Last year I justified the expense of a year-long gym membership as an attempt to get into better shape. I did pay cash for the expense, and because I paid up front I received a few additional months as a bonus. Unfortunately, that membership is coming to an end in August, so I am beginning to think more about frugal ways to continue my exercise program at home. I’ve set a $200 budget for outfitting a home gym with a few key pieces of strength training equipment, and some additional workout gear. Here is a look at the things I’ll need to buy, and my budget for each item.

Shoes ($40). I’ve been cursed with bad feet (thanks Dad). A good pair of shoes is a necessity for me, but I refuse to pay $100+ for a pair of the latest Nike Air “Whatevers,” so I’ve been looking around at various online shoe stores and a few local sports shops. With a good pair of shoes I can find plenty of places to walk, and even run a few intervals for cardio training. I am not normally brand conscious when it comes to shopping, but shoes are the rare exception. I have a wide, flat foot and have found that New Balance (which typically comes in wide) is the most comfortable shoe for my feet. Because I usually destroy the inside of the shoes before the outside, I try to extend their life by picking up a sole insert or two before recycling them as my dedicated “lawn” shoes used for cutting grass, gardening, etc.

Stopwatch ($25). I don’t personally need one because my old Timex Ironman still serves me well. I’ve replaced the battery and the strap from the original, but it is still ticking. And to think some people pay thousands for a Rolex that doesn’t tell time any better than mine! Watches with a stopwatch feature, or a dedicated stopwatch, are a necessity when running intervals, measuring rest between weight lifting sets, etc.

Weight Bench ($85). A sturdy weight bench can be used to perform a variety of exercises, both with free weights and your own body weight. I like to use dumbbells for curls, flies, bench presses, dips, etc. Some benches also come with attachments for leg extensions and leg curls. Though it isn’t necessary, an overhead rack to perform bench presses using a full-sized barbell is a nice feature. However, this usually adds significantly to the price and the space required to store the bench. Since I’ll probably be using a small area of our back patio my options are fairly limited here.

Dumbbells ($50) . Used dumbbells are pretty easy to find on places like Craigslist, or at a used sporting goods store. The problem with dumbbells is that you need a variety of weights to do different types of exercises, but buying ten different sizes can get expensive. I’ll probably buy a heavy set for presses and a lighter set to use for curls, triceps work and flies. Besides, after tearing my rotator cuff a year or so ago and having surgery to repair, I avoid overly heavy weights as a rule.  Eventually, I hope to stumble upon a set of Powerblocks, or a similar set of dumbbells which features the ability to select your desired weight from a single rack and one pair of dumbbells.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of potential home gym equipment.  Cardio machines, punching bags, and exercise balls and mats are also popular additions, but the items listed above will at least get you started.  I’d be interested to hear from those of you who have setup a home gym.  What other pieces of home gym equipment have you found to be the most useful?  Are there any other sources of purchasing cheap, reliable equipment?

photo by A_of_DooM

I wrote about commuting by bicycle a couple months ago, but it was too cold, and got dark too early to seriously consider commuting home from work in the evenings. With the weather warming up and the daylight lasting longer I’ve decided to tune up the bike, purchase a helmet and map out a safe route home. My wife will drop me off at work in the mornings with my bicycle and I’ll plan to ride home. Riding to work is not feasible now because I am in such horrible shape it would take me an hour to catch my breath, shower, change, cool down, etc. For now, I’ll stick to riding one way home because there I can collapse in comfort.

Fortunately, my job is only located five miles from home, but those are five miles of traffic-congested roads not particularly safe for the bicycle commuter. I’ve mapped out a route that will make for a longer ride, but offers a safer, residential alternative to crowded city streets. I would rather take a little longer to get home safe and sound. Besides, I could use the exercise.

My initial investment is a bicycle helmet and Cateye bicycle computer (I actually bought the bicycle computer last year, so maybe I can finally get some use out of it). I stay motivated when I see the miles rolling off, and I will make it a personal challenge to increase my mileage on the bike every week. I’m not buying any fancy clothes, just shorts, t-shirts and some comfortable shoes. I know from reading other biking blogs that bicycle shorts and shoes are recommended gear, but since I am not concerned with wind drag or other performance issues, I opt for comfort. Besides, spandex wasn’t designed for us endomorphs!

By eliminating the use of my second vehicle we should save about $50 a month in gas, plus additional wear and tear on my already older vehicle. Add back in some basic maintenance costs for the bike and I should see a realized savings of about $35-40. Assuming I can sustain this routine for nine months out of the year that is an annualized savings of about $300. As an added benefit, I expect to lose a little weight from this routine as well. Over time I may increase the mileage by taking alternate routes home. This should add to the cardio benefits of using my bike to commute from work.

image credit: stop.down