Building a home gym for under $100

Written by Libby Norris

Did you think having a home gym was too overwhelming or too expensive? Not necessarily so! Whether you're just starting to workout or you're a fitness veteran, setting up a home gym is certainly a convenient option for fitness and now can be cost-effective as well.

There are so many great equipment options that can add a lot of variety and impact for home training. The following notes are just a sampling of some of the tools we use in gym training, home training and fitness classes. It's not a huge investment and with a little bit of guidance, you can create an endless inventory of exercises!

Home Gym Options - Features and Benefits!

With so many options, how to you choose the right combination of equipment? There are three main considerations before you buy:

1. Space - How much space do you want to allocate to your workout area? Can you leave your equipment out, or do you need to choose things that can easily store under the couch, bed or in the closet?

2. Goals and Preferences - What components of fitness do you need to focus on first? If you enjoy walking or sports, you may not need to worry about any cardiovascular equipment. Outline what you're already doing and then determine what components of fitness you need to add to have a balanced fitness routine - cardio, muscle, flexibility and balance. Also, what WILL you do at home? You may want to take a class or join a running group for cardio and motivation, but then fit in your flexibility and strength at home.

3. Budget - How much do you want to spend? Listing your goals will help you to identify your priorities. Start with one or two things first and then add to your home gym. This will also help you to stay motivated by adding new equipment and change.

Combining your equipment may look like this. Again, think about balance. In this sample outline for myself, I know I will do some running and cycling outside for my cardiovascular component. I've added a skipping as an indoor option for when it rains or for using in a circuit. The foam roller and stability ball, I will use for flexibility and core work. I can also use the roller or ball as an alternative to a weight bench - which is considerably more expensive! The gliders (are like paper plates under your feet and hands) offer some interesting variety along with additional core and balance challenges.

Sample Home Gym Combo:

Start small and build. Check out magazines and the internet for interesting new ideas. Many offer workout combinations of 3-8 exercises that can easily be done at home with minimal equipment. The keys for success - keep your workouts comfortable but challenging, and add lots of variety. This way, you'll stay safe but motivated and progressing towards your goals.