Can you get fit without going to the gym? Actually, yes, you can. You do not even need to set foot in a gym to get fit and healthy if you don’t want to, and many thousands of people worldwide do just that regularly.
In fact, you can take this one step further and get fit from the comfort of your own home without having to go outside.
Working out at home can make exercise more accessible, and if you’re worried about working out in public, or you have adaptations you need to make, or you simply don’t have the time or money to exercise outside of the home, this post is going to look at some ways you can exercise at home and what home-based workouts and fitness endeavors you can embark on to get healthy without stepping outside your front door.
Workout Apps
Workout apps are a handy tool for those who don’t want to join a gym class or go to a gym or exercise. Apps such as justfit.app are filled with various exercises you can do from the comfort of your own home with no or minimal equipment. You can start at a level that works for you, do random exercises, follow predetermined programs, tailor a personalized program for you, and more.
Workout apps have typically been developed by industry professionals to deliver you that authentic exercise experience you can get in a more public environment at home for you to do what you want when you want without worrying about others being around, having to find a babysitter, or wasting time traveling to a studio or gym.
Treadmills or Walking Pads
If you have the space and funds to do so, investing in a treadmill or walking pad can help you reach your fitness goals, get your steps in, or boost your cardio. Not everyone feels safe running in public or is able to leave the home to get their steps in, and these options provide a safe and effective alternative for you to set and reach your goals. However, it’s important to remember to start at a comfortable pace, use the safety features, and consult a professional if you have any health concerns.
While running on a walking pad isn’t advisable, you can still build up your walking speed and use it to get your steps in while watching TV or working at a desk, for example. A treadmill is a less flexible option for working (unless oyu purchase a folding onebut can help you boost your cardio, increase your step count, and add some more activity to your day for those times when getting outside is not on the agenda.
Home Gym
Building a home gym can be a costly hobby, but if this is what you’re aiming for, it can be a great way to create a space where you can efficiently work out and build strength and stamina.
A home gym offers a liberating level of flexibility, allowing you to learn how to use different types of equipment in privacy and eliminating the need to wait your turn. Starting with a mat, a mirror, and some dumbbells, you can gradually build your gym according to your needs and preferences, ensuring you have everything you need to increase fitness and exercise in your life without the hassle of traveling to a gym.
Move More
Now, there should be no gatekeeping on exercise. This means that everyone should have access to exercise and should not be discouraged from moving their body. Movement is movement, and if you don’t feel comfortable moving your body, you’re not going to move it as much as you should, are you? That’s a fact.
With this in mind, moving more around the home can be a great way to start building up your activity levels. So what does this mean? It means finding pockets of time where you can add movement to your day. It can be putting some music on and having a dance; it can be running up and down some stairs or around your yard; it can be committing to completing more chores, playing with the kids, or doing some squats while watching your favorite TV show, or while dinner is in the oven. It doesn’t really matter, especially in the beginning.
A good goal is to add an additional 10 minutes of exercise per day on top of what you already do. Even a 10-minute bed stretch or chair workout is beneficial if you’re limited physically. Find something you enjoy, add in 10 minutes at least once per day, and get the job done!
Challenges
Setting weekly or daily fitness challenges for yourself can be a great source of motivation and fun. The beauty of this idea is that it can be anything or everything, and the challenge can keep it fun. You can even rope others into joining you, making it a social and enjoyable experience.
One great challenge can be to do one minute of exercise for every minute you spend scrolling social media or picking up your phone when you shouldn’t. It can be seeing how long it takes you to run from one end of your yard to another or how many times you can do it per day. It can be seeing how many push-ups or lunges you can do while waiting for the dishwasher to finish or challenging yourself to increase your movement or activity duration. Set your challenges weekly, keep track of your beginning and end points, and motivate yourself to win even when you don’t want to.
So there you go—some effective ways for you to work out and exercise at home without having to set foot outside. Of course, these methods won’t work for everyone, but they can be a source of inspiration to see exactly what you’re able to do without joining a gym or having to find time to leave the house so you can still meet your fitness goals. Remember, the main thing when it comes to working out at home is that it is something you can realistically do on a regular basis, and it easily fits into your lifestyle, so it becomes second nature.