Home Gym Updates
I’ve had to do some rearranging in our home gym because I decided to keep my treadmill. I haven’t used my treadmill in years. It’s a nice one, but it’s pretty big, and I didn’t think I had room for it. So when I designed our home gym, I didn’t even consider trying to make room for the treadmill.
Before we began the remodeling process in the hallway and bedroom areas a few years back, the treadmill was in what is now our guest bedroom. That was back when the room looked like this…
The room had basically turned into a storage room during that time, but there was plenty of room for the treadmill.
When the remodeling began, I moved the treadmill into the sunroom. But then the sunroom became too cluttered, so I needed to move it again. I never actually used the treadmill when it was in the sunroom. I was just storing it in there. So I eventually moved it out onto our back patio, covered it with two tarps (one from the bottom up, and another from the top down) to keep it safe from the weather while I tried to find someone who wanted it.
Well, I never could find anyone who wanted the treadmill. Again, it’s big and heavy, hard to transport, and difficult for most people to find a place in their homes for it. I had a couple of people interested in it, but no takers. So it continued to sit out on the back patio.
Unfortunately, those heavy plastic tarps aren’t as durable as I thought they were, and during one huge rainstorm, the tarp got ripped to shreds and the treadmill got completely drenched. I was sure it was destroyed, but about a week ago, I dragged the thing from the patio to the carport where it could dry out, and I then plugged it in and turned it on. It worked perfectly!
That incident coincided with another that made me decide to keep it. A couple of weeks ago, I walked out into the carport early in the morning, and I saw a coyote in our back yard!! It was just beyond the tree line that marks the halfway point in our back yard (we’re on a one-acre lot). When I saw it out of the corner of my eye, I thought it was a stray dog. And as is my immediate response when I see a stray dog, I whistled at it to see if it would come to me.
As soon as I did that, it started to run off, and I thought, “What the heck? That is not a stray dog!” It moved kind of like a fox, but it was way bigger than any fox I’ve ever seen in our neighborhood. So I whistled again, and it stopped and turned to look at me, and that’s when I saw that super long, pointy snout, and those upright triangular ears. It was a coyote, for sure.
So that was about two weeks ago, and after my amazing streak of walking laps around our back yard almost every day when we had nice weather, my walking streak came to an abrupt end. I know in my mind that coyotes are generally not aggressive towards humans, but I also know that there are exceptions. And I had gotten into a pattern of walking around 5:30 or 5:45, which means that I was still walking after sunset. I’d just feel so much better if we had a fence around our entire yard, even though I know that a coyote can clear a 6-foot fence with relative ease.
So after the coyote incident a couple of weeks ago, and then the treadmill getting rained on and me dragging it to the carport to see if it still worked, I just decided to go ahead and keep it. This way, I can have options. If I can walk in the middle of the day when we have beautiful weather, that’s an option. But on days when it’s too cold, or too hot, or raining, I do like having another option.
I wasn’t sure if I could even get the treadmill into the home gym, and I did end up having to dismantle the control panel, the bar that holds the control panel on, and the arms. Once those were off, I could fit it through the door, and then I had to put it all back together and get everything rearranged in the room so that it would fit. I finally got it all finished this morning.
Now when you walk into the room, my rebounder is straight ahead.
That’s where the free weights and weight bench used to be.
I moved the weight bench under the Swedish ladder. I may end up getting rid of it altogether. It’s really the one piece of equipment that I rarely use. And then the treadmill is where the rebounder used to be.
Because the treadmill takes up so much room, and it encroaches into the area where my rowing machine used to sit, that means that my rowing machine now has to be stored upright when it’s not in use.
To be honest, I don’t hate that. In fact, it makes vacuuming this room so much easier! I used to try to vacuum around the rowing machine, but with it stored upright, I can take one minute to put the treadmill in its “stored” position also, and then easily vacuum that side of the room.
With the rowing machine being stored upright against the wall now, it’s also so much easier to access things that I store in the closet, like my kettlebell and Bosu ball.
And then when I want to use my rowing machine, I can put it down, use it, and then lift it right back up and store it against the wall.
The rowing machine does fit going straight back towards the treadmill where it used to be (i.e., not at an angle), but I don’t like having my back to that treadmill when it’s in its stored position. That thing is heavy, and if the pin that holds it up were to ever fail, and that thing came crashing down on me, I’d be in a world of hurt. So I’m perfectly fine putting the rowing machine at an angle when I want to use it. Thankfully, the rowing machine isn’t heavy, it has wheels for easy transport, and it’s literally made to be stored upright when it’s not in use.
