Hey people!
I want to try something for the next Fridays. The idea came from a cool discussion I had with one of my friends about saving money. We were discussing how people are trying to do everything themselves (the Do-It-Yourself or DIY movement) in order to save money. I’m actually a big fan of this technique but only to a certain extent. I sometimes find that it’s worthwhile paying for services sometimes as you need more specific advice or professional skills to achieve a certain task. I’ve tried to DIY many things in my life. Some with great success, others with great mistakes! So for the following Fridays, I’ll share my DIY adventures with you. Today’s DIY Friday is about working out at home.
Is it possible?
Are you just going to buy $1,000 of stuff that will collect dust in your basement?
Can you get “professional” results without a trainer?
It’s definitely not the easiest thing to do but I think you can make it. Here’s my story.
How I lost 35 Pounds and Got in Shape in 12 Months
Back in 2009, I was finishing my MBA. With 2 young kids (they were 2 1/2 and 6 months back then), a full time job and a full time MBA, all I wanted to do is to lay down on my couch or in my bed when I was getting back from work. This is how I got to 210 pounds in early 2009 (I’m 5’ 9’’). While I wasn’t the fattest guy on the block, I knew that I couldn’t continue this lifestyle any longer. In June, my MBA classes were done and was only left with my final paper to write. This is when I decided to take control of my health and weight and joined a gym.
huh?… I thought we were discussing a DIY method to workout at home?… bear with me a second… I’m getting there!
I started a workout program with a tight but feasible schedule: 1 hour per training session, 4 sessions a week. This wasn’t too much for my own schedule and I was going to get results. So in the span of 12 months, I lost 35 pounds and built muscle so I was THREE times stronger than I used to be (meaning I could weight three times what I started with). I didn’t take drugs, or shakes. In fact, I stayed away from extra protein and supplements too. I concentrated all my effort into 4 sessions of 1 hour a week. What’s the secret then? I never missed 1 training session in a year!
Now My Life Has Changed
Since 2010 (after my 1 year intense program), I have continued going to the gym with the same schedule. For 3 years, I’ve been changing my training program every 2-3 months to make sure I saw a constant progression. This was a true life changing moment as I’m not only in better shape physically; I’m also in a better shape psychologically. There is nothing better than running 30 minutes in the morning before going to work!
But now that I have 3 kids, I find it difficult to go to a gym, workout, take a shower, dress-up and go to work. This is a lot of time wasted in my day and it also cost me $60 a month. It was even more complicated for my wife as she can’t really leave the house with a 3 month old toddler to go to the gym (she is breastfeeding). So she asked me if we could buy a treadmill and put it in the basement. If my wife was going to workout at home, why wouldn’t I? This is why I decided to build my own gym at home. With my 3 years of experience in a gym, I knew I could do it.
My DIY Gym
You don’t need the big “pro set” to workout at home. In fact, you can build an awesome gym for less than $1,000. Here’s what I have in mine:
Treadmill: $600. This was our biggest expense for our home gym as I wanted a solid treadmill that could support my weight when I run full speed. This is why we bought a middle range treadmill. We waited until it went on sale and got it for $600 while it usually retails for $2,000. I think you need to aim for a $2,000 value for a good treadmill but you can easily find one for sale during “special events” or on Craig’s List where someone bought it and never used it (it’s incredible to see how much exercise equipment there is for sale on the web!).
Yoga Mat: $20. There is obviously a wide range of yoga mat quality along with a wide range of prices. I think that $20 is more than a fair price. My wife does yoga and I use the Yoga Mat for my abdominal exercises.
Training Ball: $30. The training ball is very useful for sit-ups, leg extensions and exercises for beginners. In fact, if you don’t do much weight, the ball can also be used as your “training bench” as you perform several exercises.
Bench Press, Bars and Weights: $280. Since I’m already in shape, I need to have 300 pounds in weights (50 pounds, 25 pounds, 10 pounds, 5 pounds and 3 pounds). I’ve found a kit on Craig’s List with the weights, a bench press, curl bar and 2 adjustable dumbbell bars. It was the perfect setup for someone who wants to do a lot of weights. If you are not too much in to lifting weights, I’d suggest you get small dumbbells with a curl bar. This is very useful to workout legs and shape nice shoulders ;-).
