Gyms are great. However, what if you don’t have the means for a gym membership or purchasing equipment? The good news is you can still head towards your goals with bodyweight exercises and getting creative with objects you can find around the house.
First, understand how your body works. Your body responds to resistance and eventually reacts to adapt to the stress you’re putting it in. Muscles are built by the tearing of the proteins which they are comprised of. This goes for any routine aside from exercise as well. For example, if you stayed up to 11:00pm every night for months and switched to sleeping around 9:00pm, your body will start getting tired around 8:00pm or so because you have trained it to sleep by 9:00pm. With exercise and nutrition, you have to train your body consistently to be a fat burning or muscle building instrument.
So… can bodyweight exercises really get you in shape?
The simple answer to this is a hands-down yes. Bodyweight exercises, also known as calisthenics, are great for both starter routines and even those who have advanced routines. Some bodyweight exercises are:
- Bodyweight Lunges
- Bodyweight squats
- Pull-ups (can be done on playground bars)
- Chin-ups (can be done on playground bars)
- Bench Dips
Each of these target major muscle groups that will help both build your physique and get lean. The key to have calisthenics be effective is by advancing your workouts as your body adapts to the training. To do this you can add weight or increase your repetitions. You may be able to increase resistance by using common household items. Phone books in a backpack works well for many of these exercises.
Calisthenics is a great way to improve and maintain mobility. It is a great routine for beginners and a routine that should be included in seasoned training programs. Additionally, it is versatile in being good for both muscle building and fat burning routines.
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have training equipment or a gym membership. These you can always get later. Your dedication and drive is what will determine when you will achieve your goals. Remember to stay positive, keep pushing yourself and don’t let anything get in your way.
*Consult your doctor before beginning any training, nutrition or supplement program.