Can you effectively workout at home?

Hello there! I am starting to explore working out at home but I feel like besides workout dvds I have no idea what I'm doing. I would love to hear all your advice and tips on working out at home. :)
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Replies

  • sabified
    sabified Posts: 1,035 Member
    I dunno if my inputs going to help because it's basically the modern upgrade of dvds.... fitness apps.

    I think you can definitely have an effective work out at home if you know what to do. So until that time, I'll stick with dvds and apps, though I am beginning to be able to remember the patterns and for some am able to do the workouts, or even sub in other moves which I feel would be better for me. I suppose once I have a good command of different moves and what part of my body they work out, I would be able to make up my own routines to keep my HR pumping and muscles going.
  • tuckeychicken
    tuckeychicken Posts: 167 Member
    Well if you have space and the money in addition to dvd's and app's get a piece of exercise equipment. My insurance re-imberces me $300 tward certain work out equiment. So I have a stationary bike and Jillian michaels total body gym or something like that. I use to have a tread mill. Also close the blinds turn on some music and dance for about 30 minutes or longer. What ever you chose best wishes to you hope you do well. :drinker:
  • DR2501
    DR2501 Posts: 661 Member
    Definitely. Buy some kettlebells and have at it!
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    Check out these resources
    Convict conditioning
    Nerd fitness
    Strength unbound
    Al Kavadlo
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Check out these resources
    Convict conditioning
    Nerd fitness
    Strength unbound
    Al Kavadlo

    +1

    I'm doing the Convict Conditioning program as we speak.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Yes you can....

    I lift heavy 3x a week do HIIT and circuts at my house...walk outside and bike.

    you would be surprised at how much room you don't need for a weigh lifting setup. You just need to be organized.

    I have a squat rack/half power rack in the room, a bench with attachments, plates with foam padding where i need it.

    Along with my pantry and 2 shelves full of my hobbies, a desk and a book shef, a coat rack and my wine fridge all in one room and it's a 10x14 in size.
  • Kristen_nicole95
    Kristen_nicole95 Posts: 112 Member
    I am just starting out my journey, and i am saving my money for school so i can afford a gym membership. I don't know if it'll work yet but i am going to be doing activities that i enjoy doing. Kayaking, walking, biking, roller skating, and so on so forth. I am just going to be really good with my eatings. I guess the best advice i could give is do something you love!
  • laineybz
    laineybz Posts: 704 Member
    When i first began, i used my wii fit ALOT. Then i bought rather cheaply, an exercise bike and went halves on a cross trainer. Started incorporating my DVDs and began walking and occasionally swimming. I've recently purchased a few dumbells and kettlebell etc. I haven't been to a gym once throughout my journey.
  • sunship
    sunship Posts: 59 Member
    I only workout at home -- travel time can't be beat, and you can wear what you want -- :)
  • starrylioness
    starrylioness Posts: 543 Member
    I only work out at home and I've seen great results. I walk, do workout DVDs (love Jillian Michaels and Zumba) and also do Yoga.
  • sassyjae21
    sassyjae21 Posts: 1,217 Member
    Yea! I have a gym membership but it's honestly too big of a pain to get there when I have a dog about to pee himself when I'm gone at work all day. So I work out at home during the week and sometimes go to the gym on weekends. I do a to of ftiness dvds because I need to be on a program or i'll just jump around like an idiot doing nothing. You might try zumba on xbox or wii, michael jackson: the experience on the wii, youtube, fitness blender, there are a ton of great things you can do. you can also get you a treadmill, a weight bench, or whatever, if you have the money. I have neither of those things. Yet. But I do a ton of circuit and resistance training.
  • maradanielle
    maradanielle Posts: 47 Member
    Hello! When I first started on this journey I walked two miles and did many different work out video's at home and lost about 75 lbs... so I say you can effectively work out at home... I don't have anything other than hand weights, dvd's (zumba, jillian Michaels 30 day shred, biggest loser yoga, and jillian Michael's kick box kick fast... I also see what the library has every once in a while) I like to have a variety cause I get bored easily :)
  • itsjustmish
    itsjustmish Posts: 107 Member
    I was a member of a gym for years before a change in finances meant I could no longer afford it, and I stopped going a year ago.

