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Home Gyms. Ever see someone with a good physique who got it by working
out on a home gym? I have. I’ve even competed against people who became
competitive physique athletes (bodybuilders) by working out on a home
gym. It can be done. But if this is true, why do so few do it? Why
do most people who buy a home gym end up selling it in a yard sale?
I will
tell you why. It is for the same reason that most home businesses fail.
They did not have a plan.
Home
gyms, similar to a home business, require dedication, you may have all
the desire in the world, but if you fail to develop a plan, and then
work it, you will never see results. The following 5 steps have been
developed to help you to get the most out of your home gym. Follow these
and your home gym won’t become a dust collector.
1.
Write your goals down. This is basic and is a good practice for any
worthy pursuit. What is it that you truly hope to accomplish by
purchasing a home gym? Do you just want to loose a few pounds? If so,
you really don’t need home gym equipment to do it. Perhaps a few small
changes to your diet and walking a mile a day will get you where you
want to go. Maybe you want to tone up a bit? Now were talking, home gyms
are great way to tone up loose and sagging muscles, and add a pleasing
healthy appearance to your overall physique. Perhaps you want to develop
a good physique and are just too shy to go to your local gym. All of
these things are important and will determine the type of home gym
equipment that you buy. You will not develop large muscular arms on a
treadmill or strong thighs with an ab machine. Therefore, determine what
it is that you hope to accomplish with a home gym, and write it down.
2. Make your goals reasonable. The perfect bodies and beautiful
people that you see on all of the infomercials are not reasonable goals.
They are being featured in the commercial for a reason, they are
exceptional, and in fact, most of them did not develop their physiques
from the equipment that is being advertised. If your goal is not
reasonable, you are in for a quick disappointment. I’m not saying that
you should not set a lofty goal, but there should be legs in the
journey. You don’t eat a seven course meal in a single gulp. If for
instance, your goal is to loose 100 lbs, break it down into steps of 20
lbs at a time, and celebrate each victory. If your goal is to add an
inch to your biceps, don’t measure them everyday. If your goal is to
compete in the next Olympia, forget it, you’re not being reasonable.
Reasonable goals, taken in small steps, will return the most quality
results over time.
3. Do your research. Now that you have established just that it
is that you intend to accomplish with your home gym, its time to decide
what home gym equipment is going to get you there. As noted above, you
will not develop large muscular arms on a treadmill. If your goal is to
loose a few pounds and improve your cardiovascular health, than a
treadmill, stepper, or rowing machine may be just what the doctor
ordered. If you have decided to tone up a bit than you may find that a
set of dumbbells is all that you need. You would be amazed to know what
can be accomplished with a set of dumbbells and a little creativity.
Your goals may be a bit more demanding, and a complete home gym is in
your future. Multi gyms as they are often called may be based on free
weights, pulleys, or tension rods, and offer the advantage of being able
to work different muscle groups, with minimal change over, all on the
same machine. My own home gym allows me to do lat pulls, seated rows,
incline bench press, curls and squats, all from one convenient machine.
4. Buy quality. Quality home gym equipment will usually outlast
their less expensive counterparts and actually save you money in the
long run. It will function more smoothly reducing the risk of injury. It
will require less maintenance. It will have a more natural feel to it,
and is far more likely to still be in use a year from now.
5. Work your Plan! Quality results take effort and time, but are
worth the expense of both. When you have dropped another dress size, you
will not regret the half hour that you have spent every morning
exercising. When you are complemented on your biceps you will not regret
the multiple sets of dumbbell curls that got you there. When your abs
begin to show, you will not regret the diet, dedication and crunches
that led you on your way. My wife once told me that I am lucky to have a
six pack. Perhaps I am, but I have also found that the harder that I
work, the luckier I become. And so it is with you my friend. Recognize
that this is going to take work, commitment, and time, but that if you
establish your goals, develop a plan, purchase the right equipment and
then stick to, you will wake up a year from now ever so grateful for the
sacrifice.
That’s
it my friends, there is no magic to it. Forget the diet pills and
expensive supplements. A quality home gym, weather it be a simple set of
dumbbells, a treadmill, or a multi gym, will take you as far as you want
to go, but the commitment has to come from you.
Till next time,
Kerry Dulin
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