Some people like to go for runs, others like to go the gym, that’s all fine but what about those who like to work out in the comfort of their own home?
We’ve provided top 10 best ways to train at home (with a little help from the Muscle & Fitness magazine).
The first being…
10. Jump Rope
The best thing about this is that it’s incredibly cheap and works really well. It’s like, £3 for a jump rope? It’s not just for children on their school playground, this supposedly burns 742 calories per hour (for someone weighing 160 pounds).
For the best methods, start slowly by jumping for 30 seconds, then running in place for 30 seconds. Keep adding 15 seconds to your jump time until you can jump continuously for 10 minutes or even longer.
9. Take the stairs
Stairs are a great free way to train your legs. For best practice, run up the stairs and then walk down.
8. Use work-to-rest ratios
Use this to plan your training. For example, use a ratio of 1:1 on your treadmill on a Monday, one minute of sprinting to one minute of jogging. On Tuesday, up the jogging to 2 minutes so your ratio will be 1:2. The following day, return to 1:1, it’s a great way to mix things up and it helps to keep you motivated (which is one of the leading causes of failing to work out over a long period of time).
7. Become a video vixen
Workout videos are great for a number of reasons. 1 – it’s a pre built workout plan so you don’t have to make one yourself. 2 – they almost always work. 3 – they’re cheap, and even then you’ll be able to find some free ones if you’re low on money.
6. Use a heart rate monitor
For the most efficient home cardio workouts, use a heart rate monitor to make sure you’re training in the most appropriate target zones for your goals.
5. Circuit train
This just involves switching between work outs at a quick pace. So you’ll be jumping rope for example, then running up/down the stairs, then go on the treadmill etc.
4. Ride a bike
Although they aren’t cheap, stationary bikes are a great addition to any home. Riding a bike is a truly effective workout, if you’ve ever been to a gym you’ll always see the stationary bikes are busy.
3. Grow a garden
Bet you didn’t expect this to be on here. Growing a garden simply isn’t a method that is utilised enough. For one, you get to save money on your vegetables, a packet of tomato seeds costs a lot less than buying tomatoes from your supermarket. Gardening is also just a great way to exercise, all the standing, kneeling, walking, digging, weeding and watering can burn a reported 400 calories an hour.
2. Pump up the intensity
Music is great, it makes the time go by quicker, it’s entertaining and if you pick the right music (such as the Rocky Balboa theme) it can even be motivational. Make a mix of your favourite music and give it a try.
1. Get everyone in on the act
Sometimes our biggest deterrent to exercise is our family or friends. Try making activities a household affair, going hiking with your family or friends, having a game of football, going for a bike ride, the list is endless.
So there you have it, hopefully your get big quick endeavours have been boosted by this list. I want to thank Muscle & Fitness for most of this information as I’m still a blob.
List by Ryan
