The best way to start exercising (at home)

When you read an article on the subject, it usually starts with, the best to way start exercising (at home) is to do something you like doing. That’s pretty obvious, why would you choose something you hate? But on the other hand, how do you know you like or dislike something unless you try it first.

The other is to start slow and build up. That’s another obvious one you might think, but you would be surprised how many people I see going hell for leather on the first session and not being able to move for a week afterward! Jumping straight into a gym session or a class at the local leisure center, or following the latest youtube video. People want instant! Instant is a myth!

The best way to start exercising is at home. Let me explain.

There are 3 main elements to starting a successful exercise regime…

1. Keep it simple but effective, the small actions that will have the biggest impact.

2. Make it easy to do. In other words, take out all the usual excuses you would normally use to justify not starting to exercise in the first place. Time, travel, money, self-esteem, lack of knowledge, or fear of failure.

3. Create a habit of moving, because that is all exercise really is!

Read this to find my description of what fitness is for beginners HERE

Starting by exercising at home covers all of the above elements, but it does require a little knowledge of how to do it right. For example, you may use a simple exercise band which, in my opinion, is the best home exercise equipment out there. It’s the only thing you need because everything else you already have, even though you didn’t know it. But you do need to know the basics.

So here are 3 at-home exercises you can do to get going (without equipment).

You can easily fit these into your day, form a habit, see and feel the results.

10-20 Squats, followed by 10-20 press-ups and finishing with 10-20 crunches. That’s it, your routine done!

You can do this home exercise routine in less than 5 minutes. Your target is to do it 4 times during your day, anytime you can fit in a 5-minute moving break. So, by the time you go to bed, you will have 20 minutes of targeted exercise under your belt.