When you contemplate starting a fitness routine, you are probably not sure where to begin. If you're skirting around the notion of joining a gym because it doesn't fit into your budget, or there's not one close enough to urge you to go every day, then consider training from home. You can design a program that fits your personality and meets your fitness needs. Whatever inspires you, whether it be yoga, strength training or aerobics, you can do it all from where you live.
Strength Training
In the old days, trainers would advise people to use soup cans or water jugs, books or babies in lieu of weights. These days, dumbbells are affordable and should be the first things you buy. Buy 5, 7 and 10 lb. sets as you'll need the different sizes as you advance. If you've never lifted weights before, start with the 5-lb. set and use a DVD, book or one of the informative slide shows available online. Since it has been determined that incorporating strength training into your routine will elevate your metabolism and thus make it easier for you to burn fat, this home-based exercise training is a must.
Aerobics
Although running after your toddler may feel like a workout, it's those sustained bursts of aerobic activities that get your heart pumping. Plan on carving out 20 to 30 minutes at least five days a week for walking, jogging or running. If you don't own a treadmill, then hit the pavement in your neighborhood or the nearest high school track. Wear a pedometer that registers not only the miles you've logged, but the number of steps you've taken. To mix it up, if your home has a flight of stairs, alternate walking and stair climbing every other day.
Yoga and Pilates
No home-based exercise training would be complete without incorporating stretching. Yoga or Pilates is a perfect complement to your strength training and aerobic activity. While building muscle and getting lean are excellent goals, working on your core strength and balance are as equally important. Without a strong core, you risk small injuries to your back. A sense of balance, both mental and physical, is critical for your well-being. If you've never attended a yoga or Pilates class, consider a beginner's DVD to teach you the basics.
Tips
Whether you go all out and convert one of the unused spaces in your home into a workout studio, or whether you just plan on using a few square feet between the couch and the window, you'll need a place to store your equipment. Buy an old trunk at a garage sale or a fancy wicker basket. The ritual of stowing your gear away after a workout reinforces to your subconscious that you're committed to a worthwhile goal. Buy a journal to track your activities. You can record your activity, the time of day you are exercising, time spent and miles walked. A log of your home-based exercise training can be an incentive to continue your program for years to come.
