Some of us can’t get enough of the gym, while others love getting a sweat on from the comfort of their living room. But, which one is best? Gym workout or home workouts? Which one of them stands on top?
Well, making one thing clear is that many people believe that going to the gym isn’t the only way to get yourself engaged in a great workout. Working at home can be just as effective, as it allows greater flexibility and can be more efficient than going to the gym.
It all comes down to how you use your time and resources to get the most out of your effort.
However, it would be best to choose the option that fits best for your lifestyle and exercise objectives. Here are some pros and cons of working out at home:
Pros
Great for those Short on time
The time-poor is the biggest fan of home workouts, and rightly so! Working out at home gives you the flexibility to squeeze in a session whenever is convenient for you. From a quick HIIT workout during your lunch break to an evening pilates session, well, home working out means that the busiest people can maintain a healthy lifestyle as well.
So, skip the traffic, stay at home, and work out!
Variety of Workout Options
Well, working out at home definitely gives you the edge of performing any exercise you want. You can use an app, watch a Livestream or video, and get going with your workout.
Great for those Set on Saving Money
Are you having trouble paying for the gym membership? Don’t worry if weights aren’t your thing; sit back and exercise at home.
There is no need for you to spend bucks on expensive equipment to get an efficient and effective workout.
Cons
It’s simple to make excuses at home
Well, before you start working out at home, you need to make sure that you are self-motivated because working out at home may tempt you to skip your workouts, or you might get distracted and cut them short.
Space can be an issue
Don’t have enough space at home for you to work out? Then working out at home for you can be a challenge.
You may be unaware of the proper form of various exercises
You know it! There aren’t going to be any trainers at home like there are at the gym. That means there is no one to guide you, and you could injure yourself, so you should stick with that exercise that you are already comfortable with. Don’t try to over-stress yourself on it.
Effective Workout at Home?
An effective workout doesn’t ask you a lot to do; it neither asks you to invest a prolonged period of time nor requires heavy lifting types of equipment; 10-minute intervals three times a day can be as effective as one 30-minute session.
You don’t need to get yourself into complicated equipment, either. If you live in a building consisting of multiple stories, walking up and down the stairs a few times will help you gain strength in your legs; moreover, it would also get your heart pumping, improving cardio activity.
The thing that matters is to get started; here are some ideas that you can implement to get on with it.
Find a sufficient place for a workout
This particular spot can be everywhere, even your bedroom. At a minimum, you just have to make arrangements to get space for a yoga mat to stretch your arms and legs in all directions without any disturbance.
Plan
You need to set yourself time and days to exercise, set the alarm or reminder on your smartphone to get notified. Team up with a family member or friend to get rid of the motivation struggle. Fitness tracking apps, videos can also help you get motivated to exercise.
Remember warming up
Cycling, walking, or jumping jacks are significant warming up techniques.
Mix up Cardio
Dance to your favorite songs, use jumping rope, take a jog, or walk outside doing aerobics. As long as your heart gets pumping up, it’s a great workout.
Using your body weight
For building muscle, bodyweight activities, when used correctly, can be very effective, just as weight lifting. By improving your workouts and increasing their intensity over time, you’ll make the most out of it. Keep this thing in mind:
- Try planks, lunges, squats, stair climbing, and pushups for great bodyweight exercises
- Increase the intensity of your bodyweight workouts by increasing the repetitions per workout
- To prevent injury. Ask a professional or watch tutorials to correct your form before trying new workouts.
However, the perfect aim you should be looking at is getting about 30 minutes of exercise during a day, which should be five days a week as recommended by Centres for disease control and prevention.
Conclusion
Going to the gym offers you fitness instructor guidance, but that doesn’t mean that home workout isn’t effective. As long as you are taking preventive measures, it’s OK! However, talk to your doctor before starting working out at home, particularly if you have an older injury or some medical condition.