Total cost of my DIY gym: $940
What I like is that I don’t need anything else; I can perform all my previous gym routines. Since I was paying $60/month for a gym membership, my home gym will be fully paid in 16 months!
But How Can You Build Your Training Program?
Buying stuff on the internet and building your own gym at home is the easy part. Creating an effective training program so you will get results and not hurt yourself is more complicated. This is the main reason why I went to the gym for 3 years and asked my trainer a lot of questions in order to understand why we combine some exercises and not others.
With this experience in mind, I then surfed the net to find “good programs”. It’s quite easy to find training programs, but you need to read a lot to make sure that you do the “right things”. It’s also easy to get hurt if you start training without knowing what you do. My wife really like Jillian Michaels DVD to create her programs.
On my side, I’ve noted my previous routines and improved them with information found on a few websites. In the end, the important thing is not to create the most complicated program on earth and train like a maniac. Keep your routine simple and increase the intensity at your own pace.
The Secret To Actually Working out And Not Buying Stuff for Nothing
Most people that try a DIY gym end-up selling it on Craig’s List. Why do so many people have great intentions but never achieve their goals? The answer is found in a single word: consistency.
I’ve tried workout routines at different times in my life and never succeeded to keep it up until 2009. The main difference is that I had a very specific schedule this time: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 6am to 7am. No excuses were good enough to not go. If I was sick, I was still going but I lowered my intensity instead.
So before you start your own DIY gym, start by establishing a rock solid schedule. If you want results, you need to workout at least 3 times a week at high intensity for 1 hour per session. The best time for me to workout is in the morning. I usually wake up at 5:30 and jump on the treadmill at 6am. At7amI head upstairs to shower and at7:30I’m ready to go to work. The trick is to find the best schedule for you and insert your workout session into your daily routine.
It’s been a month that I now train at home and see a huge difference already. I have more time during my day and didn’t have to cut back on my workout to achieve it. Even better: I don’t have to pay for the gym anymore! Oh… and the best part: I can eat my favorite chocolate cookies without guilt!
Readers, have you tried to workout at home? How do you find it?
Financial professional and online entrepreneur, I'm best known as The Financial Blogger. I want to make money because I like enjoying life the way it should be; with a lot of great food and wine! I also love to spend time with my lovely wife and 3 kids!
I work out at home all the time. Have been doing it for years.
Over the years I have purchased a treadmill, leg magic, bike, weights, and pilates balls and equipment. I don’t get bored with just one piece of equipment and can switch it up. Pilates is my ultimate favourite and you don’t need alot of expensive items for this. Just your body, a few stretchy thingys, or ball and you are good to go. You use your body and core to get lean.
You should put the part about the chocolate cookies at the beginning of this article!! I’ve been struggling with a decision like this. I really need to find a workout buddy to stay motivated with me, because I do NOT have the drive to do this on my own consistently. I like how some of the commenters below mentioned workout apps…I’ve heard (maybe even downloaded) some great ones.
I do a mixture. I am a gym rat. I love the gym. I know I *could* work out without a gym – and some of my regular workouts are without a gym (walking, biking to work). But I really enjoy the gym. My gym is $99/month for family (YMCA). I like using the pool and taking classes. It’s easier to work out at 5:30 am when you are not worried about waking up others.
We are space limited (2BR, 1 BA, 1100sf house), so there’s not room for a lot of equipment. Still, we have some Jillian DVDs, P90X, and weights. For awhile spouse and I were good at workouts in the morning. He’d do P90X when it was my gym day, and vice versa. It’s harder for me now that I’m pregnant – I can’t do P90X. So when he travels (which has been frequently) I am out of luck. I can’t even squeeze in a walk at lunch because I’m trying to make up for the shortened work day (have to do dropoff and pick up at school). It’s even pretty hard to get home, get dinner on the table, and get to the gym in time to do an evening swim.
I do agree that it’s nice to avoid the drive to the gym…huge time saver.
