How Can I Stay Fit in the New Year? Try Setting up a Home Gym

A home gym is one of the most common fitness plans. (Dm Stock Production/Dreamstime/TNS)

By Paul F. P. Pogue From Ask Angi

With the holidays in the rear view mirror, you may be turning your mind to New Year’s resolutions. And one of the most common resolutions is to get fit, lose weight and maybe work off those winter turkey feasts.

However, this is also one of the most commonly broken resolutions by the time spring comes around. Plus, getting fit is more than just a number on a scale; it’s about assembling a healthy lifestyle on all fronts. Here are some ways to start getting fit and stay committed all year round.

Build a Home Gym

A home gym is one of the most common fitness plans. And while you may be envisioning a large, expensive installation, that doesn’t have to be the case. You can customize your fitness plan to match a space as small as a spare room or as expansive as a basketball court, depending on your tastes.

When you design your home gym, maximize your chances for success with these hints:

Make It a Welcoming and Inviting Space

You won’t use your home gym very often if you don’t actually like where it’s at. Decorate it in a manner that fits your tastes, or install a sound system or wall-mounted television to provide entertainment while you exercise.

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Use It Exclusively for Workouts

It’s not always possible to do this, but if you can, make sure your gym space is used for workouts and nothing else. If it’s a multipurpose space, it becomes very easy to stuff the equipment in a corner and forget about it.

Put Some Distance Between It and the Rest of the House

One of the biggest enemies of fitness is distraction. It’s very easy to get pulled away from a workout at home to deal with some kind of family or house matter. If possible, place your gym a little bit away from the main hustle and bustle of the house, or make a point to carve out time where you’re less likely to be distracted while you work out.

Consider Hiring a Personal Trainer

Personal trainers can make a big difference in your fitness plan. You don’t necessarily have to have a trainer come in every week or even all that often (though that is of course quite useful). A consultation of even a few hours can give a trainer enough time to show you the best way to use your space and your tools at hand to maximize your home gym time. If possible, bring them back every so often to help you correct your technique and level up your skills.

Useful Gym Equipment

You can fill your home gym with the fitness gear that most appeals to you. Here are some of the tried-and-true methods that work well:

• Stability balls: These versatile tools can be used for a nearly infinite number of exercises and training. A personal instructor can show you the best methods for you.
• Dumbbells: These staples of weight training don’t take up much room and tend not to cost very much. They provide literally hundreds of exercise options.
• Resistance bands: Because they’re the least complicated and least expensive of fitness gear, they’re deceptively simple. But they’re great for stretching, strength training and working out when you have little space or fear.
• Weight bench: This is another standby that can be used for many exercises. Make sure it has an adjustable incline to work on different muscle groups.

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