Have you have ever joined a local YMCA or fitness club only to barely use the membership? Or, are you interested in getting fit but don’t have the extra $50-$100 per month to throw at a gym membership? If so, home fitness from the comfort of your own home might be best for your health plans.
Working out regularly helps you lose weight, improve your circulation, and get you into the figure you’ve always wanted to have. Joining a gym would be a good choice for any person who would like to get a good Workout, but expensive gym memberships and busy schedules could be something that may hold you back.
Working out at home has become an excellent alternative for the money-strapped and the time-strapped alike. Here three great benefits to home fitness:
- You save money
- You save time (driving to the gym and back)
- You can burn the same amount of calories
There are a plethora of home workouts equipment options on the market. The K.I.S.S. (keep it simple, silly) is the best approach, at least in the beginning. A pair of dumbbells, a barbell, and an exercise ball are the basic workout pieces needed for a well-rounded home workout. As with most workout health plans, you should target your major muscle groups and get overall body workout for optimum results. Try these exercises to start:
Home Workout Exercises to Try
1. Bench press (chest)
This targets your chest area. This is performed by lying on a bench, holding the barbell straight over your chest. Then lower it down towards your chest with the elbows being at 90 degrees. Push it back up and repeat for about 3 sets with 12-15 cycles each set.
2. Lateral (side) raise (shoulders)
this is performed by standing up with two dumbbells at your side. Then raise them sideward up to your shoulder level. Lower the weights and repeat for 3 cycles at 12 cycles each.
3. Barbell row (back)
This is performed by holding a barbell and leaning forward about 45 degrees then pull back the barbell until it reaches your abdomen. Lower it back and repeat for 3 cycles with 10-12 Reps each cycle.
4. Lunges (legs)
This is performed by taking a big lunge forward then bending the front knee to about 90 degrees but making sure the front knee does not go past the toes.
5. Triceps kickback
Perform this by bending forward making sure you back is flat then, with the dumbbells on each hand, extend the elbows backward to work the triceps. Do this for 3 sets with 12 reps each set.
6. Alternate dumbbell curls (biceps)
hold two dumbbells on each hand, then alternately, bring them towards your biceps. Do this for 3 set with 12 reps per set.
7. Crunches (abdomen)
Lie on your back with knees bent, then crunch your abs forward midway between the angle of the legs and your body. Do 2-3 sets of this with 15-20 reps depending on tolerance.
This is a basic home workout program for the entire body to work out. For muscle building, the number of repetitions best for this would be 12-15. However, for greater weight loss, reduce the amount of weight and increase the reps to 15-20. For beginners, it is best to do one set of each exercise for a week or two, and gradually increase your reps.
You should mix cardio workouts into this program. Those who have cardio equipment can workout inside on the cycle or treadmill. Otherwise, a good pair of walking or running shoes is all you need for a decent cardio workout. Aerobic exercises like walking, running and bike riding can improve weight loss. It is important to keep in mind that results do not usually come overnight. Take a few weeks to see how much you have lost or see how ripped your muscles now are. Eventually, results will come with a consistent home workout plan.
In case you’re facing challenges working out at home, you can hire a personal fitness trainer to help you stick to your workout plan and achieve your fitness goal.
