At home 2021 Fitness Guide

 

As it stands with government restrictions, the gyms are closed which means if you want to work out, you’ll have to do it from home. But as someone who has always struggled to self-motivate, I know how much of a challenge this can be, especially when you throw home-schooling etc into the mix. However, keeping fit and active is incredibly for dozens of reasons- the main being that it will help you stay physically healthy and can work wonders for anxiety, stress and depression. Therefore, we wanted to create a fun at-home fitness guide for those of you who want to keep busy and burn some calories as a result. But if you’d rather create your own style, check out this extensive list of exercises!

Go for daily walks

First of all, I want to stress how important it is to get some fresh air every day, especially whilst in lockdown. Although you may still be working or looking after children, try your best to get outside for 30 minutes each day and see how a little bit of exercise could help you both physically and mentally. And at weekends, try stretching these walks to an hour+ and relax as the endorphins start to flow. And while you’re at it, make sure you download the MapMyWalk app for free to track your progress!

Run up and down the stairs

Perhaps you’re strapped for time or just don’t have any equipment… Regardless, running up and down your stairs is a quick and incredible way to fire up your heart rate. You may find in the beginning that you’re only able to manage a few trips, but each day it’ll get a little easier. Plus, it’ll tone your legs and bum!

Give jogging a go

I get it, it’s cliché and not everyone’s cup of tea, but a small jog every day is a fantastic way to burn fat and stay energised. If you’re starting out, the best thing you can do is not compare yourself to others. Don’t worry if you start out running to the end of the street then coming back and don’t worry if you need to take regular breaks. Take it at your own pace and slowly build up your stamina. And if you do have kids, try and get them involved too!

Get sweaty dancing

Personally, I think dancing is a great workout if you find most forms of exercise boring. Whether you want to follow a free online Zumba class, or want to invest in a programme, such as Shaun T’s, ‘Cize’, dance classes are fun, energetic and great for getting a sweat- and the best part is, you don’t have to be an amazing dancer. Just try your best, have fun and watch the fat melt away.

Go hard with HIIT

HIIT workouts, also known as High Intensity Interval Training, are extremely effective in reducing body fat and weight and are extremely diverse. HIIT involves performing exercises for a set period of time (usually between 30 seconds- 3 minutes) at a maximum output. This usually means you will work between 80-100% of your maximum heart rate and then will break for a similar amount of time. HITT workouts can be performed with or without equipment, many of which can be found for free online.

The main thing to remember about exercise is trying to find a style that you actually enjoy. Although it is important for your health, staying active should be enjoyable, first and foremost. If you like it, the more likely you’ll see results. But remember, always warm up and down before any activity to avoid injury!