If you create a gym at home there are definite benefits.  On the plus side of working out at home, it is more affordable, you have privacy and you can stick to a routine more easily.  Initially the cash outlay for buying the equipment will dent your bank balance but in the long run you do save tons of money.  On the down side you wont have a professional on hand to show you how to use the equipment or to drive and motivate you and you stand the chance of injuring yourself by overdoing it or just doing it wrong.  Click here for help and advice on starting a home gym.  Pinkfridge will give you handy information about buying equipment, what type of equipment to consider and advice on things like overall fitness.

Here are my tips according to my personal experience:

1. Don’t work out too hard or too fast.  You will end up in pain with no immediate gain. Better to do 3 times a week for a life time than to work out 6 days a week for a few weeks every now and again.  Consistency is the key!

2. Actually place your workout time on your calender/diary just like you would an important meeting. This way you can fit your fitness routine around your work, family and social life.  Make it part of your lifestyle.  Remember a short workout on a regular basis is better than none at all.

3. Try to workout in the morning.  Exercise produces feel good hormones.  It will leave you feeling energised with a more positive, proactive attitude to the day.

4. Give yourself some time to achieve your goals.  Rome was not built in a day.  If you miss your workout for a week due to other commitments, that’s OK.  Just get back on track ASAP and keep working consistently.  Remember fitness is not about being perfect, its about a healthy life style and long term benefits. 

5. Get rid of your bathroom scale!  As you progress with your fitness regime, you will drop inches and dress sizes rather than weight.  The scale cannot tell the difference between weight and muscle mass. Your body will become more toned (which the scale cant see) and your clothes will start to fit better.  You will feel good about yourself because you know you are working on it. I don’t even own a scale!

5.  Keep a fitness journal, to mark your progress.  You can do this mentally if you like but writing it down gives you the opportunity to see the progress as well as feel it.

6.  Check your progress about every two months.  You should increase the intensity of your workouts slowly.  This will ensure that you don’t get bored and don’t put yourself through too much strain to soon.

7.  Be flexible.  Change your program every now and again so that you stay stimulated.  How often you change it is up to you.  I find that if I work one muscle group today, I prefer to work another muscle group on my next workout.  Sometimes I just feel like sticking to the same program for a while so that I don’t have to think. Don’t allow boredom to set in and don’t worry about it if you prefer to do the same thing over and over.    Try yoga or Pilate’s or just do a quick brisk 30 minute walk for a change. Work with your moods in a positive proactive way.

8. If you don’t feel like working out , just try doing something for about 15 minutes.  Doing a little is better than nothing and at least you don’t mess with your routine.  Very often you will find that you are happy to complete your program once you have started.  If you don’t, relax, you have done something which is better than nothing.

Good luck!

By Angela