
Keeping fit at home
6 tips to keep fit at home.
Last updated: 24/02/2021
If you want to stay fit, then paying for a gym membership isn’t your only option. In fact, it can be cheaper and easier just to get your regular exercise in without even leaving the comfort of your own home.
We’ve worked with fitness expert behind MJFitness to bring you the top tips to making sure you remain active at home. That way you can stay fit and save money at the same time.
First, you need a plan. If you go into a home workout with no set routine, you might not find the motivation to finish, so create a step-by-step workout plan before you start. If you're not sure how to get started then try out the five key types of movements towards the end of this article.
Not everyone will have a dedicated space in their house for exercise, but this doesn’t mean you can’t still work out at home. Choose any room of the house with a little bit of floor space, and clear all items out of the way to make your own space. When the weather is nice, you might even choose to use your garden.
By choosing to workout at the same time each day, you’ll find it becomes a part of your daily routine and feel less like a chore.
Try to set yourself realistic and achievable goals each week or month. Your goals should be personalised to you, and tailored to the exercises you complete.
You could set yourself a goal to work out five times a week, to hit a new personal best, or even to lose a few millimeters off your waistline.
You’ll struggle to find the motivation to work out if you don’t enjoy it.
On the other hand, if you find a fun exercise routine then it will feel less like a burden and might even turn into something you look forward to. YouTube has a whole host of workout videos to follow, from core exercises, to high intensity interval training (HIIT), to dance fitness.
You don’t need to invest in expensive exercise equipment such as weights and kettlebells to stay fit at home. There are loads of exercises you can do without any equipment at all.
Or you can get creative with household items. For example, you could use dining room chairs for lunges, steps for step ups, or sofas for triceps dips or push-ups.
Movements and exercises to get you started
Following these tips will keep you motivated and active. But if you’re unsure of where to start, then MJFitness recommends you include five key movements in your home workout, to make sure you’re using all of your key muscle groups.
- A squat, with or without weights.
- A hinge movement, such as a deadlift.
- A pulling movement, like a seated row. If you don’t have weights available at home for this move, then improvise by using heavy tins or filling large bottles with water.
- A push movement, such as push-ups or shoulder presses.
- Finally, a lunging movement. Give your workouts a bit of variety by alternating between walking lunges and side lunges.
Head to the Principality Building Society social pages to see these movements in action. Remember to stretch and warm up before carrying out any exercise and build your workouts up slowly to make sure you’re only completing movements you are capable of.
And remember
Following these tips will keep you motivated and active, as well as help you save some money on a gym membership. For other ways you can keep saving when you’re in your new home, read our helpful guide.
Click on the sections below to explore what you need to know at each stage of your home buying journey: