How to Build a Better Home Gym in Baton Rouge for Bodyweight Training

Making the decision to focus on personal fitness can drastically change anyone’s life for the better. Once you’ve committed to a regular workout routine, you’ll begin to see immediate physical and mental benefits that are both invigorating and energizing.

But as it pertains to fitness, there are two main barriers to entry that hold most Baton Rouge residents back from living a healthier lifetime and money. Not everyone lives close to a gym, and those who do may not be able to shell out the (sometimes) up to $150/month membership fees.

The time and money that it takes to go to the gym on a regular basis can also make it harder to stay consistent with your new fitness-oriented lifestyle.

Even those with enough time and money to spare, may want to think twice before signing up for a monthly gym membership. Some gyms in Baton Rouge hire under-qualified coaches and use cheap exercise equipment — both of which could lead to serious physical injury if proper precautions aren’t taken.

The best way to avoid the cost of gym memberships, the time it takes to commute, and the chances of getting paired with a bad trainer is to build your own home gym. You might think that this idea is too far-fetched. How could all the equipment seen at your local gym possibly fit into your garage?

Well, believe it or not, most gyms buy more equipment than they need to just so they can attract more customers. Most workouts can be done without all the fancy equipment that you see at high-end gyms — especially bodyweight exercises.

And with a few selective purchases of equipment from high quality, affordable suppliers like Fitness Expo, you’ll be well on your way to getting in the best shape of your life…all from the comfort of your home.

Fact is, it’s easier than you might think to turn your single-car garage into a fully functioning home gym.

Things to consider when planning out your home gym

Don’t skimp out on buying gym equipment

One of the most common rookie mistakes of first-time gym builders is buying cheap equipment. Cheap equipment can lead to injury which will leave you with no choice but to halt your workout until you’ve made a full recovery.

When you go for the cheap option, you’ll end up with racks that aren’t very ergonomic, kettlebells with abrasive seams, and dip bars that tip over.
Buy higher-end gym equipment here in Baton Rouge and you will realize that it can even be more economical as you will be able to use it for a longer time due to its superior durability.

How often will you use the gym?

Be sure to think about how often you’ll use the gym. Being optimistic is good, but try to be realistic when pondering this. Frequency of use is a good consideration when contemplating your budget and the type of equipment you’ll need.

Multi-Use Stations and Equipment – space savers

Most home gyms aren’t as big as commercial gyms — excluding those garages in the Hollywood Hills — which is why you have to be frugal with the amount of equipment that you try to cram into it.

Don’t buy every single piece of equipment that catches your eye, only purchase items that you need for your everyday workout routine, and consider full body machine combos such as the following:

• Hoist H2200 2 Stack Multi-Gym
• Hoist V Express Gym
• Inspire Fitness BL1 Body Lift

Auxiliary Equipment

The great thing about building a Louisiana home gym is the fact that you don’t need much equipment to get started. And after you snag one or two machines, you can supplement with cheaper/simpler options to mix things up.

At a minimum, you should have a dip bar, pull-up bar, and gymnastic rings. Try to get a wall timer as well to assist you with pacing.

Dip bar

A dip bar is often shaped like a U and is an inch in diameter. The U-shaped bar surrounds your body at waist-level. As the name suggests, it was designed to help you perform the exercise known as a dip.

It’s good to bear in mind that while this piece of equipment was designed for doing dips, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be utilized to perform other bodyweight exercises. You could use it to do handstand push-ups, knee raises, and so much more.

Pull-up bar

Pull-ups are one of the most common bodyweight exercises featured in workout programs. Pull-ups, push-ups, and squats are often regarded as the three base exercises of any bodyweight-based routine.

There are many pull-up bars currently on the market that are designed to be mounted on doors. While these products are cheap, they are very dangerous and have high injury rates.

Don’t cheap out on your safety, go for a stud-mounted pull-up bar. You can mount it onto the wall or ceiling so that it can safely support your weight.

Gymnastic rings

Last, but certainly not least, come gymnastic rings. The fact that the rings have the tendency to swing back and forth teaches athletes to do their pull-ups/dips in good form and stabilize their body by engaging their core.

Rings are cheap and versatile making them a good option for starter gyms. Be sure to spend a few extra bucks on high-quality grips to avoid blisters.

The bottom line

Now you know the truth, building a home gym isn’t as hard as personal trainers might have you believe. All you need is a few pieces of equipment and a garage of decent size.

Don’t waste your time and money commuting to a local gym every other day, instead, just build one for yourself right in your home.
What are you waiting for? Get started right now!