If you're looking to slim down this year, but aren't keen on the idea of going to a gym, health expert Micheal Mosley has explained how home workouts can be just as beneficial for weight loss.
While a gym workout is great for those who enjoy it, others may not want to pay for a membership or exercise in front of others. Whatever reason that you feel the gym is not for you, Michael has said that you can still do full workouts at home.
Michael, who is credited with creating rapid weight loss diets like the Fast 800, promotes long term weight loss and shares tips online to help others shed pounds. His latest advice explains how you can work out at home, whether you're a beginner or have a busy schedule.
Sharing a post to the Fast 800 Instagram page, he said: "At the beginning of every year, gym memberships skyrocket with people looking to pick themselves up. However, some beginners often report that gyms can feel intimidating or they’re simply unsure where to start."
As highlighted on the Fast 800 blog, regular exercise is important for optimal health and offers a host of benefits including reduced weight, lower blood pressure, improved sleep, and reduce anxiety and depression.
He added: "Reaping all these health benefits from exercising can be done in many different ways, not just through going to a gym. Physical activity should fit around your lifestyle, be incorporated into your every day, or even be sociable, it doesn’t need to be expensive or in a place, you may not feel comfortable."
Here are Micheal Mosley's top four tips to exercise without setting foot into a gym.
How to exercise without going to a gym
1. Go for a daily walk
Walking is one of the most versatile forms of exercise, as it can be done anywhere for any length of time.
Not only that, it also burns calories and boosts mental health, eases joint pain and increases longevity. While you can get your steps on a treadmill, Michael believes that walking outdoors offers "added benefits".
He said: "Walking outside as opposed to on a gym treadmill gives the added benefit of getting fresh air no matter the weather, and of course enjoying the scenery of where the walk can take you.
"Why not also get in touch with a friend and make it an opportunity to be sociable as well as getting in aerobic exercise?"
2. Increased incidental exercise
According to Michael, "incidental" exercise is an activity that you complete throughout the day rather than one big burst of activity like going to the gym.
He recommends this form of exercise for beginners who may not be familiar with a set workout. While it may not feel like a big workout, it can still aid in your health journey.
"Incidental exercise can be anything from walking to the local shop rather than driving, taking the stairs rather than a lift, or breaking up your cleaning and gardening jobs to do throughout the week," he said.
"Soon enough you’ll be feeling the benefits without really noticing the journey."
3. Bodyweight exercises
If you don't have access to dumbbells, don't fret, as your body can also serve as the ultimate weight when exercising.
You may think that you can only get results with high tech gym equipment, but that's not the case. Using bodyweight only when exercising can help build muscle and slim your waist.
"Similarly to incidental exercise, you can use your own body weight to get in physical activity during your day without carving out time to workout," he explained.
"This might look like squatting while brushing your teeth, doing calf raises while cooking dinner, or leg extensions while sitting on the sofa."
There are also plenty of exercise classes available online that you can do in the comfort of your own home.
4. Use what you have around you
If you are looking to try out weighted exercise but don't want to splash out on equipment, Michael Mosley advises to try using what's around you instead.
He suggested: "Use heavy bags of groceries to do shrug exercises, do lying leg curls with weighty cushions on your feet, or walk up and down the stairs several times while carrying a stack of books. Be resourceful with what’s already around you, but do be careful that you’re staying safe."
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