Workout at Home Arsenal

Over the years I have gathered quiet alot of workout products for my home workouts. This took time and usually came with the purchase of a new workout DVD. For instance I purchased my step in a package from The Firm which at the time came with three workouts and two steps. Later they came out with the incline step which also came with three workouts. The incline offered more versatility for working out, but allowed me to also use the previous workout videos I had.

When I first started working out at age 17 I purchased an exercise mat, ankle weights, and a set of hand weights. As years went by more products for working out at home became more abundant. Now I don't own a treadmill, elliptical, or stationary bike and never have. First off these are big ticket items that I did not have the money to buy, or a place to put. Yet I have managed just fine without those items and even after working out at the gym, at various times in my life, I prefer my arsenal.The step is great to use for a combination of cardio and toning at the same time. This makes for a shorter more effective workout incorporating the entire body.

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At this time I have four sets of hand weights 3 lbs for flies, 5 lbs for rows, biceps, triceps, lying down flies and use them on my inner thigh for extra weight. I have 8 lbs for using on the step for extra weight and for some other step work along with chest presses. Last I have 15 lbs for working the lats which is the muscle shown on the left. As you can see this is a big muscle and can handle heavy weights. However I would start with 5 to 8 lbs and work your way up. Currently I do 30 upright rows on both sides. I need to move up to 20 lbs which is what I used at the gym.

I do have a set of ankle weights, but in order to use them I have to tie them on because the Velcro is no longer holding. Wish they would come back with the ones with straps.

When the stability ball came out I was in love and had to have one. This is the best piece of equipment for developing a creating a strong core. It is also very versatile for working the body all over while still engaging the core.

Resistance bands, I got my first pair when I purchased the Boot Camp Tae Bo  series. I then found a set that had weights in the grips by Tae Bo and purchased those. When purchasing The Firm DVD, I no longer have or remember the title, I got a different type of resistance band. At the time I had no workouts that utilized this type of resistance band, but as of now I have two.

Then I purchased Cathe' Friedrich's DVD "Butts & Guts* " I purchased my 8 lb medicine ball. I use this to enhance ab work like Russian Twists, along with the stability ball and for uneven push ups. All of the workouts I do that incorporate the medicine ball are from Cathe' Friedrich.

At the suggestion of my health man I bought a rebounder. This is a great workout for those with joint pain because it is easy on you joints. The rebounder hosts a lot of benefits. You can see my post "The Rebounder/Mini Trampoline Benefits."

The last part of my arsenal is the most important because all of my other items would be useless without my library of workout videos/DVDs. I also use YouTube for various workouts and have an extensive list on there between two different play lists. If you would like to go through them and see if you are interested in anything you can explore my "Fitness" play list and my "Exercise" play list.