The 5 Best Pieces of Gym Equipment You Need at Home, Trainer Says
Having a home gym is a fantastic advantage, in my opinion. Many of my online fitness coaching clients work out at home and have built a nice gym setup. They can't be bothered to deal with the time it takes to commute to a gym, the fees, or how slammed public spots can get during peak hours. Plus, during the pandemic, home gyms have offered many people a safe and convenient place to get in a workout on their own schedules.
If you have the space, building a home gym is incredible because you don't need a lot of money to build a decent setup. In fact, buying equipment is a one-time investment that you can spread out over time. In the beginning, you should be focusing on purchasing the basic equipment that will get you the most results. Anything more is just icing on your home gym cake…
If you've been looking to put together a home gym, here are my recommendations for the five best pieces of equipment that you should invest in. And for how to use them, check out my This Workout Plan Will Keep You Lean Throughout the Holidays.
Adjustable Dumbbells
I love using dumbbells. They're versatile, you can perform many movements that target your entire body, and they also take up less space compared to a barbell and a rack.
I recommend getting adjustable ones, so you don't have to spend tons of money on multiple pairs that take up lots of space. Ativafit sells a great one that many of my clients have that range from 5 to 71.5lbs.
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Adjustable Bench
Having a bench like this one by Flybird Fitness is pretty important for many strength-training exercises. You'll have a sturdy base (rather than your couch or a table) on which to perform several movements.
When figuring out which bench to get, be sure it's one that can be adjusted from many different angles instead of just a standard, flat, high incline, upright one. This allows you to perform multiple variations of some of the most effective exercises.
Resistance Bands
Bands are awesome because they are cheap and you can do so many exercises with them. For some moves, they are actually superior to using barbells and dumbbells because the tension is totally different. Not only that, but you can also bands as extra resistance for certain exercises such as pushups, squats, and rows.
Related: Exercises You Should Never Skip As You Age
Ab Wheel
One of my favorite tools for training your abs is the ab wheel. An ab wheel is very affordable and builds your core like no other. If you're looking for a nice piece of equipment to train your abs and build strength there, look no further than the wheel.
Related: Exercise Tricks for Getting Toned Abs ASAP
Pullup Bar
Pullups are one of the best exercises you can do for your upper body. They build mass on your biceps, lats, upper back muscles, and core. Depending on your grip, pullups work certain muscles more than others. Using a neutral grip (palms facing each other) targets your forearm muscles (brachialis), while a supinated grip (palms facing you) targets your biceps.
You can mount a pullup bar on your doorframe in your home and knock them out in your workouts. This is a great home option.
For a killer strength-training workout you can do at home using this equipment, check out This 20-Minute Toning & Slimming Workout.
