Has it been a while since you worked out regularly?. Maybe now you're wondering how to start exercising (or start up again) when you haven't followed a training program for a while. How do you go from no exercise to working out regularly, and where do you start?
Wanting to be more active or to improve your fitness doesn't mean spending hours in the gym. In fact , there are plenty of people, including lots of members of the LeanWithLesley community, who love to workout at home. Whether you are a fitness beginner or someone with lots of experience, there are plenty of ways to improve your fitness without setting foot in a gym.
Here are a few reasons why you might want to train from home, and some tips on how to start
Benefits of working out at home
When you can get regular exercise in at home, there are many benefits you may not have considered
Here are a few great reasons to work out at home:
Whether you are a fitness beginner or you simply prefer the freedom of being able to train the way you want, there are a number of reasons why exercising at home might be a better fit. If you are ready to get started, keep reading to find out how to make it work for you!
How to start working out at home
An effective at-home workout starts with preparation. If you want to feel your best and achieve results from your training, a good preparation plan is really important. Here are some things you can do to hit the ground running
Set goals for yourself
To achieve your fitness goals with at-home workouts, following this method can help you to stay on track and achieve what you set out to do. Setting yourself a goal that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely allows you to be clear in your direction and in how you will get there.
Rather than simply saying to yourself "I want to get fit" and then doing a couple of workouts, having a fitness goal and a plan will put you on the right path. Otherwise, it can be too easy to become overwhelmed or to get frustrated because you aren't noticing results.
Take a look at our tips on goal setting and think about what you really want to achieve. Do you want to feel stronger? Is it a long-term or short-term goal?
Remember, if you want to train at home and get results, you need to have a way of measuring those results. Otherwise how will you measure your success??
Simple steps to get the workout essentials
You really don't need much to begin working out or you can always workout with your own body weight as a starting point, build yourself up and then start to introduce some equipment into your workouts. Here are some key pieces that you can use for all types of workouts
Step 1. Good Form
Learn how to do key exercises correctly and with best form. Most at-home training programs will require you to do some sort of body-weight exercises, so knowing how to do a few of these correctly can make it easier to ‘hit the ground running’. The bonus of working out at home is you can perfect your technique. You have the time and the space to practice these exercises over and over.
Body-weight exercises,such as squats, lunges, planks, push-ups and burpees, allow you to increase your strength and fitness without the need for equipment. You can also modify body-weight exercises to make them more or less challenging — for example, doing push-ups on your knees or by adding an incline when you want to make them harder.
Step 2. Diary a Regular Workout Plan
Having a regular training schedule is super important. Training consistently is an important way to achieve results. Creating a regular training schedule that you follow each week can help you to stay accountable, especially if you are working out at home. Otherwise, you might find you wait until you are feeling motivated to train — and even with the best intentions, there will be days when you aren’t motivated.
Plan out which workout you are going to complete and the day you plan to do it. That way, you are less likely to skip training or only exercise when it's convenient. With the LWL App we have a Calendar included especially for just this, where you can schedule, check off as done or get a reminder that you have missed a workout!
Step 3. No Excuses, No Regrets
Even with a workout plan and a space to train in, you still need to be prepared for those days when things don’t happen the way you want them to. Having a back-up plan can be the difference between trying again or quitting. If you aren’t prepared for the occasional slip-up or hurdle, then you may find it hard to pick yourself up when these arise.
Remember even a 5 minutes workout can make the difference to how you feel and look. In fact lots of the LWL workouts are just that, we have a whole section of the app dedicated to Tabata workouts which take 5 minutes!
It's time to develop healthy habits, so give yourself room to slip-up occasionally. Learn from mistakes and find a way to move past the hurdles next time they arise. You can also turn to the LeanWithLesley community for help — many people in the community have had their own challenges and I would be so happy to help you navigate yours.
That's how to start working out at home!
Ultimately, working out at home will be successful if you put the effort into your training. If a busy schedule is holding you back from exercising regularly, take advantage of being able to work out from your home. At LeanWithLesley.com, we aim to help every woman to find her perfect fit and that includes finding a way to make exercising more accessible!
