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Do you need a gym? How to get fit at home

If you want to get fit and healthy, you might get yourself down to the gym and sign up for a membership, along with the other 9.7 million people in the UK who have one. But, surprise surprise, having a membership doesn’t always mean you’ll use it! There’s lots of things you can do at home to get fit. We take a look at how to get fit at home vs at the gym.

What exercises are there?

Getting fit comes in a vast variety of different exercises, so it’s easy to see how a gym isn’t the only way to stay active. There are exercises that take place in a wide range of environments, all using different pieces of equipment. This can include outdoor cardiovascular exercise such as walking, jogging, or maybe even a bike ride. It can also include resistance training, either at home or in a small space outdoors. So you don’t need fancy gym equipment or a special ‘workout’ area, use the space you have, and body weight exercises are some of the best you can do

When you’re short on time and want fast results, HIIT – or high intensity interval training – has been shown to be effective – it’s a fitness craze that’s super convenient and gets great results. And it can be done anywhere, even at home! It’s a specific way of exercising, using your favourite type of exercise like dancing or swimming and pushing your body to its limits in a very short period of time and then resting for longer. Read our article on why HIIT is so effective and learn how to do it at home

How to get fit at home

Watch fitness tutorials

Nowadays, there’s plenty of online coaching programmes and apps designed to direct you through these exercises. There’s never been more availability to do so, especially if you hate running! A quick Google search will come up with thousands of free resources such as videos, fitness guides and helpful recommendations to get you started.

Get a helping hand

If you like the communal aspect of a gym, but don’t think you’d get the most out of the monthly membership fee, there are other options where you don’t have to go solo with your exercise routine. For example, how about a monthly boot camp or weekly class? If you want a personal trainer on hand, find one which has their own studio or that does on-site/home visits. 

Doing these exercises with a friend or in small groups rather than one-to-one training can keep costs down when it comes to getting a personal trainer, and often buying in bulk you can get discounts – just make sure you use them to get the most value!

Build your own gym

Wait. What? Yes, you heard that right – why not set up your own gym so you can get fit at home. You don’t have to go over-the-top with a complete room dedicated to working out (unless you want to!). You could simply buy one piece of equipment such as an exercise bike, treadmill, weights or bench press. That way, you can just do all your exercise from the comfort of your own home. If you’re self-conscious, no one has to even see you sweat and you can wear whatever you feel most comfortable in.

Why join a gym?

On the other hand, there’s certainly some benefits to being a member of a gym (that’s why those 9.7 million people go to one). 

  • Gyms/health clubs house a lot of equipment in one place, making it easy for you to have access to all kinds of exercise one after the next. This includes cardiovascular machines, free weights, resistance machines, functional equipment and safe space and flooring to complete all of these exercises and more. 

  • A lot of clubs also have swimming pools which offer another type of exercise. The accompanying spa facilities often include a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi. All this can be great for relaxing the body after a tough workout. 

  • Gyms run regular group exercise programmes. These classes provide a fantastic environment in which everyone is there for roughly the same reason. This creates a small community and helps people to stay motivated.

So, to answer the question. No, you don’t need a gym if you want to change anything about your health and wellbeing, but the professionals and facilities they have available could make it a lot easier for you to stay motivated and eventually succeed.

Which exercise is best for you?

It’s not hard to see that there are a ton of exciting and challenging workouts available to you. Choosing the right one is what’s tricky… A DNA Fitness Test can help save you time and improve your efficiency by determining the best exercise that suits your unique genetics. 

http://www.leisuredb.com/blog/2017/5/5/2017-state-of-the-uk-fitness-industry-report-out-now

Evergreen Life

Evergreen Life

Founded in 2014, Evergreen Life has grown from being a personal health record that put control in the hands of the user, to a nationwide health and wellbeing platform that spans primary and secondary care, as well as being a research ready platform for healthcare and life sciences institutions.

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