    Since then I've been doing Jillian Michaels DVD's, You Are Your Own Gym, and a fair emount of walking. I am definitely in much better shape now than I ever was going to the gym. So yes, you can definitely get great results working out at home! :)
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    I'm a college student - working on my MBA. So I have access to a pretty good campus fitness center. Not free, but paid for in my student fees! Anyhow, its not convenient for me to use it. Its 14 miles from home. Time there & back is time better spent doing other things as I also have a day job, a 2nd job and kids/husband/home to deal with.

    I have a treadmill at home. Also a Gold's Gym weight station/apparatus - which I need to start using again. Some 5-8 pound weights, resistance bands and a few other things. Mostly my cardio is treadmill, mini-trampoline, or walking outside. I don't do enough with strength training - that's my worst area - but I can't see where using the campus fitness center would automatically fix that. I need to make it more of a priority, and form/keep a regular routine. Where isn't important.

    I'm not big on videos - but that's just me.
  • shireeniebeanie
    shireeniebeanie Posts: 293 Member
    Yes you can....

    I lift heavy 3x a week do HIIT and circuts at my house...walk outside and bike.

    you would be surprised at how much room you don't need for a weigh lifting setup. You just need to be organized.

    I have a squat rack/half power rack in the room, a bench with attachments, plates with foam padding where i need it.

    Along with my pantry and 2 shelves full of my hobbies, a desk and a book shef, a coat rack and my wine fridge all in one room and it's a 10x14 in size.

    I've been meaning to ask what equipment I should start with! Can you post a pic of your setup?
  • P90XBowler
    P90XBowler Posts: 152 Member
    Absolutely

    Cardio stuff, try Insanity
    Wanna be a juice monkey, check out Body Beast
    A bit of everything? P90X has you covered!
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    Check out these resources
    Convict conditioning
    Nerd fitness
    Strength unbound
    Al Kavadlo

    +1

    I'm doing the Convict Conditioning program as we speak.

    This. Also check out 'you are your own gym.'
  • staceypunk
    staceypunk Posts: 924 Member
    Yes!

    I have two small kids so I have to do everything at home. I do all Jillian Micheals stuff.
  • bethanytapp
    bethanytapp Posts: 79 Member
    I've lost all my weight at home...walking, jogging, biking and doing the '30 day shred' dvd.
    I was just thinking that I need more strengthening exercises, so I'm looking at buying weights of some sort.
  • mami3oh
    mami3oh Posts: 105
    I have three children, attend school part time and work full time, which = NO time to go to the gym. I do a lot of pilates/yoga, walk (a lot) and jump on the trampoline with my children (it is hard work!).

    I have been able to get pretty fit by doing these simple routines, along with healthy food options. I do want to add more to my routine soon though (not sure what exactly).
  • FoxyLifter
    FoxyLifter Posts: 965 Member
    I only workout at home -- travel time can't be beat, and you can wear what you want -- :)

    Uh oh. Do we have a nekkid exerciser over here?? :wink:

    Anyway, I love the apps 7 minute workout and You Are Your Own Gym. I find it hard to get the motivation to workout at home, but the more I verbalize it with my partner, the more likely he will find something do to or somewhere to go while I focus and workout as quickly as possible. There are a lot of tools out there. Once you find a pattern (for example 3 exercises, 10 reps of each per round, minute break in between rounds, do 10 rounds) you can switch out the exercises to whatever you feel like doing. I also do Deck of Cards: assign an exercise to each suit, aces are 11 reps, face cards are 10 reps, split into 4 piles so you can space out your breaks, and turn on some good music.
  • jdhcm2006
    jdhcm2006 Posts: 2,254 Member
    I've only ever worked out at home. Right now I'm doing P90X3 bc it takes all the guess work out and Beachbody is effective (nope, not a coach. And don't want to be one, and I'm not looking for one -- sorry about that). I've completed T25 & Insanity and lost 20 pounds - if I cut some of the snacks and things I eat, it would have been more. I've also done Wii Fit before, and the Wii had a Biggest Loser game, that was awesome. I sometimes do Ballet Beautiful.

