A Minimalist Approach To Exercise Equipment For Busy Dads
A lot of busy dads want to begin resistance training at home but feel like they can’t start until they put a few hundred (or thousand!) dollars into setting up a home gym. In fact, you really don’t need a lot of expensive equipment to get an effective workout. In this article, I’ll outline the minimalist approach to exercise equipment we recommend for busy dads who are using our BUSY FIT DAD TRAINING SYSTEM.
Before we get too far, I want to make it clear that it’s possible to start resistance training without making any equipment purchases. If there’s no room in your budget for any special equipment, you can be creative to come up with other solutions.
Before we get too far, I want to make it clear that it’s possible to start resistance training without making any equipment purchases. If there’s no room in your budget for any exercise equipment, you can be creative to come up with other solutions. Throw some full water bottles in a backpack and wear it during pushups or squats. A tube of playground sand can also go in a duffle bag or backpack and used for a lot of exercises. You can load up a small suitcase with books and use it for deadlifts and rows. The bottom line is that a little creativity can go a long way!
If you have the budget and want to get some equipment to start the BUSY FIT DAD TRAINING SYSTEM (or another workout plan), we recommend you make suspension straps for bodyweight rows your first purchase. There are a range of suspension straps available at different prices so look around online to find what works with your budget. There are popular expensive brands out there but less expensive options are often just as good.You can find suspension straps anywhere from $50 all the way up to ~$200. Shop around to find what will work best for you. You’ll need an elevated and secure attachment point for the straps so keep that in mind when making the purchase.
If you’re looking for additional equipment after getting suspension straps, we recommend at least a single kettlebell that you can use for a lot of different exercises. Again, there are a range of options out there at various price points so shop around. In a recent search, you could buy a basic 25 lb. kettlebell on Amazon for as little as $25 which is a great deal. If you’re only purchasing one, it’s important to get a weight that you can use for a lot of exercises. If you get one that’s too heavy, you’ll only be able to use it for a small number of exercises so it won’t be as useful. We recommend you choose a weight with which you can perform 10 strict shoulder presses which will give you a weight you can use for a number of different exercises.
The next purchase we recommend is a bar you can use for chin ups or pull ups. Again, there are a lot of options out there. You can find temporary options that slip over and around a door frame. These can be great but pay attention to the weight limits and ask a contractor if your door frame can support this. Recently, a number of foldable set ups have emerged on the market that can be stored out of the way. If you have the space, there are permanent options that attach to joists in a basement or garage. We’ve even found online instructions for setting up a very inexpensive bar using things you can buy at a hardware store.
Over time, you'll likely find that you want to be able to adjust the weights you use for different exercises. For this, we recommend either an adjustable kettlebell or an adjustable dumbbell (or two of each). Again, there are different options on the market so you have options to choose from. People are often selling used dumbbells or kettlebells so keep an eye online for these to save some money.
Sandbags are also a great tool and can provide more weigh at a lower price than some of the other options listed since you just add sand that you can buy at a hardware store. Some sandbags are specifically made for exercise and have an outer case/bag with handles and smaller bags you fill with sand that you can add or remove to change the weight. We like these because it gives you the option to throw the mini-sandbags in a backpack to make push ups harder or suspension rows harder as you get stronger.
We know it can be difficult making decisions about exercise equipment so we hope this article helps! Be sure to check out the BUSY FIT DAD TRAINING SYSTEM - the perfect training system for BUSY DADS who want quick but effective workouts that require little space or equipment!
If you have a question or are looking for suggestions on exercise equipment, feel free to drop us a line at info@my1coach.com.
Dave Peckinpaugh, MS is the Head Coach at 1COACH and developer of the BUSY FIT DAD TRAINING SYSTEM, which is designed for those want an effective workout with a minimalist approach to equipment. Dave has a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology, is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach with the NSCA, is a Certified Exercise Physiologist with the ACSM, and has been both a full-time and adjunct faculty member teaching college coursework in Kinesiology.
Send us an email at info@my1coach.com with any questions or for suggestions on exercise equipment.