Setting up a home gym

Setting up a home gym can be a daunting task. What do you need? How much will it cost? Where do you buy the best equipment for the best price? Fret not. Here are the 9 basic pieces of equipment you need, including weights, exercise balls and other important gear to help you reach your goals. Learn what you need to create a well-stocked gym to meet your ever-changing needs.

 1. Dumbbells

The best investment you can make is with a good set of quality dumbbells. Not only can you do a huge variety of strength training exercises, you can also use dumbbells for cardio exercises as well - dumbbell swings for example. It's a good idea to have a variety of weights, ranging from 5 to 25 lbs, depending on your gender and fitness level. Iron hex dumbbells are a good choice because they're inexpensive and won't roll away.

 2. Exercise Ball

Choosing an exercise ball for your home gym means you can do core exercise whilst working on your balance and stability and just like dumbbells it can have multiple uses like using it as a bench when doing press ups or push ups.

3. A Step

A step is great for providing cardiovascular exercises and would make a useful addition to your home gym.

4. Adjustable Weight Bench

An adjustable weights bench allows you to do a variety of both incline and decline exercises. You can also use it for tricep dips and abdominal exercises like crunches and sit ups.
 
5. Resistance Bands and Tubes

Resistance bands are very versatile and because they provide a different type of resistance than free weights, your muscles get a different type of workout. Because of their size they are very portable so you can take them on holiday with you as well.
 
6. Weight Lifting Gloves

If you want to prevent your hands from getting calluses then you need to get a decent pair of weight lifting gloves. Ideally a pair that allows your hands to breathe so that your sweat can evaporate while you are working out.

7. Exercise Mat

A decent cushioned exercise mat will allow you to do floor exercise without experiencing much jar and also protect your floor from sweat stains.a little more cushion.
 
8. Adjustable Ankle/Wrist Weights

Ankle and wrist weight are a great way of increasing your strength. They work by increasing the resistance that you work against while performing exercises and also can increase resistance just by wearing whilst do normal day to day activities. It is important to recognize however that using ankle and wrist weights to increase resistance will put extra strain and stress on your joints, bones and muscles so it is advisable not to go too heavy.