We all know that getting to the gym is sometimes quite a burden – it’s out of the way, there’s traffic to deal with, by the time we do get there, our motivation is gone… But we also know that not getting to the gym conjures up guilt, and “inconvenience” is no excuse to skip a workout.

There is a way to remedy the guilt without compromising your schedule. Adding a home gym offers convenience and privacy. Just like a comprehensive fitness routine, however, adding a gym to your home’s layout requires a plan. Equipment can be pricey, unnecessary or dangerous. Proper spacing can be complicated. Variety and motivation are tougher to achieve than at a gym.

Make sure you install equipment that is necessary, not just stylish. In the fitness industry, exercise trends come and go, and new machines and ideas are introduced all the time. Simplify by sticking with the basics, which typically entail a cardio machine, some weights, a mat and an exercise ball.

Cardio
Center your home gym on a cardio machine(s) – treadmills, bikes, ellipticals, rowing machines, skiing machines, whatever you prefer. These pieces can take up a lot of space and you want to be comfortable. If you’re not, the machine could just end up being a very expensive clothes rack.

“Your cardio equipment should be something you like using. I would suggest getting two or more pieces if you can afford it, because variety is a big factor in sticking with a workout routine,” says Jerry Greenspan, president of Exercise Equipment Experts, which sells everything from free weights to state-of-the-art treadmills to personal training sessions (www.columbusfitness.com).

If you like running or walking through your neighborhood, go with something you can’t do outside. If cost trumps everything, you can get a quality stationary bike at a cheaper cost, or even a straightforward rowing machine. Treadmills and ellipticals are Exercise Equipment Experts’ biggest sellers.

There are essentially four grades of treadmills – residential (for home gyms), light commercial (used at places like hotel fitness centers), institutional (used at places like spas or resorts) and full commercial (used at gyms). Health clubs need to have higher grade equipment because there are so many people using it. You, however, do not. Whatever you choose, it’s important to do your homework before writing the check.

“Probably the biggest mistake people make is they don’t fully understand what they’re paying for. A lot of people set up home gyms, but that doesn’t make it the right home gym,” Greenspan says. “Ask someone who knows the equipment, not just someone who knows how to sell the equipment.”

Perhaps what is most important about buying a piece of fitness equipment is determining who will service it if it breaks down. Find out pre-purchase, and make sure it’s someone local. You don’t want to get stuck with a treadmill you can’t use.

Strength
If you have a personal trainer, it’s important to outfit your home gym with whatever they suggest, or their workout plan for you is moot.

Most of the time, an adequate amount of free weights/dumbbells and an adjustable bench are the focal points of a regimen, according to Rick Rick III, fitness and personal training manager at Premier at Sawmill.

“What you set up in your home gym is no doubt individualized. Look at how your week is structured, the number of cardio and strength sessions you have, and go from there. Free weights can allow you to push your body and get the maximum benefit out of a workout. There’s potential there that a machine doesn’t have if you know what you’re doing,” Rick says.

Free weights can provide unlimited exercising options, but they require proper form or they’re ineffective, even unsafe. If you’re apprehensive about your free weight smarts, it might behoove you to instead consider a multigym machine with cable resistance. Cable systems use weights and pulleys to incorporate gravity resistance. At Exercise Equipment Experts, these pieces typically sell from $1,000 to $5,000.

“The cable resistance is what makes these pieces a good buy. The changes from one exercise to another are quick and easy and they’re effective if you’re doing them right,” Greenspan says.

Space can be compromised with bulky weight stands. There probably isn’t a need to buy weight plates, dumbbells, barbells and kettle bells. Also, if you’re never going to touch a 50-lb. dumbbell, don’t worry about blowing your budget on an extensive collection. Stick to the plan.

Accessories
There are plenty of dynamics involved in a full workout, beyond cardio and strength. Stretching is imperative, so a mat is a good addition to a home gym’s repertoire. Exercises working the abs and core are also encouraged, which is why a stability ball has become a must-have.

