Toms' Guide's Katie Kozuch has been tasked of building a home gym for under $50 with items from Target!
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00:00 Budgets are tight, so a big piece of home gym equipment or a gym membership might just not make sense for everybody.
00:05 So I wanted to see, with $50, if I could build my own home gym at Target.
00:10 Can I kickstart my own fitness goals using everything in this bag?
00:13 And what are the best tech apps and tools to help you get started?
00:16 Let's go find out!
00:17 I was deciding between a few different stores that would have worked for our budget,
00:22 but I ultimately decided to get all of the fitness equipment from Target
00:25 because their brand, All In Motion, has some great prices on all the essentials you need for a home gym.
00:31 I selected specific items that should give me a good variety to start from at home.
00:35 I also made sure to refer to the fitness section on TomsGuide.com for great advice from our fitness editors.
00:41 The first and easiest decision I made was to get a yoga mat.
00:46 This will act as a base for any floor exercises, and it's also great for yoga and Pilates.
00:51 This is the 3mm yoga mat from All In Motion,
00:54 and it's pretty much as affordable as yoga mats come.
00:56 That said, there are a few things you want to keep in mind when picking out a yoga mat for yourself.
01:01 Yoga mats vary in size and thickness.
01:03 Get something thicker than the normal ¼" if you need more cushioning for your wrists and knees.
01:08 You might also want to look for mats that are designed to be grippy without the need for a separate yoga towel.
01:13 If you're sustainability-minded, you should look into the materials of the mat and how and where it's made.
01:18 Being familiar with the material is also important so you know how to properly clean the mat between workouts.
01:24 While you can find plenty of solid, budget-friendly yoga mats,
01:27 there are also premium models that are meant to hold up with daily use.
01:31 Up next, I opted for the All In Motion Yoga Block.
01:35 A yoga block is a little foam brick that goes a long way.
01:38 It's super versatile.
01:40 While I am not a personal trainer, my colleague who is one
01:43 recommends these three bodyweight leg exercises that you can do with just a yoga block.
01:48 First up, we have Yoga Block Prisoner Squats.
01:51 Then I moved on to Yoga Block Glute Bridges.
01:56 And finally, we have Yoga Block Deficit Lunges.
02:01 Be sure to do reps on both sides.
02:04 Moving right along, at Tom's Guide, we love a weighted jump rope.
02:08 It adds resistance and intensity to your existing jump rope workout,
02:12 and this one from All In Motion is super affordable.
02:15 Both a weighted jump rope and a regular jump rope are great ways of raising your heart rate,
02:19 improving coordination, and building agility and endurance.
02:22 The weight of the jump rope you decide to use depends on your fitness levels.
02:26 The additional weight helps you burn more calories and build muscle faster,
02:30 so whether your goal from skipping is weight loss or strength and conditioning,
02:33 the weighted jump rope will help.
02:35 Finally, you can't go wrong with a set of dumbbells.
02:41 If you're just starting off with your home gym, anything from 5 to 10 pound weights is a great place to begin.
02:47 We have a set of 8 pound weights from Target's All In Motion brand right here.
02:51 Dumbbells are versatile tools that provide a wide range of motion,
02:55 allowing for exercises that engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously.
02:59 With regular practice, a dumbbell workout can lead to improved muscle tone and definition
03:03 in your muscles across your upper and lower body.
03:06 Personally, I like using them for shoulder presses and Russian twists.
03:10 Now, although I managed to get all of this equipment for under $50,
03:14 I wanted to take a moment to explain how I personally track my fitness
03:17 with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Oura Ring Gen 3.
03:20 Both devices provide useful feedback on your workouts, like your heart rate trends and calories burned,
03:25 and offer incredible insight into how to live an overall healthy lifestyle.
03:29 I love using my Apple Watch to track bike rides and runs and even Apple Fitness+ workouts.
03:35 That said, I prefer wearing my Oura Ring for activities like yoga since it's more discreet.
03:40 The Oura Ring also works outside of the Apple ecosystem.
03:44 For a deep dive on the similarities and differences, including us measuring the devices
03:48 against professional machines at a sports lab, check out our video here.
03:52 And even if you don't want to invest in a fitness tracker,
03:55 there are plenty of free workout apps that you can try out.
03:57 I personally like FitOn, and even Peloton has tons of content that's free to use.
04:03 Free.
04:04 I think I did pretty well with all of my new gym equipment,
04:09 considering I spent under $50.
04:11 I'm actually looking forward to working out and trying to hit some of my fitness goals this year.
04:16 But what are some of your fitness goals?
04:18 Be sure to let me know in the comments below.
04:20 In the description, I've also linked the latest deals on all the products we checked out today.
04:24 For more fitness content, be sure to head to TomsGuide.com.
04:27 Our incredible fitness team has you covered on all the tips and guides you need.
04:31 Otherwise, you can check out what we're doing on social @TomsGuide,
04:34 and as always, I'm @KateKozich.
04:36 Thanks for watching. I'll catch you next time.
04:38 That's a serious workout.
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