Benefits of Working Out at Home and How to Get Started

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At the beginning of 2020, I had made the decision to focus on my health and start getting more exercise. I am not one for gyms or the contracts that come with their memberships, so I needed to find ways to work out from home. In a way that was lucky because Covid hit soon after and closed everything down.

With the Covid-19 pandemic still going strong, working out at home is the only option for some of us. That’s why I wanted to share why I love working out from home. Hopefully this will help get you excited about working out from home too. Also, I wanted to share some of my at-home workout gear for those just getting started who don’t want to spend a fortune.

At-Home Workout Benefits

I understand that some people love gyms and that the gym environment is motivating for them, but it’s just not for me. I prefer working out from home for a number of reasons.

1. Working out at home saves me time

Working out at home means I have more time. I don’t need to schedule time to travel to the gym or spend time getting my belongings together. It is so much easier to schedule working out into my day because I’m already “at the gym” when I’m at home.

2. Working out at home saves me money

Working out at home means I don’t have to pay for a gym membership or drop in fees. I also don’t have to pay for gas to get to and from the gym.

[Related: What do Finances and Living Sustainably Have to do with Living Life Sustainably]

3. Working out at home is comfortable

Working out at home is an incredibly comfortable environment for me. I don’t have to worry about creepy males edging in on my space. I have full access to my desired machine and equipment. I can wear whatever I want to workout–even my pjs if I’m that inclined! Whatever I want the experience to be, I can make it happen at home.

4. Working out at home gives me freedom

Working out at home means I have the freedom to appear how I want to. Now, I can appear however I want at the gym too, but I feel less bad about rolling out of bed straight onto my exercise bike when I’m at home than I would at the gym.

I also have the freedom to start and stop my workout whenever I want while multi-tasking around the house. There is a great freedom and practicality to time management when I can cook dinner and get in some exercise all while watching my favourite T.V. shows. At the same time, if I want to exercise with complete silence and no distractions, I have the freedom to do that too.

5. Working out at home keeps me motivated

I completely understand that some people are more motivated to work out at the gym and that’s awesome for them. For me, though, I’m far more motivated and comfortable when I work out at home.

I believe the way to be successful at an exercise plan or goal is to enjoy what you’re doing. I really enjoy working out at home, which has helped me stay motivated and committed to it these last couple years.

At-Home Workout Gear to Get You Started

One of the roadblocks to working out at home is having the right equipment and gear. For some workout equipment, there will be a financial investment. The good news is, though, it is possible to get started with very little. You can even work out at home with no equipment at all!

Whether you are trying to save from spending money or save from buying new things and creating waste, there are many ways you can get started with gear for working out.

Exercise With no Added Equipment

There are a number of workouts and types of exercises you can do with no equipment at all.

Check out our post “At-Home Workouts to Keep Your New Year’s Resolution” for some equipment-free exercise ideas. The added bonus is these workouts are short and easy to fit into any schedule.

Get Creative With Household Items

If you’re not wanting to purchase equipment to work out at home, that doesn’t have to be a problem! There are a number of items you likely have around the house that can be used as replacements for weights or other workout gear.

Here are some household items I’ve used in place of exercise equipment:

1. Bathrobe tie or towel in place of an exercise strap.
2. Towel in place of an exercise mat.
3. Books or phone book in place of a yoga block.
4. Towel or blanket in place of a bolster.

For ideas on what household items to use in place of dumbbells or hand weights, check out this list of 15 items: 15 household items to use instead of dumbells or hand weights.

Buy Your Workout Equipment Second Hand

If you read any of our posts on this blog, you know we love our second-hand items! Workout gear is no exception. There are always people looking to declutter or part ways with things they don’t use, so second-hand equipment is always an option.

Here are some places to check out for pre-loved exercise equipment:

1. Thrift stores or charity shops.
2. Online marketplaces, such as Ebay, Facebook, Craigslist.
3. Your local buy nothing group.
4. Freebie pages, such as Craigslist.

What Exercise Equipment I Use at Home

My exercise equipment is basic and a combination of items I’ve owned for years, things from around the house, and also new items. While I do like to get creative with some of the exercise equipment I use at home, like I mentioned above, I do also have some items I’ve purchased over the last couple of years.

An Exercise Bike

At the beginning of 2020 I treated myself to a new exercise bike. I tried to find a cardio machine second-hand, but was unable to find one I could transport in my car. I was able to find a small bike online that is easy to move and tucks away into the corner of my apartment.

To justify the cost of the new bike, I did the math on how many times I’d need to use my exercise bike to cover the cost of it. I estimated the cost per visit to the recreation centre to be $10, then divided the cost of the bike by this. I even created a chart and checked off the numbers to motivate myself to “pay off” the bike each time I used it. I’ve used it far more times than this and it is one of my favourite purchases!

The one that I purchased is no longer in stock, but this exercise bike looks quite similar to the one that I have.

Cork Yoga Mat and Blocks

I used my last yoga mat until it was falling to pieces and last year invested in a new one. For this purchase I searched out more sustainable yoga mat options and purchased a Scoria World Yoga Mat.

Scoria yoga mats are not only made from cork and natural rubber, making them more sustainable than plastic, but are also a small Canadian business. If you’re wondering how good Scoria World yoga mats are, check out our review here: How Good Are Cork Yoga Mats? A Scoria World Review.

How do feel about working out at home?

Those are some of the reasons and ways I work out at home. How about you?

Are you a fan of working out at home or working out at the gym? Or not working out at all? What tips do you have for people that are thinking of getting started on an exercise plan?

We’d love to hear what you think!

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