Top 5 Common Mistakes When Setting Up a Home Gym

Getting in a good workout is a must for many of us – it’s not only a way to relax and reduce stress, but it usually leaves you energized for the whole day and improves general health.

However, going to the gym can sometimes seem like a chore – not only do you have to leave home and go someplace, but you also have to deal with the annoying music, crowded areas with sweaty people and lines at the exercise machines.

The good news is, all this can be avoided if you set up a gym at home – it’s much easier than you think and although it requires an initial investment, it isn’t too big and will pay off handsomely after you don’t have to pay for a gym membership.

However, there are things to consider when setting up a home gym, otherwise you might end up spending much more than you really needed and have a gym that’s simply uncomfortable.

Here are 5 things you must take into account when you buy home gym equipment:

Our Mini Gym at Home

1. Buying Equipment without Proper Planning

When you decide which room in your house will become your personal training station, the first thing you must do is make all the proper measurements and plan ahead where will you place all the equipment.

This starts out with you getting measurements of the room, thinking about what equipment you’ll be getting and measuring space for it to fir in.

Remember to take into consideration that even if the equipment fits by itself, you’ll need to have comfortable range of motion when using it, so plan for that as well.

2. Not Doing Proper Market Research

Even though you probably can find the simpler things like barbells, weights and dumbbells pretty easily, there are things that you need to look at carefully before making a purchase.

Cardio machines or cable machines greatly vary in price, and for good reason – you really shouldn’t buy the cheapest models, because they are usually made out of cheaper materials and will end up breaking when used extensively.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can’t go and shop for gym equipment online and find the best prices available, but you should still understand that materials do matter, especially in machines that are exposed to high levels of stress during use.

 

3. Buying Equipment that You Don't Need

It's common to want to fill your home gym as much as possible - after all, when you're setting it up, you're thinking that you'll be using everything.  The truth is that you don't need all that unnecessary faddy gym equipment.

Stick with the basics - barbell, weights, dumbbells, a rack and a bench.

Of course, you might need more things depending on your personal preferences, but be sure that whatever you get you'll be using in your workout routine, otherwise it'll just be taking up space.

Also, don't fall for the always advertised all-in-one multi exercise machines. These rarely, if ever, deliver what they promise and end up costing you a fortune and never really showing results for it.

4. Not Considering Appropriate Flooring

Remember that you don't go to the gym to read, you go there to have an intense workout, so you're probably going to sweat quite a lot.

That's why it might be a good idea to set up appropriate flooring - consider that you'll have to wash the floors often, so a carpet is probably not the best option, as well as tiles.

A good choice is getting rubber flooring - it's easy to wash and will be easy to maintain.

Additionally, consider that accidents do occur, so if you ever accidentally drop a barbell, a tile floor would probably be permanently damaged, while a rubberized floor can cushion the fall.

5. Not Making the Gym Comfortable

When setting up a home gym, sometimes people are overwhelmed by the equipment and spacing issues and forget about perhaps the most important aspect - you'll be spending your time sweating through grueling workouts and you'll need all the motivation you can get.

So you have to think not only about the equipment, but also about the look, the feel and the atmosphere of the home gym.

That means that setting up a stereo for music is essential to pumping you up during the workouts, as well as having the look and feel of the gym constantly motivating you to push yourself further - whether with posters or pictures, you'll need that nudge when you're trying to finish that last rep.

Also, remember to place a mirror so you can see yourself while working out - not only will this help with motivation and tracking progress, but it's also very important when keeping an eye on your form, so you perform the exercises properly.

A home gym, when set up properly, can become the place you can leave all your everyday worries and focus on yourself – a place that you can set up anyway you like, to suit your personal needs.

Consider these simple tips and avoid the mistakes that could turn out costly. A  home gym is a special place for any man and it must be prepared properly -  if you’re setting one up, you better do it the right way.

Michelle Forsyth is a self-employed writer and blogger with a BA from Melbourne University. When Michelle is not writing or blogging she spends time with her two kids and spends time shopping online. Her favorite website to score some good deals is OO.com.au!

