Why Should I Exercise at Home or Away From Home?

Introduction

With the busy lifestyles today, few adults with families can afford to take the time necessary to go to the health club or neighborhood gym. They may find it difficult to exercise at home or away from home on a regular basis. You know what? Even if it’s within a short distance, we’re talking about several hours’ commitment per session.  Who has time for that!?

But if it becomes a habit and they stick to it, something magical happens after four months.  You are finally getting the results you expect and chances are you will continue with the exercise program.

Getting fit via physical activity is on the minds of most people.  You have an option to exercise at home or away from home. However, many people are not consistent and fail in the first three months of an exercise program. 

Set fitness goals and work to achieve them

Still, we all recognize that exercise is just downright good for you. If you name any random 10 medical conditions and diseases, I’m willing to bet money that some form of frequent exercise is a good treatment or preventative measure for at least 9 of them. 

Diet and exercise pop up as treatments and preventative measures in so many of the diseases that ail us today, and both of these areas are a good place to focus on if you are concerned about your health. For example, regular exercise can help manage chronic diseases.

Therefore, making the decision of where you will go to exercise is a very important step in reaching your goals of fitness. A lot of factors will go into this decision,and each one should be evaluated well before you start exercising.  Once you have made a decision on where you will go to exercise, you can move on to deciding how you plan to work out.

Exercise at home

As you probably know, exercising at home has many advantages. The finance department is one of the best advantages.  With the gas prices being what they are today, it is quite obvious that you’ll save money on fuel as well as wear and tear on your vehicle by choosing to exercise at home.

Memberships to a gym can often be quite expensive and may include other things that you don’t need such as child care or swimming pools.  You also won’t need to be concerned about the latest trends of exercise gear as you most likely will be exercising by yourself at home.

Keep in mind that working out at home does require a bit of financial obligation. 

Even though you may plan to run, it is very important that you have high quality running shoes.  This statement applies to any type of equipment that you may purchase to use at home. 

If you go out and buy cheap equipment, you’ll probably end up getting hurt or getting frustrated because you aren’t making any progress.

Along with the financial gains, exercising at home may also help those who don’t like to work out in public.  If you are worried about how you look in gym clothes, it is very comforting to know that the only person who has to be with you when you exercise at home is you. 

Also, when you exercise at home, you don’t need to worry about time at all. Just some simple walking for exercise can go a long way to improving your health.  Walking for exercise is fun, easy, and is a great stress reducer.

Walking for exercise at home

The great thing about walking for exercise is that you can do it anywhere.  You have absolutely no excuse for not getting up and walking around for at least 30 minutes a day.  So it’s raining out?  Take an umbrella! 

Seriously, just get out for a short walk around the block a couple times and you’ll thank yourself for it later.  If it’s absolutely miserable out, just walking around your house or apartment a while is better than nothing. Walking is an alternative to gym and aerobic exercises. 

Walking for exercise is extremely low impact, and so anyone of any age can do it safely and frequently without worrying about damaging themselves.  Running and other more strenuous forms of exercise can cause all kinds of joint pain and soreness, and isn’t recommended unless you are in otherwise good shape.

A lot of recent studies into different forms of exercise are showing that walking is every bit as good for you as running or other more vigorous exercises, you just need to do it longer.  If you are walking for exercise, go for at least 30 minutes or even an hour.  The more the better, as you can’t hurt yourself by walking too much.

Home gym exercise

Another idea is that of home gym equipment. Now we’re not talking about enough equipment to fill up the basement or several bedrooms.  What you want is something that you enjoy that can be done in the privacy of your home whenever you desire. 

My brother, who’s working on his muscle tone has a resistance weight training program with 1 piece of equipment.  The wife likes the aerobic action of a small trampoline and treadmill. 

The idea of home gym equipment need not be a daunting enterprise, just something that will save hours and allow the exercise program that you desire right from your own home.

Exercise away from home

Walking for exercise away from home

For those of you who are motivated by being with people you know or come to know while working out away from home, there are a lot of exercise programs that are beginning to realize the benefits of walking for exercise.  As it is something virtually anyone that can walk can do, there is a huge target market for walking programs. 

I’d recommend any program that motivates you to walk frequently.  Even without one, there are hiking and walking clubs all over the place to join.  Not only can walking for exercise be a way to maintain good health, but it can be a good way to meet new people and form new networks.

With so many benefits and virtually no cons, you can’t go wrong with walking for exercise.  Its only drawback is that it takes time to do, but it is time well spent.  What is the value of good health and longevity?  Add on a favorite piece of gym equipment and you have everything needed to develop a healthy workout and exercise program without the inconvenience of going to the gym all the time.

Working out at the gym away from home

Also, if you are motivated by being with people you know or come to know while working out away from home, a gym may be a better idea than working out at home.  At the gym, you’ll have opportunity for selection of equipment as well, far more than you’ll have at home.

If you need other services than just walking, weights and equipment, the gym may have just what you need. If you plan to swim a triathlon, you’ll find the swimming pool at the gym to be just what you need to prepare yourself.

Swimming is also a great exercise for your body and cardio, as it will work muscles in your body that you probably didn’t even know you had.

Gyms will also offer you classes that you may find very motivating.  If you attend class on a regular basis, you may be motivated enough to continue so you don’t have to defend yourself when asked where you’ve been or what you have been doing. You can also meet new people in class, or just help others along if you choose.

Conclusion

All in all, making the choice of exercising at home or at the gym, or participating in walking exercise programs is a choice you should make based on your goals and personal preference.  The most important decision you’ll need to make is to determine what type of environment you want to be in and how you want to accomplish the fitness goals in your life. Remember this is a lifestyle change you must make to stay fit.

Once you have given it some thought and weighed out the pros and cons, you’ll have no problem making the choice.  Always keep in mind that once you’ve made your choice, you can always switch if you aren’t happy with the choice you made. You can easily get more information and tips on exercise.

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