I went to the gym this morning and discovered, I miss working out at home. Now this surprises everyone because at home you are limited in space and limited in equipment. But, I have gotten better results working out at home than I have at the gym. And to put it in perspective, I don’t have to worry about nasty BO, people spitting in the showers, waiting for equipment I need or any of the other things that big corporate gyms make you put up with.

Working out provides you immense advantages. Not only do you look better, you are better able to fight off sickness, recover from injury, and ultimately, live longer. Many of us don’t want the expense of a gym, or just don’t feel comfortable working out in front of a lot of people. This is where a small gym can come in handy.

These items can all be bought on Amazon by clicking the photos below or I have also put these into tables to help you out.

Working out in small spaces

So today I am gonna give you the ultimate guide to working out at home. My assumption is, like me, you don’t have a lot of room for a home gym. This could be because you live in an apartment, don’t have a basement or garage or for any variety of reasons. Here in Hawaii, even large homes are small, so fitting all I need into a super small space is key.

The first thing I always recommend for working out at home is an extra large gym or yoga matt. Most workout programs will have you sweating quite a bit. If you have hard wood floors, it makes it slippery, and if you have carpet, you don’t want that stinking. So get yourself the largest yoga mat you can find for your workout space.

Yoga Direct 6-Feet Square Yoga Mat, Olive Green
  • Each mat measures 6ft x 6ft - a full square
  • Each mat is 1/4 thick
  • Textured, non-slip surface
  • Extremely durable and Completely latex free
  • The perfect mat for Partner and Acro Yoga

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Second, get yourself some workout towels. The last thing you want to use is your normal every day towels you use for the shower or washing your face. Again, with the sweat they will start to stink not long after you start using them. And even after you wash them, they can continue to stink. So get some dedicated towels just for working out.

THE RAG COMPANY (3-Pack) 16 in. x 27 in. Sport, Gym, Exercise, Fitness, Spa & Workout Towel – Ultra Soft, Super Absorbent, Fast Drying 320gsm Premium Microfiber (Black, 16×27)
  • LARGE, SOFT 16 x 27 Professional Microfiber SPORT, GYM & WORKOUT Towel with Extra Durable Overlock Stitched Edge
  • OVER 300,000 FIBERS PER SQUARE INCH in a Premium 320gsm Weight and Super Absorbent, Fast Drying 80/20 Blend
  • PERFECT CHOICE FOR: Spas, Health Clubs and Yoga Studios Looking for a Quality, Value-Priced Towel
  • EXTREMELY DURABLE: Up to 500 Washes with Proper Care Getting Softer with Each Use
  • AMERICAS PREMIER MICROFIBER Products Manufacturer / Distributor Since 1999. THE RAG COMPANY - Always The Better Value!

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Third, dedicated workout clothes. I see guys in the gym in jeans and their work shirt working out. This is first thing in the morning and all I can think is the stink by the end of the day. Yes, BO bothers me. Polyester and microfiber is your friend. Ladies, I won’t pretend to tell you about clothes, but something comfortable and something you can see results (hint… don’t hide behind baggy clothes).

Amazon Essentials Men’s 2-Pack Loose-Fit Performance Shorts, Black/Black, Large

Fourth, a water bottle. When I first started working out, I would just use a glass but I was wasting a lot of time going back and forth to fill up the bottle. A large bottle to keep your water cool is key. I personally don’t like the ones that use straws as I can taste the plastic. I either use the metal vacuum ones or glass but below are several I would recommend.

Fifth, you need a scale to measure yourself. I am up in the air on this because let’s face it, you can be building muscle, losing fat and not losing any weight. But, part of having the scale is about awareness as well. If you know you are weighing yourself every morning, you will be more conscious of the workouts and what you eat. The one below is similar to what I have.

Etekcity Digital Body Weight Bathroom Scale with Step-On Technology, 400 Pounds, Body Tape Measure Included, Elegant Black
  • Note - For best accuracy, please place the scale on a hard, flat surface. Avoid carpet or soft surface
  • High accuracy - 4 latest-version high-precision sensors, using technology from Germany
  • Multifunction - Auto calibration, auto-off, low battery and overload indication, easy to read backlit LCD display
  • Strong Design - 6mm thick tempered glass provides exceptional sturdiness, large 12 x 12 platform
  • US-BASED CUSTOMER SERVICE-100% satisfaction guarantee! 1 YEAR WARRANTY, plus lifetime support provided by Etekcity

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Weights

Now that we have every we need to be prepared for working out, its now time to look at equipment. Part of your decisions will be based on what program you use. Most home workout programs consist of dumb bell workouts with either bands or pull up bars added in. Because of space constraints, I recommend getting the adjustable dumb bells. They allow for quick changes between specific exercises.

