Purchasing a gym membership can cost hundreds of dollars a year, but purchasing your own home gym equipment can be even more expensive. Luckily, that shouldn't stop you from getting the exercise that you need to stay healthy. While do-it-yourself workout equipment may not have the same safety guarantees that a commercial piece of equipment does, it still makes for an effective way to stay fit in your home without breaking the bank.
Advantages
DIY workout equipment can help you stay fit even when fitness doesn't seem to be in your budget. It's also a useful way to recycle some of the items in your home that you would have thrown away. The next time you have a few empty milk jugs, filling them with water or sand can turn them into weights that function similar to kettlebells. By making your own workout equipment you can customize the weights, sizes and grips for you personally for a better workout.
Disadvantages
When you head to the gym, you have the support of gym staff members who can correct your posture and teach you how to use potentially dangerous pieces of workout equipment. If you purchase equipment at a fitness supply store, you will be provided with instructions on how to use a piece of equipment safely. Unfortunately, when you make a piece of workout equipment yourself, you have no guarantee that what you're doing is safe, nor do you have instructions on safe usage. This could lead to exercise-related injuries.
Types And Ideas
Look for items around your home that can be used to create homemade fitness equipment. Milk jugs and cans can be used as small weights, while filling a sock or backpack with sand can give you the chance to exercise with a functional sandbag. Chairs are ideal for performing arm dips and supported exercise, while your very own stairs can be used for aerobics. For a barbell, cap one end of a PVC pipe, fill with water and cap the other end. The movement of the water in the pipe adds a degree of difficulty for an even more effective workout.
Workout Safety
When you're working out at home, especially if you're working out with DIY equipment, make sure that you have a spotter nearby to watch your form and help you should you fatigue too much. Wear weightlifting gloves to keep a good grip and use the right size weights and equipment for you. Even if you hope to gain muscle, start smaller and work your way up to heavier DIY weights for steady progress.
Member Comments