Truth be told, the whole world is shocked over the rapid advancement of the COVID-19 pandemic these past couple of weeks. If you were a frequent gym-goer, like myself, or even someone who was hoping to start a new gym routine and are disappointed — you are not alone.
While we are all hoping that this pandemic ends soon so that we can all return to our daily routines, the reality is that no one knows for sure how long it will take. This means your local gym could possibly be closed for another month or two or even the whole summer.
Perhaps you have noticed you’ve been losing some muscle mass or even gaining unwanted weight. As disappointing as this is, there is another way to ensure this doesn’t continue.
Below is a list of 7 workout equipment you will need for your own home gym all under $100. The essential workout equipment can be used to target nearly all major muscle groups while the supplemental workout equipment helps facilitate or add diversity to your workout routine.
You may be surprised to see there aren’t any dumbbells or kettlebells on the list due to their rather expensive price tag, however, other alternatives have been chosen to ensure progressive overload while maintaining a reasonable price.
Although many of us are staying home, remember that although proper exercise is important, it is easy to let our diet go unchecked. To prevent this from happening, be sure to track your macros in every meal that you make.
Furthermore, as you may have heard over a million times — please stay at home. If we all work together by taking social distancing seriously we can all head to our local gyms a lot sooner, but most importantly we will keep ourselves and the more vulnerable population safe.
Essential Workout Equipment
1. Resistance Bands
With up to 105lb of adjustable resistance training, resistance bands are an inexpensive alternative to dumbbells. Similarly to the cable machines at the gym, the resistance weight on the bands remains the same during the full range of motion. This resistance throughout the whole range of motion allows you to feel each contraction and develop a mind-muscle connection. The variety of exercises that can be performed using the resistance bands to target multiple muscle groups nearly makes it a home gym all by itself.
2. Pull Up Bar
Pull-ups and chin-ups are some of the most challenging exercises to perform at the gym. Nevertheless, they are essential in developing the overall size and strength of the targeted muscle groups making the pull-up bar an essential piece of equipment to your home gym.
3. Jump Rope
If you don’t feel comfortable taking a jog around your neighborhood or to a nearby park over the fear of having a crowded area, jump ropes are a great alternative to a great cardio workout. It isn’t always about the duration of a workout, but rather the intensity of it. Five minutes of jump rope will definitely be more beneficial to you than a 30 min walk.
Supplemental Workout Equipment
4. Exercise Mat
Whether you’re on a hard floor or the carpet, laying on an exercise mat when performing your workouts brings comfort and peace of mind.
5. Weight Lifting Gloves
When lifting heavy weights you’ll notice callouses begin to form on your hands. Although many people don’t mind them and even see them as a reminder of their hard work, callouses can look and feel pretty unpleasant for others. The best way to avoid getting callouses? Try wearing weight lifting gloves.
6. Exercise Ball
When performed diligently, exercise balls can greatly aid your core and lower body workouts.
7. Medicine Ball
Made to be thrown and caught, medicine balls can be used for explosive home workouts. Having a partner greatly enhances the exercise and experience.