Okay, so I’ve been wanting to get a home gym setup for a while now. I finally decided to pull the trigger and started with the most important part – a barbell set. Here’s how it went down.

The Shopping Around
First, I spent like a whole weekend just browsing online. I checked out different stores, compared prices, and read a ton of reviews. It was kinda overwhelming, to be honest. There are so many options!
Making a Choice
I finally settled on a standard Olympic barbell set. I figured it’s the most versatile and I can always add more plates later. I went with a set that included the bar, some basic weight plates (enough to get me started), and a pair of collars to keep the weights on.
The Waiting Game…and Delivery!
Then came the waiting. Shipping took a little longer than I expected, but hey, that’s life. When the boxes finally arrived, it was like Christmas morning! Everything was super heavy, so I had a buddy help me carry it all inside.
Putting it Together
- The bar itself was in one long box, and the plates were in separate ones.
- I unpacked everything and laid it all out on the floor.
- It was pretty straightforward – just slide the plates onto the bar and secure them with the collars.
First Workout
Man, it felt good to finally lift some weights at home! I started with some basic squats and bench presses, just to get a feel for it. It’s definitely different than using machines at the gym, but I like the feeling of having more control over the weight.
My Thoughts So Far
I’m really happy with my decision. Having a barbell set at home is so convenient. I can squeeze in a workout whenever I have some free time, without having to drive to the gym. Plus, I can blast my own music as loud as I want! It’s still early days, but I’m excited to keep using it and get stronger.