If you are like me and most of the parents out there, finding the time to go to the gym is hard enough as it is. But throw kids into the picture and now you are looking at a near-impossible task!
I have two boys who are both less than three years old and I must admit training at home has saved me heaps of time allowing me to get in my required workouts each week. I have to keep up with the kids and being able to do a quick HIIT or another exercise program while they watch/play around me means that I don’t need to worry about booking into the local gym. Now I don’t have to waste time commuting to the gym, finding parking, paying membership fees or waiting for equipment … which inevitably turns into another precious hour out of my day.
So without further ado, here’s a few recommendations for your own home fitness regime:
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Schedule it & be disciplined
We all know that exercise is good for us and gives us a euphoric feeling from all those positive endorphins. But without a schedule, it can be hard to find the time and makes it easy to procrastinate. For me, it’s important to carve out part of the day and be disciplined enough to hold myself accountable.
Try to think about which time of the day you work out the best. Is it early in the morning? Perfect, try to get your session in before the kids wake up! If it’s the afternoon then try to keep this at exactly the same time each day. They say it takes the average person 66 days to form a new habit, so aim to hold yourself strictly accountable in those first 2 months and you’ll be addicted to those positive endorphins in no time!
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Sara Haley, an ACE-certified fitness trainer has her own motivation hack. She suggests that if you change into workout clothes first thing in the morning, it’s easier to resist any excuse to not work out later on. The result is twofold. Firstly, you’re prepared and ready for your workout when it’s scheduled – so no need to run around trying to get prepared. And if you miss your scheduled workout time? If you are like me, you’ll be motivated by the feeling of guilt about changing out of your fitness gear without completing your workout – I tend to take a quick walk in these situations or makes me extra motivated the next day!
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You don’t need all the fancy equipment
If you are like me, you were probably inspired to get back in shape by the recent Olympics. There’s nothing like watching the best athletes in the world compete to really convince you to get off the couch. But the truth is that unlike those athletes you don’t need all the fancy equipment to get you started. Here are a few exercises to get you going:
- Push-ups
- Forearm Planks
- Stationary Lunges
- Chair Squats
- Bridges
However, if you are looking to do some more advanced training at home it can be good to have a dedicated training space. If this is you and you’re into your cross-training or HIIT workouts then checkout these bumper plates from Vulcan Fitness. Or if you need something more compact and space-saving, their adjustable dumbbells might be for you.
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Get a workout buddy
Push yourself harder with workout buddies. Find friends who also have fitness goals like you, and motivate each other by sharing healthy recipes and sending motivational quotes. You don’t necessarily have to have the exact same resolutions to push each other, but it will make your workouts social and make your journey more fun. This will also make each of you accountable to each other to stick to your goals and help you to stay motivated!
So what are you waiting for? Give your new workout buddy a ring, schedule in those workouts and you’ll be addicted to those positive endorphins in no time!
