LegendaryLife Blog

Without fail, everybody who has visited my place has told me where I live when they come in from the front door – I have more fitness and health equipment then furniture. From a commercial leg press to an elliptical cardio machine – I got it here! I’ve had a number of gym memberships through the years, usually averaging $30 to $40 a month- doesn’t seem like much but by the time you factor in your time to get to/from the gym, waiting for a machine to become available and the very easy excuse “I don’t feel like going out to the gym tonight”. Like many things in life, doing things on the cheap (monthly) end up being more expensive in the long run.

I think of it this way, I was easily spending probably about $600 a year and what do I get in return financially? Nothing. Sure I miss the eye candy that is present at any gym but at the end of the year I am out this money that could have been invested in my OWN gym- that is why I began getting my own stuff. Every year, instead of spending 600$ on a gym membership, I spend it on new equipment, this year alone I got my commercial quality leg press and adjustable abdominal board – sure I went over budget but if I ever wanted to sell it, it’s easily worth at least half what I paid for it.

Here are some tips to getting your own home gym set-up.

1. no gym is complete without a set of free weights, get two dumbbells, a barbell and about 200lbs in plates and your off to a wonderful start
2. purchase the highest quality equipment you can afford, not only will it outlast you but will have a higher resale value
3. have fun but BE SAFE, at a sports clubs you have spotters if you want to push yourself, in a home gym you don’t have that option, so never take on what you can’t handle and ALWAYS use safety equipment. My life has been saved numerous times when I couldn’t muster enough power to finish one last rep of a bench press by using spotter stands

Oh and by the way, if you still miss the eye candy, get your partner to workout with you – it’s the second best way to burn off some calories with your loved one.