“Stability balls can double as a bench, work your abs and core and manipulate your body effectively during a workout. You are going to get maximum use out of a stability ball, and they’re pretty cheap, too,” Rick says.

Medicine balls are a good addition, and can be used in a variety of exercises. Resistance bands are also a popular home gym accessory. “There are so many accessories available and they are good for a dynamic warm-up. It’s important to get refreshed with movements because there is so much you can do with these pieces,” Rick says.

Space
Exercise equipment can be bulky and cumbersome. If you’re serious about this investment, you’re not going to be satisfied with a folding cardio piece that conveniently slides under the bed. You want more.

You’re going to need the space for comfort and safety. How much is tough to gauge and depends on which equipment you go with. The American Council on Exercise estimates freeing up the following measurements for specific equipment:
• Treadmills – 30 square feet
• Bikes – 10 square feet
• Multigym machines – for a single station, 35 square feet; for a multistation, between 50 and 200 square feet
• Stair climbers – 10 to 20 square feet
• Rowing machines – 20 square feet
• Free weights – between 20 and 50 square feet
• Ski machines – 25 square feet

It’s better to overestimate than underestimate. “Right now, the way training is headed, there is more movement involved and more space needed, which is good. Before it seemed a bit limited in its scope,” Rick says.

Motivation
Your financial and spacing budgets won’t mean anything if you’re not motivated to work out in the first place.

“There are four very important things to consider with a home gym – the cardio, the weights and the exercise ball and mat, but the one people forget about is that they’re not going to use any of it if they’re bored or they’re not motivated,” Greenspan says.

An ideal way to get you in the mood is by incorporating entertainment into your home gym – hook up a stereo system or a TV. There’s a reason top gyms tout their TV-laden walls or spend a little more for cardio equipment with TVs built right in. When people get bored, they lose interest.

You’re also sure to be more motivated if you know what you’re doing. If you’re not working out properly, it can be counterproductive and even dangerous. Equip your home gym and yourself with the knowledge you need to make it worthwhile.

“Most people assume that more is better, but this isn’t about money, it’s knowledge. If you know what you’re doing, you don’t need everything. Set up something that you’re doing correctly. Knowledge and motivation are the key elements to having a home gym,” Greenspan says.

Rick agrees. “If you understand your workout and what you’re doing, you should be good to go, even if you just have a basic set of weights in your home,” he says.

Of course, neither the basics nor the most comprehensive home gym will produce a beach body right away. Along with knowledge and motivation, add some patience to your investment, and eventually it will all be well worth it.

“People are so busy, which is why home gyms are so convenient. You can do the laundry and watch the kids and start dinner. Plus, you can wear what you want and listen to what you want,” Greenspan says. “But none of that will mean anything if you don’t realize it’s going to take time and work. You can’t buy or rush a good body. Everything nowadays is instant. Fitness is not, and that’s why it’s so worth it if you stick to it.”

Alicia Kelso is Editor of Luxury Living Magazine.


The American Council on Exercise has recommended the following tips for those interested in creating a home gym:
• Identify Your Fitness Needs.
Your equipment should fit your fitness level and your interests. Every home gym should include the basics – equipment for both cardio and strength training, a mat for stretching and calisthenics.
• Determine Your Budget.
Get what you pay for. And keep in mind that high-end equipment may be tougher and more expensive to maintain down the road. Do your homework to find out what the going rate is on a piece of equipment. You can buy used equipment, but be sure and get a warranty.
• Determine Your Space.
Consider the set up of your home, for usage, safety, aesthetics and future expansion potential. Keep as much open space as you have equipment space.
Examine the Product: Features, Design, Manufacturer, Safety and Serviceability.
The required movement for a machine should not compromise your natural body movements. The equipment should be adjustable and easy to learn. Keep safety features in mind.
• Use a Check List When Assessing a Purchase.
Keep in mind price, safety, effectiveness, comfort and enjoyability, space efficiency, adjustability, durable design, quiet operation, reputable manufacturer, written warranty and service plan and parts availability.