Home Gym

[TheBigYellowBird]

We have decided to turn our spare room in to a gym. Room has been used for one night in 3 years and ends up being a dumping ground.

I think we can get 3 pieces of equipment in there comfortably. We are debating between a cross trainer, rowing machine, exercise bike and weights bench.

What 3 things would you have in your gym?

[BuzzShitbagBobbly]

Ideally one of those infinity swimming pool things. But being realistic...

A proper free weights rack (or Smith machine if not that)
Spin bike
Punch bag

[Crocky]

I have a treadmill and bike. Don’t use the bike, hate it for some reason but my dh uses it a lot.
I use the treadmill but only when I can’t get out to run. I find it incredibly boring but useful.
Would love to try out a cross trainer.
We have some weights but I have no idea what to do with them so have started to go to a group pt once a week.
I really don’t think that’s much use to you at all 🤣

[Crocky]

Oh, hadn’t considered a punch bag. Love that idea.

[BuzzShitbagBobbly]

One thing to bear in mind with things like treadmills and similar.

If they are on an upper floor, the reverberations of someone on it can go right though the bones of the house house and drive you demented.

[MandMand]

A few kettlebells/dumbbells of various weights, and maybe a mini trampoline to sprint on to get your heart rate up for short intervals in between strength training exercises. Crosstrainers, exercise bikes or rowing machines are a waste of money IMHO. Save your money and just get outside and go for a run!

[Eckhart]

The weights bench is the one you must have. The other 3 I'd just decide on which I enjoy using more/what'll fit best around the weights bench.

[mumsiedarlingrevolta]

I almost bought a treadmill and then a personal trainer friend don't buy anything that you can walk out the door and do for free.

We bought a cross trainer and it is still being used years later. it is much different than "going for a run" and am now having some trouble with knee and can't run but can use the cross trainer as it doesn't put strain on it. DH hops on for the first half of a football game and all DC use. Best piece of equipment we ever bought.

Also have a rowing machine which is a great short workout and tones all over-still in heavy use, and had a bike/clothes horse which wasn't used as much.

I would get the best cross trainer you can afford-ours is till going nearly 10 years on.

[TheBigYellowBird]

Thanks for all the replies.

An infinity pool would be lovely. Anyone have any ideas on how I can make that work in a small upstairs bedroom? 🤣

For various dull reasons I can’t get out to run etc, hence the home gym idea.

We do have a punch bag in the garage which DS used until it fell down! (Heavy duty bolts are on order) And a treadmill which has been used on and off for years and has more than paid for itself. To the PP who said about a treadmill upstairs, I completely agree. That will be staying in the garage.

I’m leaning towards a cross trainer and rower for an all over workout. DH is a keen cyclist, and although he’s got a turbo trainer set up in the garage he wants an exercise bike that you can use for home spinning classes. He also wants the weights bench.

[AutumnRose1]

Three pieces from that list?

Cross trainer
Rower
Selection of weights

Ooh I’m jealous!

[TheBigYellowBird]

Doesn’t have to be things from my list. I’m open to anything I haven’t thought of.

I’m getting quite excited and looking for inspirational posters to go up on the wall!

[SimonJT]

I have weights, weight bench, pull up bar and a weight training station.

[AutumnRose1]

Ooh how about this?

www.qvcuk.com/AeroPilates-4-Cord-Reformer-435-with-DVD-Library.product.401348.html?sc=SRCH

[BuzzShitbagBobbly]

OP I have personal (positive) experience of this firm - it might be a good option to try rental for a period and see how you get on?


www.rowhire.co.uk/

[PhoneLock]

We have a home gym. There is a weights machine and a rowing machine. There is also a squat rack and a large selection of free weights and bars. Plus a pull-up bar. There used to be a professional quality cross trainer too but we got rid of it because it wasn't getting used.

The daft thing is that I don't use it because I'd rather train with other people at a gym and I also need a trainer to push me hard.

[MashedSpud]

A rowing machine. They are the best thing I have ever used.

Weights.

A yoga mat.

[ThursdayLastWeek]

I would have a squat rack with a bench, barbell and plates.
A cable machine.
A spin bike.

[ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs]

We turned out garage into a gym. It's nice and cool and no noise for the rest of the house. I've got a treadmill, spin bike , free weights and a punch bag, but the most important thing is space! I have a smart tv down there and I got the Led Mills app, so dd and I do a couple of classes a week together (mainly combat, but you can get spin classes, pump, yoga and more) . They are really motivating, especially as we do it together, and fun. Can also watch box sets on tv while on the treadmill!

[Henlie]

We tried having a gym in our old house. We had free weights, cross trainer and rowing machine. I think we used them a couple of times each 😏 ended up selling everything and going back to the gym.

Are you sure you’ll be motivated enough to use them Op? I now know that what motivates me is paying for gym membership. Plus I like the ability to do classes etc.

My advice would be to purchase secondhand equipment to see if you’ll use it. Look on your local Facebook sites I bet there’s a lot of people selling off virtually unused fitness equipment...😐

[ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs]

That's where the app is great, henlie. It costs around £10 a month which is great value when at least 2 of us do at least 2 classes a week! We schedule them same times each week so we feel we have to do it, rather than "oh we'll do it twice a week". Plus none of the frustration of trying to book into the classes!

[carrie74]

We've got a treadmill and a spinning bike in the garage. Both get used quite a lot in the winter (I don't really use the bike, but DH is a keen cyclist so good for him). I also have a few hand weights, a kettle bell, resistance bands and mats in the house (our garage hasn't been made into a gym, so there's no way I'm lying on the floor in there 😂). If we eventually make the area into a proper little gym, I think I'd like a bench and more hand weights, and a space to work out on the floor.

My PT works out of a tiny gym - he has a cross trainer, barbell, dumbbells rack, and one of those corner machines that has loads of cables for various exercises (functional trainer? Don't know what it's called). He used to have a spinning bike and treadmill too, but (for me, don't know about other clients), he only uses the cardio machines for warm up (occasionally we'd use the bike for some HIIT stuff).

[BorneoBabe]

Wall mounted TV, treadmill, weights.

[evilharpy]

For me personally I'd have a spin bike, aerobic step and set of free weights (barbell and dumbells), plus a telly and firestick and a yoga mat. This will allow you to do any workout on the Les Mills app, all the bike and lots of other workouts from the Peloton app (without needing the £2k bike) and give you a huge amount of variety. There's lots you can do with a step even if you never do step aerobics, like plyo exercises and lots of weight stuff. I have all of this stuff at home and use it all, but I would never use a treadmill as I find it soul destroying and prefer to run outside.

If I was being nice, I'd also have a rowing machine for my husband. He has one and uses it regularly.

[EjectorCrab]

I would get a rowing machine, weights, and spinning bike.
I wouldn’t bother with a treadmill. It’s big and you can run outside.

[chicken2015]

We have a gym in our garage, i have treadmill and cross trainner, use the treadmill much more also have space for floor exercises, for Christmas my husband brought me a projector so now i can link to phone and play YouTube or netflix ect onto wall which is cool.