The Architecture of Discipline: A Home Gym Ten Years in the Making.

The vision of a home gym began about 10 years ago, living in California. I couldn't fit my chick SUV into my garage... So what else would I do with the space but turn it into a space to avoid working out?

I cancelled my gym membership. Bought a quality squat rack. Dated a guy who ran a fitness equipment and supplement company who sent me some kettle bells. Bought a Peloton bike.

I would get I probably five or six workouts a month in it. 

I disliked having to walk down stairs and outside to get to the gym.

Part of the draw of the Tucson house when I found it six years ago was an enclosed former carport that had created a 19 foot by 12 foot room with a concrete floor. It housed the washer and dryer, along with gas line and water line connections to support it. And on the wall sat a new splitter AC unit. The windows were old. the door to outside was old. And there were two internal windows that the two bedrooms could peer down into it.

I brought in my gym equipment and managed to work out a few times a month. After about a year I had the washer and the dryer moved to the detached garage. 

(I loathe the idea of having a dedicated room for laundry. Dedicated rooms are for important things.)

Eventually I added a Peloton treadmill. And a TV on the wall. The doors and the windows all got replaced a few years in... And earlier this summer I finally got tired of the internal windows. And the cracks in the ceiling.

I hired a pair of brothers to come in and seal up the windows under drywall. They covered the windows and the brick walls. The gas and water pipes were removed. They uncovered a cedar tongue and groove ceiling...

Which I had them seal up because I didn't want to have AC and heat bleeding out. 

Once they were done, I painted the space myself - not an easy task at all. And I installed new gym flooring by myself - an even harder task.

But now it is done...

Everything is back in its place. Including the TV. 

And I've already used the space three times this week. 

This is the vision I hald for so long of what a home gym space would look like.