Can You Get Fit Without a Gym Membership?

February 1, 2019

Hello everybody! I hope you’re having an awesome week so far!! Let’s talk about working out real quick ok? I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love to workout. I didn’t for a long time though. It took some time to figure out what setting I was happiest exercising in before I really began to love it. When I was 17, I paid for an annual gym membership upfront (it was not cheap) because I thought the gym was a requirement to get in shape. Despite the fact that the gym was great (clean and roomy with plenty of equipment), I found myself not wanting to go after just a few months. I wanted to get in shape so bad, but I didn’t like waiting for machines, feeling embarrassed when I couldn’t figure out how to work the equipment, people staring at me when I looked all gross and most of all, I hated driving to the gym (a whopping 10 minutes haha).

So why am I telling you this? Well, recently, after talking to some friends, I realized that there are quite a few people who think exactly what I used to. That if you want to get fit, you need to go to the gym. If you love the gym environment, great! More power to you! I don’t think there is anything wrong with the gym at all. But, if you’ve been there, done that and it’s not your scene, I have good news for you. You can 100% get that killer body by working out solely from home!! Personally, I am much more motivated to exercise from home. It’s my “me” time so I usually like to be alone for it, not having to drive anywhere (that 10 minutes I mentioned earlier) eliminates an excuse not to work out, it’s free AND if I look stupid, that’s just fine because nobody’s looking 😊.

If you’re with me so far and thinking “that sounds great, but I don’t know what the heck to do at home to get a good work out”, don’t worry. I got you! Here are my tips to start working out at home:

1. You can get a good workout with just your body weight and a few free weights – A lot of people are surprised to find out that for the most part, all I use are two sets of dumbbells (a 5 lb set and a 10 lb set). For about a year though I only had my 5 lb set and was able to get in pretty good shape with just those. I have a small basket of equipment now, but my dumbbells are by far the most used! If you are starting out with absolutely nothing, don’t worry! You can easily get your sweat on with nothing more than your body weight. I’ll tell you in tip #3 where you can find workouts were only dumbbells are used or that don’t require any equipment at all.  
2. A machine is not required for cardio – This one is kind of obvious and probably doesn’t need to be explained but, you can run around the block or buy a bike if you don’t already have one. The cardio portion of my workouts are actually my favorite because I love being outside and getting some fresh air. If you prefer to use a treadmill or stationary bike though, you can purchase one for about the same cost as an annual gym membership.
3. Utilize online workout routines – When I first started exercising from home, I didn’t know what a balanced, yet challenging workout routine was composed of. I had a couple different DVD’s that I used, but I felt like repeating those routines over and over again wasn’t giving me enough variety and I didn’t want to spend money on more DVD’s that I would eventually get bored of. Enter Pinterest and YouTube 😊 If you like to be guided through a workout and talked into pushing yourself, check out fitness classes and routines on YouTube. There are so many people that make free classes you can do from anywhere. A few of my go-to channels are:
   • Tone It Up: These ladies will pump you up and keep you motivated when you think you can’t do another rep. Most of their videos are on the shorter side (5 – 15 minutes), but if you are short on time or just want to get in a quickie, their classes are perfect. And don’t be fooled, you can get definitely get that heart rate up in 10 minutes!
   • Fitness Blender: I love this power couple! They have soooo many videos of different lengths and difficulties that there is for sure something for everyone on this channel! They’re give very detailed explanations about proper form, how you should be breathing, etc. which is super important when it comes to exercising effectively and not hurting yourself.
   • Boho Beautiful: This is my go-to yoga channel! Juliana (I think that’s how you spell her name) has a large variety of yoga routines to choose from. If your looking for a good stretch, a pilates workout or some relaxing night-time yoga, she’s got you covered.
   • Pinterest: So this isn’t a channel of course, but is still a great resource! If guided workouts aren’t your thing and you prefer to go at your own pace, but just need some ideas, you can find a ton of routines on Pinterest. Also, a lot of the channels on YouTube, like Tone It Up, have some of their workouts in written form on Pinterest.
4. Motivation is key – I think this is the most important tip because at the end of the day, if you want something bad enough, you will make it happen. Whether you prefer to workout at the gym or at your house, keeping your fitness goals at the forefront of your mind will drive and push you. If you are working out from home, your motivation is what will remind you to turn off the T.V. and bust out the weights or go on that run. So stay motivated, remember that something is always better than nothing and know that you can do it!

So, there you have it! My tips to begin those at-home workouts 😊 I hope you’re feeling pumped up and ready to start a regular fitness routine, if you haven’t already, whether it’s from the gym or your home! And if it’s from your home then hopefully you took an idea or two away from this!! Alright loves, have a beautiful rest of your day and let me know in the comments if you’re a gym junkie or could do without it!

Xoxo

Amber