    I refuse to pay a monthly membership to something I know I won't go to. My life is too hectic to even think about going to a gym. I've gotten all of my Beachbody stuff from ebay or for free from friends. Working out does not need to cost an arm and a leg.

    I'm a lot stronger than I used to be. I can do at least 10 push ups in a row and I got there without a personal coach. And one day I know I'll be able to do pull-ups. Once I can get a pull-up bar, I'll work towards being able to do multiple ones in a row.

    It really comes down to holding yourself accountable and having a plan and sticking to it.
  • mizztanjo
    mizztanjo Posts: 153 Member
    I have been working out at home for years! I prefer it over the gym. I've done all kinds of stuff like Tae Bo, Carmen Electra, Jillian Michaels, Pilates, Insanity, P90X, Les Mills Combat, Insanity, Focus T25, and now PiYo. I love them all and have seen GREAT results. :)
  • Gunddy
    Gunddy Posts: 1
    I am new here and this caught my eye. I have NEVER EVER thought I would work out at home. Just did not think I had the motivation and would be interested in following a DVD. I started by ordering 21 Day Fix DVD and containers only (Not Shakeology) and challenged myself. I LOVE IT. These were 30 min or so work outs, working multiple body parts and they went by so fast. You have favorites and not so favorite DVD days, but feel great after you do the ones you hate and actually look forward to the ones you love! After trying 21 days for one session. I was bored of those DVD's and order ChaLean Extreme!!! WOW! I CAN NOT BELIEVE i have now worked out 5 days a week for a month. I am on the Burn Phase. You need weights for this program or resistance bands (winners). But let me tell you, she is like having a personal trainer. Better than gym as they don't check your form enough and she talks to you the whole way through. I never really sweat when working out and I AM DRENCHED with this program. I am now ending my gym membership and going to keep buying different DVD's as they are so convenient. You work out at home, jump in your own shower and DONE!!! I have so much more energy for my three boys and just feel so much better (mentally over all).
    Well that's my two cents ;)
    :wink:
  • w2bab
    w2bab Posts: 353 Member
    I love, love, LOVE our elliptical. Probably the best $300 we ever spent. We added a recumbent stationary bike a few months later. My husband and I each lost 100 lbs last year with these two pieces of equipment (plus a couple of sets of dumbbells). Now I run outside sometimes, and he has been biking for the past few weeks. You absolutely can get an effective workout at home.
  • jillian_fan2425
    jillian_fan2425 Posts: 167 Member
    I do only JM DVDs (well, I also do a lot of walking at work and around town, but that's part of my activity level, not "deliberate" exercise). Seems to be working okay so far as well as weight loss, and I also feel stronger and have seen fitness improvements, like being able to go from a "girl" push-up to a "guy" version and having longer plank times.
  • PennyVonDread
    PennyVonDread Posts: 432 Member
    I workout at home often. Yoga, stretching, choreography and dance technique practice, calisthenics. I usually run a few miles to warm up before stretching or yoga. I don't use DVDs or anything, but as long as I work up a sweat I consider it a workout.
  • I can effectively workout at home. I have my own squat rack, bench, and olympic bar and plates and a couple of bumper plates. I have everything I need. And for cardio, I just go outside and run for a while. It helps to have a room dedicated to exercising. But going that route was costly. I spent close to $1300 on everything including the mats I bought from Tractor Supply I can say that they are really good at protecting your floor. The one's I bought are 6'x4' and 3/4" thick.
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  • erinelissa91
    erinelissa91 Posts: 63 Member
    I havent stepped foot in a gym since the beginning of my weight loss journey. I think it takes more motivation and self discipline but it can certainly be done and be effective. I use FitnessBlender.com for HIIT And other various workouts and then I lift weights that i bought at a yard sale for cheap. My spare bedroom has become a home gym kind of and I feel so comfortable and relaxed at home.