We built our home gym about five years ago and I have to say it was one of the best decisions ever. At the time, I had just decided to quit my job as a Crossfit coach to start coaching on my own and needed a place to do it. Thus, our home gym was born! I’d worked in several Crossfit gyms over the years and knew exactly how I wanted our home gym to look as well as how I wanted it to function.
My two goals for the gym were 1. Plenty of floor space for multiple people to be able to work out at once and 2. Have the right equipment for myself and my clients at the time, to reach their fitness goals. Fast forward to today, I no longer use the gym to teach classes or coach clients because life took me in a different direction… Hello Blogging. lol. But, because of how functional the gym is, we still get so much use out of it as a family.
Is it effective to workout at home?
One of the questions I get asked a ton when I share my home workouts or gym space with you over on Instagram is “How do you find the motivation to work out alone?” or “Does working out in a home gym get you results?” Motivation is tricky. I’ll be 100% honest. There are very few days where I wake up, and I’m super excited to workout. It’s work. Work isn’t always fun. I try to just look at it as “It’s just forty-five minutes!” When I think about other things that take forty-five minutes, like scrolling through social media, watching a Netflix show, or doing laundry… I can quickly rationalize that getting my workout in is gonna give me the best bang for my buck. The best advice I have for you here is to just do it. I never ever finish a workout and think… Well, that wasn’t worth it. It always is. Always! 🙂
As far as results go. My best advice is to follow a program. When left up to your own devices to come up with workouts you will 1. run out of ideas fast or 2. just do things that are easy and that you like to do. When it comes to results you have to make sure you’re working on things that push you out of your comfort zone. In my experience, the things that push you are rarely the things you will choose to do on your own.
The program that I’ve been following and loving lately is Power Sculpt by Paleomg. I am a huge fan of Julie (the influencer behind Paleomg!) and have been following her for years. This is in no way sponsored. I just want to share Julie with you because she is the funniest human being on the planet… seriously. ON. THE. PLANET. And If you wanna get fit… she’s your girl. I can’t say enough good things about this program, so if you’re looking for one… definitely check it out!
How much does a decent home gym cost?
Another question I get a lot is how much does a home gym cost. It kinda depends on how much and what types of equipment you decide to go with but there are definitely ways to get a very effective gym set up on a budget. I actually wrote a blog post on “How to Build a Home Gym on a Budget” Here. Check that out if you want direct links to affordable equipment you can grab from Amazon!
One way that we were able to save a ton on our gym was with our floor mats. If you buy directly from a gym supply store you will pay a premium for rubber floor mats but you can always go to a farm store, such as Tractor Supply, and buy horse stall mats that are way less expensive and essentially the same thing! Just measure your space and buy the mats to fit. (You may have to cut them for a snug fit!) and Voila!
The best sites for gym equipment
There are a ton of places to find gym equipment. My best advice is to try to find second-hand items for the big stuff. Try places like Facebook marketplace for larger items like squat racks, barbells, or machines. When it comes to smaller items like kettlebells, dumbbells, or weighted balls, you can find those on Amazon pretty inexpensively. Also, if you’re unsure of what equipment you would need to get your gym started, I have a guide, complete with what size weights you should start with here! You can also check out my Amazon Shop for my fave fitness items including some of my favorite workout clothes!
Just remember, with a home gym, it’s best to start small with a few things that you know you will use. Then, as you’re ready, you can add equipment little by little until you have everything you need or want!
Did you miss my DIY Home Gym blog post? Check it out!
