Not Letting Poor Weather Compromise Your Fitness

When icy roads and bad weather conditions make it difficult, if not impossible, to make it to the gym many find themselves going stir crazy confined to their homes. For those with some form of home gym, working out at home is a breeze, but for others it presents a challenge. Here are some fun and creative ways to have an adequate workout session at home when you are unable to make it to the gym.

1. Free Weights Without Dumbbells

There are many items in your home you can use for weights when your trusty free weights from the gym are not convenient. One of the most popular items to use as a weight in your home are cans of vegetables, fruits, and soups, whatever! Full water bottles are also an ideal item to use as a weight. With these at home weights you can do bicep curls, lateral raises, any practically any other exercise you would do with free weights at your gym. If you are an addict to kettlebell workouts, try using a gallon jug filled with water to complete your usual kettlebell exercises. If these items are too light for your strength level, try adding additional repetitions to ensure you are getting a sufficient workout.

2. Using You

One of the most convenient tools you have available to you to accomplish a good workout is yourself. Using your own body weight for strength training is beneficial whether you are in the gym or at home. Some ideas for using your own body weight include squats, lunges, wall sits, pushups, crunches and planks!

3. Cardio Indoors

If you are lucky enough to have a treadmill or stationary bicycle at home, finding safe and effective aerobic exercise indoors isn’t an issue. For those without the luxury of at home gym equipment, try running in place, jumping jacks or burpees as cardio activities. Feeling more resourceful? Use a jump rope, or an old rope of adequate length, to jump rope. Try stair stepping, even if you do not have stairs in your home! A chair or a small stack of large books also work well for this activity.

4. Use Technology

Technology is an excellent source for workout ideas and information, especially if designing workouts on your own is not your forte. If you are looking for more direction during your workout, YouTube provides what seems like an unlimited amount of exercise videos focused on workouts you can easily preform in the comfort of your own home. Have a smart phone? Check out the numerous exercise focused apps.

Don’t let being cooped up indoors due to bad weather get you down. Instead of wasting away on your couch, get up and get moving!