Top 5 pieces of gym equipment you need for your home gym

@hypebae

Covid 19 has ruined many things, from relationships to the economy, from the travel industry to everyone's plan for a hot girl summer. The latter transpired as the gyms were deemed as bacterial pools and were closed down from the first lockdown. The shutting down triggered two very different reactions. On the one hand, the gym addicts complained about losing their passion. On the other, people who were saying for the past decade: “ I am just about get a gym membership!" simply rolled their eyes and said: "bummer, next year."

However, as the quarantine continued, people became bored with all their free time. In the modern age of hustling and “rise and grind babe,” simply relaxing and being kind to yourself is a sin. So everyone started taking weird hobbies to fill their time. Activities such as lockpicking (there is a whole sub on Reddit believe it or not), opening small businesses (that guilt trip you on tik tok), or even starting courses on Coursera (as if you need extra screen time and more anxiety), became the norm. Yet, the vast majority set to lose weight. Suddenly, well-sculpted bodies were being posted all over the web, and stories with the underlying message "why I am better than you for losing weight during the Corona times" pestered the internet. This get-well craze became suffocating, and the pressure to look perfect was outstanding. As a result, with the gyms being shut many turned to home workouts to fit the expectations.

Yet, despite what the abnormally happy lady on the youtube video says "("You don't need anything you guys! Just start working! "), that is not necessarily the case. Let's not forget that many influencers have their own home gyms, personal trainers, nutritionists, and chefs. Or that in many countries, the gyms have been open for months. Or that the people you see perhaps don't have the responsibilities you do.

Never compare your progress with someone’s filtered one online. Every situation is different.

This is why I believe that buying pieces of affordable gym equipment is a good choice.

Purchasing pieces of gym equipment is an investment. As Philip Olson and Julia Lorenz-Olson narrate in their channel Two Cents, gyms do have a hidden cost. You are often left needing new workout clothing or having to pay for extra services. What is more, gyms do not care if you get sick or simply don't feel like working out, as they will still get the money from your subscription.

I also have to add for the socially anxious out there, that gyms can be a heart-wrenching experience as well. When I first went there, I felt that everyone was staring (they did not) or making fun of my chubby ass (they did not). However, the most annoying occurrences were those gym bros or insta girls, coming towards me with all their haughty looks asking whether am I have done doing my whatever because they are in a hurry, and "oh-geez-you-are-doing-it-wrong-here-hun-lemme-show-you." Sometimes, there is nothing like the quietness or the privacy of your home.

All in all, buying a piece of home equipment is a delightful idea to keep it simple, and test your commitment to an exercise routine. Whether you are a beginner or a gym addict, some equipment is needed to ensure that your workout is effective and most importantly, safe. The gear listed below is not about getting abs but also for not slipping, maintaining a good form, and finally, seeing results.

And I repeat, you don't need to overspend. Five things are all you need.

1. A workout mat

Yoga mats or sticky mats were pioneered by Angela Farmer in 1982. They are specially fabricated so that your hands and feet don't slip during yoga poses. Gradually they transcended the yoga-type exercises and are now used for pilates, cardio, etc. Even though many working-out channels exist, from Chloe Ting's to Blogilates's, from Alivia D'Andrea's blogs to Natascha Oceanes's videos, from the Fitness Blender to… well you got the point, they all use yoga mats. The reason is that they are thick, hence, providing stability, friction, and cushioning for on-the-floor exercises. Simply put, they add safety to the workouts.

Now you may wonder if your very comfy carpet will do the trick just fine. Is the carpet bad? Well, yes it is. The mats provide support for your back and most importantly, they don't move. In heavy contrast, the carpets are designed for decorative reasons. It is like using a curtain for a scarf. You can do it, but it is not working.

I recommend immersing in the Amazon utopia and buying one. Perhaps you will get motivated to use one at 5am, perhaps while you stalk your ex on Instagram (do stop, they are a 4/10). Perhaps you will use it right away. But to see if you possess the discipline needed for a healthy glow-up, you have to buy it.

2. Resistance bands

Using resistance bands is a nice financial solution for doing low-impact exercises. You can use them to strengthen your arms, legs, torso, and pretty much the whole body. Personally, I use them when I walk as they provide an extra punch without me risking injuries (well, except that one time when I was messing with my mom's old resistance band. It kind of slipped my hands and I whipped myself in the face. It was an experience).

This particular pack that I found comes cheap, and it includes a case and a booklet full of exercises. You won't even have to search for exercises yourself! The only thing you need to do is dive in.

3. Weights or Dumbbells

If you need to get stronger you are in desperate need of dumbbells. Dumbbells are considered mandatory for anyone exercising as they can be used for cardio, resistance, and obviously weight lifting. As you use them, you augment your muscles, and you boost your metabolism. According to Julia Belluz of Vox in her article "Most of us misunderstand metabolism. Here are 9 facts to clear that up”

“ Building more muscles, however, can be . . . more helpful. Here's why: One of the variables that affect your resting metabolic rate is the amount of lean muscle you have. At any given weight, the more muscle on your body, and the less fat, the higher your metabolic rate. That's because muscle uses a lot more energy than fat while at rest".

However, your choice of dumbbells has to match your workout, budget, and space. In other words, you need dumbbells that you can lift, that are not expensive, and that does not take much space. After some research, I recommend you purchase these dumbbells from Amazon. This particular equipment comes with its own rack, colorful design, and it shows both the imperial and the metric system.

Come on, stop making excuses and start raising the bar (see what I did there).

4. Bench

This may seem controversial. Many of you may say "Why a bench?" Why not ankle weights or a jumping rope, or not even a kettlebell? Well, a bench may be financial wise as you can do many exercises on it. You can stretch, jump on it, lift your weights, do your abs, do resistance training, and so many more. Your only limit is your fantasy.

And by the way, please ignore the Chad in the picture lifting the weights. Everyone can do it, women, men, the fit, the unfit. You just start somewhere.

1. A mirror

I insert the particular item with just a bit of hesitation because I understand it seems weird. But as I was doing my set of exercises, I realized that I check my reflection on the balcony door to see if I do them correctly. And I thought "I need a mirror."

Gyms have mirrors, and so does your home gym needs to have one. It is better to do slow, low-impact exercises with a nice form than do quick, high-impact exercises with bad form. And the only way to check yourself is to see yourself. So I recommend indulging in one as it is the last and most absolutely important piece of equipment.