We are halfway through the first quarter of this year. Are you keeping up with your New Year’s resolutions so far? Perhaps the most common promise at the start of the year is to live a healthier and more active lifestyle. Why is it so difficult to do it? Did you know you can make working out at home part of your routine? We come up with so many excuses: 

  • Gym memberships are too expensive. 
  • We just don’t have the time. 
  • We don’t have anyone to workout with.
  • We just don’t know where to start.
  • I am embarrassed to workout at the gym.

Now these are some of the most common reasons we keep telling ourselves. While some of them may be valid depending on your current situation, it is still possible to solve most of your problems, especially the last one. Workouts do not have to be embarrassing especially for beginners.

If you don’t feel comfortable carrying a 5-pound dumbbell next to a 6-foot gym rat while doing a 200-pound deadlift, don’t worry. You may consider working out in the comfort of your own home. A lot of home equipment has gotten cheaper over the past few years. 

Start Simple

According to an article from the American Heart Association, one of the most common barriers to getting fit is the lack of equipment. Before embarking on a rigorous fitness routine, you should start small by just getting into the habit of moving more. Go for 30-minute walks in your neighborhood, walk your dog, or dance to your favorite song in the morning. As you slowly build the habit of increasing your heart rate, you are on your way to a fitter lifestyle.

Jump everyday

According to the popular website LiveStrong, jumping has extraordinary health benefits and it is a great cardiovascular activity that requires no gym equipment. There are a variety of workouts on YouTube that you can follow. In particular, there is a growing community of jump rope fans. Jumping rope for 30-minutes a day is said to have more benefits than running on the treadmill for the same amount of time. Best of all, you can get a good speed jump rope for as low as $10!

Invest in good home gym equipment

If you have cash to spend, it is smart to invest in your own home gym as there is already a ton of equipment out there that will not take up a lot of space in your apartment. Best of all, they can be well within your budget! You can get equipment with multiple exercises incorporated for as low as $300. You can compare prices and brands by logging on to websites like Home Gym Reviewed where you can get honest recommendations so you can decide which ones are best suited for your needs. 

You are your own gym

Don’t have the budget for a home gym? You can try several bodyweight exercises. Every day, challenge yourself to do 100 reps of a certain bodyweight exercise such as air squats, push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups or lunges. Pair this with a jump rope routine for a more intense, fat-burning workout. This cost absolutely zero dollars and you can do it everywhere even when you are travelling for work.

Incorporate your chores

Doing chores is the easiest way of getting into exercise. Did you know that 20 minutes of vacuuming is equal to walking a mile? You’ll know this is true if you check out the facts here: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/house-and-home/declutter-your-home/a559397/household-chore-burns-most-calories/.

Do you also know that doing grocery shopping for 30 minutes at least twice a month for one year can be equal to running a marathon? Having your chores as your regular workout eliminates your excuse that you just don’t have time because you just have to do them.

Join an online fitness community

When trying to get fit, it is best to always be in the company of like-minded people. Social media is your best friend. There are online groups that provide absolutely free workout videos, diet recipes, and tips on how to achieve your goals. Best of all, these recommendations come from people who can relate to your current weight issues and may have already overcome them.  

Working out at home does not have to be difficult and expensive. Convince yourself that you can do it and that achieving your goals is possible. Six months from now, you will start looking at yourself differently. All you need is to take that first step!