Having your own home gym full of expensive, state-of-the-art equipment is helpful when you're working out, but it's just not feasible on a limited budgets. Even gym memberships can be expensive and rope you into long contracts. Instead of putting your hard-earned cash into the pockets of a gym or fitness equipment company, make your own workout equipment with things that you probably already have around your house. You'll save money while still getting fit and healthy.
Homemade Dumbbells
Step 1
Save your empty gallon milk jugs. A set of dumbbells in all of the different weights that you need can cost around $500. Making your own will cost as much as a few gallons of milk.
Step 2
Wash your gallon milk jugs out carefully and leave them to dry. While they dry, decide what you want to use to give them weight. You can use rocks, sand or beans. Gather up your weighting materials.
Step 3
Fill the milk jug up, weighing it on a home scale to find out how much it weighs. For a variety of weights, make them 5 lbs., 10 lbs. and 20 lbs. Write the weight on the milk jug with a permanent marker when you've filled it to the proper weight.
Step 4
Lift your dumbbells by gripping onto the handles on the top of the milk jug. You can always add more weight or take some out.
Wrist Roller
Step 1
Work your forearms by creating your own wrist roller that you can customize according to your level of strength.
Step 2
Remove the bristle portion of a broom by unscrewing the bottom portion, leaving only the broomstick.
Step 3
Drill a hole into the center of the broomstick with a large drill bit. The hole must be large enough to pass a piece of rope through it.
Step 4
Thread a piece of rope--about 4 feet long--through the hole. Tie a large knot in one end of the rope so that it doesn't slip through the hole.
Step 5
Tie a weight of your choice on the bottom of the rope. When working out, hold the broomstick in front of you, and roll it so that the weight raises and lowers, strengthening your forearms.
Balance Beam
Step 1
Test your balance and engage all of the muscles in your body by creating your own balance beam that you can store out of the way when you're finished working with it.
Step 2
Cut the tops off of several clean and dried cardboard milk cartons. Only remove the triangular pouring spout, leaving a perfect rectangular shape behind.
Step 3
Stuff the carton tightly with rolled-up newspaper. The newspaper should be very compressed, as you'll be applying the full pressure of your body on them. Once you've stuffed them, tape over the mouth of the carton with duct tape, and tape the entire carton so that it is completely covered in tape.
Step 4
Line up 10 or more milk cartons in a straight line, using a level to ensure that they are straight. Use your balance beam to practice your balance, or as a fitness aid for children.
Things You'll Need
- Milk jugs
- Weighting material
- Permanent marker
- Broom
- Drill
- Rope
- Weight
- Milk cartons
- Newspaper
- Duct tape
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