The Ultimate Workout Routine Starter Kit

Whether you’re a workout fanatic, you’re just getting started on a fitness program or you’re somewhere in between, it’s important to have good gear. Many people are under the false impression that good gear, particularly if you’re talking about home gym fitness equipment, has to cost a fortune.

The truth is that there are a number of quality fitness equipment manufacturers who make great products that don’t cost an arm and a leg. In fact, many are quite reasonable.

Okay, so you have an idea about what type of exercise might make sense for your personality, your schedule, and your budget? Let’s take a look at the best 10 home gym fitness equipment solutions to help you narrow your choices.

#1 Cap-Barbell-Neoprene-Dumbbell-Rack

Lifting weights is one of the easiest and best things you can do for your body. Weight bearing exercise can be fit into five or ten minute segments throughout your day or you can dedicate 30 to 60 minutes every other day to your workout. And because there are so many different muscles and exercises you can do, you’ll never get bored.

Weight bearing exercises, strengthen your bones and joints and muscle burns fat faster. When you lift weights and increase muscle, your metabolism kicks it into high gear and it stays there longer so you burn fat continually, even when you’re not working out.

The cap barbell neoprene dumbbell rack is the perfect addition to your home gym or an ideal starter piece. They come in 3, 5 and 8 pound sets and their form fitting handles are coated with neoprene to make them extremely easy and comfortable to hold – no worries about the weight tearing up the skin on your hand or dropping them because they’re slick. They’re also color coded in red, blue and purple to make the right weight easy to identify and the bright colors are more motivating than basic black or silver. We could all use a little more motivation when we’re working out, right?

You can use them to strengthen your back, abdominal, arm and shoulder muscles with a variety of exercises and they’re easy to store out of the way in their tiered rack system. The list price for this set runs around $99 however you can often find them on sale for less.

#2 The Treadmill

Many people have a love/hate relationship with their treadmill. They love it because it’s an easy way to get great exercise right in their home. There are few exercises that beat the calorie burning and health benefits that jogging or running provides and the ability to run in your home is truly a luxury and a great way to get and stay fit.

However, it must be said that running on a treadmill isn’t exciting for everyone. The good news is that there are real steps you can take to make running on your treadmill an enjoyable exercise. For example:

Place your treadmill in a well lit room, preferably one with natural sunlight. This makes it much easier to get on it and enjoy your workout than if it’s stuffed in a cold and dark basement.

Place your treadmill in a room with entertainment. Whether you like to watch television while you’re working out or listen to music, the easier you make it to exercise, the more likely you are going to do it and the more likely it is you’re going to enjoy it.

Set achievable goals. Hopping on your treadmill with a goal is much more motivating than hopping on it just to serve time. You can set goals to increase your speed, to increase your time on the treadmill, to lose weight or to lose inches in a few key areas. Set achievable goals like “I want to lose 3 pounds this month and I’m going to accomplish it by cutting back my calorie intake by 100 calories and by running on my treadmill for 30 minutes each day.” At the end of the month, you’ll see you’ve achieved your goal, or surpassed it, and you can set a new goal. Achieving your goals is a great motivator.

So how do you choose the right treadmill?

Treadmills come with a variety of options. Some fold up to fit in smaller spaces. Some offer different levels of incline, some offer programs for weight loss, 5K training and so on, some have cup holders, some offer heart rate monitors. The key to buying the right treadmill for you needs is to make sure it meets your basic needs, the extras are nice but if it puts a quality treadmill out of your budget, they may not be worth it. Durability is key. The last thing you want is to replace a treadmill one year after you buy it. So look for quality first, price and features next.

Click here to see the Bowflex Treadmill in action

#3 The Total Gym

The Total Gym is an all in one solution. Working out on a Total gym helps you increase your cardio, your strength and your flexibility all while helping you reach your weight loss and fitness goals. And the Total Gym comes in a variety of price points, each offering different features and upgrades depending on your personal home gym fitness needs.

It’s ideal for all ages, weights and fitness levels. You can even add on features like:

• Leg Pulley System

• Squat Stand

• Total Gym Resistance Training Bundle

• Total Gym Pilates Training Bundle

• Press Bar

And because you can fold it up, it’s easy to store in a family room, a basement home gym, or even your bedroom. Perfect for home gyms of any size.

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#4 A Basic Step

The basic step is just that, it’s a durable step which usually can be raised or lowered depending on your fitness needs

and ability. A basic step is often used in aerobics routines and it’s great for lunges, squats and other weight bearing exercise. Combine a basic step with a set of neoprene cap dumbbells and you’re off to a great start. When choosing a step, look for one that is stable and durable. And if it comes with stackable steps or risers, make sure the stability remains regardless of the step’s height.

