Whether you want to lose weight or build muscles, the gym might seem to be the ideal solution. But, while working out at the gym works for most folks, it isn’t the only approach to better health. And not everyone finds it convenient or cost-efficient.
Here are alternatives to attaining a fit body without a gym membership.
1. Take Advantage of the Empty Time Gaps While at Home
We all have natural time gaps between the time we wake up to the time to we retire back to bed. When waiting for a kettle to boil, for example, you can try mountain climbers or a number of push-ups.
You can also workout from the sofa when watching your favorite show. So, the next time you want to catch up on Narcos, you can pop a couple of squats: sit down and rise up again.
2. Walk When Possible
Walking is an underrated exercise. Many think that a good exercise must be intense and vigorous, but that shouldn’t always be the case.
Walking is easy that many people don’t regard it as an exercise, but it is. Walking the recommended 10,000 steps a day is great, but not ideal for everyone. It depends on your lifestyle; for example, those who would like to shed off extra pounds need to walk a little bit more than everyone else. Generally, you need to walk 2,000 more steps than your daily average.
Walking can benefit you in the following ways:
- It helps to lower hypertension and reduces the risks for stroke and heart attack. Walking daily reduces bad cholesterol (LDL) while increasing good cholesterol (HDL).
- Improves sleep
- Increases your endurance and balance
- Improves your mood and fights depression effects
- Improves blood flow in the brain, thus reducing the likelihood of mental disease
3. Use YouTube Videos to Improve Your Home Workouts
Create some space for home workouts, such as planks, squats, push-ups, crunches, and lunges. Most of these workouts require a space of between 5 to 10 feet in the family room, living room, bedroom, or backyard.
Check out YouTube channels for fitness gurus and go with a few that interests you. You don’t have to start with the most intense workouts, but you can vary them over time to stick by your fitness routine.
4. Go for a Run
Running is one of the exercises that burns the highest number of calories. To change from the monotonous treadmill workout, or a run across the same neighborhood all the time, why not run around the track? In most places, you’ll find at least one track, whether it’s a youth recreational zone or a school. For great results, go for a run before meals, early in the morning, or after your weight training.
5. Make Dietary Changes
Other than working out, diet plays an essential role in fitness. So, all the exercise efforts won’t pay off if you don’t embrace healthy eating habits. Thus, you should try to reduce processed foods, sugars, and fatty foods. On the other hand, eat proteins along with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Even without a gym membership, you can adopt other creative ways to remain fit. Start implementing the above tips to stay in shape and save gym money as well.
