8 Tips for Working Out At Home
Working out at home can be one of the best ways to start or maintain a consistent workout schedule. While you might not have access to all the equipment you’d find at a gym, you’re also not bound by their schedules and can work out in the comfort of your own home.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of working out at home along with some of our favorite home workout tips that can help kickstart a new healthy routine.
Benefits of Working Out At Home
Wondering if you should make the switch to working at home or simply incorporating more at-home workouts into your fitness routine? There are just a handful of the benefits of working out at home:
- Save money: No gym membership or expensive equipment is required to have an effective full-body home workout.
- Save time: There’s no need to travel to a gym, so you can work out when you feel like it. Additionally, you never need to wait for equipment like you would have at the gym.
- Flexibility: When you work out at home, you’re not bound by a gym schedule. You can work out whenever is the most convenient for you, whether that’s at night, before work, or even during your lunch break!
- Privacy: We get it, going to the gym can be intimidating! Working out in the comfort of your own home can help you build more confidence in your form and workout without feeling self-conscious.
Working out at home, especially during these times, is a great way to incorporate more healthy habits into your routine.
8 Home Workout Tips
Of course, working out at home is different than being at the gym. Here are a handful of tips for working out at home that can help you get the most out of your exercises.
1. Schedule Your Workouts
While you may think working out at home is exercising whenever you feel like it, it’s best to keep a schedule. Many experts recommend that beginners aim for 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise at least three times a week, and 20 to 30 minutes of strength work three times a week. Knowing when you’ll complete these workouts will help keep you more accountable and help get you into a better routine.
2. Make a Dedicated Workout Space
One of the best tips for working out at home is to set up a mini “gym”. Having a designated space for working out is a great way to stay organized (keeping all your equipment in one space) and help you get into the zone while you exercise.
Many times, all you need to work out at home is enough space to stretch out. So choose a corner in your living room or bedroom where you can roll out a yoga mat and claim it as your gym space.
3. Use Items You Have
When you work out at home, you don’t have access to all the fancy equipment and machines like you would at a gym. However, that doesn’t mean you can't have an effective exercise! Remember that the core elements of a workout are:
- A warmup
- A cardiovascular (aerobic) workout
- Resistance (strength-building) exercises
- Flexibility moves
- A cooldown
An aerobic exercise can be something like yoga while a strength-building exercise can utilize weights or resistance bands. All of these require no major equipment and you can use things you have around your home to complete them (like a towel in place of a yoga mat or cans in place of weights).
4. Lean on Virtual Communities
Don’t know where to start with your at-home workouts? The internet has almost everything you need! Take advantage of masterclasses and online videos for home workout inspiration, or even consider joining a virtual community dedicated to working out at home for added support and motivation.
5. Track Your Progress
When working out at home, it’s still important to set goals and track your progress. Maybe you want to tone certain body parts or lead a healthier lifestyle in general. Make sure to set these goals before you begin your workout routine and track your progress (even through a personal journal) to help keep yourself motivated.
6. Switch Up Your Workouts
It’s easy to get stuck in an at-home workout rut when you’re doing the same exercises every day. It’s important to vary your workouts not only to keep things interesting but to keep working all of your muscles in different ways. This is when the internet can also come in handy. When you’re feeling uninspired, look for other at-home workouts to try online!
7. Eliminate Distractions
Don’t get distracted when working out at home. Make sure to set up your workout space somewhere free of distractions like the TV or other gadgets. You may also want to consider pausing any notifications from your phone so you can remain focused during the duration of your workout.
8. Incorporate Other Lifestyle Changes
An at-home workout routine is more effective in combination with other lifestyle changes, namely a focus on nutrition and better sleeping habits. A balanced diet with enough protein, carbs, and nutrients is vital for fueling your muscles before you exercise and helping them recover after.
Make sure to incorporate healthy pre- and post-workout snacks into your workout routine as well. This is essential for fueling your exercise and helping your recovery time.
Fuel For Fire at Home
When it comes time to gain the extra energy you need for your at-home workouts, turn to Fuel For Fire. Fuel for Fire offers a variety of delicious and healthy, on-the-go, portable smoothie pouches, perfect for enjoying before or after your at-home exercise routine.
Our delicious smoothies are packed with protein, offering both animal-derived as well as vegan, plant-based options, that are ideal for any diet and fueling your at-home workouts.
Browse our selection of smoothies online to find your favorite flavor or use our store locator to find our products near you.