Finding the ideal way to exercise at home

Three key components come together when achieving a healthy lifestyle - a sound state of mind, eating right and an effective exercise routine. For most people, achieving the latter is the hardest part, as we don’t all have the time to dedicate to the gym. If getting in from work, getting changed, making the journey to a local gym, working out and then making the journey back is simply not feasible, the alternative is to exercise at home. Below, we take a look at how to ensure you get enough exercise without having to go out.

How to exercise at home

There are many different ways of getting the exercise you need within the confines of your own home. The most popular of these are as follows:

• DVDs / online videos – There are plenty of exercise DVDs easily available. Alternatively, a quick search on YouTube can inspire you. With so many videos available, you will never get bored. 
• Invest in exercise equipment – You can pick up exercise equipment at affordable prices if you look in the right places. If you have enough space in your home, you can then bring the gym to you. A cross trainer, for instance, is cheaper than a gym membership in the long run.
• Put together your exercise program – There are many exercises you can do at home without any equipment, simply by using your body weight. These include everything from squats and lunges to push-ups and sit-ups. If you’ve got a little bit of cash spare, you can always improve your workouts with time, by investing in the likes of a skipping rope, an exercise mat and even dumbbells. However, this is not essential.

How to find the time to exercise

Being at home all the time doesn’t mean it’s easy to schedule your exercise – after all, there’s always something that needs doing in the house. Couple this with tiredness and you can understand why it’s easy to lose motivation when you get home from a busy day at work. However, there are ways to ensure you find the time to exercise at home without interrupting your usual schedule too much!

• Exercise while watching TV – You don’t have to sacrifice the time spent watching your favourite television programs to exercise. You can still tune into Strictly Come Dancing, but instead of slouching on the sofa, why not do some squats? Or invest in an exercise bike or rowing machine? You’ll be able to watch your favourite programs while burning fat at the same time. 
• Workout before the day gets away from you – Once the day is in full swing, tasks mount up and you will never find the time to exercise. This is why it is a good idea to exercise as early as possible. It will be difficult at first, but you will soon get used to it, and you will have plenty of energy for the rest of the day.  

How to stick to an exercise routine

Once your plan is in place, you need to maintain it, and with that in mind we offer some tips on how to stick to your new routine:

• Take baby steps – Don’t give yourself a mountain to climb. Gradually improve the intensity of your exercise routine. 
• Track your efforts – You will feel more motivated if you see the effort you are putting in and the results you are harvesting too.
• Mix it up – You will soon get bored if you are doing the same exercise every day. Mix things up. We have given you some great suggestions on the different options that are available. 

How to protect yourself from injury

Starting a new exercise plan at home without an instructor must be done properly, so follow the below tips to ensure you remain injury-free.

• Warm up and cool down – You have probably heard this before, and that is because it is so important. If you don’t warm up effectively, your muscles won’t be ready for the workout, and this is how injuries can occur. 
• Listen to your body – If you haven’t worked out for years, you are not going to be able to do what you may have been able to when younger. You need to be smart and realistic. Listening to your body is also important in terms of the recovery time required before your next workout. 
• Hydrate and eat a balanced diet – What you drink and eat is just as crucial as your workout. Protein after your workout is great for muscle repair while carbohydrates are recommended beforehand for an energy boost.