Hey there!
I know I need to start incorporating some resistance/weight training into my fitness routine. My lifestyle and schedule currently does not leave time to go to a gym so what sugggestions do you have for a total newbie for home workouts? Is there an online program I can follow that comes recommended? Equipment you’ve found helpful?
Any advice would be helpful😊
Replies
Some dumbbells and/or kettlebells or resistance bands are all you need to start resistance training at home.
Some ideas to get started
If you do pushups, goblet squats, planks, bridges - that's a very good start. Maybe add in some light overhead presses and rows and you'd be working 90% of what you need to work.
Like Steve mentioned, I love Kettlebells too. Very versatile. But watch YouTube and get the form down on swings first.
SPRI, and a few others, now make a really nifty handle for their resistance bands that can be quickly changed to a different band. I like their bands, too, because no metal grommet, which can be very dangerous if the band breaks.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1
Body weight workouts can be fantastic, require no equipment and usually not much room, while a pair of dumbells or set of kettle bells can offer plenty of variety. Your choice given your goals of course.
And don't be shy with questions. Lots of knowledgeable lifter here, women and men. Best of luck
This.
I wasted a lot of time just bouncing around from random fitness videos or doing unfocused, random lifting exercises and I now regret all that time I could have been spending in a more efficient and productive way.
Following an existing program is the best way to maximize your strength gains and will have rests and deloads written in.
If you're just getting started, I'd recommend looking at the bodyweight training to start. My personal favorite from that list is nerdfitness.
https://hasfit.com/
I had to drop my expensive gym membership and I've been working out with Hasfit videos about a month. They provide videos for all levels and many of the videos have the husband doing the more intermediate moves and the wife doing modified moves. And they have workouts from 5 minutes to about 50 minutes with a lot of workouts around 20 - 30 minutes.
@CaffeinatedConfectionist - I only wish I could reclaim the wasted time
Ditto!
There are much higher intensity workouts on there too. Also yoga and other things.
For weight...I started with 8, 10 and 12 lb weights. That sounds small, but my arms especially weren't strong. Now I have 15, 20, 25 and 30 lbs. Also - be patient!
I mean, true. I get better results when I follow Starting Strength than I do following youtube vids. It's also a matter of commitment. The best routine is the one you can stick with. I am more likely to do 1-2 youtube bodyweight exercises a week and some weighted squats in the morning than I am to stick with a full blown program. Am I making way less progress? Oh yeah. But I'm in a cut, so lifting already makes me so hungry. I'd rather do a little instead of nothing.