How To Make The Most Out Of Your Home Workout

GUEST POST | Hey lovelies, today I have a guest post from the lovely Lauren Hollie, I hope y’all enjoy the post and check her Youtube, Instagram and Twitter out!

Whether you’re not ready to go back to the gym yet, or you just prefer working out in the comfort of your own home, I’m going to give you my best tips on how to make the most out of your home workout. Home workouts can be super effective, much more than people think. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need access to a squat rack and heavy dumbbells to see an improvement in your fitness – in more ways than one.

Benefits of home workouts:

• It can be more comfortable as no one else can see you, there’s no judgement in your own home!
• More time effective – no time wasted travelling to and from the gym or waiting for equipment to become free
• Plenty of variety – trainers are always making up new bodyweight moves so even if you don’t have any equipment at home, there’s still plenty to choose from.
• Utilise on demand services – there are more and more of these popping up nowadays, and again there’s something for everyone, no matter what your preferences are. I am getting involved with studiofromhome.com which is going to have a wide range of classes that you can do at home, from Yoga, to HIIT and dance classes
• No pressure to wear cute matching gym sets – even do it in your pyjamas!

These are just some of the benefits of working out at home! I never used to be a fan of home workouts, I would feel unmotivated and like no one would notice if I just watched another hour of Netflix instead. However, lockdown completely changed my mindset and made me realise it is definitely a mind over matter thing. Home workouts can be great if you want to build up your confidence and fitness levels before entering a gym, or can replace them completely – the last few months have taught me that you don’t need to lift heavy weights or be on a cross trainer to stay in shape!

Here are some of my tips to make the most of your home workout:

Have a dedicated workout space

This one made a huge difference for me, and I think one of the main reasons I like going to the gym is because it separates it from everything else. However, you can also create your own ‘gym space’ at home. Do it in the same place every time, move furniture to the side if you need to and roll out a mat, ensuring that you have enough space around you. If you have a garden or outdoor space, definitely utilise that!

Set a workout schedule

It doesn’t have to be the same time every day or even the same days each week, but it definitely helps to plan your workouts at the start of the week. Write it in your diary as if it’s an appointment and make it a priority – there has to be a really good reason for you to cancel your workout (like injury or illness). Find the time that works best for you and when you feel like you can perform at your best – if you’re not a morning person then there’s no point forcing yourself to get up at 6am to do a HIIT workout.

Put on workout clothes

I know I said earlier you could do it in your pyjamas and no one is going to stop you from doing that, however, I find that changing into workout clothes helps me get into the mentality of doing a workout. It also makes me feel more confident.

Find a workout you actually enjoy

This might sound obvious but there’s absolutely no point in forcing yourself to do a 45 minute HIIT routine if you spend the majority of it wanting to die (not to be dramatic or anything). There are so many different types of workouts out there, if you genuinely hate exercising then you probably just haven’t found the right one for you yet! You can get just as much benefit out of something more holistic such as Yoga and Pilates, that doesn’t require you to feel like you might pass out like you might in an Insanity class, for example. If you’re not up for investing in workouts yet, there’s also plenty of choice on YouTube, my favourites are: Blogilates, Zanna Van Dijk and Yoga With Adrienne. Once you’ve got some experience behind you, you can start to make up your own too!

Workout with a friend

During lockdown I did a few workouts on a video call with a friend, this is a great way to motivate each other and get more out of your home workout. You could design the workout together, or take it in turns to put each other through your paces. Alternatively you could go to a park to workout together or do it in one of your gardens!

Invest in some equipment

This is absolutely optional as I do believe you can have a great workout without any equipment at all. If you’re going to get anything, invest in a good quality mat, it will make your workouts much more comfortable – no more carpet burn or sliding around on laminate floors! Next I’d suggest getting some resistance bands, either the loop kind or the long kind, you can do lots of things with both and they’re guaranteed to level up your workouts. If you’re looking to build muscle at home, I’d recommend getting a couple of Kettlebells in different weights, they can be super effective and give you a full body workout that strengthens your cardiovascular fitness levels as well as muscular strength and endurance.

It’s also worth mentioning that you can utilise things that you already have in your home to level up your home workouts. Cans of beans, water bottles or bags of rice can make good hand weights, chairs can be used for step ups and hip thrusts and towels can be used as sliders. And I’m sure you’ve all seen the toilet roll workouts that did the rounds on social media back in March – the possibilities are endless!

Invest in a coach or personal trainer

If you’re a bit stuck for inspiration or need extra motivation to get the workout done, you can get yourself a personal trainer or coach without ever setting foot in a gym these days. Lots of trainers now offer these services online which will definitely give your home workouts a bit of a lift and really show you what can be done.

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