Lockdown has more of us working out at home than ever, we’re clearing up some of the misconceptions you might have heard…
Right now, there are a lot more people finding themselves working out from home during the lockdown. If you’re stumbling around, trying to navigate what you should be doing to stay fit -or get in shape- you’re definitely not the only one. Truth be told, there’s a lot of inaccurate information or assumptions about working out at home. So, here are three of those misconceptions…debunked!
Misconception one: If you don’t have heavyweights at home, you can’t strength train.
Reality: Not all strength training depends on throwing around heavy weights or using a smith machine at the gym. Just because you might not have access to heavyweights right now does not mean you can’t add resistance to your workout. From bodyweight exercises that will leave you feeling sore and worked out, to using kettlebells or medicine balls, you can get a fantastic killer strength training workout without hitting the gym. If you’ve tried doing a pushup lately, you know how very real bodyweight workouts can be for strength training.
Misconception two: If you don’t have a trainer, you should wait to start an exercise regimen until you can get to a gym. A gym membership is motivating.
Reality: This school of thought that if you pay for a fitness membership to a gym that you’ll automatically be motivated to use it is flawed. The only place you’ll find motivation is within, and as long as you are relatively healthy, there’s no reason to not start exercising at home. There are options for every body type and fitness level, from yoga for overweight beginners to the popular program Couch to 5k that will have even the most recliner-bound person running in no time with promises you can run a 5k in nine short weeks.
Misconception three: A gym will always offer a better workout than a home workout.
Reality: Let’s take the example of running on a treadmill vs running outside. If you’ve ever spent thirty minutes on a traditional treadmill after not working out for a few months, you might feel like you can easily get back into the groove. Now, if you tried running outside on the sidewalk or through trails for thirty minutes after not working out for a while, you’d probably feel a lot different. This difference is for a couple of reasons; the treadmill belt assists leg turnover. You’re able to run “faster” on a treadmill because of this. Additionally, there is a “give” to the belt of the treadmill that results in a slight bounce when you run. If you run at the same speed outside, it’s simply more difficult, and you will burn more calories. You may get a different workout at home than you would at the gym, but it does not necessarily make it better or worse for building muscle or burning calories. There are plenty of ways to get sweating at home.
So, there you have it: three simple misconceptions about working out at home, and the reality behind them. If you don’t feel motivated to go run a 5k, that’s alright, too, but don’t blame the gym.
