How to Set Up a Home Gym

Thinking of setting up a home gym? Here are some ideas to think about:

What are your interests?

The best home gym will be one that you actually USE! And use for exercise - not for hanging clothes on! I had an awesome Cardio Glide machine many years ago - it was great! It held about 22 shirts on hangers for me! Not my best home gym investment.

Think about activities you like to do at home, or "equipment" you can fit into your life and space, and you will be more likely to incorporate it into your daily routine. Please don't buy into a lot of the fitness gimmicks out there. Remember the ab roller thing? A little creativity and you could create the same thing with a good rolling pin for a mere fraction of the cost!

All in one weight machines or some free weights?

While many of the all in one machines like Bowflex are pretty cool, and they do give you a little bit of everything in one unit, they do have some drawbacks. First of all is price - you're looking at a rather substantial monetary investment. Second is space. They aren't something you can easily move or put away. Most are designed to be freestanding all of the time. If you have a separate room or basement you could set it up in great, otherwise it may take up some valuable living space.

From a practical side (and for ease of upgrading) you may want to instead consider a simple but sturdy weight bench with some dumbbells in various weights. Not only will this be less expensive, but it takes up less room, and as you get stronger you can easily add heavier dumbbells to your gym. Plus, using dumbbells (free weights) really gives you a better workout because it also works on what is called proprioception, and they are also better for working through your own personal range of motion.

What are some "must haves" in a home gym?

• Start with a suitable place to do your exercise. Room to move, good air circulation (you're going to sweat!) and a comfortable atmosphere (it really isn't fun to go work out in a dark and dingy basement).

• Variety of exercises to choose from. Variety is the spice of life. Exercise DVDs are a GREAT component of a home gym because they are relatively inexpensive so you can rotate through different workouts. Choose a variety of cardio and strength training options. Not only does it help beat boredom, but your body NEEDS to change otherwise it gets stagnant and you won't be making fitness progress.

• A weight bench with some free weights. Start small and as you get stronger increase the weights on your dumbbells. Free weights are a great way to work the upper and lower body. These can be incorporated with strength training DVDs as well.

• A pair of good supportive shoes! When you're overweight you're already adding hundreds of pounds of pressure to foot joints, ligaments and bones. Work outs increase pressure even more. Invest in yourself and buy quality supportive shoes. Shop in the afternoon when your feet are a little larger. Make sure they fit well with a roomy toe box. If you need a wide width shoe then buy it -- not a larger shoe that's too big elsewhere. Knowledgeable staff at an athletic store can be an important resource.