Up until a few weeks ago, a gym is where people would go to complete their workouts. They would arrive to a fully stocked space geared towards fitness with trainers nearby to help out. Oh how things have changed! Now the nearby gym is a fully stocked ghost town. It won’t be this way forever, but for now adjustments need to be made in order to stay on track with workouts.
First thing is to set up your own little gym. It does not need to be big or fancy. In fact, when I first left the gym and started working out at home 16 years ago, my space was a tiny section of my messy garage and my tiny living room. I had to make due with what I had. I had one little basket that held a pair of 5lb and 10lb weights, two resistance bands, and workout videos. As time passed, I added more equipment little by little. I purchased a few more sets of weights, an aerobic step, and a yoga mat. Nothing fancy!
So what should you have to start working out at home? First and foremost, carve out a little space. It can be your bedroom, living room, garage, or even a basement. Then decide what type of workouts you want to do. I personally recommend a few hand weights in at least 2 different sized weights, a resistance band, and a floor mat if you have wood flooring to get started.
If you want a few additional items to further challenge yourself, I recommend a stability ball. Stability balls are a great and affordable option to add variety to your workouts. They are useful in so many different workouts.
Another great option is a bench. These can vary in cost quite a bit, but you can find very affordable ones that work great! My bench is from Target. Wal Mart has affordable benches too. They can be used for so many things like bench presses, step ups, core work outs, ect…..
One of my favorite workout “toys” is a Bosu Ball. I absolutely love using it for HIIT workouts, balance work, core work, and leg workouts. It is a pricey piece of equipment, but it’s worth the money for me. I bought both of mine ( yes, I have 2), when they were on sale at Target. I have had my first one for about 7 years now, and it still works great! I also love my portable barre. It is a more recent purchase for me, and I use it regularly.
There are so many options these days for working out at home. You can follow along with free workouts on YouTube or instagram, purchase workout videos, subscribe to fitness apps or digital platforms, get an online trainer, or create your own workouts. The options are endless! Whatever format you choose, create a schedule and stick with it. Don’t allow excuses to keep you from staying fit while you are in lockdown.
juliejonesfitness.com 