A Beginner's Primer for Getting Fit Without a Gym

Everyone basically understands that exercise is a good thing, and essential for health and happiness in the long run. The thing is, there are a lot of conflicting ideas floating around in cyberspace and in the fitness industry in general, which can make it pretty difficult to determine the best way to train.

After all, the last thing anyone wants is to try and do a super-extreme, creative workout they read about in a fitness magazine, only to have to end up seeking out skilled personal injury legal assistance, and have a bad few weeks or months as a result.

To complicate things even further, many people don’t have easy access to a gym — or would struggle to find the time to make it down to their local gym. This could include the stay at home moms, people who travel a lot for work, and those who live in fairly isolated and small rural communities.

Luckily, there are a bunch of things you can do to begin getting fit without a gym or any complex workout equipment. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Go for daily walks or runs

Isn’t it a bit weird that people pay for the privilege of going to air-conditioned gyms in order to run on the spot, on treadmills, when going for a run around the block would be just as effective and would actually expose you to some fresh air and sunshine at the same time?

While a daily walk may not seem much like exercise, various bits of research has found that simply going on brisk walks can significantly improve fitness over time.

Of course, mixing in some running may be a good idea too — but try not to overdo it. Long cardio sessions (those significantly longer than about 30 minutes) spike stress hormone production in the body and can be detrimental in the long term.

Investigate bodyweight fitness apps

Your phone can do a lot more than send messages and make calls; it may even be able to coach you towards fitness.

In recent times, a wide range of fitness-themed apps has hit the market, with some of them being developed in collaboration with expert trainers and companies focused on fitness in a broader sense.

Fitbit Coach is a great example of just such an app and can run through a large number of different bodyweight workouts that can be done at home. Many yoga apps serve the same purpose.

Play physically active games with friends and family

A workout doesn’t have to be something that you do consciously for the sake of getting in shape. Physically active games and pastimes, such as sports, can get you in good shape without you ever thinking much about the exercise component of things at all.

As much as it’s possible, you should try and arrange to play physically active games with your friends and family on a regular basis. Even going down to the local park and throwing around a Frisbee is bound to do some good.