5 Pieces of Equipment That You Must Have in Your Home Gym

Having a home gym is a must for anyone who's serious about achieving their fitness goals. Home gyms offer conveniences that fitness centers can't guarantee, like the availability of a piece of equipment, or privacy.

Photo courtesy of Flickr.comClayManley

And just in case you're wondering, you don't have to spend a lot of money to put together a well-rounded home gym. Here is a post that I wrote about the best place to buy fitness equipment dirt cheap. So, it is possible for your home gym to include whatever piece(s) of equipment that you desire, but there are some must-have pieces, and they are.

1. A Stopwatch: Timing your workouts is essential, because doing so will help you avoid overtraining. Working out within a time frame is also a great way to help you stay focused. If you own a smartphone, you already have this piece of equipment covered.
2. An Aerobic Stepper or Mini Stepper: No home gym is complete without cardio equipment. And with your aerobic stepper or mini stepper, you will be able to get a great fat burning cardio workout. All you have to do before choosing one of these pieces is decide whether you prefer an impact cardio workout (aerobic stepper) or a non-impact workout (mini stepper).
3. Push-Up Stands: Push-ups should be a part of every fitness enthusiasts workout program. But doing push-ups on your floor will eventually become a bore, plus they can be hard on your wrists. The use of push-up stands will alleviate any wrist discomfort that you will experience when performing multiple sets or weighted push-ups. Push-up stands also allow for a variety of hand positions without having to compromise on comfort.
4. Resistance Bands: I can't give resistance bands enough praise. You can do so much with them, from muscle toning to muscle building, you can even use them to get a cardio workout. They are suitable for beginners, intermediate, and advanced fitness enthusiasts. Resistance bands are one of the best pieces of fitness equipment that you can add to your home gym because they allow you to train every muscle in your body.
5. A Chin-Up Bar: There's no match for pull-ups and chin-ups when it comes to building your back and biceps. And with your chin-up bar and the nearest door frame, you can do both. There are several types of chin-up bars currently on the market, some of which can be placed on your floor so that you can do push-ups and crunches.

Your home gym can and will grow over time, but these 5 pieces of fitness equipment will get yours off to a great start. And if you already have a home gym, they will make great additions.