Weather too hot or too cold? Gym membership too expensive? No nearby park to run in? It’s time to ditch your excuses and start exercising at home.
Who doesn’t want to feel good, keep healthy, avoid chronic disease and stay mentally positive and alert — with the added bonus of looking good? Exercise is a vital part of any health or weight loss program, but it’s amazing how many excuses we can find to avoid it.
If you’re put off by pricey gym membership fees, you feel self-conscious exercising in public, or you’re just a self-confessed couch potato, your home may be the best place for you to work out. Here are seven tips to get you started.
1. Get support
One of the biggest obstacles to regular exercise is being motivated. This is especially tough if you’re trying to get fit on your own (and probably one of the reasons personal trainers have become so popular in recent years). So why not enlist a family member or a friend (even a furry four-legged one) to be your exercise buddy?
2. Plan your exercise
The longer you put off exercising, the easier it is to find excuses not to do it. Even if you lead a busy life, it’s still essential to schedule in time for it. For example, if you’ve got young children, exercising before they’re awake means you may be able to finish your workout before the day’s distractions begin. So get up, get it done and get on with your day.
3. Pop on a DVD
Not sure what type of exercises to do? Invest in a couple of workout DVDs or check out You Tube. If you’re a fan of Latin music you might enjoy an energetic Zumba workout, or if you prefer something more chilled, choose a Pilates or yoga DVD. The choices are endless.
4. Get an exercise bike or treadmill
Cycling and jogging are great ways to burn fat and get fit. But if you live near busy roads you may not feel like hitting the pavement to exercise. That doesn’t mean you can’t work up a sweat on a stationary bike or treadmill in the comfort of your own home.
5. Clear some space
Get creative and set up a home gym in the garage, or use the back yard and a staircase as your exercise circuit. You can even put a stationary bike in the bedroom or roll out a yoga mat in lounge room.
6. Invest in some weights
Health research shows that weight training can not only help you lose weight, but also maintain bone strength, boost your stamina and manage medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease and back pain. So buy some simple hand weights and add some weight-bearing exercise to your workout routine.
7. Use your own body weight
Using your own body weight to get stronger and fitter can be just as effective as using weightlifting equipment. Consider doing exercises such as planks, push-ups, squats and lunges, as they use more groups of muscles and take a lot of energy to perform.
Get well and stay well
Your health is your most important asset, so look after it. As well as exercising, you should be getting the best preventative treatments to stay healthy. So think about adding extras such as dental, physiotherapy and remedial massage options to your health insurance.
By comparing health insurance policies online you can find the one that’s right for you.
Posted: 10 Sep 2013