10 Ways You CAN Exercise At Home without Any Equipment

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to afford all of that fancy equipment used in the gyms? Well, as nice as it sounds, it just isn’t an option for most people. And since exercise is so important, you need to find exercises that are effective and don’t require any equipment at all. To make these exercises even more fun, you can blast music while you’re doing them. Some you can even do while watching TV

Now you have no more excuses! Here are 10 great exercises that you can do at home, without the need for any equipment:

1. Walking – If the weather is nice, it’s wonderful to get outside and enjoy the scenery around you while you exercise. However, if the weather has other ideas, you can just as easily get an effective walking workout at home. If you have a flight of stairs, go up and down them a few times. (You could even grab a load of laundry as you’re going that way anyway!) This will help to tone up your legs, while getting some low impact aerobic exercise as well. If you don’t have any stairs available, just walk around the house a few times – it may not be very exciting, but it will do the job!
2. Jumping Jacks – These are always fun, as they bring back memories of being a kid! Who hasn’t done jumping jacks for fun as a child? Well, surprise – they are also great cardio exercises, and good for warming up, too.
3. Pushups – These are probably not the most favorite exercise of many people, but while they can be hard to do, you can find easier ways to do them. You don’t need to pretend you’re “Rocky”, and do them with one hand; just do what works for you. Do them on your knees, instead of keeping your legs straight. Or, do them standing up against a wall. You will be building up arm strength and working out muscles in your chest area.
4. Leg Lifts – These are great for building up strength and muscles in your legs. If you find it hard to do the exercises with your legs straight, try bending them slightly.
5. Crunches – The best exercise for building up and strengthening abdominal muscles. When you’re just getting started, don’t worry about getting your head all the way up. So long as you’re going up until you feel the stretching of the muscles, you will see some benefit.
6. Jogging In Place – Jogging is a great exercise for your heart. You can jog in place at home while watching TV or listening to music. The only equipment you will require is a good pair of shoes, to eliminate any stress to your legs.
7. Squats – These are wonderful exercises for your legs and buttocks. You can even just try these by sitting and standing up again from a regular chair, if you’re finding them to be too difficult. As long as you’re able to do a few repetitions, you will be providing some benefit to your body.
8. Light Weight Lifting – No, you don’t need to go out and buy expensive weights for this! Just use whatever you can find in your house. Start out with something lighter, such as a can of peas, and work yourself up to heavier items. You can use milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles or even water jugs.
9. Dancing – Dancing is a wonderful exercise, which is great for your heart. Not only that, but it can lift your spirits as well, and give your overall feeling a boost.
10. Step Exercises – Using the steps in your home, you can do repetitions which will tone your leg muscles. (Just remember to be careful!)

Getting some exercise is important, but you don’t need to go out and join a gym, paying a large amount in membership fees each month. You don’t even need the expensive equipment in order to give your body an effective workout. Use what you have in your house, and work out in the comfort of your home. You will be more likely to keep up with the exercises when you’re comfortable, so just get up and start exercising!

Source: http://www.fitwatch.com/exercise/10-ways-you-can-exercise-at-home-without-any-equipment-10.html

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10 Tips For Exercise Success

How many times have you started an exercise program and then just quit going? Well... you're not alone! Many people start with great intentions but soon lose motivation and end up avoiding the gym altogether. We want to see everyone succeed so we've put together 10 tips that we've found useful for starting and sticking with an exercise routine!
The following 10 tips to weight reduction don't involve buying expensive foods or hiring a personal trainer. Instead, they involve common sense.

1. Choose activities that are fun. Exercise doesn't have to be a chore and the more fun it is, the more likely you are to stick with it.
2. Variety is the spice of life! Don't just find one thing and stick to it... your guaranteed to get bored eventually. Find a couple different types of exercise that you enjoy (swimming, biking, weight training, yoga, group exercise classes, etc.) and mix it up!
3. Keep a record of your activities. Set small "achievable" milestones and reward yourself periodically. Nothing motivates and keeps you going like success!
4. Make it a lifestyle! Short-term diets and fitness kicks don't work. Lifestyle changes that become part of your normal routine are important for long-term success.
5. Watch the clock. Pick a time that's convenient and try to stick to it. If you get used to working out before work or walking during your lunch hour... you're more likely to stick with it.
6. Don't be too hard on yourself. If you miss an exercise opportunity, try to work something else in rather than feeling down. If a lunch meeting interferes with your regular walk... go for a walk after dinner.
7. Stay entertained. Music is a great motivator and can make exercise more fun. Mix your own CD's with your favorite music or books on tape and take them along when you're working out. Many people also like to watch TV or catch up on their soaps while on a treadmill. Whatever it takes to keep up with the program.
8. Surround yourself with supportive people. Share your activity with others who want to see you succeed and will be encouraging. It may be a friend, family member, or neighbor. You may run with a co-worker over lunch or find a workout partner. If you're at the gym at the same time everyday, look for people that may have similar goals... since your schedules are the same, maybe he/she is looking for a workout partner?
9. Slow and steady wins the race. Don't risk injury by pushing yourself too hard too quickly. Start with low to moderate level activities and gradually increase the duration and intensity of your workouts as you become more fit.
10. But... don't get lazy! While pushing yourself too hard is bad... not doing enough is equally bad! There is a fine line between staying on a plateau and providing enough stimulus so your body will grow. You should gradually increase the amount of weight you lift, the length of your cardio exercise, etc. to keep you moving towards your goal. If your goal is overall fitness, you should work up to exercising three or four times per week for 30-60 minutes.

Source:  http://www.24hourfitness.com/resources/fitness/articles/exercise_success.html

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