Skip The Gym & Get Fit At Home With These Easy Fitness Tips
Busy? Is your gym membership just another drag on your time? Then skip the gym and find ways to get fit at home! Fitness training at home can be just as effective. Follow these easy fitness tips to stay motivated and hit your fitness body goals. Find home workouts with no equipment required.
1. Set Your Fitness Goals
It’s far easier to get inspired and stay motivated if you have an overall fitness goal. This can be anything from losing a few pounds to being able to do a pull-up.
Decide on your aim and write it down. Make sure it’s a specific goal and has a target date. It could be “In 10 weeks, I will be able to do 20 push-ups continuously”.
Your goal needs to be achievable. We all want to be amazingly fit but it takes small steps to get there. Start with a goal you can realistically achieve in the time frame.
2. Create A Workout Schedule
Plan your workout sessions and break down your overall goal into achievable weekly targets. Having fitness goals and a schedule will give you focus and go a long way to help you stay motivated.
Don’t try to go from a low fitness base to completing a tough workout every day. You don’t want to complete the first session and wake up the next day with a body so sore you’re forced to take the rest of the week off.
Instead, start gently and build up the intensity as you get fitter and stronger. Try these easy exercises at home.
3. Develop A Fitness Routine
Working out at home is full of distractions. Phones, family members, Netflix, contents of the fridge… these all compete for your attention.
It’s best to fix a specific time to work out. Often first thing in the morning can be a good idea before the day gets going leading you in other directions. Try adding your workout to your morning routine.
If you’re not a morning person – that’s okay. Just make sure you set aside a specific time to exercise. Your fitness routine should become a key part of your day, as important as eating and sleeping.
4. Exercise Your Whole Body
A well-rounded routine includes aerobic workouts, strength training for both muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility exercises. These are all important for optimal fitness and also make your workouts more varied and interesting.
Often it’s tempting to focus on your favorite elements. As a runner, I’m often tempted to ignore my upper body strength but when I do I really notice my back and upper body starting to feel stiff and sore in longer races.
5. How To Exercise At Home?
YouTube is the first place to search for easy-to-follow exercise sessions. Find a style of exercise and a channel you enjoy watching.
Make sure the workouts match your current ability and fitness aims. It can be a good idea to mix it up with different styles to make sure you’re hitting all your goals – cardio, strength, and flexibility.
Here are some ideas to get started:
Grow With Anna has lots of short high-intensity workouts with no equipment required. They’re ideal for fitting into your morning routine for a high-energy start to your day!
Caroline Girvan has a great series of bodyweight exercise workouts. Again, most of the workouts use no equipment.
If you’re a yoga lover, try these 11 Best Online Yoga Programs. Yoga is terrific for hitting all fitness goals: cardio, strength, and flexibility.
6. Warm Up And Cool Down
A good program will take you through a warm-up before you start and help you to cool down afterward. You never want to launch straight into intense exercise when your muscles are cold.
A cool down is a chance to bring your heart rate back down to a resting state. I normally combine mine with gentle stretching.
7. Variety Is Key To Get Fit At Home
Plan out a varied program to keep yourself motivated. If possible, combine aerobic training such as running, walking, or cycling with your online fitness sessions.
Don’t neglect your strength sessions. Mix in some yoga or pilates or try these bodyweight exercises.
8. Get Your Family Or Friends Involved
Stay accountable by exercising with friends or family members. It’s more fun and a good way to make sure you don’t cheat and start taking it easy. Be warned – working out with family members can get very competitive!
How Do I Get Fit Without Going To The Gym?
Set your fitness goals and create a workout schedule. Set aside a specific time to train. Aim for a well-rounded routine including cardio, strength training, and flexibility in your schedule. Make the most of the excellent free fitness videos on YouTube. Equipment isn’t essential. For most people, bodyweight exercises are adequate for building strength.
