Affordable Home Gym Essentials That Are 100% Worth It
Build your home gym on a budget with these affordable essentials that are actually worth it. My most-used equipment for effective at-home workouts. (This post contains affilate links)
Affordable Home Gym Essentials That Are 100% Worth It
I don’t have the time, space, or budget for a complicated gym setup — but I still want workouts that build strength, support my metabolism, and keep me consistent at home. So over time, I created a simple, affordable home gym with equipment I actually use every week — and today I’m sharing the pieces that are 100% worth it!
Home workouts have been my most consistent fitness routine in this season of life, and every piece in this post has been used on repeat — not just for a week, but for years.
Affordable Home Gym Equipment That Gives You the Most for Your Money
If you have the right staples for your home gym, you won't need much to get the job done. During the pandemic we bought a spin bike and it's still one of the most used pieces of equipment to this day. Shortly after, we purchased the adjustable weights. A progressive load should be the name of your game when it comes to strength training so getting weights that can grow with you without taking up too much space is ideal. The only downside is that they are a little on the bulkier side so sometimes I have to modify my exercises to account for their size. You also cannot put weight on them (like doing a renegade row) but that hasn't stopped me from making progress!
What we have & alternates I recommend:
Workout Apparel & Accessories That Make Home Exercise More Comfortable
Athleisure that hugs you in all the right places and doesn't roll down is an absolute must for me! I have been a big fan of this brand for years and it really holds up while being affordable! Whenever I work out, my hands can get really sweaty so wearing weight lifting gloves is a must for me. I also like to have a towel nearby to keep me dry!
At-Home Workout Programs and Tools That Keep Me Consistent and Getting Stronger
I've been using the Peloton app since 2020. It has supported me through all of the phases of my exercise journey. Back then, I was really into spinning and loved to take a Cody Rigsby class a few times a week. The app offerings have changed since I first signed up in that you used to have unlimited access to the equipment based classes on the basic tier. Now, there are two tier options where the basic tier gives you access to 3 equipment based classes a month vs the upgraded tier where it is unlimited.
Now a days, I do a weekly split with my 3 favorite trainers on there: Adrian Williams, Jess Sims and Tunde Oyeneyin. I workout a minimum 4 days a week: full body, one upper body, one chest and back and leg. My goal is to rotate through a series of classes and challenge myself to increase the weights I use each time I cycle back to the class. It's amazing how strong you can become!
Another thing that has helped me in my journey is using a TDEE Calculator to figure out my food intake. TDEE stands for Total Daily Energy Expenditure. I'll talk more about this in another blog post but for now, here is the link.
Optional Supplements to Support Strength, Recovery & Protein Goals
There are a few products that I use religiously to support my strength training and diet:
- Creatine - for increased muscle mass, enhanced strength & improved recovery
- Protein Water - to meet my daily hydration and protein targets
- Protein Powder - to meet my daily protein targets
- Pre-Workout - for a boost of energy before I exercise
I have been a long time lover of Vega Sport High Protein because it's available in a large tub, delivers a larger amount of protein per serving and very affordable. It's what I like to call my "no frills" protein supplement. But sometimes I do want something a little more "boujee" and that's where goodprotein comes in! I have been pleasantly surprised with the taste and find them not to be too sweet. Their standard powders are considered All In One Shakes that contain greens, fibre, low or no sugar and 21g of protein per serving! They also have a high protein powder that delivers 32g per serving! You can get 30% off your first order with code: JZABELD30
Wishing You Well on Your Journey
Becoming more active starts by having the idea that you want to make some changes to your lifestyle. Having an at-home gym makes it much easier to take that thought and put it into action. I hope you find this post helpful and wish. you all the best as you navigate your own journey!
