One of the best ways to build muscle fitness and strength is through working out with weights, but they’re not the only way to get results! Many inexpensive pieces of equipment are helpful in building muscle fitness and strength as well, without forcing you to make an extra trip to the gym.
In this post, I will reveal five inexpensive fitness equipment you can use at home or at work to build muscle fitness! But first, let's go over what is muscle fitness.
What is muscle fitness?
One possible definition of muscle fitness is having the ability to lift heavy objects or being able to exert the muscles for longer. Muscle fitness can be improved by carrying out tasks that make muscles stronger (power) or build endurance (stamina).
There is no doubt that you will look better, feel better and live longer if you are fit. Being physically fit means having strength, flexibility, endurance and coordination. Building muscle fitness can be done in a variety of ways that range from going to a gym or using small exercise equipment at home. Both options offer different benefits.
When it comes down to it, we all have busy lives and managing time is one of our biggest challenges as we try to eat right and stay fit. Small pieces of equipment are relatively inexpensive (some as low as $10) and they allow us to work out while being productive - even while at work!
Here are five inexpensive pieces of equipment to help you get started.
1) Kettlebells
This versatile piece of equipment can be used for a variety of exercises. Kettlebells are best known for their unique weight distribution and as such, can be used by anyone looking to build muscle fitness quickly. If you’re new to working out with kettlebells, start with a light one and slowly progress up in weight, they don’t need to be handled like dumbbells! A 15-pound kettlebell is recommended for those just starting out, but if you've lifted weights before, go ahead and work with heavier ones. But make sure you check out some proper technique first, or speak to a personal trainer.
Here are some great adjustable kettlebells that can help build muscle fitness. They go up from 8lbs to 40 lbs. So, they are great for progressive overloading.
2) A sand bag
Sand bags are a simple and inexpensive way to add extra weight into your routine. They can be used for squats, presses, deadlifts, and lunges. Some people even use them for jumping exercises like box jumps. They come in a variety of sizes ranging from 40 pounds all the way up to 220 pounds! If you're short on space or don't want an entire rack full of dumbbells cluttering up your home gym, I'd suggest looking into sandbags as an alternative.
Here is a great choice from Amazon which also comes with a workout poster filled with exercise illustrations that show you how to use the sand bag. Check it out here.
3) Resistance Bands
Resistance bands can be purchased for as little as $10 and provide a ton of flexibility in exercise selection. Some options include using them for exercises such as band shoulder presses, split squats, or band walking lunges.
They’re extremely easy to use—simply wrap each end around a stationary object like a pole, power rack, door handle, or weight rack. Most come with several different resistance levels and are perfect for traveling or adding an extra layer of intensity when you don’t have access to weights but still want to lift at home. The best part is that they take up virtually no space so you can store one anywhere that has enough room for about 6-8 feet of free space. When choosing your band size it’s important that you choose one heavy enough so that it provides challenge during your workout but doesn’t pull on your joints too much.
Check out this highly rated resistance band on Amazon, it comes with a variety of resistances to help you build up on strength.
4) Dumbbells
Dumbbells are by far one of your best investments as a lifter. Barbells are great and offer a lot in terms of both cost and space, but they aren’t as versatile. Dumbbells, on the other hand, can offer you all that a barbell can at half or even a quarter of its price. For example, these Ironmaster Famistar 5-Levels 6.6 to 44 lbs Adjustable Dumbbells are an excellent investment. They start at 6 pounds per hand which is more than enough weight for anyone just starting out and quickly scale up from there so you don’t have to worry about buying bigger weights anytime soon. For only $139 on Amazon, that’s pretty hard to beat!
5) Jump Rope
If you’re looking for a way to increase your aerobic fitness while also building muscles in your arms, legs and core, look no further than an old-fashioned jump rope. Jumping rope burns an average of 100 calories in only 10 minutes so if you pair it with other exercises, you can burn a lot more calories quickly. Best of all, its cheap (as far as exercise equipment goes) and easy to find online or at most sporting goods stores. All you need is a single lightweight rope that measures anywhere from 9-to 20 feet long depending on your height.
Check out this jumping rope that is also weighted to add resistance. It is highly rated and can be found on Amazon here.
Other things to consider for improving your muscle fitness
Eating enough protein is vital for building muscle. Research shows that eating at least 1.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight can maximize muscle growth and prevent muscle loss. Also, consider eating plenty of healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats from sources like salmon, olive oil, and avocados, which may improve muscle recovery.
Finally, don't forget carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy dietthey fuel exercise performance as well as help repair muscles after a tough workout session.
Summary
In this article I went over 5 inexpensive fitness equipment to help you get started building muscle fitness. I also explained which is good for what exercise and where you can get them from. I hope that you enjoyed this post, and be sure to let me know how your workout routine is going in the comments below.