Have a question? Some people love the gym. The noise, the atmosphere, the friends, the sense of challenge, the chance to have some ‘me’ time, THAT smell.
Some people, well, don’t. They may even actively hate it. Which is fine; we’re all different. So how to fulfill your exercise needs without stepping foot into the gym? Well, it can be done!
You make your home your gym, and I don’t mean chucking out the lawn mower and ping-pong table from the garage and loading it with second-hand weights and treadmills.
In fact, you may need next to no equipment at all. Through years of experience working as a personal trainer, I have seen every type of workout program.
Here are my tips for a great home-based workout.
So here are some tips and routines that anyone, regardless of physical ability, can do from their own home and still feel like they’re making some serious changes for the better.
I also highly recommend that you take the quiz and find out which certification is best for your career goals.
Advantages of working out from home
The cost. Quite just, it costs less than your monthly gym subscription. So that’s good.
Security. For many people, feeling like you’re being watched, getting unwanted attention, or feeling like you’re doing it ‘wrong’ is a significant factor in not liking the gym.
Well, draw the drapes, and work out without a worry in the world.
Convenience. You wake up…and you’re in your ‘gym.’ You get home from work….and are in your ‘gym.’
Half the battle of exercise is just getting yourself out of the house in the first place, so if you don’t even need to be leaving home, you are halfway there already!
Potential disadvantages
Too comfortable? If people like the gym because of its motivational benefits (the noise, the people, the smell, etc.), then the opposite could apply when exercising from home. Don’t get complacent, be strict with yourself.
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Neighbors. Depending on your living arrangements and what exercise you’re doing, there could be noise issues – whether that’s the thudding on the floor as you bash out some burpees or the noise of your favorite exercise tunes bleeding through the wall.
Be considerate so that you keep your neighbors on the side!
Distractions. TV, family, pets, phone. Things that shouldn’t be an issue in the gym suddenly get in the way as you try to get fit from home.
Pick a time when there will be the fewest distractions and talk with the people you live with to ask them to give you some space while working out.
What exercises could you do?
Lots. The key to working out at home is going to be something called ‘bodyweight exercise.’ What equipment will you need? Nothing other than your own body.
As the name suggests, you will merely use your body to create the resistance and weight needed for a great workout. The most obvious example of this type of exercise is the humble push-up.
But there are loads of similar exercises you could do, and regardless of how fit and healthy you may or may not be, you can tailor these to create a program that will test you.
Mix it up, alternate, and challenge yourself. Get a ‘Tabata’ app that counts bursts of exercise and counts short periods of rest – these will give your workout structure, and you can make them as long or as short as you want.
Here are just some of the exercises available to you…
Push-ups
Muscles used; chest, back, arms, abs.
How?; Back straight, hands shoulder width apart, as you lower down, tuck your elbows into your side (don’t spread your elbows out like chicken wings)
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More comfortable; Do the push up usually but in a knelt stance rather than fully extended legs. Your knees are your pivot, and you take less of your body weight through the arms and chest.
Less easy; Place your hands closer together and underneath your chest. Or raise your feet by resting them on the edge of the couch.
Squat
Muscles used; thighs, buttocks, hamstrings.
How?; Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, keeping your back straight, and slowly drop your buttocks to the floor. Come up again slowly. Keep your heels locked to the floor at all times.
Easier; don’t go too deep. Build up to it.
Less easy; on your way back up, end each squat with a jump. Power through. If you can, land the jumps onto something stable like a low wall or solid box.
Crab walk
Muscles used; almost everything! But particularly the triceps, buttocks, and core.
How?; start sitting on the floor with your hands and feet flat on the floor facing forward. Lift your buttocks slightly off the ground and walk backward on your hands and feet.
More comfortable; do it for less time!
Less easy; rest something substantial on your belly as you do it.
Burpees
Muscles used; pretty much the ultimate all-body exercise
How; start laid flat on the floor face down, as if at the beginning of a push-up. Perform a push-up, and as your arms are nearly fully extended, jump your feet forward so you are now at the start of a squat.
Then with your feet flat on the floor, jump up straight with arms in the air before returning to the start position. It should be one fluid motion.
Easier; if initially too tricky, eliminate the jump.
Less easy; try it with a small dumbbell in each hand. If you don’t have dumbbells, buy some…you can buy a small set for under $20!
TIP! Try the 100 burpee challenge. Time how long it takes you to do 100 burpees (it may take some time but grind them out one by one!)
Make a note of the time, then after four weeks of training, do it again – I bet you’ll be able to do more and while feeling stronger.
High-knees
Muscles used; legs and heart. It’s great for out and out fitness.
How?; it’s essentially jogging on the spot but done properly. Stand with your arms slightly extended in front of you at waist height. Jog on the spot but ensure you bring your knees up high enough to touch your hands.
Easier; start with hands high, then do a set with the hands SLIGHTLY lower
Less easy; lift both knees at the same time. Mostly a standing jump but bringing your knees as high as you can, keeping your back straight.
Conclusion
These are just some of the more common body-weight exercises out there, but there are tons. A quick Google search will uncover plenty more and even accompanying fitness instructor videos. For more advice from personal trainer experts, check out my category on personal training.
You may also like my article on the NASM versus ACE or my ISSA review article.
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Tyler Read
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