With the rising costs of commercial gym memberships, more and more individuals are deciding to work out from home. In fact, the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) has reported that the health club industry grossed $81 billion in 2015. Some other reasons individuals are choosing home over the gym is time sensitivity, levels of motivation and personality. Some people simply enjoy working out at home over the traditional gym. With that being said, here are five tips to help you make the best of working out at home.

Use a Stopwatch

While working out at home, it can be difficult to stay motivated and keep track of time. Stopwatches are a great way to increase external motivation and keep yourself accountable. Furthermore, it is crucial to time workouts diligently. The overall length of a workout, rest periods, set lengths and repetition intervals are all critical components of a workout that should be maintained. Instead of relying on your ability to count on an accurate cadence, stop watches ensure workouts are executed perfectly. Some stopwatches even come with an alarm to signal a transition during a workout. Stopwatches can be found on standard watches, internet websites, mobile apps and more.

Don’t Be Afraid to Invest in Quality Gym Equipment

At first glance, a gym membership appears to be a more cost-effective option than purchasing home gym equipment. However, this is not always the case. Fortunately, a home gym can end up being cheaper than a local gym. The upfront costs of equipment will deter many people from even considering the idea. Instead, one must consider the continuous monthly payments being made to a commercial gym. Over time, these payments add up to a considerable amount. An average $40/month membership can end up costing well over $1,000 dollars in just a few years. Instead, this money can be invested into quality home gym equipment. This Bowflex Xtreme review speaks about the machine’s versatility, cost-effectiveness, and why it’s a good investment.

Establish a Designated Fitness Space

Humans work more efficiently when they continue to associate a particular task with a specified location. For example, people generally find it easier to complete work at a desk or office as opposed to a random location. The same thinking applies to workout out at home. It is advisable that individuals establish a designated fitness space in their home. According to Health.com, this is a great way to feel in control of your workouts. Furthermore, it will increase the likelihood that an individual will work out consistently.

Workout with Another Person

Generally, individuals either have a preference to work out alone or with a partner. However, working out with another person can have several benefits. First and foremost, an additional person can increase accountability. One of the greatest barriers to a person’s fitness goals is a lack of motivation. This issue is only exacerbated when working out alone. Having a workout partner can help to keep each member of the party accountable and motivated. While this phenomenon used to derive simply from anecdotal evidence, a study recently published by the Annals of Behavioral Medicine has supported these claims. Researchers have proven that working out with a present partner can help increase performance over multiple sessions.

Plan Meals in Advance

One of the primary benefits of working out at home is the preservation of time. Commuting to and from a commercial gym can take hours out of a person’s day. By working out at home, this extra time saved can be put towards other aspects of fitness. To be sure, nutrition is critical to the success of a workout regimen. Without proper caloric intake, you cannot have the necessary energy to work out or nutrients to recover. Those working out from home will have an advantage in nutrition because of their saved time and proximity to a proper kitchen. For this reason, meals should be planned out in advance. Individuals must design a meal plan based upon their workout and fitness goals. For example, those wanting to lose weight will eat at a caloric deficit. On the other hand, those wishing to gain muscle will eat at a caloric surplus with a special focus on protein intake. Planning meals in advance can help to ensure that no critical component is missing from your nutrition.

Conclusion

Working out at home can have several benefits. Individuals have the opportunity to save money and time while remaining in the comfort of their own home. However, there may also be a lack of motivation or accountability. For this reason, it is critical to boosting your motivation to work out at home. This can happen through working out with a partner, using a stopwatch, listening to music and consistently using a designated space. These are a few tips to help people make a successful transition to working out at home.

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