The coronavirus pandemic has made going to the gym a serious concern for many active fitness buffs out there. Enclosed spaces like gyms are ideal environments for the virus to spread, so why not avoid them all together if you can? Luckily, you can create a workout center in your own home. Below, we’ve put together some essentials you can depend on to get your heartrate up.
1. Quality Running Shoes
One of the easiest ways to incorporate exercise into your life is to take up running. You don’t have to start by running marathons, think small first! A 5k is a great beginner distance to work up to. Then, a 10k. After accomplishing a 10k, you can try for a half marathon and then you might be ready to tackle your first marathon. But, if you’re new to running, take it slow. If you train too quickly and ramp up the intensity or frequency of your runs, you can be vulnerable to injuries like stress fractures and muscle strains. It’s important to avoid overtraining so you stay motivated and healthy.
It’s also important to invest in quality running gear, starting with your shoes. You can wait for a women’s or men’s running shoe sale to get a great deal, or just splurge on a high-quality pair. Your running shoes are the foundation of your running form – so choose wisely.
2. Activity Tracker
If you really want to get serious about your fitness, it might be time to invest in an activity tracker. You can pick up a relatively cheap one from Fitbit or splurge on a Garmin activity tracker. Not only do these pieces of wearable technology give you accurate heart rate data so you can track your heart rate zones, but you can also get insights into your sleep patterns and calorie expenditure. Activity trackers can also nudge you into being more active in general, with reminders to move every hour and get a certain number of steps each day.
Some activity trackers also come with software that allows you to log your food and water intake, so you get a more holistic picture of your health.
3. An Accountability Buddy
Now, you can’t necessary get this “workout essential” at the store, but you can look within your own social group for friends who prioritize an active lifestyle. If one of those friends lives close by, consider becoming accountability buddies for each other. Because the coronavirus has eroded traditional structure and schedules for many people across the country, it can be hard to figure out a good time to work out. Luckily, there are ways to
4. A Bicycle
If you tend to hop into your car for close-by errands, you may want to consider investing in a bike to replace your four wheels with two. A bike can make errands more pleasant. Not to mention, bikes are a great way to incorporate low-impact exercise into your life. It’s faster than walking and a great way to see the local sights and sounds in your city!
If you want to explore trails and take on the great outdoors, you may want to consider a mountain bike that allows you to fully surround yourself in nature with capable tires and a more rugged build.
5. Comfortable Athletic Clothes
Believe it or not, you don’t have to wear Lululemon to be comfortable working out. You can find great athletic clothes at discount stores and even at thrift stores. It’s important that whatever clothing you choose works for your exercise.
6. Great Fitness Apps
Whether you want to ramp up your training with a Couch to 5K app or plan your bike routes with Strava, there are tons of helpful fitness apps that can record your exercise and track your progress.
Takeaways: Working out at Home
When your gym is shut down or you can’t go to it, it can be tough to figure out how to maintain your fitness. Luckily, there are many ways you can exercise that don’t involve the gym at all. You can start by walking around the block. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll be running marathons! Use the tips in these articles as a jumping-off points – get out there and have fun!
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