Just because you can’t fork over hundreds of dollars to a fancy gym doesn’t mean that person is doomed to a life of bad health. Exercise is not only the best way to improve the physical self, but it is proven to be one of the best ways to keep the mental and emotional self in great working order. Exercise allows the brain to release chemicals that keep the body functioning properly and promotes a feeling of well-being.
Start Down the Road to Health To start, gradually wean yourself off of processed foods. Remember raw is best, then frozen, then canned. This is a simple concept, but it is incredibly difficult to adhere to, especially if you have a busy schedule. No one is responsible for you except you, so choose to eat clean.
Traditionally, athletic trainers and competitors recommend that you strive to drink 1-1.5 ounces of water per pound of body weight each day. Water is essential for the function and transformation of the body.
Resolve each day to increase your activity by a measurable amount. If you are a cubicle sitter, make a point to move. If you are a gopher, add some resistance to your activity like taking the stairs instead of the elevator. If you are a physical laborer, you may want to fill a couple of empty milk jugs with sand to use as dumbbells and do curls and arm lifts in the morning before work. The key to fitness at home is to constantly increase your athletic workload at every opportunity.
The Most Important Way to Live is to Live Actively! A great home workout should fatigue a specific region of the body each day and should elevate the heart rate for at least 25-45 minutes. This can be achieved through resistance training or cardiovascular training. Try to work on only one section of the body per day to allow for proper recovery of the other areas. Combine that with a resistance movement session and sustain it for up to an hour. Use every means at your disposal to keep your workouts consistent, or at least 4-5 times per week.
Whatever type of workout you choose to research and implement, try to give it your utmost. The most important element of working out at home is adjusting the way you go about your day to facilitate a healthy and fit lifestyle. Stay willing to try new activities, remain flexible, and eat what nature intended humans to eat.
A Sample Home Workout
- Dress warmly and comfortably.
- Stretch (but don’t hurt) every joint in the body from neck to ankles. 5 min.
- Begin long slow breaths. 1 min.
- Do a combination of medium range squats and overhead reaches. 3 min.
- Walk – A flat surface or long slow grade on a machine or outside cross-country.20-30 min.
- Towel-off and eat a balanced breakfast with water, tea, or a natural sugar based sport drink.
- Take time to visualize yourself beginning the process to improve your physical self. 3-5 min.
It is entirely possible to train yourself at home with amazing results. After two weeks, you will gradually feel how to improve and customize your regimen to achieve your fitness goals. The keys to training at home are good nutrition, exercise intensity, frequency, and the desire to improve oneself.