There’s nothing worse than starting an intensive at-home workout regimen, only to realize a month or two later that you didn’t hit any of your goals. No results, nothing, nada.
To help avoid this, here are tips for making the most of your workout time and seeing the results you’re after.
1) Purchase the Right Mix of Equipment
It sounds like a no-brainer, but you’ll be amazed at the number of people who are reluctant to invest in the right fitness equipment yet want to enjoy the benefits of at-home workouts. It doesn’t work like that. Expenses are inevitable, and while you may spend a good chunk of money at the start, it’ll all be worth it in the end.
Some equipment that you might need to keep your “home gym” operational include:
1) Weights: From dumbbells to hand/wrist weights, these help you accomplish a variety of strength-training exercises. You can also use weights for cardio exercises, but only if you pick light weights and target high repetitions.
2) Exercise mat: It’s handy to have if you regularly do floor-based strength training moves. They’re also great to have if you’re a yoga enthusiast. Remember that a suitable exercise mat should provide grip, comfort, and balance, according to a study.
3) Resistance bands: These bands may not look like much, but they can strengthen your muscles as effectively as traditional weights. They’re a suitable replacement for weights if you’re short on money or space.
4) Cardio equipment: If you want to burn as many calories as possible and lose weight, a piece of cardio equipment is a fantastic choice.
5) Exercise ball: Perfect for pushups or as a weight bench, an exercise ball enables you to build your core while improving your balance.
6) Quality shoes: Ill-fitting shoes could cause you to develop blisters, heel pain, or plantar fasciitis. Repeated impacts in poorly cushioned shoes could also trigger a neuroma, hammertoe, or bunion in your foot. Choosing the best running shoes prevents you from getting foot problems due to working out and ultimately elevates your experience. On Running shoes, for instance, are engineered to offer lightweight stability through a plethora of workouts.
2) Ditch the “Every Day Is a Workout Day” Mentality
Whoever said that it’s compulsory to exercise 7 days a week flat-out lied. The truth is, it can become bad. That’s especially the case if you train too hard too often. You’ll inevitably interfere with your body’s ability to continue making gains, a phenomenon classified as overtraining syndrome or overreaching in the sports world. Put simply, overtraining syndrome occurs when the body doesn’t adequately recover after intense repetitive training. Symptoms include fatigue, mood changes, sleep disturbances, and reduced performance.
Avoid exercising every day to keep yourself from getting into this rather painful and uncomfortable state. For the average home exerciser, two to three days a week of both strength and cardio-based workouts, with two to three days of rest or casual movement, is ideal. You don’t have to wait until you’re struggling with overtraining syndrome to get ample rest. Dreading your upcoming workout session and inadequate sleep for two or more consecutive days are two tell-tale signs of a body crying for rest. Listen to it.
3) Check What You Eat
Your choice of food can make or break your home workout regimen. Sticking to a balanced diet is highly recommended, but it’s not the only thing you should consider. It could be that your body is allergic or otherwise intolerant to some foods, which can put a huge dent in your workout results.
For example, if you’re allergic to meat, you likely won’t get sufficient protein to build proper and visible muscles. In that case, consider adding eggs, fat-free or low-fat cheese, or skim or low-fat milk into your diet. Similarly, if your body is intolerant to whole eggs, you might not have enough nutrients to enable and accelerate weight loss. If that’s the case, adding alternatives like leafy greens, fatty fish, oats, or lean beef into your diet might be a smart move. Generally speaking, a healthy diet for at-home workouts is one that your body can tolerate while also including high-quality foods that are unrefined and minimally processed.
Making the Most of Your Home Workout Is Possible
You heard it here first: it’s possible to attain impeccable results with your home workout without having to break your back or your bank. Simply adjust your sleep, diet, and workout routine, and you’ll be well on your way to having the body of your dreams. While you ponder on that, remember that a fine-looking body is almost always accompanied by good health, making it an all the more worthwhile goal.
