Your ideal home gym home?

:happy: My workout room has 2 trainers (one for me and one for my boyfriend) for spinning, a trendmill, laptop, 2 big mirrors and I made a motivational poster myself Also has a TV and DVD player. Its kinda crowded right now because We store some stuff in there from our tattoo shop. But hopefully we can get more use out it more without all the tattoo stuff LOL. But I still get on the trendmill everyday!

Mirrors are great and so are motivational posters! Easy to make one yourself too...

When we do our home gym we're going to have some kind of weight machine (a big one like at the gym or maybe a Bowflex), a weight bench (capable of incline, decline, and perfectly level) with a bar, the Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells, a treadmill and either an elliptical or an arc trainer (if we can afford the kind I like).

Our goal is to not need to go to the gym ever again. We want to have everything we need so that we can work out all year long, because there's no way we're running outdoors if it's going to be this cold (10 degrees) in Albuquerque in the winter!

I have a dumbbell set, bench, and a machine with a bunch of workout stuff like leg extensions, lat pull down, etc.

I'd want to have an elliptical and either treadmill or stationary bike (or both) to round out the equipment.

The space I have now is garage/basement and I've laid down some 3/4" thick interlocking gym flooring pads -- I'd prefer it to be a little more open with a higher ceiling, better lighting, both natural and electric, wood flooring instead of concrete, and with less support beams in my way.

I would have some inspirational stuff on the walls, anything from martial arts masters to to Marine or Navy Seal themed stuff (I was never in the military but family has been plus I respect heavily what these guys do), to any other similar symbols of drive and achievement. I'd probably have some big whiteboard where I could scribble down stuff I want to remember, and also some progress charts or some pictures of fat ole' me to stay motivated.

Right now without changing the big stuff I can't really change, unless I move, I'd add: pushup bars, a better yoga mat (mine kind of sucks), a yoga block or two, a sturdy chair, and a TV for my DVDs. Also a small stereo to go with the TV and DVD player, for just listening to music or radio programs.

In your situation, I would get resistance bands, the pushup bars, pullup bar, a weight bench if you don't have one.

{EDIT} I am seeing a lot of people mentioning a mirror. I forgot: I actually have been needing that for my own setup, too, so here's one more vote for a mirror or mirrors. My ideal gym would have a wall of mirrors, maybe 2.

My wife and I continue to build our home gym--most items are from craigslist. It includes:

Treadmill, bowflex, free weights, trainer for bike in winter, TV with built in DVD, mats.

In a year, we hope to add elliptical.

We found the Bowflex on craigslist for only $400, was still a current model for $2,400. Guy just wanted to get rid of it. Instead of affording the room and cheaper quality all at once, we thought it good to get good equipment and build each year with what we are saving from gym membership.

Enjoy.

If I had a ton of room and a bunch of extra money then I'd go all out. Of course it's more realistic to just acquire pieces over time, but you have to start with something. My ideal home gym would have:

Free weight bench press, standard Olympic bar, and a weight tree with weights from 2 1/2 lb to 45 lb.
Dumbbell rack and a full set of dumbbells from 5 lb to 55 lb.
Curl bar
Pull-up / chin-up bar
Squat / hack squat machine
Dip / leg raise frame
Treadmill
Exercise bike

As for the room itself I would mount a 32-37 inch flat screen television and wire it to a dvd player. I'd also set up a small stereo system or even a "boom box." I'd put thick, black rubber mats down on the floor to protect it from the heavy equipment and the weights. I'd put a ceiling fan in or some type of ventilation. I'd put a full length mirror up along one wall and I'd put weight charts up along the another wall. Maybe even consider a chalk board or a dry erase board and some cork board on one of the walls to pin things up.

We have a room that has an elliptical, 75 pound body bag (that is a great workout), speed bag, tv/dvd player with exercise videos, weights (I do want to invest it a weight tree). A mirror is great, I love watching my muscles work, that makes me want to continue. Inspirational cork board with my goals, reasons, and pictures of fitness people I admire (Jillian Michaels is my favorite) and even inspirational sayings. A variety is great so you are not bored and your body doesnt get use to one system, that can slow down your weight loss. Have fun!:happy: