Working out at home isn't for everyone. While it's convenient to be able to workout whenever you want, it also takes a certain amount of self-discipline to workout with so many distractions. At the gym, you don't have much of a choice (unless you're doing what my husband calls the Gentleman's Workout - sitting in a hot tub before showering, shaving and going off to work).
We know that losing weight and maintaining that weight loss involves predictable things like exercise and healthy eating, but having the right home environment helps as well. One study published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine found that people who maintain weight loss usually have exercise equipment at home and fewer televisions around.
While this isn't all that surprising, it's interesting to think about how your home environment can contribute to your success. I'm curious about you. Do you workout at home and, if so, does having exercise equipment available all the time make it easier? Do you exercise more? If you're a gym-goer, would you enjoy having exercise equipment at home as well? Vote in this week's poll and tell us about your home exercise equipment and how you use it.
More Resources for Working Out at Home
- Basic Home Gym Equipment
- My Favorite Home Gym Gear
- What's Your Favorite Home Fitness Equipment?
- Getting Fit at Home
- Workouts You Can do at Home
Source:
Phelan S, Liu T, Gorin A, Lowe M, et al.What Distinguishes Weight-Loss Maintainers from the Treatment-Seeking Obese? Analysis of Environmental, Behavioral, and Psychosocial Variables in Diverse Populations. Ann Behav Med. 2009 Oct 22.
I have a set of dumbbells from 10lbs to 35lbs, a step, a weighted bar, a pull up bar and a bench. I also have a tv and dvd player for the days I feel like doing a workout video. I find that if I get up at 4:00am and get into my gym before I get ready for work I have fewer distractions than later in the day. Sidewalks are great, also. This morning I ran 4 miles to the grocery store and back before hitting the weights. It’s so much cheaper to work out at home than to pay a gym membership…especially in this economy when every penny counts!
Wow – I can only dream about 4am. I get up at 4:45 and I have a wide selection of equipment: treadmill, punching bag, weights, benches, and a pretty awesome Marcy Platinum home gym. The one thing I don’t have is the tv/dvd but that’s a must really because if I try to do an exercise dvd in the house, inevitably a child interrupts or the phone rings. This is all based out in what used to be our garage. In the summer it’s super hot (south central Texas!) but right now it’s just the right temperature to hit the equipment for an hour or so before getting ready for work. I can even work out in the evenings now that it’s getting cooler then too. This equipment has cost money over time, but we have always purchased good quality equipment, as and when we could afford it, and it has lasted well, and has saved us a lot of money on gym memberships. We have also seen our eldest teen start to use it, and our younger teen also show an interest. This way we can keep them encouraged because they have everything right in the home!
I prefer maintaining a gym membership as they have a wide assortment of modern equipment that I can’t personally afford to purchase and would never fit in my house. Also, working out at the gym exposes me to other people exercising, which I find motivating and informative.
I have a Swiss Ball and dumbbells (10,15,20 lbs.). It’s very simple but works for me. My apartment community has a fitness center if I want to use more sophisticated equipment.
A good workout is what you make of it, whether at home or in the gym.
I have a full set of pro-style dumbbells from 5# to 75#, a commercial stairmaster (my favorite), a commercial treadmill with TV/DVD/MP3 inputs, a set of medicine balls, stability balls, bands, a step, a set of plyo boxes, a TRX with wall mount that I can also use for pull-ups and hanging leg-raises (another fave), and an inversion table. I converted my formal living area to a studio with full wall mirrors, a wall-mount panel TV and fans. It has been well worth the investment!
I hated going to the gym, being gawked at by the guys and watching the rich, bored housewives strut around the gym with their fake boobs and full makeup and never breaking a sweat, and waiting for machines just to sit in someone else’s sweat! Gross!
My wife and I are using our room addition as our TV and workout facility. The advantages are:
1. Friendly environment, pause for phone/water anytime. If I get a phone call, I will answer the phone, and ask to return the call after the workout.
2. Dedicated equipment, ie, elliptical machine, treadmill, dumbbells, heart rate monitor.
3. Spouse functions as supporting partner.
4. With all the patio doors and windows open, a feeling of the outdoors during workouts.
A pair of well worn-in running shoes.
Home Pilates
i have the basics. dumbbells from 3-30lbs,2 barbells with up to 300lbs in weight plates, 6 resistance tubes of various lengths and strengths,2 resistance bands,5 medicine balls from 2-12lbs,4 kettlebells(15,20,25,30),pilates ring,high step,club step,perfect push up,balance board,2 sets of weight gloves for cardio,gliding discs,2 different size stability balls, about 50 books of all types of exercises(pilates to weight training) and over 200 dvd titles. i mix it up greatly with dance,kickbox,weights, and i work out at the gym using treadmill,pull up machine, and elliptical trainer.
I have dumbbells 3-60 lbs., bench w/leg attachment, Swiss ball, resistance bands, ankle weights, and a yoga mat. I use everything regularly except for the resistance bands. My next purchase will probably be an exercise bike. Happily, I also need some heavier dumbbells. My gym is a room in our finished basement, so it’s climate-controlled and comfortable, yet off the beaten path. I am down there every morning at 5:30, usually till 7:30. It is much easier to drag my sleepy butt down the stairs than to an outside gym.
I have lots of things that I’ve collected over the years in my home gym, 95% of which I don’t use. However, kettlebells, my newest addition last year are still in use – longer than anything else as I use them for High Intensity Intervals for 15-20 quick workouts. They’re quick and easy and a great way to get in an awesome workout without even leaving the house.
I try to use simple systems like ismetrics, hindu squats, hindu pushups, plank, head raises, bicycles, running on the spot, steps with weights, side steps with weights, and free weights plus walking whne the mood arises — usually after lunch.
I have a treadmill at home. I have found that the best way to use it is to go for walks on it whenever I have a few minutes of quiet. This is especially helpful with children at home. I can walk without leaving home and add those minutes of exercise up so that, by the end of the day, I have had a workout.
After being a member at a fitness club for 15 years, I am now disciplined enough to carry on the regimen at home when the club ceased operation. Mon – Pilates, Tue – aerobics/kickboxing, Wed -yoga, Thu – aerobics/dancing , Fri – Pilates. I use a set of 2 lb dumb bells for my aerobics/dancing exercises. Instead of vegetating on the sofa, I walk around the spacious living room for 1/2 hr, using the dumb bells occasionally. Be passionate about what you are doing, and you will find bliss and health simultaneously. It’s free too – no membership fee or expensive equipment!
My home exercise gym consists of basic things such as: jump rope, hula hoop, 5lbs hand dumbells & aerobic step. Also, I try to run at least twice a week. When I’m at work, I use my two 15 min breaks to walk and sometimes use my lunch hour to eat 30 minutes then walk for other 30 minutes. On weekends, I try to ulitize something from my home gym, if I don’t then I either walk, run or dance for some form of exercise.
I walk every morning with my dog. Then I do something….even if it’s only 5 min. I have books on Pilates, weight routines and exercise ball routines. I use free weights 2-10 lbs as needed. I also have dvd’s: Jillian Michaels, Pilates and yoga. With all the variety, I am always interested and keep it up. Fortunately I am retired and don’t have to get up at 4:00am to do it or I never would.