How to get the most out of your garage gym

What’s happening, Fringe Fam? We hope you’re crushing your workouts and getting all the gains so far this week. Let us ask you a question: what kind of things have you done to personalize your garage gym, and do you know how to get the most out of it?

We know we tend to talk quite a bit about where to start when it comes to building out your garage gym, how to find the right equipment for you, and how to find a program that suits you and your current goals, but we tend to leave it at that. We know that it’s not always easy to find the motivation to get yourself into your gym for some good, hard work before or after a long day, but there’s a few things you can do to make it slightly easier and to ensure that you’ll get the most out of your garage gym and utilize your investment. Now, let’s put the pieces together. How can you get the most out of your garage gym?

Choose the equipment that is the most fun for you

It’s important to keep this in mind when choosing programming (which we'll talk about momentarily) so you’ve got the equipment you need, and vice versa, but it’s arguably the most important to choose the equipment that you enjoy using the most when you’re struggling to get into the gym. Sure, you might have to modify your equipment some if it doesn’t totally fit the program you’ve selected, but it’s more important to get movement in than it is to avoid using your equipment and letting it sit and collect dust because you’re not enjoying it. 

Equipment that's best for you might look like a set of dumbbells, kettlebells, a barbell or two, and maybe some funky fresh plates with bright colors, or not. That's up to you, because your equipment is yours to customize.

Keep your goals at the forefront, but keep things fun

Consider this: how awesome would it be to give yourself the most important things first like consistency in your movement and not only that, but true enjoyment in that process at the same time? 

If you’re super hardcore and that makes you happy, good on you. Keep crushing it! If you’re not feeling super hardcore where you are in life, good on you. Keep crushing it. 

You might need a little more rest, a little more play or quite the opposite when it comes to your workouts, and maybe more or less rigidity if that works better for you in the long run. It doesn’t mean you’ll be hardcore or not forever, so keep your goals at the forefront of everything you’re doing, but give yourself some grace and listen to your body and don’t be afraid to change it up when you feel differently (Trust us, these time periods WILL happen).

So, keep your goals in mind (always), but don’t be afraid to have some fun, modify the path, and keep things headed in the right direction, even if at a different pace than intended at the start. Put your gear to good use however you’d prefer to get your movement in. Your gear does have an amazing warranty, after all ;)

Pick the best program for YOU

This includes modification where necessary. Like we talked about above, choosing equipment goes hand in hand with choosing programming. However, your program might not always fit the equipment you’ve chosen to purchase or compliment your levels of motivation at any given time. In these times, choose the equipment you enjoy using most first, then modify your program where necessary. Or, ditch the programming completely and choose the movements you prefer most along with the equipment you prefer most. That's a recipe for success in your garage gym, because continuing to work on yourself and keeping consistency in your routine is more beneficial than skipping out on your very own garage gym investment because you don’t love the equipment or programming you’re working on.

While the above is true, it’s also important to consider your goals in the opposite sense. If you’re hardcore into your workouts, reaching your goals and completing your programming to a ‘T’, you might not be able to choose the things that are “fun.” Instead, choosing the movements and skills that are challenging to you and working through those and completing your programming might be what’s best for you in the long run. There’s nothing wrong with this scenario or the one above, as long as you’re moving, making progress, and enjoying the process.

Get your friends involved

Fitness with friends is always more fun. Get your friends involved, your family, your neighbors, even. We thoroughly believe that it helps so much to keep motivation and morale high when you’ve got friends keeping you accountable.

We’ve coined “Garage Gym Day” as a garage gym celebration and that lines up with the Summer Solstice, but “Garage Gym Day” can be literally any day of the year. Invite your friends, open up your garage door (weather permitting), blast some tunes, and get your pump on. Your friends just might be hooked on the garage gym gains after that. If that's the case, send them our way.

Make your garage gym your sanctuary

This is one of the most important pieces of having a garage gym. Make it your own! Nothing is worse than a sterile, boring, hotel-like gym, and you’ve got full control over what your garage gym setup looks like.

Like we said earlier, choose the equipment YOU want, that’s fun for YOU. Not everything in fitness needs to be super serious. As long as you’re moving, grooving, and making progress toward strength every day, that’s what matters.

While most garages tend to be boring in color, your garage gym doesn’t have to be. Mix up the paint on the walls. Choose something fun! Maybe it’s a theme, maybe an ode to a brand you love (wouldn’t a Fringe Sport Savage Plate-inspired wall be the coolest?!) or a sports team. Maybe it’s your favorite color to get you in your garage gym often, and feeling good about it too.

Make some playlists based on your goals or your workouts. Maybe you like to listen to hardcore EDM, maybe hardcore heavy metal or hip hop or 80s synthwave (check out our playlist for inspiration ;) ), and maybe some classic rock here and there. Customize your playlists and include the songs that hype you up and make you want to bust a move in between sets. That’s where true enjoyment comes in.

Getting the most out of your garage gym doesn’t mean getting super shredded or super huge, but it also could if that’s your ultimate goal. If your goals lie somewhere on that spectrum or somewhere in between, and you give yourself every opportunity to enjoy your workouts in a fun, positive, strength-focused environment with equipment you love and are proud of, you’re getting the most out of your garage gym. It’s that simple.

What are some of the things you’ve done in your garage gym to make it your own? Let us know in the comments below! Your input might inspire someone who’s hesitant to get on their own journey to take a leap and improve their life through strength.

Have questions for us? Leave ‘em below or send us a message on our site, or email us at team@fringesport.com. We’re always happy to chat and make your garage gym experience the best it can be.

As always, lift heavy, lift happy :)