Setup A Gym at Home With Minimum Efforts, Cost & Investments

So you are equipped with some basic knowledge of how weight-lifting increases your muscle mass & now it's time to start lifting weights. But before you do that, one question might be in your mind & that is what will you do if you don't have a gym nearby or gym membership is too expensive or you just don't have time because of your hectic schedule? 

Should that be a reason for not lifting weights? Remember that eating too many calories & proteins without working out is waste of time & resources. It will definitely bulk you up but in form of fat & not muscles. And I know, no one wants a big belly & flabby appearance. So, you DO need to lift weights & for that you need a gym. 

The good news is that you can set up a small (or big, if there is space) gym at your own home!! And it won't even burn a hole in your pocket. You will not need any sophisticated machines & equipment to get in proper shape. Think of the comfort & convenience of being able to work out at home! It's a one time investment & you will save time & money in the long run. 

So, this very post explains how you can set up an inexpensive gym at your home.

Please note that this post targets the Indian audience & all prices are mentioned in INR/Rupees only. I don't have any knowledge of costs in other countries. But basic rules apply everywhere.

Let's start setting up our own small gym. Things you need are:-

1. Weight Plates.

These come in two variants. Rubber plates & Iron plates. Each one has its pros & cons. Rubber plates are dirt cheap. These can be bought online or from your local sports shop and they are as cheap as 25-30 Rupees per Kg! They also provide a better grip on the barbell. But their main disadvantage is that they have an obnoxious smell. They smell terribly bad & also leave behind smell and black marks on your hands (or anything they come in contact with). They are also brittle so they must be handled properly. But yes, they are floor-friendly & won't ruin your floor marble in case you accidentally drop them.

Iron plates are fairly expensive, costing 3-4 times more than rubber ones. Sometimes even 10 times more expensive. But they look & feel great. There is no smell & marks. They are also more durable. Of course, they will break the floor if you drop them.

So, it's up to you to decide which one you should get. I have 18 rubber plates with the below specifications. I would have loved to have iron plates if I could afford them.

• 4 X 1 Kg Plates
• 4 X 2 Kgs Plates
• 4 X 3 Kgs Plates
• 4 X 4 Kgs Plates
• 2 X 10 Kgs Plates

One great thing about this collection is that I can easily add or remove weights for optimum results. It gives me the comfort of adding or removing weights conveniently.

The bad thing is that it takes some time to unlock & lock the dumbbells. You may start to feel you need more weight to your setup (after you have spent enough time lifting weights. It could be months before you get to this level). So, just grab another 2 X 15 or 20 Kgs plates, and you are set.

2. Dumbbell Rods.

Now you need rods so you can add plates to them & have dumbbells with you. These are fairly inexpensive (I got these for just 150 Rupees each from a local shop) & you must get at least a pair to workout bilaterally i.e. with both arms. You may even get 2 more so as to have extra convenience. I have a pair only.

3. Barbells.

Picking up barbells can be tricky since they come in around 7 different varieties and can be very costly. But, you don't need to buy them all. If you are looking for advanced level body-building (you will need additional equipment for that), this blog is not for you since I neither write about that nor do I aim to become a body-builder myself. 

You can add a lot of variety to your regimen with just 2 barbells. One small, 3 feet & one big, 5 feet. You can get it online or from your local sports shop. 3' barbell weighs around 5 Kgs & 5' barbell weighs 10 Kgs. I bought them from a local shop for 500 & 600 Rupees respectively. 

One disadvantage of my 5' barbell is that its diameter is thin. So, it puts extra strain sometimes & its grip is not that great. If you feel this is a stopper, then opt for a thicker, but more expensive barbell. 

You may even get an Olympic bar that weighs 20 Kgs & is 7' long. It's great for bench-pressing & squats. But it's very expensive (at least for me). 

Below is my setup - It looks dirty & cheap but tt costs so little, right? And it does the job really well. Notice how you add plates to the rod for a dumbbell.

From left : - Small rod atop 3 Kgs plates, another small rod atop 2 Kgs plates, 1 Kg plates, 4 Kgs plates, 10 Kgs plates. Also, 2 barbells & nuts to lock plates.

This is just a guide to help you setup your gym at home with minimum efforts & investments. You can have as many plates or barbells or equipment as you wish.