Ever since I started on my journey of working out when I was eighteen, I’ve never worked out anywhere besides one of those big chain gyms. You name them, I belonged! Jack Lalanne was the first gym I belonged to when I was just eighteen years old. Eventually, I started my career in a big chain gym. NYSC was the first gym I worked for. I loved working out in a big gym filled with so many people who were into building muscles, sweating in a step class and getting their FIT on, whatever that meant. In big gyms, I felt most secure with myself, and was simply motivated by the presence of other people doing the same thing. Maybe it was the presence of other people around me that pushed me to work harder, lift heavier or run faster. Never in a million years did I think I could EVER workout at home all alone. Building a home gym for myself was one of the best things I ever did.
HOME GYM INSPO
Oh man, If I had NO limits, what I would do! How would you design YOUR home gym?
Times Have changed
It’s crazy how times have changed. Since Covid, I can’t fathom being in a big gym around many people! To be honest, it’s made me realize that I don’t need anyone around me to stimulate me or motivate me to work my ass off. Besides, I don’t do it to impress anyone, for me, working out is ALL about my wellbeing mentally and physically!
You DO NOT NEED a Home Gym
Having spent so much of last year stuck indoors and with gyms being SHUT DOWN, having a home gym set up is definitely a new trend, and one that I don’t think is slowing down. I thank the Lord for my home gym every time I workout in it. I’ll tell you, you do NOT need a home gym. It’s true, you don’t need much. You don’t NEED a Peleton, when you could grab you bike and go for a bike ride. You DON’T need a Peleton tread out any other treadmill when you can run or walk outside for free. HOWEVER, if these things make you happy and you can afford the investment AND have the room, then I say GO FOR IT.
Why I LOVE My Home Gym
- I can workout when Sasha is home. She can play with her stuff in the same room I workout in.
- I have NO EXCUSE to NOT Gert it done.
- I can wake up and walk downstairs. Saves time
- I don’t have to talk to anyone, which gives me more time to workout
- I can wear what I want without the looks!
- NO MONTHLY FEES
- I don’t have to share my equipment!
Started Building Slowly
As I adjusted to being a new mom, eight years ago, and spending more time at home, I started to make purchases on things like resistance bands, Bosu Balls, etc. I purchased little things that wouldn’t take up so much space and cost too much money. Covid wasn’t a THING. Back then it was space for me. For the first two years of Sasha’s life, I had Lifetime Fitness and my house. For the most part, I was ;having my house to go workout at least six days a week. I was also still training LOTS of clients. I had access to the big stuff like squat racks, treadmills and machines.
Plan It All Out Ahead Of Time
Before you go crazy and buy everything on MY list, think about your own goals. Plan it all out ahead of time, this way you know exactly what you’ll use and what you may want to wait on. Get a notebook, and start by writing down what you LIKE about the gym, and what your favorite pieces are. Do you prefer light bands and light dumbbells or do you prefer treadmills and kettlebells? Write it all down. Next you want to take into consideration the space you have. DO you have a garage, basement spare room or just an area of your bedroom? Lastly, you may want to consider a budget. Perhaps your budget would say something like….NOW + LATER. MUST + WOULD LIKE. HAVE TO HAVE + DON’T NEED.
What I started with
What I started with were the smaller items. Things I could do in my bedroom if I had to. I am OBSESSED with Amazon simply because of the prices, the reviews and the options.
Resistance bands
(click on the pic for link)
I love this set because it comes with the over the door stopper, different strength bands and handles for hands and ankle straps for leg moves.
Loop bands
(click on the pic for link)
If you’ve been living under a rock, I would understand why you don’t own a set of mini loop bands. I like both the rubber and the fabric mini loop bands.
Fabric loop bands
(Click on the pic for link)
For me, Training with the fabric large loop bands is more comfortable, especially with shorts on, and for gripping.
These specific bands come in other colors as well
Risers
(click on the pic for link)
I LOVE risers because you can jump on them and use the blocks to make the height higher. The Riser is sturdy. It also makes for a bench for things like bench pressing. Its small enough to stand up in a closet or stuck away behind a big piece of furniture if need be. I get a lot of usage out of mine!
Equalizer
Such a versatile piece of equipment, the Equalizer actually comes with the print out of workouts you could do! I’m a HUGE fan of lifting and pushing your own bodyweight, and these cute bars will do just that!
Bigger Investments + Covid
Once we moved when Sasha was two, I had an entire beautiful finished basement. It was HUGE! At first it was all her cute stuff, like her kitchen, doll house, craft table and even her battery operated car! She had it all! Eventually I started spending more time down there with her. I would do what I could while she played.
Once Covid hit, I was immediately in quest of equipment!
Here are the BIGGER Investments
Gym Mat
(click on pic for link)
I don’t know about you, but I have serious OCD and I don’t like stains or dirt on anything, especially a light colored rug. My basement is beautiful and carpeted From wall to wall. I ordered some mats to keep the carpet stain and dirt free! BEST investment!
Barbell + Weights
While I still don’t have a squat rack, I do have a bar and some plates. For the barbell, I recommend getting a twenty five pound barbell and a forty five pound dumbbell. You can start with purchasing light plates and as you get stronger, order more plates. As for the squat rack, I’ll get back to you! I’m still searching for one that suits me + the space I am in.
Medicine ball- Big light blue- 14 lbs
(click on Pic for link)
I LOVE the versatility of medicine balls and slam balls. Just google them and millions of exercises will pop up! Here are a few I have
Rose Gold Slam Ball
(Click on pic for link)
Stability Ball
(click on Pic for link)
Dumbbell tree and set
(click on Pic for link)
This is a MUST. You need more than one set of dumbbells for sure! different body parts require different loads.
Depuffing Kit
(click on pic for link)
There is nothing I use more than this kit! The foam roller, and the octopus are my obsessions! DePuffing, soothing, post workout, off days, are all times I use everything in this kit!
I’m Still Building My Home Gym
I’m still building my home gym, but in the meantime, these are the things I recommend and use myself. In the meantime, should you need some home workout motivation, here are some great workouts I’ve done at home like this one + this one
