11 Items That Need To Be On Your Home Gym Wish List!

The holiday season is now in full force.  Thanksgiving has come and gone and so have the leftovers.  If you haven’t already started to think about goals for the upcoming year, now is the time to start!  As we’ve discussed, goals are great, but if you have goals without a plan, it’s likely that you’ll still be searching for success this time next year.  But this post isn’t intended for an in-depth discussion on goals.  More on that in a future post!  While you are pondering your wish list this month, it can be overwhelming if you’re looking into just basic fitness equipment.  The fitness industry is HUGE.  Everyone is searching for that perfect thing that will promise to whip them into shape.  Keep in mind that this huge fitness industry can also be full of some really gimmicky…um, well… “junk”.  I’ve found that, although there are some big-ticket items that would be awesome for a home gym if you have the space and the cash (treadmill, cable machines…), most of the time, you really don’t need a whole lot of fancy equipment to make great gains in your fitness!  And, luckily, you don’t need thousands of dollars either.  Yay!

If you are like many people who have a gym membership, you probably also have some equipment at home just for those days when you have very little time but want to get in a workout.  Body weight training along with some other exercises that incorporate the use of some basic equipment will get you a long way!  I’m going to share with you the basic home gym equipment that you’ll want to invest in that won’t break the bank!

Some of these items you’ll want to have right away while others can remain on your wish list, so don’t feel like you have to run and buy all this up front.  And there are many, many exercises that require no equipment, so don’t let the lack of equipment be an excuse to wait to start your fitness regimen.  Links can be found in each heading for an example of the item on Amazon. (Of course, do your research and shop around for what you like.  These are just some items that I found.)

1) Exercise Ball

Generally used for core training, these come in multiple sizes depending on the intended use.  But they can also be used for balance training, some really challenging leg work, and to enhance the difficulty of some traditional exercises (dips, for example, if you normally have your feet on the floor for chair dips or dips off of a bench, putting your legs on a stability ball will up the difficulty level).

2) Dumbbells

You don’t need a whole set to start with.  Depending on your fitness level, you may be fine starting with a set of fives and a set of tens.  You can purchase more as you get stronger!

3) Yoga Mat

Not just for Yoga!  Use to cushion when you are doing that awesome core strengthening!  Choose from a variety of colors and thicknesses.

4) Furniture Gliders

There are some gliders that are sold in the fitness industry that are specifically for fitness use, but if you are trying to really keep your cost down, furniture gliders are perfect if you’re on a carpeted surface, and towels or paper plates do the trick for a hard surface.  Actually, the ones in the above link come with “socks” that are for hard surfaces.  Sliding exercises add a whole new dynamic to your routine and can even combine strength and cardio in one exercise.

5) Resistance Bands

These take up almost zero space and you can take them anywhere.  Great for all ages and fitness abilities, they can make basic exercises more challenging and enable you to work specific muscle groups as well.  Again, the ones I’ve linked are just the ones that I use, but there are lots of options out there to choose from.

6) Jump Rope

Looking to get that heart rate up in your routine to spice things up?  Complete a couple minutes of jump rope between sets!

7) Pull up Bar

Maybe not the first thing you want to go out and grab especially for the beginners, but even hanging on a bar helps with grip strengthening and stretching, so this piece of equipment definitely has it’s place.  As you gain strength, you can begin by doing a flexed arm hang working your way up to more advanced moves.  The one that I have linked here installs in a doorway, but you can also find for a wall mount or a tower if you have the space.

8) Simple Weight Bench

I prefer a bench that will incline and decline. This, too, is one of those items that certainly isn’t a must-have right away.  You can do most exercises from the floor or a chair, but eventually you may want to find a basic weight bench to add some variety by utilizing the incline/decline.

9) Kettlebell(s)

I love throwing a kettlebell exercise into a workout.  Figure 8’s burn those legs while working your core, and woodchoppers just feel more natural with a kettlebell than with a dumbbell.

10) Medicine Balls

Again, definitely not something you have to feel like you need right away, but a great addition to your home gym especially for core training.

11) Bosu Balance Trainer

A more expensive piece of equipment, this will set you back by around $100.  But I included it on this list because there are so many things you can do with it!  And, balance training is great for any age, because it will serve you well your whole life.

 

Having some basic equipment at home (even if you don’t have much space) is ideal for those times when you can’t seem to make it to the gym and you want something a little more than body weight exercise.  And this is the perfect time of year to start thinking about your goals for the new year and creating your wish list.  These are pieces of equipment that you will use for years to come, so it is certainly money well spent!  Happy shopping!

Here’s to YOUR health!