REASONS YOU SHOULD HAVE A HOME GYM

1. YOU CAN STICK TO YOUR FITNESS ROUTINE

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), adults should get at least two hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, one hour and 15 minutes a week of vigorous exercise, or a blend of the two. The HHS also recommends that you spread your workouts throughout the week and include muscle-building workouts at least twice a week.

2. YOU CAN SAVE TIME AND SKIP THE LINES

One of the biggest barriers to exercising consistently is finding the time to do it. When you factor in packing and unpacking a gym bag, drive time to and from the gym, and waiting in line for machines, a half-hour workout could easily turn into a two-hour affair.

3. YOU HAVE THE FREEDOM TO EXERCISE WHEN IT WORKS FOR YOU

No need to carve out an hour and a half block in your schedule. No need to wait for the perfect timing when traffic on the roads is lighter and the gym is less crowded. With a home gym, you can jump on the treadmill or elliptical whenever you feel like it.

4. YOU’LL HAVE THE PERFECT EXERCISE ENVIRONMENT

Most gyms have a dress code. If you have exercise equipment at home, you can start working out the minute you feel like it, wearing whatever you please. You don’t have to worry if your clothes look good or fit right or are athletic enough. A home gym gives you the freedom to wear whatever feels comfortable without a second thought.

6. YOUR WHOLE FAMILY CAN JOIN IN

Speaking of your family, when was the last time they worked out? All members of your household — kids, teens, adults, and seniors — need an age-appropriate amount of exercise. The World Health Organization says that young people ages 5 to 17 should engage in at least an hour of physical activity a day at moderate to vigorous intensity. The majority of their workouts should be aerobic, with bone-loading and muscle-strengthening activities included several times per week. 

8. IT’S SAFER

Bad weather is one of the most common reasons people break their workout routines. Although it might seem like an excuse, oftentimes it’s a legitimate safety concern. There are almost six million car crashes annually, and 21 percent are weather-related. About 70 percent of weather-related car accidents happen on wet pavement, and another 18 percent occur during snow and sleet storms. Every year, almost 5,000 people die in these crashes.