More and more people are working out at home. Now that you can get great guidance from fitness professionals online, like we offer here at Designer Whey, collecting effective fitness tools you can use at home is a must.
If money isn’t an option, you can have the gym
of your dreams just a few feet away from your bedroom, but most people don’t have that luxury. Since space and money are important factors for most people when shopping for fitness equipment, here are my top 5 picks.
1. Dumbbells. Dumbbells are just about the best fitness tool out there. However, since you pay by the pound, most people can’t afford to stock up on every size available like they do at a gym. If you are in the market for dumbbells, try investing in adjustable dumbbells so you can customize the weight for your needs. If that’s not an option, choose a light, medium and heavy set for the most variety for the least money.
2. Bodylastics Bands. Resistance bands are a great alternative when dumbbells are simply not an option. Yet, all resistance bands are not created equal – and if you were to hold Bodylastics up next to generic bands you would instantly see what I mean. Although I wouldn’t just recommend any bands for a home gym, Bodylastics are a must. They are light, they travel well, and they’re extremely effective. Bodylastics take training a step further by actually stamping the equivalent weight in the metal clips that attach to the handles so you know what bands are the best match for you. In addition, Bodylastics are super versatile, coming with door anchors, handles, ankle straps, and the option to clip more bands in for more resistance, making the list of exercises possible practically endless.
3. Adjustable Bench. No matter what tools you have, an adjustable bench can take your training to a new level. Whether you use it as a step to work the glutes or you use it with dumbbells for killer upper body workouts, you will broaden your training by having a really good bench in your home gym.
4. Fit Ball. Many people buy the big balance balls with every intension of using them, but most people are missing out simply because they don’t realize all the exercises you can do. You can use a ball instead of a bench while working the upper body to engage more core. You can also use a fit ball for working abs and oblique’s comfortably with less pressure on your low back or tailbone. Put your feet on the ball for incline push-ups or plank work. Or for lower body, put your heels on the ball and lift the butt up to work the glutes for bridges. If you have been eyeballing a piece of equipment for your abs or glutes, pass it up and get a ball instead. You may have to spend a little more time experimenting and learning exercises, but you’ll get a lot more goody out of this fitness tool.
5. GymBoss Interval Timer. Give me a GymBoss and a body, and I can give you one of the hardest workouts you’ve ever experienced – all without the first weight or high-price fitness machinery. The GymBoss literally becomes the toughest trainer you’ll ever have (not including Steve Pfiester, Designer Whey’s resident trainer of course). You can do all the same exercises you do in the gym, using time instead of reps. For instance, instead of doing 12-15 repetitions of a each exercise, set the GymBoss Interval Timer for 45 seconds of work and 15 seconds of recovery. The GymBoss will take any workout to a whole new level. Your muscles will thank you and your fat will leave you.
