Some people want to attend a gym class but can't find the time to do so, while others don't have enough cash for a membership.
Also, there are people who are not comfortable with other people around.
If you are one of these people but is dying to do a real workout, a home gym might be the answer to your prayers.
However, there are a few factors that must be considered when setting up a home gym.
First, you have to consider your goals.
What do you want to achieve? Are you training for cardiovascular fitness or general fitness? Do you want to build muscle? If you are training for cardiovascular fitness, there should be a mix of different pieces of equipment in your home gym.
On the other hand, if you are training for cardiovascular fitness, you should have a treadmill or an exercise bike and maybe even multiple pieces of cardiovascular equipment for variety of your training.
But if you want gain muscle mass, you should focus on buying different pieces of resistance equipment.
The second factor to consider is space.
How much room do you have for your home gym? Some people buy expensive pieces of training equipment only to find out that it will not fit in the room provided.
To avoid this, be sure to measure the exact external dimensions of the assembled piece of equipment including all the attachments and the maximum amount of extension that might occur during exercise.
It is not enough to measure the area as different pairs of length and width could give the same area.
For example, your 2 m by 2 m equipment won't fit on a 4 m by 1m space even if the area of the equipment is the same as the area of your allotted space.
Also, look at ceiling height as some equipment sits high off the ground.
Even a simple jumping rope could be a problem if the ceiling is too low.
Always remember that it is important to choose pieces of equipment that are very efficient and take up as little space as possible.
As for the location, the basement is usually the best choice as it is built on concrete and, thus, can handle heavy weight loads.
The third factor is the budget.
High-quality equipment that is reliable and can be used for years is usually expensive.
If you cannot afford these "top of the line" pieces of equipment, at least buy the best you can afford.
Choose the best of a less expensive equipment (like resistance bands) over a lower-end version of an expensive equipment (like a multi-gym).
But if you do have a limited budget, you may consider purchasing used equipment.
Used equipment is often slightly used and heavily discounted in price compared to a new one.
Somewhere in your neighborhood there is an unused, expensive equipment, because the owner got bored with it or decided to go back to the gym instead.
You just have to look for that piece of equipment.
However, keep I mind that you don't need pricey equipment.
Sticking to the basics can also give you a good workout.
You can start with free weights, adjustable bench press, a stability ball, resistance bands, and chin-up and dip bars.
Once you have decided on the amount of budget you are willing to spend on your home gym, you can choose the type of equipment that you want to purchase.
Be sure to test out each piece of equipment first to make sure it is up to your standards.
It should be easy to use, adjustable, and easy to assemble.
Inspect it for safety, serviceability, service/warranty, design and appropriate features.
There should be no design flaws or weakness that could be a cause of injury.
Worn-out parts should be easily removed and replaced.
The equipment should be adjustable and easy to learn.
If you are not alone in your house, you might still have to consider another factor before setting up your own home gym.
There might be other members of your household who would also like to workout at the comfort of your own home.
Thus, the pieces of equipment that you should purchase must be able to accommodate others of different heights, weights and strength levels.
Depending on the above-mentioned factors, you could have an aerobic step, several sets of dumbbells, an adjustable bench, a fitness ball, an exercise matt and maybe some resistance bands and tubes if you are a beginner with a tight budget, or if you have enough cash you could have a multi-gym where everything is compact and available on one machine.
However, before you jump into buying any piece of equipment, see your doctor first.
Make sure that he is amenable to your new fitness program.
Inform him of the type of equipment that you want to purchase and explain to him how it is used in case he doesn't know.
Most of all, discuss any medical precautions with your doctor.
With some planning and a little creativity, you can set up your own gym at the comfort of your home.
No need to hurry, no need to be shy, no need to spend a dime.