Perhaps, for many of you, you were looking forward to getting back to the gym so that you could make a start at burning off those extra few pounds that you put on over the festive period (as did we all!!)

Or, maybe you're completely new to the gym and you were planning on making a start on your new fitness regime as part of a new years resolution?

But with gyms currently being closed, it would be very easy to have an “oh sod it” moment and use this as the reason why you didn't start that new fitness regime. I mean, after the year that was 2020, no one would blame you for having those thoughts.

However, after Christmas and all the sweet treats that come with it and the new restrictions which came into force on Boxing Day, now is probably not the time to be taking your foot off the pedal when it comes to your health and fitness goals. It is however, the best time to stay on track and show 2021 that you mean business!

But “HOW” we hear you ask. Well, if there's one thing that we can all thank 2020 for, it's the rise in popularity of the home workout. And one of the most common questions we got asked last year was what's the best equipment to buy for home.

So, in this post, we're going to give you a run down of our top 4 pieces of home equipment that will give you the best bang for your fitness buck!

1. TRX

If you were to dump Mark on a desert island with only one piece of equipment, it would be the TRX. It’s easy to use and by investing in this you’re literally creating a gym with just one bit of equipment.

The reason Mark likes it so much is because it’s very versatile, a beginner can use it to master basic moves like a squat, a lunge or a row. It really is a great bit of kit and is great for helping you to improve your strength, balance, core and joint stability.

2. Resistance Bands

There are a few reasons why resistance bands are a great bit of kit to have in your home workout toolbox. Firstly, they’re really beneficial when it comes to stretching and mobilising at the beginning and end of your workouts. And secondly they can easily be used to add resistance to any workout. For example the Face Pull is a great exercise for any one who sits at a laptop all day. If this is an exercise you do in the gym, it can be easily replicated by using a resistance band.

Most bands will generally come in different colours depending on their resistance. This makes progressing or regressing on an exercise much easier as you simply change the band that you’re using.

3. Heart rate monitors

So here at MHR Fitness we are massive fans of MyZone. MyZone is a device that you strap to your chest when you workout. It records your heart rate and then awards you points based on how hard you’ve been training.

We find that the people who use these in our sessions tend to push themselves further as they can physically see how hard they’re working. As well as this, you’re also part of the MyZone community where you can challenge and egg each other on. So even though you might not be physically training alongside your normal training buddy, you can still see what they’re getting up to and help keep them on track!

4. Exercise mats

Most of us will find ourselves either working out on hard flooring or on carpet. To save any awkward explanations as to how you ended up with carpet burns, I’d really suggest investing in an exercise mat.

Not only are they relatively cheap but they’ll also prevent you from slipping and sliding on the floor and they are much easier to clean than that expensive rug in your living room!

If you're finding it difficult to get hold of equipment, you can complete a perfectly good fitness routine at home, using nothing more than your own bodyweight. Tricep dips, plank, mountain climbers, lunges and bodyweight squats are all examples of great conditioning exercises.

Regardless of whether you're working out with equipment or just using your own bodyweight, just be sure that you don't let these latest restrictions be the reason stopped or didn't start achieving your goals.

If you need any help whatsoever with your home training, drop us a comment or ping us through a message and we'll get back to you.