Working out from home has become one of my favorite things! When I became a stay at home mom, exercising at home with my children around was extremely stressful. I have learned over the years to adjust and make it work. And now, my children ask me daily if I’m doing a workout. They just know now. Doing any exercise at home saves me so much time.
Just because you have to workout from home, doesn’t mean you can’t get a good workout. In fact, you might be surprised how much you can get done. Most of it is mindset and setting yourself up for success. Sure, you won’t have someone to correct your form, so be cautious and take your time. Exercise at home is on the trend. You’ll be amazed how easy it is to find workouts now.
Practice Yoga or Pilates
If you’re just getting started and not sure where to start, then a good yoga practice is safe for your body to adjust to. There are plenty of low-impact practices that will make the perfect option for anyone starting. YouTube as a huge array of various yoga or Pilates practices that you can attempt at home. The two important aspects to keep in mind is breathing and form.
Move with Cardio
If you have a day and you don’t feel like moving, then turn up your favorite music and get moving. Not only will you receive the benefits of getting your heartrate up, but you’ll also uplift your spirits. There are plenty of different cardio exercises that you can do to burn calories and essentially help with losing weight. HIIT is a perfect way to burn body fat, strengthen your heart, and feel physically exhausted post workout. Most cardio exercises don’t require any equipment. Just you and your body. Remember, you are in control of how much you push yourself and it’s always you verses you.
Strength Training
This is my favorite form of exercise. I will take strength training every day of the week over anything else. Without strength training, you will have a hard time toning your body and experiencing fat burn mode. All you need is a few dumbbells. But if that isn’t an option, grab a few water bottles or a bag of books and get lifting. A few of my favorite at home strength-training exercises are squats, lunges, pushups, shoulder presses, and any upper body exercises.
Remember, please take it slow. Lifting heavy doesn’t happen overnight. It’s over a few years and you also won’t see results right away. At the start, focus on proper form so you can avoid injury. It’s always better to start small and work your way up .The worst thing is starting to heavy and/or vigorously and then experience an injury that will set you back for weeks.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Get A Workout DVD
If you find it challenging to stay motivated when working out at home, consider investing in a workout DVD. This is a great way to have someone else lead the workout for you and keep you on track. There are many different types of DVDs available, so be sure to choose one that fits your interests and fitness level. YouTube also has great options. And of course there are plenty of subscriptions and online memberships that you can join and perform live workouts from your home.
I enjoy finding a workout either through Instagram influencer, or through someone on YouTube. At this point in my life with 4 small children, I don’t have much time to browse for a workout every morning. I need something that will give me the burn, exhaust my muscles, and under 45 minutes. Most mornings I turn to YouTube and choose a workout from my favorite YouTube influencer (Caroline Girvan) and get the work done.
Find A Workout Partner
My mom is my workout partner. We don’t train together, but we call each other daily and talk about the workout of the day. On days where I don’t feel like moving my body, my mom reminds me to warm up, and get moving. And likewise, when she has a day where she doesn’t feel up to it, I give her a call and encourage to chase her fitness goals.
There are pros and cons to exercise at home. Sure, you have to show up for you. No one will notice if you didn’t workout today, only you. So you have to remember why you want to workout and what you’re chasing after. It takes a great deal of motivation to tell yourself that you can do this and keep at it. But remember to give yourself grace for those rest days.
