second, figure out how much room you can spare at home. If you don’t have much space to dedicate to say treadmills and benches, consider portable equipment like a Reebok Step, balance balls, dumbbells, and resistance bands. Remember, all you need to do is clear a temporary space, perhaps by moving a coffee table out of the way, and then break out your gear from a closet. If on the other hand you have some spare room to put in a bench and other equipment, then price is the next consideration.

How much you can afford to spend may dictate what you can actually purchase, but don’t get discouraged. For as little as $100, you can have a very effective home gym. Even for as little as $35, you can create an effective workout that will tone your entire body. Regardless of what your fitness goals are, there are myriad equipment options to consider. For building muscles and/or toning-up, you can choose from free weights, dumbbells, resistance bands, benches and even no-equipment in some cases. For cardiovascular workouts there are even more options like treadmills, elliptical trainers, bikes and even simple aerobic steps.

For my personal recommendations on such equipment, check out my resources page. And of course, never hesitate to contact me with any questions. I know how convenient it can be to exercise in the comfort of your own home, and I’d be more than happy to help you get started.