First, change the order
If the equipment will be free in a few minutes, do the next exercise first and come back. This works best for accessory work; for your main lift, a short wait is often worth it so you can compare it with last time.
Swap for an exercise that trains the same muscles
Pick a swap that works the same muscles in a similar movement:
- Bench press taken: dumbbell bench press, machine chest press, or push-ups.
- Squat rack taken: leg press, goblet squat, or Bulgarian split squat.
- Lat pulldown taken: pull-ups, assisted pull-ups, or a single-arm cable pulldown.
- Cable station taken: dumbbell or resistance-band versions of the same movement.
- Leg curl taken: Romanian deadlift or Swiss ball leg curl.
Pick a sensible load for the swap
A new exercise will not match your usual weight. Start light enough to finish your planned reps with a couple to spare, then adjust on the next set. Do not compare the swap’s numbers with the original exercise; log it as the exercise you actually did.
When it keeps happening
If the same equipment is always busy at the time you train, plan around it: lead with what is usually free, keep a swap ready for the busy piece, or move the session if you can.
An example
Your plan starts with barbell bench press, and every bench is taken. Do the seated rows first. If the bench is still busy, switch to dumbbell bench press for the same sets and reps, choosing dumbbells you can lift for the full range, and carry on with the rest of the session.
Swapping in Kit
Swap any exercise during a workout and log what you actually did. You can record why you swapped or skipped it, such as equipment being unavailable. If a whole suggested workout needs equipment you cannot get to, tell Kit and it prepares a different one. Keep your equipment settings up to date, including the heaviest dumbbell or barbell you can load, so future workouts use what you have.
