Sometimes it is just not possible for us to hit the gym. Hitting the gym might be the obvious choice if you want to start on your fitness journey, but it isn’t always the best option. It could be because of your job, scheduling conflicts, having young children at home or any number of reasons. Not only is getting a gym membership or hiring a personal trainer expensive, but there are other downsides to going to the gym, it is a big time commitment, even commuting to and from the gym cuts deeply into your time.
Unless your gym is within 5 minutes of walking distance, sometimes simple logistics can throw a dent in your plans. If you’re trying to save time and money how about you consider working out from the comfort and convenience of your own home. Follow these tips to get fit without ever going to the gym.
The Internet is your own free personal Trainer
Take advantage of all the free workout videos and other resources available on the internet. These online resources can give you a lot of flexibility as you can follow them at the time and place of your preference, virtually anywhere, without needing and specialised equipment or a gym. Using workout tips and guidelines from trusted fitness sources like Fitwirr.com can help, however, to maximize the burn, add the following tips to your arsenal. If you’re looking for quality exercise equipment, go to MAGMA Fitness, they have exercise equipment at affordable prices.
Use your own two feet
Walking is the most underrated exercise. You should walk everywhere you possibly can. If you can walk there, do it. Not only will you save on gas money, but walking has a truckload of benefits for your body. You can add extra steps to your daily goal by either walking to work, or if the commute is too long to walk over, you can choose to park at a little distance away from your workplace so you are forced to walk at least for a little while as you arrive and depart from work.
Join a walking club or make one of your own with a group of friends or co-workers where you can walk and talk. That way you can get on your steps as well and have some fun at this unconventional social event. If you spend a lot of time at work in a chair, consider setting an alarm every hour to remind you to get up and stretch your legs.
Ditch the Elevators for Stairs
Were you aware that climbing stairs burns more calories per minute than jogging on a treadmill? Every time you possibly can, you should take the stairs over elevators and escalators. Unless you are running late to a meeting on the 13th floor, taking the stairs can have a huge positive impact on your health and fitness. Use the stairs in your own apartment building or home to burn a few extra calories.
While you’re at it, you may want to start taking your bike to work and on short trips instead of driving your car. It will help you incorporate more aerobic exercise into your day without disrupting your daily routine. Invest in a quality electric bike for your daily commute to work, so you can choose to ride easy without arriving late, tired, and sweaty at the office.
Buy some basic equipment
I’m not recommending you drop big bucks on fancy gym equipment, but a few small basic items can be invaluable. Invest in some light weights or dumbbells, yoga mat, a stability ball and jump rope. If the price tag on this equipment is more than you can afford, you might find that your friends or family have some lying around that they don’t use. All these accessories can be utilized to fashion a great workout at home-workout.
Think out of the box
Working out at home can be a lot of fun. Think out of the box and get creative with the things you use to workout. Look for items that you have around the house that are easy to hold on to, but weigh more than one pound. You can use them as weights while you do squats, lunges or curls. A gallon water bottle is excellent for this. You can also incorporate furniture as props for your routine.
Use your body weight
Body weight exercise are great for your fitness. Bodyweight exercises that work well in this category are planks, push-ups, squats, jumping jacks, and step-ups. These are all effective ways to get some great burn while you stay at home.
Use Housework as an Incentive to exercise
Doing chores around the house is a great way to get moving. Think of housework as exercise. House work, especially cleaning can burn a lot of calories. Use that as motivation to make sure your house remains spotless.