it…out

While my running/cardio workouts utilize some high tech, gps-enabled, goodies, most of the rest of our fitness gear is comparably low tech.  Over the last couple years we’ve put together a sort of home gym in the basement.  Here’s what we have so far:

Nice Rack

We’ve been buying new dumbbells a few at a time — they get expensive — and Lindsey found the rack on clearance at a fitness store.  The step, while it does look dorky, cost about $2 at a rummage sale and is handy for things like calf exercises.  You really can’t see it, but there is also a jump rope bunched up on the top of the left side of the wrack.  It’s an extremely cheap and portable way to ensure you have some cardio equipment on the road.

Nice Balls

We also picked up an old mirror at a used furniture sale for cheap.  We’ve learned that a mirror is one of the most important pieces of equipment we have to work with — you can really tell when you start to get sloppy with form.  The two big Swiss balls are great for stability and balance exercises.  Doing push ups with your feet up on one of these is a challenge!  Lindsey also has a small 8lb medicine ball for her workout.  You can also see her stopwatch in the window.  I also put in a chin up bar in the doorway.  It just wedges in the door frame and is surprisingly stable.  Now if only I could do more than 2 or 3 reps at a time…

How much you bench?

This is the most expensive addition to the room — an adjustable weight bench.  It’ll accommodate a full size barbell, but we don’t have one yet — just the EZ curl bar in the corner.

Some very welcome mats

And on the floor we have a bunch of interlocking foam mats we got at Target.  Crunches and V-ups are much more comfortable on a soft surface!