What equipment do you need for home fitness?

In fact, there is no standard answer at all, and there is no "hard-need" equipment that you must buy. It all depends on your training needs, living space, and budget. You can even achieve the effects of losing fat, shaping your body, and improving your physical fitness by practicing freehand without buying anything.

When I was just exploring home fitness two years ago, I ran into a big pit. I got excited after reading the recommendations of fitness bloggers, and spent a small amount of 2,000 to buy adjustable dumbbells and folding dumbbell benches. As a result, the apartment I rented was old and small, and the only place I could free up for exercise was the 1-meter-wide aisle at the entrance. It was difficult to even open the door after the equipment was piled in. In the end, it was left idle for more than half a year, and I sold it for 200 yuan. During that time, I had no equipment but concentrated on practicing freehand exercises. I followed the videos every day to do glute bridges, burpees, and planks. I occasionally carried two 5L bottles of water filled with water as dumbbells to practice deadlifts. I lost 2.1% of my body fat in three months, and my waist became 3cm thinner. Even talking about it makes me laugh at the wasted money I spent before.

Some people argued with me, saying that they don’t even need to buy a yoga mat, and it’s the same as practicing barefoot on the floor. I’ve tried it before, and my ankles were numb when I did jumping movements. Not to mention, the aunt downstairs came up and knocked on the door three times a week, and then bought an 8mm non-slip yoga mat to solve the problem. But if your home already has thick pile carpets, there is really no need to spend more money. It all depends on the actual situation.

If you have been practicing freehand for a while and feel that the intensity is not strong enough and you want to increase the load, in fact, a few dozen small items are enough. My best friend wanted to improve her rounded shoulders and back after giving birth, so she bought a pair of 1kg plastic-impregnated small dumbbells and a resistance band, which she kept in a drawer. She took up space and spent 15 minutes every day after putting the baby to bed to practice lateral raises and seated rowing. After practicing for three months, the soreness of her trapezius muscles caused by sitting for a long time at work has been alleviated. The usage rate is many times higher than the annual card she spent more than 3,000 yuan on.

Of course, if you have regular muscle-building needs, you can also free up a dedicated exercise space at home, and it is no problem to buy large items. A friend of mine who is into bodybuilding specially changed the guest room at home into a 15-square-meter fitness corner with adjustable dumbbells, dumbbell benches, and gantry racks. During the three months of lockdown last year, we couldn't go to the gym and lose muscles. But he was lucky, and his arm circumference increased by 2cm, which made people jealous. But if you haven’t figured out whether you can insist on practicing more than three times a week, really don’t touch these big items. Another friend of mine bought a dumbbell bench on a whim. It is still piled with down jackets from different seasons, and it is no different from a temporary clothes hanger.

To put it bluntly, choosing home fitness equipment is like choosing a commuting bag. You don’t need to blindly chase expensive models or models recommended by bloggers. First ask yourself whether you can use them. After all, the equipment that makes you willing to keep moving is the best equipment for you.