A common misconception concerning how to build muscles is that you need to join a gym. You might be against a membership because it’s too much money or inconvenient. After all, who has an extra hour or two several days each week to spend at the gym? But, that doesn’t mean you have to drop your goals to increase muscle, lose fat and get in amazing shape. In fact, there are numerous ways to exercise at home without too much money equipment.

Using your own body weight is an often overlooked tactic for gaining muscle at home. Generally stated, bodyweight exercises use your own body’s weight for resistance rather than using traditional weights or machines. Sometimes these exercises are combined with simple weights for even more resistance. Push-ups and sqats are the most commonly known body weight exercises.

While in their most basic form, body weight exercises don’t require equipment, you’ll probably want to get some basic pieces to get the maximum benefit from your home workout. But don’t worry, a workable home gym doesn’t have to cost a fortune. A chin up bar, weight bench and some standard dumbbells or barbells can provide all the workout you need. And, you can start small and add heavier weights as you get stronger.

Before you begin working out at home, make sure you understand the basics so you can have a safe workout environment. The last thing you want to do is pull a muscle or have an accident of some sort.

Don’t think that just because you are building a home gym you can’t ask for some help. If you’re not experienced in making effective workout routines just yet, consult with an exercise specialist and have them help you get started. You’ll save a lot of time and energy that way by starting with what works.

You might also want to do some reading or pick up some instructional videos to help you out. There are a number of guides written by personal trainers, fitness experts and even bodybuilding champions that can jumpstart your program. In recent years a number of these guides have become available online and are available instantly once you order them. Some programs even offer email support for any questions you have about your workout program.

The cariovascular portion of your home workout is easy to handle too. If you’re an outdoors person you’ll have no problem with this. Simply go for a run, take a walk or ride your bicycle. If you’re more of an indoors person, you can jump around or run in place. For those with a bigger budget, a treadmill or other piece of cardio equipment can be a great choice.

Now that you know how to build muscles without spending a lot of money, it’s time to get to work. Find a plan that suits you, get the basic tools needed and get started now.