With gyms closed indefinitely and most of us under stay-at-home orders, there has been a tremendous boost in interest in home gym equipment. I know of many people waiting for squat racks, benches, etc. to be delivered (most of these are serious exerciser who will undoubtedly make full use of the equipment when it arrives and are already making use of the equipment they already have on hand or are improvising). Many, however, are caught up in the tide of enthusiasm for home exercise, but lack the discipline, as well as the equipment. So, what will become of all the newly acquired gym equipment when the curve is flattened and we return to our normal schedules. I suspect that many of us will have the opportunity to strengthen our own gyms as Craig’s List and E-bay are flooded with products. Let’s hope not.
There are many reasons that people go to gyms rather than exercise at home—equipment selection, “trained” personnel, workout partners, etc. I suspect one unspoken reason is the inherent excuse not to exercise. That is, it is easier to plan to go to the gym than to actually go. When the gym is right there where you live, there are no excuses. There are countless big-box commercial gyms that want your membership dollars but don’t necessarily want you to show up regularly—they want you to come just enough to motivate you to keep that monthly draw on your credit card alive. (Have you ever done the math to figure out how many $9.99 monthly payments are needed to pay the lease on some of these gyms—and considered what it would be like if all of these people came to the gym regularly??) Sure, you think you will be the exception, and I hope you are, but….
If you are waiting for your backordered equipment to arrive (or it has and you have begun to assemble it—maybe even begun to use it), have a plan—a plan to use this equipment for the long term. Make using it a habit now, while the opportunity presents itself. Consider the benefits of having your own gym: 1) it is always open; 2) time spent commuting to the gym can be spent actually exercising; 3) the sweat that doesn’t get wiped off the machines is yours; 4) you are the only annoying person at the gym; … and 5) all the money saved. Yes, buying home gym equipment (that you actually use) is cheaper than going to the gym! I have a fairly well-equipped home gym and estimate that I have spent less than $4K over the last 15 years. That is less than $25 a month for my wife and me (and, now, my 14-year-old son is using the gym regularly). At the core, I have a power rack/Smith machine/high-low pulley combination, two Olympic bars with 532.5 pounds of plates (acquired over time), several standard barbells and adjustable dumbbells with plates (ranging from 1-1/4 to 25 pounds) totaling over 350 pounds, dumbbells (free) from 10 to 70 lbs, pullup bar (newly acquired), benches, glute-ham machine, hip machine, bike, Bulgarian bags, and Suples Fit-ball, as well as countless accessories. My gym space is tight (a bit over 8’ x 12’ (half the garage) and isn’t pretty, but it is functional. It has received a lot of use over the years. (A used commercial stair-stepper worked well for us for over 12 years before it had to go to the gym equipment graveyard—RIP.) I haven’t had a gym membership for almost 16 years and don’t miss the gym. I also didn’t skip a beat when I was told that I would be teaching Spring term remotely. In fact, not commuting, I have gained more than 2-hours of time to work out!
So, if you are still waiting for that gym equipment to arrive, do some body weight exercise in the meantime and start planning for how you will use the equipment when it arrives. Don’t tell yourself, “I’ll start when it arrives.” Start now! Start preparing to continue exercising when the stay-at-home orders are lifted. In other words, exercise during the times your will be able to exercise when you are back to a “normal” routine. Eliminate future excuses now. Set goals. Have an exercise plan (for progressive overload—we call it “periodization”). Don’t be selling the equipment in a few months. Wear it out!! Use it! (And use it properly and safely—get instruction. During this time of quarantine, look to reputable sources on YouTube.)
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!