According to fitness professional and personal trainer,
Lori Miroslaw, you can create your own workout space at home on a budget
by being creative.
Build your own home gym for $40 or less
by Lori Miroslaw
For $40, you can buy two sets of free weights for a total body strength
training workout, a jump rope or mini-trampoline for cardiovascular
training, and a resistance band to supplement leg work. Both stretching
and walking are absolutely free and only require time. As for abdominals,
sit-ups require NO EQUIPMENT and can be done virtually anywhere!
Lori feels that the American public has been scammed by the fitness
industry for the last 10 years and feels compelled to "tell the truth"
about fitness. Late night infomercials are perfect examples of fitness
scams and make millions preying on individuals with false claims of
being fit in only "minutes a day."
Every single person you see demonstrating "fitness gadgets" have been
lifting weights and working out for years, yet promise you results in
"only minutes a day." "That's bogus," says Lori, "Infomercials prey
on victims who are out of shape and seeking a quick fix. That's not
possible, nor is it desirable. Fitness is about a life style change
and involves improving your overall health. Exercise is now considered
a major deterrant to many age-related illnesses, including heart disease,
diabetes and cancer. Fitness is not about spot reducing!"
A good fitness program should be both well rounded and doable. Plus,
you need not spend a fortune on fitness equipment to be fit!
I would recommend buying two sets of weights, one for upper body and
one for lower body. If you are a beginner, only one set of weights is
necessary. Expect to pay about 50 cents per pound for weights. For example,
a 5 pound set should run about $5.00. A jump rope sells for anywhere
between $2.00 to $8.00 depending on the quality. Mini-trampolines (also
called "rebounders") can be found as low as $20 and are great for minimizing
stress to the joints. (WALKING is free if your budget is tight.) Resistance
bands sell for $5.00 and are easy to pack for traveling. Resistance
tubing can be found for $10 to $20 if you prefer them to weights or
if you must workout on the road. If you purchased a second set of weights,
add another 10 to 20 dollars for equipment.
ADD IT UP.($5 for weights + $2.00 for jump rope + $5 for resistance
band) For the basics, you've only spent $12 so far! Add a second set
of weights and a mini-trampoline for another $30. You really don't need
both a jump rope and mini-trampoline, but variety "is the spice of life"
and will keep you from getting bored.
Lori suggests starting slowly and developing a workout schedule that's
consistent. Exercise only works when you do it, once you start, don't
stop! "Alternating cardiovascular workouts with your strength training
will not only break up your routine, but will also allow you the recommended
24-hour recovery between weight lifting sessions." If you have never
lifted weights before, Lori recommends starting with light weights to
prevent injury. Three to five pound weights are a challenge for anyone
who has never lifted weights before. Even soup cans can work in the
beginning if you have no weights.
Lori recommends hiring a personal trainer if you have never lifted
weights before. If this is not an option for your budget, Lori suggests
even a consultation with a fitness professional will be worth your dollars
spent. There are also abundant resources available to help you get started.
Workout posters and videos done by fitness professionals are recommended
over "trendy" products to insure proper form, muscle specificity and
uniformity of exercise routines. Using the proper form is essential
when lifting weights, not only to prevent injury, but to target the
correct muscle groups.
So, stop procrastinating, invest that $40 and get started. The money
spent on improving your health will be the wisest investment you have
ever made. Remember, your health should be the number one priority in
your life, START TODAY! You'll be glad you did!
__________________________
Copyright, Lori Miroslaw Ms. Miroslaw is an accomplished fitness
professional and entreprenuer with 3 businesses. Lori's passion is apparent
is both her writing and products, and offers a "refreshing" approach
in educating the public on wellness. Please visit www.m-poweryourself.com
and www.stand-up.org
