Columbus travelled the world in a sailboat but you can’t get to gym?
Hmmm excuses, excuses…
Many of you readers send me emails complaining about not having enough time to hit the gym; after reading this you will not have any more excuses.
If you are among those who say your schedule is ‘too packed’, keep reading. No gym? No problem. Here are some tips to get fit without the gym.
Commit to a schedule
The beauty of working out at home is you also get to do it in your own time. You even save a few minutes of travelling to the gym and having to wait for a machine. However, you also have to factor in how easy it is to be complacent about your fitness when your kitchen and couch are just a few steps away.
Commit to a schedule so that you don’t have the opportunity to say, ‘I’ll do it later.’ Just as you have to do chores, make sure your daily exercises are just as important. It doesn’t have to take too long either. There are quick workouts you can do in as little as 10 minutes, so there’s plenty of time to do other things as well.
Incorporate your daily activities into your workouts
Pressed for time? No problem. Just because you’re doing chores doesn’t mean you can’t fit in a workout at the same time. For example, take your daily walk with your dog or parrot (my dad takes his parrot for walks on his shoulder). Instead of a leisurely pace, make it a few intervals of sprinting alternated with a light jog. This will get your heart rate up and boost your metabolic rate at the same time.
Another example is washing your own car instead of going to a car wash. While convenient, a car wash is just another place where you will be forced to be idle. So doing it yourself will save you time and money, and you will burn calories in the process — win-win.
Head to the park/seawall for a change of scenery
The park and seawall are great for relaxing with friends and family. But did you know they are both also excellent environments for getting a workout in? Take a brisk walk or jog around the park. Or head to the water for a quick swim. If that’s not something you’re interested in, you could also jog or run along the beach. The sand adds resistance, so you’re burning slightly more calories than running on the road. For low-impact exercises, there’s also yoga or Pilates that can double as meditation to calm your mind.
Stop obsessing over physical progress
Weight loss can be sensitive in the sense that the more you push it to the extremes, the harder the rebound and the more mentally challenging it will be. Ideally, you want to coax weight loss, instead of choking it into submission. In doing so, you’ll develop long-term habits that can make the process easier, both physically and mentally. Obsessing over your scale weight and fluctuations in water retention will just drive you crazy. Try to focus on other things such as intuitive eating, strength progression and mental toughness to help pass the time. The weight loss will eventually follow.
Outdoor clubs
You would be surprised at how many people prefer exercising outdoors, rather than in a traditional gym. Being part of a community does wonders for keeping you accountable because you have other people encouraging you on low-motivation days. Look for a club in your area that fits your interests and goals.
These are just some ideas to help you get creative. There are no rules to home or outdoor workouts because every one is different. Find what works for you and your schedule, and you’re already halfway there. Weight loss will come easy once you find something you truly enjoy.
Stay tuned, friends.
If you need help with building muscle or losing fat, shoot me an email: emmersoncampbell@gmail.com
