by Edgar Frost

Created on: October 12, 2008   Last Updated: May 12, 2010

Once you have decided you want to get into shape, you need to plan the details. For many of us, buying a gym membership isn't something we look forward to. If you are bothered by the potential expense, travel time, and the possibility of sweating amongst strangers, you might be less than thrilled at the prospect. If this sounds like you, don't worry. You have a great alternative that is convenient, inexpensive, and private. Let me introduce you to the joys of working out at home.

You might be thinking that working out at home is inferior to the workout you would get at a gym. While it is true that a good gym has a plethora of specialized equipment and trainers, these things aren't necessary, especially at the beginning. When you begin your fitness journey, your first goal should be to develop a workout routine that is going to slowly get you into the habit of working out. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to start out doing too much. This is a great way to get injured or get completely turned off to the idea of regular exercise. My advice is to start working out at an appropriate level of difficulty and fit it into your daily routine. Once you've accomplished these goals, you can gradually expand the level of difficulty and the amount of time you plan for fitness.

Now that you've begun to plan your workout routine for your home, what equipment will you use, and what will you do? My advice is to buy a set of adjustable dumbbell handles and some weight plates. You can usually find a pair of handles for about $10 or so, and the plates will cost you about fifty cents per pound. Depending on your fitness level, you could very well start your strength training for under $20. If you would like to add to your fitness arsenal, I would suggest buying ankle weights, a slant board, and a jump rope. You could purchase all three for under $100, and they will require very little storage space in your home.

As for the actual exercise routine, you have lots of options. Dumbbells can be used for exercises that isolate a specific muscle or group of muscles (such as a lateral raise), or for compound movements which exercise large muscle groups (such as shoulder presses). When it comes to bang for your buck, it's tough to beat the versatility and cost effectiveness of dumbbells.

Ankle weights are great to wear while you are walking around the house or on errands. With each step, you are working your legs, and it doesn't require any additional time. I would also highly recommend a slant board, which I feel is the most highly underrated piece of exercise equipment around. It allows you to use your body's weight as resistance when doing stomach exercises, and it can also be used as a bench when you are working out with dumbbells. There are also several models that fold up and can be stored under a bed.

As you can see, there are several convenient and inexpensive options for home workouts. You might have also come up with more ideas while reading this article. Don't be afraid to explore and come up with your own routines and interesting twists. The best way to stick to a workout regimen is to make it interesting and make it a part of your everyday routine. Once you accomplish this, you'll be on your way.

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