During these uncertain times with the coronavirus (COVID-19) in our midst, not being able to go to the gym is no excuse for not maintaining your training. There are plenty of ways to get your daily exercise program covered when you have to stay home. There are also more resources to help you exercise better too. Exercising at home can produce incredible results. More importantly, you can stay safe while getting the maximum results out of home workouts. The next 5 tips we’re about to cover in this article will help you do just that without hassle. Read on for Self-Isolation: 5 Tips for Exercising Safely at Home!
1. Short Bursts, High Intensity
When exercising at home, you want to limit the amount of time you spend on it. Ideally, a session should last around 30 to 40 minutes. Working out for longer than that isn’t going to necessarily produce greater results; in some cases, longer sessions are actually counterproductive.
What you want to increase is the intensity of your workouts. Assuming you have built your endurance and stamina to a reasonable level from going to the gym regularly, you can push harder and do more cardio and strength workouts. Push-ups, dips, and half-squats are among the easiest to do around the house.
2. Drink Water & Get Your Protein
While in self-isolation, you want to make sure that you derive the maximum impact of your exercise, so there are two things you need: a good amount of water and sufficient protein intake. The former is to make sure that your body remains hydrated when you exercise. Be sure to drink enough water throughout the day and not just before exercising.
Protein, on the other hand, is needed by your muscles; it is essential for the rebuilding of muscles and other cells. You can take proteins designed to be absorbed by your body faster. Hydrolyzed collagen tends to be more bioavailable, making it a fantastic supplement for those who are working out at home.
3. Mix It Up
One of the challenges of working out at home is that you don’t always have the equipment to support your workout routines. This may seem rather limiting at first, especially since you probably don’t have an infinite variety of gym machines at hand.
Worry not, because exercising at home can still be a lot of fun. You just have to mix things up every now and then, and there are plenty of routines to try. Apps like Qinetic and Aaptiv are great for helping you to mix things up. You can also use resources like Yoga Studio for more specific instructions.
4. Rest Well
Just because you are exercising at home during this period of self isolation, doesn’t mean you don’t need to warm up and cool down before and after your routine. Both are still very important if you want to avoid unnecessary injuries. Besides, your body needs to reach its optimum heart rate before it can start burning fat and toning muscle.
On top of that, make sure you get enough rest after exercising and at the end of the day. Resting after training helps your body recover faster while getting enough sleep at night ensures the optimum regeneration of cells. This combination keeps you safe and healthy while maximizing the impact of your home workouts.
5. Start!
Last but certainly not least, start! Start today. Planning to do regular workouts at home is one thing, but actually following through with the plan is another. As mentioned before, you have plenty of apps and resources to help you plan an effective home workout routine. All you need to do now is take that first step and start exercising.