Comments on: How To Build A Home Gym For Less Than $200

By: just me

just me — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:59:07 +0000

Plus one on the bodylastics bands. I have been lifting for 30+ years and have an olympic set of free weights, a few assorted dumbells, a power cage or rack and a bench. For my money, I will always go with the power rack and a bench with the olympic barbell set. I got mine used for 180 several years ago. It included an EZ curl bar and a set of olympic dumbell handles. Takes care of business. Set up a program using compound exercises and just a very few isolation for certain key areas .You really do not need anything else.

After reading about the bodylastics bands, I will buy them soon. I still like freeweights, always will, but for building muscle or simply keeping tone, those bands will work very well. The thing that builds muscle is proper nutrition, and overloading your muscles beyond what they are used to. Once you move past 6 months to a year, heavier resistance that will only allow reps of 6 to 10 is perfect for building muscle. Those bands can provide the resistance needed for that. That way, your gym is in a bag. So plus one for those bands,(they are built high quality as well) or go with a power cage, olympic barbell set and bench. The thing to make sure of is this, none of these items will work for you if you do not eat right.

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By: Gypsie

Gypsie — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:40:10 +0000

Our home gym has a used television ($20), good floor mats ($32 for 8′x6′), power blocks (off brand under $100), a Weider power tower for pull ups ($70), and the P90X program ($170).

You can make this gym even more frugal by buying elastic bands and using a program like Never Gymless(http://www.rosstraining.com/nevergymless.html).

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:29:40 +0000

I am trying to get in shape myself and this is what I did:

I washed my old shoes in the washing machine. They still had plenty of miles on them, they just looked bad so I ran them through the washing cycle and they looked like brand new.

I got a few choice wardrobe pieces that I could wear to the gym. Things that would interchange easily. I do my laundry a little more often, but I figure if I stick with it, I can reward myself with a fresh new piece once in awhile.

I got a free gym membership. I babysit one hour a week and I get a free membership to the gym. If they offer childcare, check and see if you could watch kids to pay for the membership. I can take all of the classes and use all the equipment for an hour’s worth of work each week.

Visit the local library for new workout tapes. I go there and get new ones to switch up my routine and keep me in shape. I do this for days where hitting the gym won’t work timewise for our family.

One last thing, running is free and I do this around our neighborhood. I save on gas getting back and forth to the gym and I can do it anytime.

That being said, we would like to buy a treadmill so that my husband can train in the winter for his races in the spring/summer. We figure it is a wise investment because we both will use it and I can avoid the roads in the winter.

By: Building a basic home gym doesn’t have to be expensive! | Quick To Fit

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:16:56 +0000

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Investing Basics, Buying Life Insurance, PopTop Ranks @ The Roundup — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:53:30 +0000

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By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 02:53:10 +0000

As far as getting New Balance shoes (which are the only ones I use), I would go into a New Balance shoe store once to get fitted for the right shoe. I did this years ago. Now I go to an online New Balance outlet and buy several pairs of shoes once a year when they have a bunch on clearance. If you know your size, then check it out.

http://www.nbwebexpress.com/

Good post.

By: Andy @ bloginyourface

Andy @ bloginyourface — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 02:05:38 +0000

There are tons of ab and aerobic videos on YouTube that you can do. I agree that CraigsList is incredible for picking up sports equipment.

Don’t forget about the good ol’ fashion push-up. There are 6 to 8 different kinds of push ups that can beneifit nearly every muscle in your upper body.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:53:12 +0000

For an inexpensive (under $50), small, and transportable alternative to a weight bench/weights, check out Bodylastics: http://www.bodylastics.com/. They’re high quality resistance bands that you can configure in a number of ways. My boyfriend bought them for himself, but I’m hooked. (no, I do not sell them or work for the company)

By: Christina

Christina — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:32:39 +0000

Great post! I would add exercise videos to the list… you can find them cheap online or at garage sales… or borrow them from the library. I would also recommend an exercise ball.

By the way, Consumer Reports just had an article on running shoes… they recommended Champion shoes from Target at $30!!!