10+ Rookie HOME GYM MISTAKES You Need to Avoid!

I'm a single dad of a 2 year old and 3 year old. I want to be a role model for my boys, but there's absolutely no way that I can have time to get to the gym. So I invested in a few things: a power rack, bar, 400 pounds of plates, Bowflex 552 adjustable dumbbells, a bench, and a few accessories like straps, a belt, and alternative handles for the cable tower on the power rack.

Overall, this has been a life changing investment for me. Without the painstaking details, it has given me the opportunity to better my life and, more importantly, allow me to give the best version of myself to my boys.

coming from someone that has two garage doors... didn't fit so the track and opener was removed from one lol

CONSIDER YOUR SLANT!!!!! Most garages are not poured level and will slant toward the garage door.. Made the huge mistake of mounting the rig on the slanted wall, so when I would squat, one foot was lower than the other. Over time, at heavy weight, it started causing hip issues. Removed the rig, put the pull up bar on the ceiling and switched to individual squat stands. Saved a ton of space since I can move the stands completely out into the driveway if I dont need them, and I can squat with the slant to avoid hip issues.

Yes! REP! 🎉

Since when I worked out in my home gym I started to have back pain and neck pain that - when I worked out at public gym - I did not have.

Considering I am able to perform correctly the exercises (10 years of training in public gyms) do you think can this be due to a work out just with dumbbell and Barbell without machines?

I would say define your training goals then buy the equipment around it. No need in buying powerlifting equipment if that’s not your goal. Also, no need in buying a barbell that can handle 1500 lbs if you can barely handle 300 lbs. You can always add as needed plus you tend to lose money when you sell unnecessary equipment

Multiple uses for GHD. Mayhem athlete secret weapon

i was looking at stainless steel rep bars Dubble diamond and curl bars.

Another: if you are a woman and a very beginner, DO NOT get those less than 25lbs adjustable dumbbells. Don’t underestimate your strength. It will grow quite fast. Because I did, I thought I am very weak so 20lbs will last at least half a year to a year, (also I’m cheap so those costs much less), only after 1 month I’m already pushing over 20lbs. Now I’m waiting for the 50lbs dumbbells I was supposed to buy at the beginning. 🤦‍♀️

Thank you for convincing me to buy a small steel building. Ive been looking at this quote I have for ~$9,000 and im sold now.

I’ve had a home gym for over 4 years now.. LITERALLY all of these points are correct!!
My only thing is I would re-order the 1 - 10. Top 3 is: BUY SMALL (then gradually build)- I’ve always wanted an Rogue Assault bike since 2019.. lived in moms house (college), 1st apartment, now my own house- BOOM first thing I got was my bike! Trust me.. best purchase ever but I GRADUALLY BUILT. I started with DBs to KBs (functional fitness enthusiast).

2nd I’d say is have a plan (mesocycle), 3rd is balance price / quality.

Good luck to the new home gym owners, keep succeeding & stay healthy!

Horse stall matts are fine they take a beating and clean easily. Broom and a mop and you can also write on them with chalk for workout counting

Building a home gym is like bulding a gaming PC. U dont need the creme de le creme u need mid tier and then over time u buy one part at a time to get to the creme de le creme

I bought an ethos rack and couldn’t be happier with it… great rack

One thing I regret: not getting adjustable dumbbells like the bowflex. Expensive, but saves a lot of room.

An Olympic barbell set, power rack, lifting platform, few kettlebells is enough. If you have some more $ buy fat grips and gymnastic rings!

"With a home gym I can workout whenever I want!"

No, you still need a plan or whenever will become seldom to never.

Flooring 💯

I made the foam tile mistake. It's all true, they suck.

I have bought and sold stuff. Market place is great for that. Thought I would use something, didn’t and sold it off to make room. Plates, that is always something I’m looking out for.

@ericwoodatwork hi

Really good video thanks man 💪🏼

Buying over time is a great idea. Have slowly been building out over last few years. Wouldn’t have anything if I’d just tried to buy everything at once

You talked about floor mats, but the flooring under the floor mats.
What do I ask for when building an upper floor gym as the foundation?

My best advice: buy everything second hand. Plenty of people have got equipment that they never use and they just want to get rid of them for pennies.

