Building a Home Gym after Bariatric Surgery

Posted: Jan 29 in Lifestyle and Activity by Staff

Though a gym membership can be a valuable tool after bariatric surgery in Albany or Macon, there may still be many barriers between you and getting a good workout. Long stressful days, unexpected circumstances, stormy weather—all of these things can make it difficult to get to your gym, but skipping workouts isn’t an option after bariatric surgery.

Wouldn’t it be much easier if you could just exercise at home?

With a little time and effort, you can. Building a home gym is possible on just about any budget and can be done with only minimal space. Though your home gym may not have the personal trainers and expensive workout machines of the mega-gym down the street, even the simplest equipment can provide countless ways to exercise and help you keep up your progress.

Finding a Location

To start building a gym of your very own, you’ll need to figure out where to put it. Any space of at least six square feet will be a good start, so look for extra room in your attic, garage, basement or den. A spare bedroom can also be perfect for this purpose.

Ideally, you should be able to keep your equipment set up at all times. This will make your home gym more accessible and increase your chances of using it often, but may be difficult if you have limited space. Furniture sliders and other convenient storage solutions can make it possible to have an area that converts quickly to a home gym without taking up too much room.

When selecting a location, you should also look for:

• Ambiance. Good lighting and fresh air can be invigorating for your workouts, so try to include a window in your gym area if possible. Mirrors, soft white lights and houseplants can also improve the feel of your gym. Minimize clutter and distractions.
• Storage. Closets and shelving units can be useful places to store excess exercise equipment, especially if you use the same space for another purpose.
• Electricity. It’s a good idea to have at least one electrical outlet in your gym area, especially if you hope to include a TV, stereo, computer or electronic exercise machine. A fan is also a good addition to any workout area.

Stocking Your Gym

After you’ve picked a location for your gym, it’s time to fill it with useful exercise tools. Though a more expensive machine like an exercise bike, treadmill or weight bench may be a solid investment if you think you’ll use it often, you can also take advantage of versatile, inexpensive tools like:

• Stability balls
• Dumbbells
• Resistance bands
• Yoga mats

Of course, all of these tools will only be as useful as you make them. Once your home gym is complete, try to make a habit of spending as much downtime as possible in your gym, whether this amounts to exercising or improving your workout space.

Have you built a home gym after bariatric surgery in Albany or Macon? Tell us about it in the comments below!