Are Home Workouts a Scam?

Are you uncomfortable by the idea of working out in a public space? Not sure how to use the gym equipment? You can’t commit to the time it takes to get to and from the gym, let alone the cost of a membership? I don’t know about you, but these are all excuses that I personally have for not having a gym membership and are excuses that I've held over the past 10 years (and still hold today). But if you’re not going to workout at a gym, then your next best option might be workout out at home.

I’m sure that you may be wondering, “do home workout programs REALLY work?” I mean, there are a TON of home workout programs, but are they really that effective? Will they help you lose weight? Tone up? Help you to level up your fitness?

Can I just stop you for a second before we go any further?

The more time you spend being indecisive, the more time you waste when you could have been working towards your health and fitness goals!

If you are someone who cannot bring yourself to go get a gym membership (such as myself), then home workout programs are a great solution! Not only financially, but also a great time saver and an even greater convenience all around. Also, there are a variety of programs available, regardless of what your goal is (i.e., cardio, resistance training, dancing, you get the point)!

However, many people are skeptical whether an at-home workout program will actually help them reach their goals. They can be even more wary about making the small investment in a home workout program compared to the cost of a gym membership. So take it from someone who has dedicated the past 6 years to working out at home and let’s go over the following four points.

1. The Only Scam is You Not Committing

That’s right, you heard it here first. If you are skeptical as to whether a home workout program is effective, you may actually only be skeptical if you are going to follow through with it (not that we usually want to admit it to ourselves).

Any workout program is only as effective given the amount of time you follow through with it.

Many people believe that they need to spend hours in the gym pushing their bodies to failure when starting a fitness plan. Truth is, if you are just starting your health and fitness journey, your body is primed to lose weight and build lean body mass. The human body is rather adaptable and makes the most adaptations when you change your fitness regime from a sedentary lifestyle to an active lifestyle. So, even if you are consistent with only 30 minutes a day to start, you will still see significant changes.

2. You Don’t Need Expensive Workout Equipment

One barrier to working out at home is that many people feel that they need access to gym equipment which they do not have. Let me tell you something, all you really need to do is START MOVING. That’s right! If you are new to your fitness journey, simple body weight resistance exercises and cardio is more than enough to get you started. Body weight exercises such as squats, lunges, push-ups, triceps dips, planks, and more. Many home workout programs incorporate such exercises to help you see results.

Personally, I spent the majority of my active lifestyle doing cardio-based and calisthenics programs such as T-25, Insanity Max 30, Piyo, etc., working out from anywhere from 25 – 40 minutes a day, which requires just you and your human.

3. You Get Your Own Personal Trainer

This is an awesome benefit. With home workout programs, you have your own personal trainer to walk you through the exercises in the comfort of your own home. You can rewind, take it slow, and get acquainted with the exercises. Anywhere else, and you may be paying around $60 for a personal trainer per session. So, this is a great economical solution and a great way to learn various forms of exercises.

4. Many Home Workout Programs Come with Tools

All of the home workout programs that I have participated in typically come with workout calendars, tracking sheets (to track your progress), and even nutritional recommendations and meal plan and recipe ideas. Some even include a modifier (someone who modifies the exercises) to make the program low-impact and is a great way to get acquainted with the exercises, so you can complete the program at a pace that is comfortable for you!

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Personally, I’ve found that partaking in home workout programs has allowed me to challenge myself in ways that I don’t think I would have if I had a gym membership. I find it more exciting, invigorating. I find that there are endless things that you can do in the comfort of your own home to get in shape. I’ve also been able to get into the best shape of my life, all from working out at home!

Look, if you want to get in shape, you're going to have to commit to yourself. Whether it means going to the gym or working out at home – commit. The biggest hurdle to overcome is yourself. Regardless of what you decide, the moment that you commit and remain consistent with your fitness, you’re going to see results - even from working out at home.

It’s not a matter of ‘are home workouts a scam?’ It’s a matter of: are you ready to commit to yourself?

So, I leave you with this: Are you?

#fitness #weightloss #exercise #homeworkout #gym