Bought 90% of my equipment used. Wish I had more room for cables, but lost 20 lbs with the equipment I had and glad I bought my equipment.

All these brands are over priced.

I've never had an issue buying from Amazon for 1/4 the cost.

Lot of coopiness in comment section.🎉🎉

We want to mCoop. 50 mil myofibrillar fibernetic in the arm and a doped Trap bar. Then idiots pumping out Dumbbell with similar indistinguishable Movement Speed. 😮😮

I was thinking about create a home gym when I’m overseas in Europe… would anyone know any companies located there to reduce spending of shipping it from US to Europe.
❤

Not having the budget u got.

I think each "home gym" is tailored to the individual that is using it and thier goals to fitness. Not eveyone is looking to add body mass, nor is everyone looking to be super lean. The important thing here is that they make an effort to work out no matter if its in the home or in the gym, or a combo!

I've been collecting equipment for my home gym for 10 years. It's my baby. One thing I do to get me reinvigorated is to repaint it... I'm getting ready to paint and do some new lighting. Don't underestimate how important making it feel nice is!!

Get a whiteboard and a pack of dry erase markers. Write out your workout.

Get a rack that has an upper lower cable rig and you have an endless possibility of exercises. Add on an adjustable bench and some adjustable Dumbless and you seemingly can do everything you need.

Hi coop. I was looking to see if you have reviewed the American Barbell urethane plates. They don’t give many specs on the website. They look nice, but I am interested in your opinion on them.
Thanks

Oftentimes, the longest trip to the gym is down the cellar stairs!😊

What would you recommend for people who live in the military and have to move houses every couple years

We do use foam mats at my house because we do a lot of martial arts and rubber horse stall mats hurt lmao, but actual gym padded wall mats are like 400$ a piece so if your doing sparing and such foam mats are okay👍 but great video! Long time watcher/lurker first comment here

Will REP ARES come with a Smith machine???? it would be a hit!!!

At the time I bought my rogue monster rack after finding your channel, the Athena and Aries trainers hadn’t come out, I wish I had gone the rep route but hindsight is 20/20 and I still love my rogue rack it’s amazing, and for flooring 10000% go with horse stall mats it’s the best thing I did for my gym

Wish you did this last year 😅 I blew about 20k on rogue and torque equipment and now I got a great looking home gym that I’ve used twice 🥹

Its so painful to keep having to find alternatives to suggestions for us Europeans ;) We need all your home gym must buys for things I can actually get in Europe! <3

hey Coop, I love your watch, what is it?

COOOOOOPPP!!! I am building a home gym it would be extremely helpful if you did a round up. Rogue vs Rep vs bells of steel vs titan. Right now I have a set up picked from bells of steel but so many choices I am stumped.

I think you missed a very important mistake which is understand how you like to train. I have kettlebells, a mace, jump ropes, and rings. I never intend to buy bar or plates. Just not how I enjoy training

I’ve heard if you don’t use it, you lose it.

Also a great advice is to "pay" your gym fee to your piggy bank. My nearest crossfitbox would charge about 90 bucks per month, so every year i save up more than 1000 bucks for new gym equipment.

Nice Timing. This came in as I’m re-energizing my plans for my garage gym. I have a 2-car garage space that I am cleaning and going to begin construction in a couple months (flooring, insulation, joists, ¾” plywood, etc.) I believe this year I’ll be aiming to be ready to buy gym equipment by Black Friday…hopefully they have decent deals this year. My gym routine focuses on squats, deadlift, bench, barbell rows, pull ups, Lat pull downs, cable rows, and ancillary rope exercises – so I know I want a good rack and good cable machine option. I just on the ropes and I’m not sure if it’ll be good to go with a combo system like 6 post Rep Athena or another Rep variation or invest in the PRX fold in to save space and find a dedicated cable machine. I’m starting to look to bounce ideas around if there’s any good resources. Most of my knowledge and prep has to come from all the GGR videos I've watched over the years. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to cancel my gym membership right off the bat, it really depends on how creative I can be with the lack of all the ancillary exercise equipment, but this will make it more flexible when getting to the gym is a challenge.

Hey coop! I picked up the titan leverage squat and omg it’s the best standing shoulder press / Tricep extension piece in addition to an awesome squat/calf raise. Huge versatility and smallish footprint with extra plate storage!