How to Stay In Shape At Home

I was talking with a friend who expressed some frustration about her fitness level. She knew she wanted to be in better shape, but joining a gym was not in her budget or comfort level. We started to talk about all of the benefits from working out at home and I think it will be a good fit for her. However, like for any good idea, you need a good plan.

There are obvious advantages from working out from home. First, you can work out on your own time schedule. This is good for people who have flexible schedules. Second, it can be much cheaper to work out from home in comparison to joining a gym with a monthly fee. Third, you can work out in privacy (or small groups), which eliminates the social anxiety people often experience when they go to a gym.

This all sounds great, but the chances of successfully working out at home are slim unless you set up a program that you can stick with. The first thing you need to do is decide what type of exercise you want to do from home. There are hundreds of videos, online workout programs, exercise machines, and weight equipment to choose from. It can be overwhelming and make you a sucker for buying the wrong equipment. Start small and work your way up to more sophisticated equipment as your success grows.

Here are some things to consider about your home fitness workout program:

• Hire a personal trainer. This is an added expense but well worth it if the trainer can get you off on the right foot.
• Do your research. Before you invest in expensive exercise equipment like a stationary bike, treadmill or weight equipment make sure you know what you are buying and how to use it.
• Borrow first. See if a friend or neighbor has any workout DVDs that they like and try them out. Be sure to select the workout that corresponds with your fitness level. Most workout videos have beginner, intermediate and advanced programs.
• Create a workout space. Having enough space to work out can be a challenge, especially if you are in a small house or apartment. You may need to rearrange some furniture to maximize your kickboxing capabilities.
• Make the time in your day. It’s one thing to say you are going to work out at home; it’s another to actually do it. Plan your workout into your day so it becomes a habit and not an afterthought.

As an additional suggestion, if you can’t afford a personal trainer, perhaps you can find a friend or neighbor who would like to work out with you. There is strength in numbers and it helps if you have someone you are accountable to.