Weights

Weights are one of the least expensive types of at-home exercise equipment and offer a wide range of health benefits. At-home weights can impact all parts of your body, with the goal of gaining or toning muscle. Weights and dumbbells can also help burn calories and increase muscular endurance for any other sports or activities you enjoy. Using weights properly increases your heart rate and can therefore help improve cardiovascular health. Plus, they’re a great way to improve bone health. As bones get stronger from strength training, it may decrease the risk of a fracture as bones gain strength. Whether your activity tracker is always in use or you are just starting your fitness journey, arm weights, ankle weights and dumbbells are an attainable way to begin building muscle. 

Ankle weights are a wearable weight that you wrap around your (you guessed it) ankles. When used properly, ankle weights add weight to your lower body workouts, specifically targeting legs and glutes, helping tone these areas. The ability to target muscles makes ankle weights a good choice for rehab exercise or high-intensity strength training. The soft padding lets you work out in comfort. Play around with the weight and motion when using your ankle weights to help you determine what works best for you.

Dumbbells are weights for arm toning and strength that are shaped like the Roman numeral one, with bulbous weights on either side of a hand grip. You can start with lightweight arm weights and work your way up, using dumbbells in strength training or while you’re on a treadmill or exercise bike, for example. You may consider adjustable dumbbells if you’re having trouble deciding what weight you need, or if you enjoy a range of weight for your workouts. Adjustable dumbbells allow you to customize your weight training routine, up to a certain weight. Plus, multiple dumbbells in one design is a major space-saver.

If you’re on the fence between dumbbells and kettlebells, it could be advantageous to use both in your weight training, as they target different areas of your body. Because of their unique shape, kettlebells require more muscles to work at once and are more ideal for upper and lower body workouts, as opposed to dumbbells which focus entirely on arms and upper body. Adjustable kettlebells are available, too.

Ramp up your workout by listening to your favorite music on sports headphones and with weight-training accessories like a stowable bench. A weight bench can provide different angles during your training and provide more stability as you’re doing your upper and lower body workouts. A weight stand enhances your home gym by keeping weights within easy reach. Once in recovery mode, enjoy foam rollers and recovery equipment to complete your weight training workout.