If you hate to exercise, getting to the gym can be a chore. You have excuses that you use to justify skipping workouts. A great antidote for the gym blues, however, is simply working out from home. Contrary to popular belief, home-based workouts can be both challenging and effective. If you want a great at-home exercise plan, add a few versatile pieces of fitness equipment to your collection.
Resistance Bands
Using resistance bands is an excellent way to get in shape. The bands are affordable and easy to store. According to exercise physiologist Phil Davies, resistance bands are excellent tools for home exercisers. The bands can easily be incorporated into circuit workouts for both strength and cardio training. Additionally, the compact bands are available in varying thicknesses and are often color coded to indicate the level of resistance they provide. Thinner bands are more flexible and offer less resistance than thicker ones. Bands allow for challenging workouts that increase strength and build muscle.
Stability Balls
Stability balls can be used for a wide range of exercises. Available in various sizes, the balls are commonly used to improve balance and flexibility, strengthen muscles and enhance functional performance. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends stability balls because they can be used by anyone to improve fitness levels with or without additional resistance. The versatile balls can aid in training both large and small muscle groups, resulting in overall gains in both strength and flexibility.
Bicycles
Not just for kids, bicycles are excellent tools for improving fitness. Cycling offers a fun, low-impact cardiovascular workout that can be done from almost anywhere. Bicycles are not only affordable and widely available, they also help burn fat, improve stamina and strengthen lower body muscles. According to the League of American Bicyclists, a 150-lb. cyclist can burn approximately 410 calories in an hour, while a 200-lb. cyclist can burn around 546 calories. Bicycles not only help burn calories, but they also help you reduce your carbon impact.
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