Home Gym 101

5 | A Swiss Ball
You're probably familiar with funny-looking, inflatable toys from your single days, and while the Swiss ball may not seem like as much fun, it won't pop as easily. Kidding aside, if you're still not exercising (at least from time to time) with a ball, you're missing out. One of the only devices that allow you to train your abs through a full range of motion, the ball's many functions only begin there, since it can also be used to enhance total-body stability (the foundation for strength and power). Generally, you want to get one that's big enough so that your hips and knees will be bent 90 degrees when you sit on it. As your ball training progresses (go ahead and laugh), you can add larger and smaller balls (yeah, yeah) to your inventory, expanding the kinds of exercises you can do. If your home gym doubles as an office or entertainment room (someplace you might be sitting a lot), a Swiss ball also makes a good replacement for a chair, forcing you to keep good posture and train your abs while you do work or watch TV. (Resist-A-Ball is one of the most well-known Swiss-ball manufacturers.) 65-cm ball, $30 @ resistaball.com

6 | Bands
A cheaper and more versatile alternative to a cable station is to buy bands. A good elastic band can provide every bit the workout of a cable, as it applies the same constant tension to your muscles. Just loop or tie them around one of the beams on your power rack, and you've got an instant machine with which to do pulldowns, rows, and almost any other exercise you can think of. Bands can also travel with you if you need to take your gym on the road-they attach just as easily to doors. However, beware of flimsy bands that easily tear. The stretch bands made by Iron Woody are strong and durable for long-term use. intermediate package, $90 @ ironwoodyfitness.com

7 | Dumbbells
Here's where you really need to practice minimalism. You don't need a set of 20 dumbbells that go up in five-pound increments. That just creates more for you to trip over when you're crossing the room between supersets. A better option is to look for what's known as selectorized dumbbells-in which the dumbbell rests in the center of a stack of plates, and you can turn a knob to add weight or unload it. This gives you the total poundage you'd get from a wall-length set of dumbbells in the space of just two weights. The only drawback is that, as you go up in weight, you end up with a long and cumbersome dumbbell that makes certain lifts difficult (picture whacking your outer thigh every time you curl a 45-pounder).

The solution: Buy a selectorized set that goes up to about 50 pounds, and then buy regular dumbbells for the heavier weights you need-a pair of 70s, 80s, and so on. If you find that you need smaller increments between the larger dumbbells, try adding Plate Mates ($32 @ dumbbellbuddy.com). Buy a few pairs of the two-and-a- half- and five-pounders-they magnetically attach to any weight, instantly increasing the load. (Our favorite set of selectorized weights comes from PowerBlock.) 50-lb set, $349 @ powerblock.com