Living in the bay area, space is very limited and people don’t have a basement or even a garage. So the gym might be the only thing you can do. For some people like myself I would never go to the gym let alone pay for it. I just knew I’d never go. I like to stay active outdoors by playing soccer or roller hockey. Doing things that are fun and exercise but don’t feel like it mentally.
If you have a smartphone I can’t recommend the Nike Training Club app enough! It’s free and has over 80 workouts for all fitness levels. Some are more cardio-heavy, others are more about strength training. It’s perfect to keep from getting bored and you don’t need much equipment. Most of the workouts require a set of 8-12 pound dumbbells, a jump rope and a medicine ball – you could get all this equipment new for well under $50.
Wow! I just downloaded it on my iPod Touch and it awesome! thx for the additional tip!
I agree with all yoru suggestions that you’ve said here. My job is physical labor so I stay in shape simply by doing my 9-5 job, but my wife isn’t so lucky. But like you said, you can stay in shape without a gym or trainer. And in fact, we don’t even have the equipment you have, my wife runs and walks outisde mostly, but she also moves furniture in teh house and uses our couch and chairs as stabilizers for different exercises. It can be done! Also, she uses netflix streaming to stream different exercise videos. Great job losing all that weight and gaining muscle, BTW!
Thx TB!
my wife would love to run outside, but it’s a bit difficult when you breastfeed! hahaha!
I’ve been working out from home for a while. It’s my only option as I do not own a car and the nearest gym is a busride away. Bodyweight exercises and homemade equipment are your friends- I’m in a small place with no space for a weight bench. Currently, my exercise equipment consists of a pullup bar, a piece of pipe laid across two chairs and a gallon of water. I’m in good shape and getting better.
I’ve also been working out in my “home gym” (treadmill, exercise bike & free weights) for years, mostly because I find regular gyms too intimidating! But, you’re right, it’s a great way to save money, time and get in shape. My biggest challenge, though is still finding the time – I usually end up pushing myself after 9pm when all I want to do is sit on the sofa! I admire your commitment of getting up early – wish I was more of a morning person 🙂
I do belong to a yoga studio, which can get expensive, but fortunately the place I go to usually has specials a few times a year, which I try to take advantage of. For some reason, I’m more disciplined to hold the poses in a class setting as opposed to doing them myself at home.
9pm? wow! you are very courageous! I always do it first thing in the morning as I can’t get off my couch once the kids are put to bed at night :-).
My wife does the same thing (working out at 8-9pm)… I do know how you do it! Congrats!
Working out at home can definitely produce results! We have a hand-me-down treadmill, which was free. I have a floor mat, which I got as a gift. I have a media room in my basement with plenty of floor space to move around. And we can watch a variety of fitness training programs – weights, aerobics, yoga, you name it! – on our On Demand cable tv feature. The best workout I get though is walking my dogs every day, weather permitting. I have 3 of my own dogs, and we usually have a foster dog in the house. Between walking them all, I get in 2 to 3 miles a day! FREE! Well, the dogs cost money, but you get the idea. Also, free calorie counting diaries like Fat Secret help you keep your diet in check. Burn more than you consume, and you WILL lose weight. It’s a mathematical fact. The only reason to pay for a trainer is if you need the kick-in-the-butt motivation. Some people DO need that. But most of the time, all you need is to take advantage of the resources already available to you.
I’m thinking of moving my home gym in the same room where my TV is (everything is in the basement). I think I would like to run on my treadmill a lot more if I could watch TV at the same time!
One of the expenses I grapple with the most is my gym membership, which is 110/month. Yes, it’s expensive but I LOVE it and I go, whereas I used to belong to 24 hour fitness for 30/month and I never went. I thought about working out from home (or outside, as I often do as well since I live in southern cali), but working out from home would be a serious drag for me. One, my place is tiny. Two, I work from home, so I really need to get out of my apt and be around people every day. I think the idea is totally possible, but I do think it takes more willpower to do it since it’s way to easy to plop down on the couch after work and relax.
You are right; it does take more willpower! My home gym is right beside my home office and the temptation of answering a few emails between 2 exercises is hard to resist!