Nobody enjoys being duped by infomercials for a fitness product that claims to help you lose weight and look like a celebrity for a mere $39.99 over the course of six easy installments. No one, not even you, needs a Shake Weight or an Ab Belt. Pick versatile, reasonably priced equipment that serves more than one purpose if you’re serious about working out at home.
Getting into shape is easy if you put in the effort. Start your own home workout regimen with as little as two pieces of equipment from the following list; you may find that this is all you need to finally lose weight and shape the physique you’ve always wanted.
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On a Budget, Multipurpose Fitness Equipment
1. Jump Rope
You’re in for a shock if this is the first time you’ve picked up a jump rope since elementary school. Jump ropes offer a fantastic cardio workout that you can perform almost any place for an average cost of less than $20.
Just keep in mind that jumping rope is a challenging exercise, so don’t expect to complete a 30-minute routine right away. Instead, use your jumping rope for interval training by alternating between one minute of jumping and one minute of rest.
2. The Step or a Flat Bench
The workout bench is versatile since it can be used for both traditional workouts like the dumbbell chest press and plyometric box exercises like stepping up and jumping. Plyometric boxes range in height from 6 to 42 inches.
The Step, the traditional step aerobic tool, can serve as a bench, a low plyometric box, or a tool for step aerobics, among other things.
There is a price difference of $45 to $90 between the two pieces of equipment, so it’s important to make an informed choice. A bench is better suited for people who prefer to focus on strength training, while The Step is better suited for those who prefer to practice exercises from home using videos.
3. BOSU Ball
The BOSU, which stands for both sides up, is a strange-looking half-stability ball that provides a brutal workout that tests your balance, core strength, and overall physical prowess.
Put the ball side down on the floor and use it as a step for a cardio workout. For a regimen that emphasizes strength and stability, you can flip it over and use the flat side as a base for exercises like lunges, squats, and pushups. Although you might have to do some digging to get a good price on a BOSU Ball online, you should be able to acquire one for about $100.
4. The Stability Ball
The late 1990s saw the rise in popularity of stability balls, and there’s no sign of that trend abating anytime soon. The diameters of these giant inflatable balls range from 45 to 75 centimeters, making them suitable for the use of most adults.
Although a ball is most commonly associated with abdominal exercises, it may be used to work out the entire body.
Use it to increase the difficulty of push-ups by resting your shins on it, or of wall squats by placing it behind your back. Lying back on the ball and supporting yourself with your feet makes it possible to use it as a bench.
Exercises ranging from chest presses with a dumbbell to triceps extensions can be performed in this position. Search for a high-quality, mid-range ball that is suited for your height and costs between $18 and $70.
5. The Medicine Balls
I wouldn’t recommend dropping a ton of cash on a full set of medicine balls, but by all means, pick up a couple. Typically weighing between 2 and 30 pounds, these balls have the diameter of a soccer ball or a basketball. They’re simple to hold and work wonderfully as a supplementary weight in abdominal exercises.
You may get a great upper body workout by throwing a weighted ball against a wall or back and forth with a partner. This action mimics the mechanics of leaping and the explosive motion builds strength in the same way that jumping does. Start with medicine balls weighing between four and eight pounds; pricing ranges from $20 to $45 for one ball.
6. Dumbbells
Dumbbells are a standard piece of equipment in gyms everywhere and for good reason. Incorporating them into your workout routine is simple, and they aid in the development of all-around muscle strength when utilized properly. You should compare prices and try out a few different brands of dumbbells before settling on one.
You should have at least three and preferably five sets of dumbbells ranging in weight from five to thirty pounds to get started. One 10-pound dumbbell, for example, could set you back $10 – $40.
7. Kettlebells
The use of kettlebells, which have been used for centuries, has recently become fashionable as a kind of exercise. Kettlebells have a bell-shaped bottom and a handle on top. The kettlebell’s grip is lighter than the bell, so as you lift, press, and swing the bell, your body must continually adjust to the changing pull of gravity.
Kettlebells, like dumbbells and medicine balls, can help you lift more weight when performing exercises like squats, lunges, and shoulder presses, but they can also be used to get a great aerobic workout by swinging them around.
Kettlebells, like the other weighted items on this list, can cost anywhere from $1 to $3 per pound. Begin with kettlebells that weigh between 12 and 30 pounds.
8. The Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are a great option for those on a tighter budget. They’re simple to pack away and carry anywhere thanks to their portability, adaptability, and lightweight. You can use them to add more challenge to a variety of exercises, from lateral slides and bicep curls to seated rows and even standing rows.
If you are just beginning a weight training program or are still recovering from an injury, resistance bands are a fantastic tool to have at your disposal. You can use the bands alone for a comprehensive exercise. You can get light, medium, and heavy weights for around $30.
9. Foam Roller
Use a portable foam roller to work up your muscles after a workout. Foam rollers, while typically associated with self-massage, have many other useful applications as well, including balance and flexibility training.
Lunging with one foot on a roller is a challenging exercise. You should choose EVA foam rollers if you want to avoid warping. In most cases, you can get one for less than $30.
10. Yoga Mat
While a yoga mat may not be a traditional fitness tool, it is nonetheless essential to have. An excellent mat for use in yoga, stretching, and abdominal exercises may be purchased for less than $40. When you take your workout outside on a mat, you don’t have to worry about stumbling over rocks or stones when you do push-ups, planks, or lunges.
11. Set of Cones
If you think back to your days in elementary school PE, you might wonder if you could have gotten through the year without a set of cones. It’s amazing how many different exercises can be set up with just five or six cones.
Set up five cones at equal intervals across a 90-foot field, then run suicides by going from your starting point to the nearest cone, back to your starting point, and then to the next cone and back again.
You can practice evasive maneuvers such as sliding laterally, rushing forward, and backpedaling by navigating a square of cones. You can get an entire set for less than ten dollars, making them an essential part of your at-home workout arsenal.
12. The Suspension Trainer
The lats, one of the largest muscular groups in your back, are notoriously difficult to work out on your own. Consider: lunges and squats, pushups, and a slew of arm workouts target the chest, shoulders, and biceps, but what about your back?
You can perform rows with your dumbbells, but it will be difficult to simulate the motion of a pull-up or lat pulldown. You could take the route of a pullup bar, but I’d rather go with a suspension trainer.
Adjustable and designed to be hung from the ceiling, a wall, or a door, these straps let you perform assisted or unassisted pull-ups with a newfound degree of instability. Furthermore, you may utilize them for a full-body regimen by pulling, pushing, and pressing your way through a set of exercises. Try to find a good set of suspension straps for under $90.
Bottom Line
Building a home gym doesn’t have to break the bank. You can get an excellent workout for far less than $150 with only a few dumbbells, a suspension trainer, a set of cones, and a jump rope. The most important thing is a drive, as even the best tools are useless if you don’t put in the effort to use them.
If you’re having trouble getting started, saving up for a month of training with a professional may be worth it. A trainer will keep you on track with your exercise routine, instruct you on the correct technique, and demonstrate how to create your own workout plans. Remove yourself from the trainer’s supervision and continue your progress on your own.
