So we all thought that summer this year has been cancelled and that the ‘’New Year, new me’’ mantra is not working out in the time of COVID-19. If you’re sitting on your couch, playing video games or gorging yourself with snacks that you’ve generously supplied yourself, then, in the end, you will have done more damage to yourself than you would have by catching this virus. So take the first step and set up a home gym to get yourself off the couch and start being more active.
You may not feel the effects of this behaviour right now, but possibly in a few years. A sedentary lifestyle is not natural for us, and scientists say that we are still months away from finding a vaccine. When it comes to your physical wellbeing, the only remedy is to start acting now. Your muscles, joints, and overall wellbeing will improve and you’ll improve your immunity to various diseases.
Home gym for homemade muscle mass
Quarantine might inspire you to create your own home gym. In future, you’ll save money on a gym membership and you’ll feel more inspired to workout – there are no other people around to make you feel awkward or people who just came to take a selfie. There is also a psychological aspect – if you decided to spend your money on creating the ultimate home gym experience, you will probably feel guilty about not exercising.
Use the space you already have
Most of us have a spare room or space we simply don’t use as well as we could. So make use of it! You could even set up a gym in your garden. That means that it may be time for a serious remodel of your basement, attic, your garage or your spare bedroom. Of course, you could also make a space in your living room or your bedroom for your cardio equipment.
Equipment for cardio training is not always bulky and can often fit it to a corner you like. You can even set it up right in front of the television while watching an episode of your favourite show – you’ll burn off some serious of calories while watching tv. This also applies to your bedroom – a quick and intensive cardio training workout when you wake up will make you feel more energized for the rest of the day.
If you don’t like clutter, our recommendation is to dedicate one room to create your own fitness zone.
You are probably thinking about how many items of training equipment you will need, but the truth is – you don’t need that much.
There are loads of fitness programs promising you quick results and there is a ton of fake and gimmicky exercise equipment which you’ve probably seen on TV. The truth is – everything revolves around cardio training, which increases your durability, burns calories and keeps your muscles healthy.
You don’t have to break the bank – for a basic home gym setup, you will need a bench press, a kettlebell, a barbell, and a set of adjustable dumbbells. A squat rack is also a great investment for your fitness if you’ve got the extra money and space – it will help you significantly with building up your leg strength.
For cardio, you can buy a treadmill, stationary bike, elliptical machine, or even just a jump rope. Choose which one suits your energy and fitness style best and you’ll have your home gym complete.
Remember that you don’t have to buy new equipment, secondhand equipment works the same magic.
Stay safe and sound
Safety first, ladies and gentlemen. Make sure that you inspect your gym equipment before use and make sure that it is working properly and safely. Another great addition to a home gym is a large mirror in the area where you are doing weight lifting exercises. These enable you to practice the correct form, your reflection will be the best judge of that. A mirror shouldn’t be too expensive either because you don’t need a fancy Venetian style baroque mirror – just a large mirror that will see you both in the best and the worst shape.
When it comes to sound and additional safety – it would be great to soundproof your home gym. Load noises from weights can be both distracting and annoying to yourself while training and the other members of your home trying to get on with their daily activities. So soundproof doors and walls to keep yourself and others more focused.
Also, if you drop your weight it could cause damage to the floors and your neighbours will soon be complaining about the noise. So make sure that you protect your home gym floor by adding appropriate flooring. Gym floors made of rubber or foam will help keep you and your neighbours safe and sound.
Fitness is a lifestyle!
Why stop with a home gym? If you’re starting out making new and healthy choices, the next logical step is to do a quick makeover in your kitchen. If you go on eating junk food and sweets – you’re not going to see any progress.
Start preparing your own meals, buy as much fresh food as you can and have fun finding new and interesting ways of preparing healthier food.
When is the better time to experiment than now? It will also have a positive impact on your family. When you are all quarantined together, they’ll be compelled to share your healthy lifestyle, no running away.