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Keeping in shape can be a real challenge for some of us. Many of us lead very busy lifestyles and it often seems near impossible to squeeze in an hour-long gym session 2-3 times a week. Then when you do manage to get some time off work, we often donate this time to completing housework or even just relaxing and spending time with the family.
But there are a number of ways to maintain your fitness levels at home.
We spoke to Little Bloke Fitness to discover five ways of staying fit and healthy from the comfort of your own home.
Home Fitness Equipment
If you’re serious about maintaining your fitness levels at home, then investing in fitness equipment is an obvious choice. There is a wide variety of home fitness equipment that will make staying in shape simple. Consider your individual needs when looking into which type of home equipment will be most beneficial to you. Equipment such as dumbbells, resistance bands and kettlebells are great for those who are looking to build strength with resistance training. Items such as jump ropes are excellent for those who have a smaller budget but are still looking for equipment that will increase their fitness levels at home.
Stay Hydrated
Keeping your body hydrated is important for so many reasons. Getting enough water enables your body to function properly, can promote a healthy metabolism, flushes out toxins and can even aid weight loss. What’s more staying hydrated is something that can easily be done at home. Aim to drink around 2 litres or 8 glasses of water each day. Fruit infused waters are easy to prepare and make upping your water intake more interesting.
Yoga
Not only is Yoga a great way of helping your mind relax and forget about the day’s stresses, it also has a variety of health benefits. What’s more, you only need a limited amount of space and equipment to complete an hour of yoga in the morning or evening. Yoga mats can be found relatively cheap, take 2 minutes to roll out in your living room or bedroom and are easily stored away when not in use. These are just some of the reasons why many people choose yoga as their way of keeping fit at home.
Diet
Many of us will have heard or used the phrase ‘Abs are made in the kitchen’, and for good reason! Our diets have a major impact on our fitness levels and therefore what we eat at home can help keep us in shape. When using diet to maintain fitness levels, it’s important to ensure that the changes or adaptions that you choose to make to your diet are long term, as opposed to a quick fix that is hard to upkeep.
Aim to cut out processed and pre-packaged foods that contain saturated fats and added sugars. Instead, eat freshly prepared meals that are high in nutrients. If eating well is something you struggle with it may be a good idea to pre-prepare healthy meals and snacks which will enable you to avoid making the wrong food choices.
Sleep well
Sleep is an essential part of staying fit and healthy, so it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough shut-eye. Try to get into the habit of waking up and going to bed at the same time every day. Having a good bedtime routine will make sticking to a sleep schedule a lot easier. Having a relaxing bath, stretching or meditating are all ways of helping you to wind down and get your body ready for bed.
All of the points mentioned above can be easily incorporated into even the busiest lifestyles. By sticking to one or all of these tips you can easily maintain your fitness levels at home and without the need for an expensive gym membership.