How to create a winning home gym

Back in the days when I was single, without children, and employed full-time, I almost always had a gym membership. Whether it was the small women-only gym in my home town, the bigger corporate gym near my apartment in the city, or the community center that I passed on my commute to work, I always had somewhere to go to burn off that extra energy. But with my schedule, responsibilities, and budget today, a gym membership is out of the question. So my workouts take place either in my home or on the streets and sidewalks surrounding it. Sometimes I miss those days of putting on my headphones and losing myself in 45 minutes on the elliptical machine, but exercising at home has its perks too.

If exercising at home suits you, here are some excellent tips on how to create your own home gym. Whether you want to go small (think a jump rope, stability ball, and some dumbbells) or large (like a treadmill and a Bowflex machine), there are a lot of different options for creating a workout space with all the materials you need to reach your goals. One thing I'd add to the list would be videos or DVDs, especially for beginners who might not yet have "all the right moves."

It doesn't matter where you exercise, just that you do it. Finding a time, a place, and a routine that fits your lifestyle will help ensure that you stick with your program for good.