4 Tips To Setting Up A Home Gym

Are you tired of wasting gas money and gym fees, only to find all of the elliptical machines occupied when you do finally get to the gym? Or has your work schedule become so chaotic that even a 24-hour gym would barely accommodate your exercise schedule? If working out at the gym just isn't working out, it may be time to take your fitness routine and go home.

But before you plunk down your credit card for the first exercise machine you see advertised on a late night infomercial, you need to consider a few key elements of your home gym including space, budget, and most importantly, your fitness goals.

Any effective workout program should include the four elements of fitness: cardio exercise, strength training, balance and flexibility. (The fifth element is nutrition, but that's another topic altogether.) In spite of the infomercial claims, there really is no one machine that covers each of the four fitness bases. The Total Gym comes close, but doesn't deliver the cardio benefits you need for weight loss. So accept the fact right now that you will need to design a multi-faceted home workout.

1. Choose your space wisely. Where are you most likely to actually workout in your home? If entertainment options are critical, make sure your workout space is near the television, or near a window for live entertainment. If you need to get away from the family, consider rearranging your bedroom to accommodate a foldup treadmill or folding exercise bike. Both can be stored under your bed when not in use. Whatever space you choose for your home gym, make sure there is enough storage nearby for all of your exercise accessories such as dumbbells, yoga mats, exercise DVDs, strength training bands and balls.

2. Measure carefully. Is there enough headroom in your basement to accommodate a stair-stepping machine? Will you be able to perform delt-flys in your living room without knocking a lamp across the room? And will that new treadmill actually fit through the doorway of your apartment?

3. Consider flooring. A carpeted floor with extra padding is far superior for exercising than a cement or tile floor. A hard surface is just that: hard on your joints. You will also regret lifting weights on a tile floor after you drop that first dumbbell. If you are stuck with the basement for your workout space, invest in a few thick mats. Placing a rubberized mat underneath your treadmill or other cardio equipment will protect the floor from sweat and oil; the mat can also reduce vibration and complaints from your downstairs neighbor.

4. Shop before you buy. Once you determine the type of fitness equipment you need, start shopping. You will find that the prices of fitness equipment vary widely, but you can find some real bargains if you are patient. Check out sales at big-box retailers, visit the manufacturers' website, or ask local gyms if they are selling any of their used machines. For high-tech items such as cardio machines, stay away from eBay and Craigslist unless there is a warranty being offered.

By doing your homework ahead of time, you will be much more likely to actually use the home gym equipment that you purchase and avoid giving your credit card its own workout!

The author writes for womensfitnesstoday.com Women's Fitness Today, a website that features womensfitnesstoday.com/fitness-equipment-reviews/the-best-home-fitness-equipment fitness equipment reviews on popular home gym equipment.