Let’s face it. Joining a gym isn’t for everyone. First, there’s the cost and then there’s the problem of finding the time to get there to use the equipment. Health clubs are almost always overcrowded with people competing for a limited number of machines. Still, it’s important to stay fit.
The good news? It’s possible to exercise without joining a gym by simply doing it at home. Here are some gym-free exercise ideas for a total body workout that can be done without fighting the traffic to get to the health club.
Gym-Free Exercises That Don’t Involve Special Equipment
There’s no need to buy fancy exercise equipment to get a good workout at home. Why not take a trip to the library for exercise DVDs? Most libraries have a wealth of all types, from dance workouts to body sculpting. The key is to get several and rotate them daily to reduce boredom. Do a different gym-free workout every morning alternating between dancing or aerobic, sculpting and flexibility to get a total body workout. Do it first thing in the morning – no excuses allowed.
Gym-Free Exercises to Do Throughout the Day
Invest in a pedometer and wear it religiously every day. Aim for 10,000 steps and gradually increase the number as each step goal is achieved. Wearing a pedometer is a constant reminder to walk more and walk faster and those steps definitely add up over time. This is particularly good for people who don’t have large blocks of time to devote to getting a total body workout and need to “slip in” exercise as time allows. A pedometer is an excellent motivator.
Another way to get a good workout without a gym membership or special equipment is to take a walk during lunch hour at work. Take along a protein bar to serve as lunch and munch on it during the walk. A brisk 30-minute walk will make the rest of the day easier to tackle – not to mention the calories burned can be gratifying.
Gym-Free Exercises: Get Back to Basics
Remember back in gym class when people did sit-ups, jumping jacks, and push-ups? These are still some of the best ways to get a total body workout and they don’t require any exercise equipment at all. Start with a 20-minute fast walk for cardiovascular fitness and finish up with 15 minutes of rotating jumping jacks, push-ups, and sit-ups. Who could ask for a better total body workout?
A Total Body Workout without a Gym?
Of course the key is to do it. Why not get started? You should start to see results in about six weeks. Need more ideas? Here are some additional suggestions for how to exercise when it's cold outside.
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