The alarm goes off. It's 6.30 a.m. Time to jump out of bed and hit the gym and get the adrenaline pumping for the day. Or you could just hit the snooze button . . . and go to the gym after work . . . or tomorrow morning. Good intentions to exercise after work fall by the wayside as you stagger home late in the evening or go for an after-work drink. Sometimes, no matter how motivated you are, and no matter how often you plan to visit the gym, life and hectic schedules just get in the way.
Installing a home gym could be the perfect solution. Instead of walking around all day with a wet towel and smelly trainers in your rucksack, you could be enjoying the benefits of working out at home to suit your own lifestyle.
The first criterion necessary for setting up a home gym is a spare room. Don't torment yourself by placing the gym equipment in your bedroom or sitting room as you'll either suffer pangs of guilt every time you skulk by or be constantly embarrassed when visitors come to your house and have to step over equipment. So clear out a room that you don't use too often. Do you really need a dedicated room as a home office? Alternatively, convert a grown-up child's bedroom that is no longer in constant use. Does an occasional weekend visitor, even if they are your first-born, really need their own bedroom?
Start by clearing the room of furniture. Install a stereo system or television and video. For some, music is an essential accompaniment to exercise. Others enjoy working out to special videos. Buy a large wall mirror that will allow you to watch yourself as you exercise. All you need are a few well-chosen pieces of equipment to get you started. Try to match your space and budget with the best unit to fit your needs. Initially, stick to the basics but before you invest in any equipment take a few visits to the gym to find out what type of exercises you want to concentrate on.
There is a wide range of equipment available, from big machines that do it all to more specialised equipment. Advances in home gym technology have seen products evolve from the chrome, space-eating monsters of 10 years ago to today's sleek vertical-press machines.
Treadmills are among the most popular gym equipment. Argos has a range of treadmills available, from a York Pacer 2120 Non-Motorised Treadmill for £199.99 (€254) to a Proform Motorised Treadmill for £999 (€1,268). However, due to their size and high prices, treadmills may not suit all homes. An alternative to both the stepper and treadmill is the Air Walker 2000, priced £99 (€126) at Champion Sports nationwide. This is similar to a gym stepper but rather than stepping on the paddles, the user exercises by "skiing".
Tummy toning tops the list of any gym work-out requirements for both males and females. The star of many low-budget television advertisements is the Ab Roller - available at Champion Sports for £40 (€51), this is billed the "complete home work-out system".
Weights are another important element of home gyms. They come in many sizes, are easy to store and cost from £20 (€25). The exercise bike is a great machine due to its versatility. Plonk it in front of the television and laugh your way through half an hour of comedy or your favourite soap. Prices at Argos start at £64.99 (€86).
Don't be alarmed by the price of gym equipment. While it does require a substantial investment, it's a once-off cost compared to the regular expenses of gym visits. Average gym membership is in the region of £1,000 (€1,270) per year, with an annual or joining fee of £250 (€317) plus monthly fees of £65 (€83). Just imagine how hassle free staying in shape could be . . .
