How to Create a Home Gym for Cheap

Before having Aubrey I was a cardio bunny. I LOVED running and trying all the new boutique fitness studios I could – my favorite was Orangetheory! But when I had Aubrey and my days of maternity leave were dwindling down, I quickly realized I didn’t have time to spend going to the gym. My husband suggested I try working out at home and I am SO glad I tried it! Now that Aubrey’s a little older, I’m able to get back to Orangetheory a few times a week but when I’m not able to I use my home gym.

Through this process I’ve learned that creating your in-home gym doesn’t have to be expensive! If you have the basic equipment you can get in a great workout and see the same results you’d get at the gym. Here’s everything you need to create an inexpensive in-home gym

Pair of adjustable dumbbells – this will allow you to have a variety of weights at an affordable price. Plus I find that these sets are easier for me to transition than the typical plate weights. I started out with this 12.5lb set and it was the perfect entry level set! Once I went up in weights a few months later, I invested in this Bowflex set that goes up to 52lbs.

Yoga Mat – A must for floor exercises! This is the one I currently use and love and it’s less than $20!

Resistance Bands – Tension bands are a great tool for strength training and targeted muscle workouts. It’s also nice that they’re lightweight and compact so are great to bring with you when you travel. This is the set I have and I really like that not only does it come with different band weights, it also comes with different attachments so it can be multi-use.

Foam Roller – Foam rollers are the perfect way to stretch out after an intense workout. By moving around on the foam roller you can target sore muscles and massage it out (if you find a super sore spot you can also use lacrosse ball to work out the knots). This is the one I’ve been using for years!

Beachbody on Demand – my all time favorite in home workout program because it’s a crazy good deal. With Beachbody on Demand you get instant access to all 100+ workout programs and materials that Beachbody has ever released – this includes programs like Morning Meltdown 100, 21 Day Fix, Transform:20, Insanity, 80 Day Obsession, P90X and the list goes on. The service is $100 for a year (less than $.50 a day) and you can stream or download the workouts anywhere (they have apps for you phone, Roku, Apple TV, etc.). They also add in new workouts every few months that you also get access to so you’re never running out of content

What are your must-haves for your home gym?