The Key to Finding the Right Gym for You

Lots of people struggle to commit to their gym membership and end up wasting their contract or cancelling it early as they attend so infrequently. There are lots of common pitfalls when it comes to choosing a gym, and avoiding these makes it much more likely that you’ll actually stick to your fitness plan and carry on using your gym. Ask yourself a few key questions before you sign up to make sure you’ll be in the best possible position to use it effectively.

“Where is the gym?”

If your gym is halfway across town, it can be difficult to motivate yourself to make the journey. If you live in Brighton, for example, make sure you find a nearby gym in Sussex rather than one far away. Ideally, you should find a gym within a 15 minute travel of your starting point. Even better is one within walking distance of your home or workplace. This means you can warm up by jogging to the gym, and it keeps you gently moving on the walk home so your muscles don’t seize up.

“What contract can I afford?”

Just because it’s more cost-effective to agree to a two year contract, if it costs more than you can afford overall, opt for the shorter contract. If you’re often away from home for work, a pay-as-you-go scheme or a pay monthly rolling contract can offer you more flexibility. Some gyms include the cost of classes or use of spa facilities in their membership fee, so bear this in mind when comparing prices. No-frills memberships can be less than £20 a month if you’re on a tight budget.

“Which facilities will I use?”

If you love swimming, don’t feel inclined to opt for a cheaper gym just for the sake of saving a few pounds a month. Equally, don’t pay for a contract which includes classes if you only want to use the gym equipment. 

“What are the other members like?”

In a gym situation, it’s important to be with other people in the same situation as you. Whether it’s people of the same age or the same fitness level, it’s far less intimidating to work out with people like you than an entire room full of gym bunnies who know a treadmill like the back of their hand.  If you want to find a suitable gym, ask your friends which gyms they use for the best indication of the gyms who will be able to offer you the best service for what you want to get out of your workout.

Why Gyms Aren’t a Waste of Money

So you have made up your mind that you will finally start working out... at home. You think gyms are waste of money when you can perform the exact same workouts at home and achieve the same results, right? Wrong! As a personal trainer I see many people start and stop their gym membership and when I see people returning to the gym (with an extra 14lbs of weight) it comes as no surprise.

It’s true to say that many workouts can be performed at home but that is really not the reason why gyms are so effective. Here are a couple of reasons that you should be at the gym.

Money & space

You may have considered purchasing your very own treadmill and convinced yourself that it is going to be cheaper over the long term as oppose to gym membership, that’s not always the case. A good treadmill can cost you around $1000 now compare that to around $40 a month for gym membership where you get a variety of the most advanced epileptic training machines. Besides paying for gym membership alone is great motivation to actually go and workout. 

Now let’s talk about set up. If you have an ample amount of space for a gym mat, machines, exercise ball, weights, stretching space, jumping .. I think you get the idea. At a gym all the space you need is available and some gyms offer studio space (when not in use by classes) for more privacy.

Don’t get stuck in rut

Gyms offer variety so you won’t be stuck in a rut with the routine exercises you’ve learned along the way. Most good gyms offer a variety of classes including Zumba, aerobics, Yoga, Pilates and more, all led by professionals. And to top it off some very good gyms have a swimming pool, Jacuzzi and sauna, which not everyone has the luxury of owning in their home.

Your humble abode

What do think of when you are at home? It is a place of refuge, it is a place where you rest, relax put your feet up and unwind. Keep it that way! Why mix up work, working out relaxation and everything else under one roof? Besides the option to not workout is just too tempting.

That thing called motivation

Motivation to workout is one of the greatest challenges of training. Some people easily go through weeks of training, really energetic, determined and enthusiastic but just like that one day that same motivation could be gone and getting it back again isn’t easy if your sitting at home. Like minded people all on a mission to achieve a goal is great motivation for you to keep going when you are at the gym. 

Robin Osbourne is a personal trainer and tennis coach. He's specializes in olympic weight lifting and writes on behalf of The Park Club.