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What are the Best Tips for Exercise at Home?

J.M. Densing
J.M. Densing

Exercising at home can be an effective, inexpensive alternative to working out at a gym. Some of the best tips for exercise at home include the following: make workouts a priority; combine cardiovascular and strength training for overall fitness; keep it simple; choose enjoyable activities; and try a variety of activities to keep things interesting. Exercise at home can provide many important health benefits, and it can help you look and feel better.

Many people cite the expense and inconvenience of going to a gym as an excuse not to exercise, but it's possible to get an effective workout at home. An important tip for exercise at home is to prioritize workouts. If necessary, schedule a particular time of day for exercise and commit to it. One way to maintain the motivation to stick to an exercise schedule is to set reachable workout goals. Once a goal is reached enjoy a reward, then set a new goal to keep motivation high.

Push-ups, even when done with a workout ball, can easily be performed at home.
Push-ups, even when done with a workout ball, can easily be performed at home.

Another tip for exercise at home is to combine cardiovascular activities and strength training to achieve overall fitness. The ideal exercise program should utilize cardiovascular activities which strengthen the heart and lungs, while strength training improves endurance and builds muscle. This combination provides the maximum health benefits, thereby helping to prevent a variety of ailments and enhancing an individual's daily functioning.

Push-ups are easy to do at home.
Push-ups are easy to do at home.

It's usually a good idea to keep exercise at home simple. It's unnecessary to invest in a lot of equipment, especially at first. Walking and dancing are examples of great exercises that don't require any special equipment. There are also many strength training exercises that simply use body weight for resistance such as push ups and crunches. If desired, the most commonly recommended home exercise aids are simple items that can be used in a variety of ways like hand weights, a jump rope, a stability ball, or resistance bands.

Jumping rope is a high impact aerobic exercise that can be performed without having to leave home.
Jumping rope is a high impact aerobic exercise that can be performed without having to leave home.

When exercising at home, another tip is to choose enjoyable activities. Fun activities make exercise something to look forward to and help maintain motivation. This is especially important in the early stages before the physical results are noticeable. If workouts become a chore, it becomes more tempting to skip them and make excuses to avoid resuming an exercise schedule.

Exercise bands stretch -- like giant rubber bands -- to provide resistance when used for working out.
Exercise bands stretch -- like giant rubber bands -- to provide resistance when used for working out.

Another tip for staying motivated to exercise at home is to vary activities to keep it interesting. Doing the same workout routine too often can become boring, plus it eventually becomes too easy. By incorporating a variety of activities, interest level can remain high, and workouts stay challenging. Mixing activities like walking, jumping rope, exercise DVDs, and cycling, provides constant stimulation and works different muscle groups each time.

With an appropriate commitment level, it's possible to attain the same health benefits exercising at home as going to a gym. Exercise can help a person live a longer healthier life, and it can aid in preventing a range of health problems such as heart disease and diabetes. It can also be a key tool in weight loss or maintenance, and it often improves energy levels and appearance.

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    • Push-ups, even when done with a workout ball, can easily be performed at home.
      By: bertys30
      Push-ups, even when done with a workout ball, can easily be performed at home.
    • Push-ups are easy to do at home.
      By: Ken Hurst
      Push-ups are easy to do at home.
    • Jumping rope is a high impact aerobic exercise that can be performed without having to leave home.
      By: Igor Mojzes
      Jumping rope is a high impact aerobic exercise that can be performed without having to leave home.
    • Exercise bands stretch -- like giant rubber bands -- to provide resistance when used for working out.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Exercise bands stretch -- like giant rubber bands -- to provide resistance when used for working out.