The number one excuse people make for not exercising is lack of time. By creating your own home gym, you have no excuses to not exercise on a regular basis. You can exercise whenever you want without having to factor in travel time or time spent waiting for machines or equipment during peak hours at your local gym. There is something to be said about being able to roll out of bed and getting your exercise done for the day without having to leave the privacy and convenience of your own home.

The good news is that with a few pieces of essential equipment, you can have all of your fitness goals and needs met to get a complete workout every time you exercise. Every workout you do should be comprised of cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and balance. These should be the cornerstones for how to best design your home gym.

For cardiovascular endurance, you can not go wrong with the Star Trac S TRC treadmill or the Star Trac P-TBTx elliptical machine. The versatility and intensity of these two machines will meet all of your cardiovascular goals. The initial investment in a treadmill or an elliptical machine will pay off in spades. Not only are you saving money on no monthly gym membership or gym initiation fee, but you are investing in equipment that is durable enough for the high volume usage of a gym setting. In your home, this equipment will last for years, if not forever. If you do not have the space or the financial feasibility for major cardio equipment in your home at this time, there are many other cardio options that work just as well. Jump ropes, mini trampolines, gliders, agility ladders, BOSUs, and steps are all effective in elevating your heart rate.

For strength conditioning, I highly recommend the PowerBlocks Club U-90 Set. This is the equivalent of having an entire weight room in your house with just one set of dumbbells. This compact set looks like one set of dumbbells, but ranges in weight from 5 to 90 pounds. Free weights are a critical component of building muscle. This is great for the casual exerciser who wants to incorporate resistance training into their workouts or for the serious bodybuilder. Other resistance equipment that is highly effective in strengthening your total body includes exercise bands, body bars, kettle balls, and medicine balls. Two of each of these should be plenty to challenge your muscles, one moderately heavy and one light.

Yoga and Pilates are both excellent ways to incorporate flexibility and balance into your workouts. Yoga straps and blocks are both tools that will aid you in making sure your form is proper and will allow you to go deeper into your stretches. It's also a good idea to have a yoga mat at hand, as well to prevent slipping and to add comfort to your poses. Pilates rings and foam rollers are a nice addition to your gym, too. They are an affordable way to work your upper body, lower body, and core.

With this equipment in your home, you will never miss going to the gym. Your body will be leaner, stronger, and more defined as a result.