You Don't Need A Gym To Workout

I used to sell commercial gym equipment, but I am not writing about a home gym blog. If you have a gym membership, great. If you have a home gym, that's good too. But, I think a lot of people fundamentally overlook the fact that we come equipped with everything we need to workout within us, and around us. I know that a lot of people may not be able to afford a gym membership, or a home gym startup expense, but that should not stop you from working out. If you're new to working out, or if you're trying to get in shape, start with the free option of body weight exercises. The only equipment you need to start working out is comfortable workout clothes and sneakers. If you really want to splurge, get a skipping rope for $5 to take your cardio and coordination up to the next level.

People are misled by the fact that to workout, they need to use gym equipment. I believe Arnold Schwarzeneggar said something to the effect that your bicep muscle can't tell the difference if it's curling a barbell or a rock. Running is running - off or on a treadmill. Lifting objects is lifting objects, regardless if it's a rock or a barbell. I think a lot of people overlook body weight exercises mostly due to fitness marketing campaings - when you see an advertisement for fitness, it's always advertising products, services, or memberships. People have been misled to think that you need to use a selectorized machine, or free weights, in order to get a workout in. The biggest secret in fitness is that you can get fit and healthy by just moving you - whether it's in the comfort of your home or outside.

There are many workout options that just involve your own body. And trust me, body weight workouts are effective - just search You Tube for callisthenics workouts or gymnastics, or even prison or militiary inspired workout videos. You can get in great shape, and get a muscular and toned body with body weight exercises alone. Truthfully, many bodyweight exercises are extremely difficult, sometimes more so than working out with weights. Just imagine doing a handstand push up, and essentially pressing your bodyweight upside down using your shoulders. Most body builders cannot even do this. Plus, if you can master handling your own body weight, you are well on your way to functional fitness that will last a lifetime. In fact, may top athletes regulary incorporate body weight movements in their workout routines.

Pull ups are a great test of physical strength, and not many people in the gym do them since they are so difficult. It's one of the reasons the military uses them, and old school P.E. teachers also used them, as an overall measure of your fitness. They build your back and arms, and are bad ass once you can master them. Imagine yourself repping out 20 pull-ups without breaking a sweat. If you don't have a doorway pull up bar, no problem - I'm sure you live in the vicinity of a school yard or park. Find something overhead that you can grab onto and start trying to pull yourself up. To target your biceps turn your palms towards your face, and now you have a chip up - with more emphasis on your arms.

Push ups only require a floor. Simple and effective for building your triceps and pectorals (chest) muscles. You can challenge yourself once you've mastered them by putting your feet higher on a surface - like on the seat of a couch. The angle changes the muscles worked and the weight on the body required to push up.

Training legs also requires only a floor. There's so much variation you can do. You can do air squats, jump squats, lunges, jumping lunges, you can walk or run up stairs, or you can find a park bench and do box jumps or step ups, to name a few. Even fast running, especially sprinting, is terrific for building leg muscles, burning body fat, and increasing testosterone. But, the absolutely easiest way to train legs with no equipment is just to walk - good old fashion walking will build your leg endurance and is a low impact steady state cardio option.

Heading back to your local playground, you can also find railings, or another structure, to do dips on - also working your triceps and pectoral muscles. There's a reason why playgrounds are designed with things to hang, push, pull, and climb on. They provide youth with options to exercise, but adults can make use of them too. If your toddler is playing around, go ahead and rep out some dips or pull ups, or find something to do step ups on while keeping an eye on them.

Ending up on the floor again, there are countless variations of sit ups and crunches you can do to strengthen your core muscles, also including planks and back hyper extensions. The floor is also a great place to do some strething and mobility work - you don't want to neglect flexibility in your training routine.

To start working out all you need is sneakers. Go for a walk or start running. Do some push ups, sit ups, pull ups, dips, and air squats. Try to work beyond the 3 sets of 10 reps, pushing yourself to failure. You don't need a gym or gym equipment to get into serious shape, lose body fat, and increase your strength. Not to mention, you will look and feel better, and if you can throw your body weight around like it's nothing you are in a class of fitness not reached by many. Have you seen the physique, strength, agility, speed, and endurance of olympic class gymnasts? Again, those athletes focus largely on body weight only movements. If you want a real challenge, one program I do is what I call the 100's - just as it sounds, do 100 push ups, pull ups, sit ups, air squats or lunges all in the same day. It's completely exhausting, and it will transform your body. Now lace up those shoes, get out there and start moving!