 

Next you need some type of resistance bands. Here you have two options. Option one is to get a home TRX system. What is great about these is, it comes with a workout program included, and you can travel with them or take them to the park. If you travel a lot, these are the ones to get. Or, if you just want a change of scenery, taking these to the local part and strapping them to a tree is the way to go.

TRX GO Suspension Trainer System: Lightweight & Portable| Full Body Workouts, All Levels & All Goals| Includes Get Started Poster, 2 Workout Guides & Indoor/Outdoor Anchors
  • OUR LIGHTEST, MOST CONVENIENT TRAVEL TRAINER! TRXs GO Suspension Trainer Kit helps you create intense full-body workouts Anytime, Anywhere! Includes Suspension Training Strap, Indoor/Outdoor Anchors, 2 Workout Guides, Training Poster & Mesh Bag-Download TRX App to Generate FREE Limitless Intensity!
  • MOVEMENT-BASED TRAINING AT YOUR OWN PACE is TRXs Training Philosophy. Learn, Practice & Master 7 Simple Foundational Moves that everyone can do! Push, Pull, Plank, Squat, Lunge, Hinge & Rotate to Achieve Your Dream Body Fast! Then hit next-level intensity by creating limitless workout variations you CRUSH AT YOUR OWN PACE!
  • TRAIN EVERYWHERE! TRX anchors to any door, rafter, beam, tree, pole or post in seconds that supports 350 lbs. Weighing only one pound, our GO Suspension Trainer Kit travels Light & Fast-giving you freedom to Master Our Patented Suspension Training Method in the comfort of your home or even while traveling!

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When I was doing p90x, I didn’t really like the pull up bars for your doors, I really liked the resistance bands. I found with enough tension I got a great workout. The only advantage the gym has for me is the assisted pull up machines and a ton of dumbbells. So get a variety of bands with a device to attach it to your door.

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When you are done with your workouts, an after workout recovery drink is the way to go. Something with high BCAA’s is good since you need to rebuild those muscles. Here aree a few of the best sellers below. I like these better than the beach body brand as they are more cost effective and you don’t have to go through the MLM program to get them. Just put it on auto ship at Amazon.

Once you have your equipment ready, it’s time to find a workout plan. I have a secret for you. Almost any of the DVD workout programs will get you results. That is, if you follow it. Most of the workout DVDs have a very structured program and even come with meal plans. For me, the original P90X worked fantastic. Mind you, I was sore for 2 months but I looked fantastic.

Now, as much as I love the Beach Body workout programs, I HATE half the business model. Beach Body is a quasi MLM plan and I intensely dislike MLM’s. So I recommend buying them from Amazon. That way, there is less chance of them getting your contact details and getting the emails about every new business opportunity available.

If you have a dedicated area for it, Go ahead and check one of the wall stickies. These can be pulled off when you move since they use static to attach to the wall. Finally, when you are done working out, all of this equipment will hide itself, into a corner or closet. Clothes and towels in the laundry and sit down knowing you accomplished something for the day.

GymPad 12 Week Fitness Workout Planner – Premium Quality A2 Wall Chart Poster
  • TRACK 12 WEEKS OF DAILY WORKOUTS - The GymPad Workout Planner Has Space For 12 Weeks Of Workouts, With Space For Information Such As: Date, Muscle Group, Body Fat, Circumference Measurements And Notes For The Ultimate Goal Tracking Experience.
  • PREMIUM HIGH QUALITY 16x 23 WALL CHART - The GymPad Workout Planner Is Made From Premium Uncoated 120GSM Paper. No Tears, No Show Through, Just Brilliant Quality.
  • EASY TO USE FITNESS PLANNER - Ever Find Yourself Working Out Your Favoured Muscle Groups More Than Your Weak Areas? Use The GymPad Workout Planner To Pre Plan Your Weeks Workouts Ensuring You Dont Skip Your Weaker Areas.

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If there is a workout plan that you like, leave a comment below. Like I said, I enjoy P90X but I would also like to test the body beast, once I get back into spy shape again. A few items that might be useful to you I have layed out below. This includes foam rollers, body fat calipers and even this device I use when I get a flare up of plantar fasciitis.