A Build-It-Yourself Gym

Materials: Six feet of two-inch-diameter PVC pipe, four PVC T connectors, four PVC elbow joints, eight PVC end caps

How to: To a 1 1/2 -foot length of PVC pipe, attach the two elbow pieces. Attach two pieces of pipe four to six inches long into the other end of the elbow pieces. Attach two T joints. Attach four pieces of pipe three to five inches long to all the open ends of the T joint. This base will keep your parallettes from falling over. Add four end caps to all open holes.

Parallette dips: Sit with legs out in front. Raise and lower yourself on the bars by bending and straightening your elbows. Do five reps. Repeat.

Project 4: Jump Box

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High jumps offer a cardio workout while building strength and endurance. As you're working those glutes, hamstrings and hip flexors, think about how great you'll look in jeans. I bought the materials to make a box strong enough for me to jump on it; then holiday preparations intervened. The box will stand 18 or so inches high. (A 12-inch box will do fine for starters.)

Cost: About $60

Materials: Five 18-by-18-inch squares of half-inch plywood, screws, good-quality rubber matting for traction on top

How to: Use screws to assemble box, leaving bottom open. (I drilled two-inch holes in two facing sides so I can slip wooden dowels through and raise the height when I get stronger.) Nail or glue rubber mat to top of box.

Box Leaps: Jump onto the box, landing with knees bent. Stand up. Step off the box. Repeat.

-- Jamila Bey

Jamila Bey is a freelance writer and a strength coach in Washington. Comments: move@washpost.com