By Marné Amoguis
Photo courtesy of Freepik
When was the last time you got any physical activity other than going up the stairs to get to the office? If you've realized you've gained a little bit of weight or your body is starting to ache, it could be because you need more activity in your life. No matter your fitness level, anyone can benefit from just a little bit of exercise each day.
Some people love going to the gym because it allows them to focus on exercise without any distractions. However, some people prefer to work out at home because it's more convenient, and they can do it while they're waiting for their food to finish baking or when they get a break from their family. Unfortunately, working out at home can be difficult to start if you lack the space to do it and you don't have the motivation or achievable goals set. This article will serve as your guide to working out at home.
Set Goals
Everyone needs fitness goals to help build healthy habits. For most people, their goals will be about losing weight. However, others may want to set goals that pertain to how much time they want to spend working out to improve their overall health and wellness. Whatever types of goals you decide, they should be realistic. For example, if you're trying to improve your overall health through fitness, you can set a goal for improved mental health, which can be measured by tracking your feelings in a mood diary.
Be careful if your goal is to lose weight. Many people start working out to lose weight and lose all motivation if they set unrealistic goals they can't attain. The key here is to set realistic goals, such as losing one pound per week until you reach your ideal weight. Additionally, you should set a secondary goal to help you continue working out even after reaching your primary goal.
Track Your Progress
One of the best fitness tips you'll ever receive is to track your progress. Unfortunately, some people make the mistake of not tracking their progress because they're afraid they'll see a lack of progress. However, seeing both progress and a lack of progress can be motivating. For example, seeing that you've lost a few pounds on the scale can keep you motivated to continue to work out daily. On the other hand, seeing that you haven't lost weight might motivate you to work out more often or for longer periods.
Seeing results takes time; don't expect to gain muscle overnight after just one workout. However, you should keep track of your progress from the start to see how you're improving weekly or monthly.
Expect Setbacks
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No one is perfect, and sometimes you'll feel like skipping a workout because you're tired or had a stressful day at work. Unfortunately, everyone experiences setbacks when they're trying to improve their fitness. However, you shouldn't let your setback define your health journey; instead, feel free to take a break from working out every day and instead focus on improving your nutrition so you won't feel guilty about skipping one workout.
No matter your reasons for skipping a workout, make sure you complement it by doing something else that's healthy. For example, you shouldn't skip a workout and give up, then eat cake for dinner. Instead, if you skip a workout, consider the reason why you're skipping it. In most cases, you might be too tired to work out, so you should focus on getting a quality night's rest instead of worrying about exercise.
Get a Coach
You don't need a gym membership to get a fitness coach that can help you achieve your dreams. Many coaches offer services where they'll come to your house with a few extra pieces of equipment and train you. Having someone by your side can help you stay motivated so you won't skip any workouts, but they can also help you improve your nutrition and provide you with tips to increase your chances of success.
Consider Your Space
If you want to start working out at home, you'll need ample space. Some people set up a gym in their garage or a spare bedroom, but there are many ways to work out at home without taking up too much space. For example, you can get a foldable stationary bike and use it in any room of your home. Then, when you're done with it, all you have to do is fold it up and put it in a closet, so it's easily accessible for your next workout.
Of course, it's better if you do have a space for working out, which will allow you to purchase and use more types of equipment, including treadmills, ellipticals, and strength training machines.
Experiment
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You should be focusing on cardio and strength training, but there are different ways you can exercise that you might prefer. For example, if you have knee pain, you might choose to get your cardio by using an elliptical instead of running on the hard pavement outside. Additionally, you can choose from a variety of different strength training methods.
For example, If you don't like free weights, you can use yoga to build lean muscles instead. Experimenting with the different types of exercises can help you find out what feels right for your body and which you prefer to feel more motivated to work out daily. Of course, you shouldn't do the same workout every day as you can reach a fitness plateau, but you should have a few options between the different types of exercises you enjoy.
Final Thoughts
Working out at home is easier than packing a bag and heading to the gym; it allows you to do all the chores and tasks you need to do without canceling plans with friends and family. However, working out at home can be just as difficult as working out at the gym; you must stay motivated to achieve your desired results.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marné Amoguis holds a B.A. in International Business from UC San Diego. She is a contributing writer at 365businesstips.com where she loves sharing her passion for digital marketing. Outside of writing, she loves traveling, playing music, and hiking.
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