No dumbbells at home? Try these workouts with household items

   While working out at home has some advantages in comparison to going to the gym, one of the main issues is having no access to specialized equipment like dumbbells or machines. Although these can be found at fitness shops or online, their prices can be unaffordable and require lots of free space, making them inaccessible for many people. In order to help beginners and anyone wanting to start their fitness journey at home, workout enthusiasts from all over the world have created ways to substitute popular fitness equipment with everyday items found in most houses.

The house items I use to replace dumbbells and yoga blocks

From couch to 5K and beyond: my runner's journey

   Running is one of the simplest way to get your daily cardio without spending a dime. Nice weather, a suitable route and a decent pair of shoes are just about what you need for a short run. But if you've never ran before, running aimlessly feels like this unachievable feat where you heart feels like it can explode at any second. Prior 2023, my only form of outdoor exercise was slow walks around my neighborhood. After starting my home workout journey and seeing running recommended as cardio, I decided to give it a try and jog around my house. Due to poor form and years of sedentarism I barely lasted four minutes jogging. I returned home utterly defeated, with severe shin pain and determined to improve no matter what.

Photo by Rinke Dohmen from Unsplash

    With a few Google searches I found out about Couch to 5K (C25K), the running program that serves as inspiration for the title of this blog. This wonderful program uses run/walk intervals to build up endurance and guide beginners to progressively reach the goal of a non-stop 30 minute run. The beginner Couch to 5K program consists of nine weeks of training, with three running sessions scheduled per week; shorter six week versions are aimed to runners returning from hiatus. 

Can't follow dance workouts? These YouTube channels will change your mind

   Dancing is one of the most popular workouts for beginners, following the choreography while keeping on beat is a great way to move your body, release endorphins and have fun. But, what if you struggle to follow along? Is turning the wrong way that bad? 

Photo by Yerson Retamal from Pixabay

Getting bored? Try these fun YouTube workouts and tips for motivation

  The biggest struggle for most beginners at home is not doing simply doing workouts but staying consistent. Things can get boring even if you're following a great workout program, occasionally switching things up certainly helps with fitness ruts. With home workouts you're missing on the social aspect of fitness for the most part, so you need to get a little creative to entice yourself to movement. 

   Gamifying your current routine is a great way to both keep accountable and stay motivated. Recording your fitness achievements and challenging yourself with realistic goals are some of simpler ways to keep your mind engaged. An example of this would be setting a step goal per day or doing an specific exercise for a step amount of reps/time per day; recording your plank hold time for a week is a prime option. My own personal gamifying challenge is to take the stairs every time, choosing to stand or walk during your daily routine can be also a nice daily goal. 

Photo by Luis Quintero from Pexels