How to Start a Home Gym

On the Runs On Espresso podcast this month I talked about running and strength training. It seemed like a good time to show you my home gym. Or rather my home gym corners. 🤣 I’ve been slowly collecting items over the years. My gym grows as I do. Plus, then you only spend a little at a time! And that allows you to watch for good deals on equipment!

Not everything I have is something you will need or want. It will give you an idea of where to start. And if you start building a similar home gym you will be able to most, if not all, strength programs. About the only items I really want are a squat rack and Olympic bar and plate. But even with dumbbells, I can do plenty of squats!

I mentioned my home gym corners… that’s because my gym is now in three corners of my living room. It is nice because I can still hang with the family, watch TV, and work out. Several years from now, I will convert our guest room into a gym and get that squat rack and Olympic bar but this will do in the meantime.

Let’s talk about equipment!

I will link to as many of the items as I can. Any Amazon links will be Amazon Associate links and I may receive a commission if you purchase through the link.

In this corner, we have… a stationary bike! It’s great for cardio cross training especially when I don’t wanna go out and run in the heat. It’s nothing fancy because I didn’t want to spend a lot of money if I wasn’t sure I’d use it much. It’s not a bad bike but someday I think I’d like to replace it with a treadmill.

In the next corner, we have the non-weight-type items. Everything from a yoga mat to a variety of resistance bands. My most used items are the yoga mat since I use it as a workout mat for weights and plyo. Yoga blocks are also handy for floor exercises to support my neck. The plyo box is great for jumps, step-ups, a seat, and holder of weights, notebook, or phone.

I also use the different resistant bands and slingshot for a lot of my strength training.

And in the last corner, we have ALL the weights! I have two different weights for kettlebells and medicine balls, which seem to work well for me. I have invested mostly in a variety of dumbbells from eight pounds up to 35 and that seems to cover all my needs. I have purchased these over time, as I’ve moved up in weights.

I also invested in a basic bench and dumbbell rack that holds most of my weights.

And that is my home gym! It’s nothing fancy. The weights don’t match. But I can do almost all strength/weight training exercises with it. If I come across one I can’t do, I can usually find a suitable modification. You don’t need a ton of weights or fancy equipment. You don’t need to spend hundreds out of the gate. Start with a couple of dumbbells and some resistance bands and you can get started!

Then, just add as you go. You find deals at Target and Amazon. All of my equipment came from those two places. If you want to find used equipment, check resale places like Play it Again Sports or, if you’re brave, Facebook Marketplace or Craig’s List (is that still a thing??). Many people buy equipment, use it once or twice, then it sits for a while until they decide to unload it. Ohhh, maybe garage or rummage sales could be a good spot too!