If going to the gym is not an option for you for any reason, then it's important to find ways to get fit at home. Home exercises utilizing resistance bands as well as your own bodyweight are a great way to get in shape without the hassle of going to the gym. Let's take a closer look at how you can make home exercises effective and fun.
1. Schedule your workouts ahead of time
When you are at home, there are plenty of distractions that can keep you from getting your sweat on. Therefore, it's important to schedule your workouts ahead of time so that you can plan everything else you need to do around your workout. The truth is, when you are at home, you are more likely to forget to work out because your kids and your spouse need attention and your household chores need to be done. You should also let your spouse and kids know that your workouts are important in order to garner their support.
2. Create a designated workout area in your home
When you have a designated workout area in your home, you will be more likely to use it because everything you need for your home exercise routine will be in its' place. This is where you should store your exercise mat, resistance bands, dumbbells and anything else that you use during your workout on a regular basis. That way, when you get around to doing your workout, you won't frantically spend twenty minutes looking for your resistance bands, which may potentially result in you having to miss your workout.
3. Adjust the intensity and duration of your workouts every two or three weeks
Some people may think that home exercises are boring, but that does not have to be the case. To get results from your workouts, it's important to increase the intensity or duration as you get further along in your fitness journey. For example, if you are doing 2 sets of 15 squats the first week, then, after two weeks, you can try to do 2 sets of 18 squats. Also, if you are able to hold the plank for 30 seconds in week one, then you should try to do it for 35 seconds in week two and 40 seconds in week three. Keep in mind that when you are increasing the intensity, it's important to listen to your body to prevent injuries. However, if you are getting through your workout with great ease, then you know that it's time to add a few more repetitions to each set. This will ensure that your workouts stay fun and challenging.
4. Purchase only the equipment that you will actually use
You don't need to go out and buy a bunch of bulky machines that you are never going to use. All you really need for a great workout at home are resistance bands, an exercise mat, some dumbbells, a skipping rope and perhaps a couple of other small items that you can easily and conveniently store in a relatively small space. Working out at home does not mean that you need to turn your living room into a commercial gym. You can tone your glutes, legs and abs as well as strengthen your upper body without the bulky machines.
5. Set a realistic and meaningful goal and write it down
When you are working out at home, it's easy to fall off the wagon. Life can get in the way and it may be tempting to give up when the going gets tough. Unfortunately, motivation comes and goes. This is why it's important to have a realistic fitness goal that you can look forward to achieving. It has to be something that's important to you so that you make fitness a priority.
To sum up, you can achieve fantastic results with home exercises that utilize the right equipment. To achieve your fitness goals, you must be consistent with your workout schedule, create a home exercise area and gradually increase your workout intensity and duration.
By Avivah