Work Out at Home: The ONLY 4 pieces of Equipment You ACTUALLY Need To Be Successful
Most people working out at home have a yoga mat, a band they saved from physical therapy 8 years ago, some 3-5lb weights, and maaaaaaybe a yoga or bosu ball.
While you absolutely CAN do plenty of different workouts with all that, it’s not going to be as effective as you’re hoping it will be if you intend to workout for life and continue seeing results.
So what do you REALLY need in order to thrive?
NOT MUCH ⤵
Something LIGHT - 5-10lb dumbbells
Something MEDIUM - 15-25lb dumbbells
Something HEAVY - a single OR pair of 35+lb weights. Sometimes clients will get a single 35-45lb KETTLEBELL and that works great too!
A pack of mini band loops - these are a staple tbh
This is literally a photo of all the weights I have in MY home gym. I consider myself advanced and I still get wiped out from doing a well-planned workout with these items.
It’s the medium and heavy weights that seal the deal and make this a potent, minimalist home practice, but having the smaller options is such a great bonus.
With smart programming, this little bundle can go a loooong long way.
For example, with my 35lb weights I might start with single DB 35lb sumo squats (holding the weight between my legs).
I can easily progress this to single DB 35lbs goblet squats (holding the weight up at my chest).
THEN I can progress from there to dual dumbbell front rack squats with my 25lb dumbbells (holding weights over each shoulder), which makes it a 50lb squat.
I can eventually work my way up to front rack squats with each 35lb weight.
Through allllllll this, I can play around with my mini band loops to create extra points of tension, which feels like adding weight!
If it gets easy to do front rack squats with the 35s, then I add in hard movements around it. Things like single leg hip thrusts are always potent (or any single leg work, really). Adding complexity and intensity is a fun way to advance as well, which I might do with movements like dumbbell cleans and then dumbbell clean to PRESSES.
This form of Progressive Overload is THE way to strength train and continue to get results. Most people will do super basic programs with the lightest weight options and hit a big plateau. Others won’t even get to hit the plateau because they’ll get injured first (moving correctly matters for longevity!).
This can seem complicated when you’re trying to gather random bits of information via social media, google searches, and pinterest boards, but with the right program where things are well structured, you actually notice the patterns and progression types and become an absolute ninja at exercise prescription. Add in great cueing from an experienced trainer so you feel things in the right muscle groups and BOOM, BABY, you might as well BE a trainer yourself.
So you see? This home gym setup is perfect for beginners AND advanced lifters AND it can take you alllllllll the way to the results of your dreams.
If all this is something you ALREADY own, I have a 90-day program ready for you NOW!
Don’t own all this (yet)? — that’s fine! You can start with just the light weights and slowly add to your home gym. Great shopping options for equipment: Facebook Marketplace, local forums, or borrowing from friends until you KNOW you want to officially invest.
Tthe good news is that my program, Hypefit Method, is all follow-along style which means you’re working out WITH me and getting REAL TIME suggestions on ways to move based on what you DO have. Don’t have 35lb weights? No worries. If you have 15 or 20 pounders then I’m dishing out the perfect movement option for you with those! You’ll see.
If I don’t see you inside my program, but you’re curious about ways to MAXIMIZE your minimal equipment, reach out! I’d love to send you a list of movements to try. I’ve got a library of them stored in my brain after all these years 😏
HAPPY FITNESS-ING!
xoxox
Chels