I think this is the perfect solution, and I’m actually really glad that I couldn’t find another home for my treadmill. When we get into our summer months here in central Texas, I’m going to be so glad to have this alternative to walk inside rather than having to walk outside in the 100+ degree temperatures.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I am impressed! Is your husband able to use any of this equipment for therapy?
He uses the Theracycle, some freeweights, and the Swedish ladder with bands for a couple of exercises.
Oh, that is me as well. My treadmill was on a site several times now, and when no one answered I took it off. Then, I cleaned it up 3 more times and but never got it listed.
So I still have it, it will sell at a huge loss, and I keep thinking how in the summer I will wish I had it here in Florida. Actually there is a lot of months here that it is better inside. I just get so bored with it…maybe I need to find a different solution for that and keep it! I’m glad you are keeping it as well. We have begun to have a lot of Coyotes too, and I don’t like the idea of walking by myself or with my tiny dogs…perfect prey for them. SO, for now the treadmill might be staying here! So happy you are making time for the gym…it is awesome!
About the home gym….wasn’t the plan (at one time) to use the ‘closet’ area as a place for all of Matt’s electronics (PC’s, monitors, games, etc)? Kind of a game room area for him?
At the moment, Matt doesn’t have the ability to play video games. Sadly, this last year has been very rough on him, and he’s lost a lot of strength, including completely losing the use of his right hand.
Oh that’s too bad. I know how happy he was when you finished it. I too have gone downhill a bit more this last year. Seems like I hit 70 and my body has changed so much. I had to get a handicapped tag for my car today. I’ve found walking to the entrance to stores leaves me winded so that I have to pause and get my breath. And my muscles and joints have lost lots of strength even though I exercise and added more vitamins. Shopping takes me a lot longer with all the resting I need to get through the store.
Perfect! The gym looks even better this way and coyotes are not to be trusted. I use to volunteer at a wildlife rescue. My brother in law was a vet for state fish and wildlife and he saw some things. They are smart and shouldn’t be harmed but it is best to be wary.
I’m a treadmill user so YAY to you for keeping it! I see it’s facing out the window, do you listen to audio books, music or podcasts? I do but my husband watches TV so ours is facing the TV. Yours looks like a nice treadmill so I hope you love incorporating it into your workouts. It looks great in the gym!
I don’t ever listen to music, but I do listen to loads of podcasts, YouTube videos, and audio books. Matt is the one who uses the TV in there the most. He listens to audio books on Audible on the TV when he uses his Theracycle, and he’ll sometimes watch TV shows. I only use the TV in there if I want to do a workout video, but I don’t ever need a workout video for the treadmill. The workout videos I do are for free weights, kettlebells, and rebounder.
You have such determination. Proud of you.
Genius solution and so much easier to clean the space now. So, eventually, when your walking path is in place, will you be able to build a tall enough fence to ward off Charley Coyote?
Off topic, but I was reminded of the signs you have in the home gym, which make me chuckle. I think a fun one for your studio office wall would add just a touch of whimsy. A carefully chosen quote? A play on words? or something such. It could be painted an outrageous color. Or be a neon design.
We’ll only have a six-foot fence (if and when it ever gets done), but it’s enough to give me peace of mind. I know that doesn’t make sense since a coyote can easily jump over a six-foot fence, but it’ll still give me peace of mind. And it’ll keep out stray dogs. And stray goats. 😀 That’s only happened once, but it was quite a surprise!
I have thought about a neon sign for the studio, but I don’t know what it should say! I love the idea, though.
Beware of coyotes. My dad got bit by one several years ago. Thankfully my uncle shot it, so the health dept was able to come get it and test it. Sure enough it tested positive for rabies. He’s as tough as they come and even he said those shots weren’t anything he’d want to do again!
Check out earth and owl rebounding on youtube.
She has excellent walking routines, strength training and other low impact videos. I’ve lost my cartilage in my knee and it’s painful to walk but the videos are easy and I feel my strength returning with out the pain.
The coyotes here in S Az don’t bother me as much as those darned Javelina do. Their eyesight is poor so they see dogs as potential predators (coyote) and will charge you. Our dog passed a year ago but they will still come after a human if babies are near by. And they have big ugly tusks!
So I get it if you’d rather not walk at dusk.
I love your home gym. It looks amazing and you have such a great assortment of equipment. What a pretty place to workout. Have you ever posted a link to your rowing machine? I would be interested to know the brand. Thanks and love your blog!