Exercise Tips to Stay Fit and Healthy

Perhaps you’ve just decided you want to start getting in shape. Or maybe you’ve always been active your entire life but you want to take things to the next level. Whatever your situation may be, this guide is here to help. We know how confusing it can be to select the right exercise equipment for your home gym or home use.

That’s why we’ve done the research ourselves and brought you all the best tools to get yourself in shape or maintain your level of fitness.

Tips

First off, exercise equipment isn’t miraculously going to give you the body of your dreams or even improve your physical fitness. You have to do the work yourself, but it can definitely help target hard-to-reach muscles or make it simpler for you to reach your goals due to the added convenience.

Just remember that no matter which equipment you decide on, you should start out slowly and work your way up so you don’t injure yourself.

In addition, if you’re going to be lifting weights (which we recommend) we also suggest you wear some lifting gloves. These will help to give you a better grip on the weights, which means more confidence and added security so you’re not dropping them on your toes. Moreover, they will ensure you don’t hurt your hands, develop blisters, or callouses.

Stretch

Stretching is not only recommended, but a crucial part of any solid exercise routine. Sure, stretching can be boring and sometimes it can even be uncomfortable working those tight muscles loose. However, if you want to prevent injury in the short term and in the long run, it’s something you just have to do.

To avoid stretching on the hard or uncomfortable floor, get yourself a quality exercise mat. These are great for protecting your flooring, even if you’re going to be stretching on a softer material like carpets or rugs.

Instead of sweating on the carpet, which can create bacteria growth and foul odors, you will simply sweat on the mat. Each one is easy to clean with soap and water so you can rest assured you’ll have a clean environment to use.

These mats are also great for doing bodyweight exercise such as pushups, planks, Russian Twists, and much more.

Home Gym

Say you don’t have enough space realistically for a separate bench for bench presses, a squat rack, etc. If that’s the case, then you can instead choose to get a home gym system. Brands like Bowflex are probably the most well known and rely on resistance rods. The more standard systems use your average weight stacks so you can move up and down in weight easily for various body parts.

Less expensive options are also available for you to keep at home or even pack along while you’re traveling. These typically use some kind of resistance band system which make them very easy to fold up and don’t take up a lot of room. If you’re just starting out with working out, you’ll also appreciate that the majority of them come with some type of instructional DVD or online routines for you to participate in so you’re not left confused.

All in all, home gym systems are perfect for getting in a whole body workout. Usually, they’re just going to offer resistance exercise, though, so for cardio training you’ll need to get another piece of equipment.

Cardio Equipment

The first thing most people think of when we mention “exercise” is some type of cardio exercise. That could be running, jogging, swimming, cycling, or something else. These types of exercise are some of the most effective for improving stamina, lowering body fat, lowering the risk of heart disease and diabetes, among so many other benefits.

However, not everyone has the ability to go running or cycling outside of their home. Sometimes the weather just isn’t cut out for it, it may be too dangerous with busy streets, or there may just be a lack of proper paths. Whatever the case may be, there are solutions for it.

If you don’t have a lot of space in your home, we highly recommend getting a spin bike or a folding exercise bike. Spin bikes are typically very sleek and narrow in form, and don’t take up all that much space. Folding exercise bikes are also quite compact and as you can easily fold them up when you’re done, storing them every time they’re not in use is easy to do.

If you have back problems or your core strength isn’t to the point where you can comfortably support yourself on a spin bike, you should definitely look into recumbent bikes. These have large, comfy seats with seat backs for you to rest against while you’re pedaling away.

If you’re not limited on space at all and aren’t a fan of cycles, treadmills, or ellipticals, you can give a rowing machine a try. If you’re a swimmer but can’t always make it to the pool, these do a great job at emulating that sensation of plowing through water. You’ll even be able to hear the splashing as you move along!

Core Strength

Your core strength is another crucial aspect to avoiding injuries while also maximizing your athletic performance. Essentially everything we do involves our core. The core is comprised of your abdominals, obliques, and the spinal erector muscles on either side of the spine. Strengthening your core will improve your agility, confidence, posture, and so much more.

Planks, situps, hanging leg raises, and more are all very common and functional exercises for doing exactly that. Ab machines are a more direct way of doing so, and as you can add resistance, they’re also wonderful for toning up the stomach. Whether you’re going for a 6-pack or just a smooth and sleek belly, these machines are highly effective.

Summary

Now that you know just about everything you need to about the best exercise equipment to stay fit and healthy, which will you be incorporating in your home gym? The great thing about these pieces of gear is that you aren’t limited to just one. In fact, you can add every single one in if you’d like!

They all have their own specific function so you can get a well-rounded workout and aren’t neglecting any part of your fitness. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!