Want a home gym? You're not alone. Along with flat-panel TVs, custom closets and stainless steel kitchen appliances, elaborately equipped fitness studios are fast becoming one of the most coveted objects of domestic desire. Fortunately, unlike some of the other icons of a luxurious home, you don't need cash (or even lots of floor space) to create a top-quality gym. The secret? Forget the expensive weight machines and infomercial gadgets.

While you won't get Madonna's physique without plate-loaded weight machines (they isolate muscle groups very effectively), you can get a complete, thorough workout with stretchy bands, dumbbells, a stability ball and a weight bench. These items are small, readily available and inexpensive.

Here's what to get:

Dumbbells
Why you need them: Unlike machines, which are typically designed to perform just one or two exercises, dumbbells allow you to do hundreds of exercises for every part of your body. Since dumbbells come in pairs, you can work just one side at a time. And unlike machines, where the weight is stabilized for you (like a chest press machine that simply requires you to push), dumbbells require you to use more than just one muscle group to hold the weights steady and move along the right track.

What to look for: A beginning female lifter should have eight pairs of weights weighing 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20 and 25 pounds. Although you can find everything from sand-filled weights to solid chrome dumbbells, my personal preference is for something cheap yet durable. I like solid metal dumbbells because they don't leak, break or get chipped over time. Weights with hexagonal ends (instead of rounded ends) are often less expensive and don't roll all over the floor. If you're short on space and don't want multiple pairs of dumbbells, you can get adjustable dumbbells. These are handles with plates that snap on or off to change the weight. My only concern is that the hassle of changing resistance will either slow down your workout or make you stick with one weight for every exercise. A space-saving storage rack would be a better solution. You can buy weights at sporting goods stores, but if you're on a budget, these are ideal garage sale purchases.

Weight Bench
Why you need it: There are some exercises you simply can't do lying flat on the ground. A chest press, for example, requires you to lie on your back and drop your elbows a little lower than your torso. You'll also need a bench for such classics as a row or a dip. I even use a bench for my leg workouts, stepping up and down while holding weights or planting my heels on the edge and lifting my butt. (This kills my hamstrings and glutes!) What's even better than a bench, however, is a bench that adjusts to different angles.

What to look for: The most versatile models adjust from a decline (head lower than feet) to a perfectly upright chair. Although I'll spend more to get a well-made, easily adjustable bench, I won't waste money on "ergonomically" shaped models with contoured, curved pieces or padding that's excessively squishy. I want to be able to step on it, after all, and I don't want funny contours preventing me from getting an even grip on the edge. I also take a dim view of attachments that hold your legs, weights or what have you. If you can't detach these bars and brackets quickly and easily, they can get in the way. Whatever you buy, make sure it's long enough for you to lie on with your head and back entirely supported. Buy your bench in person so you can try out the adjustment mechanism and check the construction. This is one piece of equipment you want to be able to trust.

Stability Ball
Why you need it: A stability ball is deceptively simple looking. It's nothing more than a vinyl beach ball, but its range is unmatched. A ball can make an exercise easier or tougher. (For example, try a push-up with the ball under your hips and then again with it under your feet.) You can use it to strengthen or stretch every part of your body and improve your balance. Despite its feather-light weight, it can hold more than 700 pounds without popping. Studies prove that crunches performed on a stability ball are much more effective than those performed on the floor.

What to look for: Since these are sold deflated, you need to check what size you're getting before you buy. Beware of bargain brands sold in boxes with sizes like "small" or "large." These are often made of inferior materials and are intentionally vague about size. (I've seen one of these that, fully inflated, turned out to be slightly larger than a basketball.) A good quality ball should be made of latex-free vinyl. The three most useful sizes are 55 cm (perfect for people 5'7" and under), 65 cm (5'8 to 6') and 75 cm (6' to 6'4"). You'll know it fits if you can sit on it with your knees and hips bent at a 90-degree angle. Buy yours from a reputable sporting goods store or online. Unless the store will inflate it for you, you'll need to buy a compatible pump.

Stretchy Bands
Why you need them: They're portable, cheap and can substitute for a gym full of cable equipment. With a few attachments, you can anchor them to fixed objects (like doors). Available in different sizes and shapes, bands can provide anything from light to strong resistance, and you can take them wherever you go.

What to look for: Since they're cheap (a set of three can go for less than $15), you can afford to buy a variety. Get some with attached handles (easier to use when doing some exercises) and some without (which you can tie in loops to create resistance for leg exercises). Buy some that offer light resistance so you can work weaker muscles, like your rotator cuff, and some that offer significant resistance so you can work big muscles like those in your chest and back. In general, the shorter, thicker bands offer the most resistance.

Once you've got your home gym components, organize them so you're not hunting for equipment during your workouts. Then check back with us shortly to see workouts using your brand-new gym! See you soon!

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