#5 A Floor Mat

Floor mats are essential if you’re doing any strength training in your home office or if you’re going to be on the floor doing any exercises. Additionally, if your home office is in your basement, a floor mat will help protect your joints while you’re working out. Standing on a floor mat is much better for your comfort than standing on a hard cement floor.

While some home gym floor mats come in rolls, generally, workout floor mats come in packages of tiles that fit together like puzzle pieces. Make sure to buy enough to cover your workout area including underneath any treadmills and home gym equipment.

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#6 A Bosu Trainer

The Bosu is a fitness training tool that kicks your home work out to a whole new level. Balance is an essential for core strength and when you improve your core strength you not only improve your overall physique but you prevent future injuries to your back. Core strength means better posture, improved strength and endurance and a better metabolism.

Because the Bosu balance trainer is small and compact, you can fit it in a closet, drawer or under the bed when you’re not using it and when you’re ready to get your workout on, just pull it out. The Bosu will challenge you like you’ve never been challenged and the website offers a host of complimentary products like the Bosu ball and home workouts to go along with them.

Click here for Bosu Balance Trainer Home Version

#7 A Fitness Ball

Fitness balls, those giant, colorful, bouncy balls come in a variety of sizes depending on your height. Here are the specifics:

• 55 centimeters – if you’re under 5 feet tall

• 65 centimeters – if you’re between 5 feet and 5 feet 7 inches tall

• 75 centimeters – if you’re between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet 2 inches tall

• 85 centimeters – if you’re over 6 feet 2 inches tall

In your home gym, they’re a great tool to help you increase your core stability, balance, and strength. Use them for sit-ups and crunches, for pushups and even to strengthen your hips and buttocks. You can purchase the balls individually or you can purchase them with exercise videos, floor mats and a pump to keep them at maximum capacity.

#8 A Medicine Ball

In many home gyms, because you’re limited for space, you’ll find medicine balls. This device is a 14 inch weighted ball, usually with a leather exterior or a hard rubber or vinyl. The ball is used for weight bearing exercises and can be used to increase the effort and effect of other basic exercises like a sit up. Medicine balls come in a variety of weights ranging from two to twenty-five pounds and many now come with a handle to make them easier to use.

Exercises include squats, twists, lunges and even pushups. They’re also great for strengthening your arm and shoulder muscles with throwing exercises.

#9 Ankle Weights

Ankle weights are a fantastic tool to add to your treadmill or home gym cardio workout and they can be added to your strength training workout. Your buns will get a great boost when you do leg lifts with your ankle weights on!

Ankle weights come in a number of weights, 2, 3, 5 and even 10 pounds and some ankle weights come with removable weight packets so you can decrease or increase the weight based on your needs. This means you no longer need multiple sets of ankle weights, one pair will do all you need it to.

Ankle weights can also be strapped to your wrist to add oomph to your shoulder, arm and back exercises. Make sure the ankle weights you choose are made from durable material and the Velcro or belt fasteners are solid.

#10 The Jillian Michaels Complete 5 Disc Workout Combo

Jillian Michaels is the kick butt personal trainer from The Biggest Loser and her workout combo DVD set can turn you into the biggest winner. The 5 disc workout combo comes with everything you need to exercise your entire body, head to toe including:

1. Shape Up-Front (Abs, Thighs, Shoulders, Triceps, Chest, Hips, and Nutrition),

2. Shape Up-Backside (Butt, Back, Abs, Hamstrings, Biceps, and Nutrition),

3. Cardio Kick box (Aerobic Combo Workout and Nutrition),

4. Maximize-Full Frontal,

5. Maximize-Back in Action.

All that’s required from you is 30 minutes, a bit of sweat, a basic step and some easy handheld dumbbells like the Cap-Barbell-Neoprene-Dumbbell-Rack listed earlier. Jillian Michaels is one skilled lady when it comes to whipping people into their best shape.

She also offers a home workout plan which you can get personalized for you and it’s all available online. Spend a few minutes registering on her website and you’re instantly provided with a plan to achieve your fitness and weight loss goals. Sign up for her membership program and you’ll be given a personalized plan, interactive tools and resources to help you achieve all of your goals.

Conclusion

Your home gym should be personalized for you. It should reflect your fitness goals, preferences and habits. Everything in this report is designed to maximize your exercise efforts for the best and fastest results. Start with the basics and add to your home gym as your budget and goals allow. Treadmills, weights, and fitness DVDs are the perfect place to start.

Make it fun, make it practically foolproof and make your fitness plan a reality with your perfect home gym fitness equipment