Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

When COVID-19 hit in 2020, gyms closed down and millions of people were forced to start working out from home. Some people modified their fitness routine and goals, while others abandoned their fitness routine completely.
For myself the pandemic did not really impact my fitness goals because I had been choosing to primarily workout from home prior to the pandemic.

When and why I started working out from home:

I would say I officially started working out from home after I graduated from graduate school, however when I really think about it I have always been an “at home” workout girl.
Growing up I was a heavier child thanks to medicine I was on to treat a seizure disorder. I was bullied and made fun of for being chubby, primarily by my older sister. This led me to be concerned with my weight and size at a very young age.
I probably started working out when I was around 11, and used to follow the at home aerobic videos filmed in the 80’s-90’s that I would borrow from my grandma. I would also cut out workout moves I would find in my mom’s First and Women’s World magazines, and keep them in a folder.

When I was a freshman in college, like most, I gained some weight. Even though I was attending a community college and still living at home with my parents, I lived a very sedentary life. Outside of walking between classes and buildings on campus that first year in school I really did not do much in the category of physical fitness. Throughout high school I participated in sports, so this was the first time I had to really start developing good lifestyle choices and habits.
I started walking an hour a day and adding on some strength moves that I found in old magazine clippings I collected throughout the years. I also had a subscription to Seventeen Magazine, and they always included great workouts each month that I would do as well.

When I started attending my four year institution, and had access to a super nice gym for the first time, I would just primarily use the cardio machines and still do moves in magazines on my own. When I would go home for breaks or the summer months, I would be back at having “no gym” and would have to make do with my magazine workouts and getting my cardio in outside. This reason alone was why I never wanted to get used to using weights or a typical gym.

In-between my Junior and Senior year in college I ended up losing 15 pounds that summer, and never once set foot inside a gym until returning to campus that Fall. That summer made me believe and know that I would never have to have a gym to reach my fitness goals.

“I always felt like not having access to a gym was the worst thing growing up. However, I now know it was the greatest thing I could have been given.”

Top five tips to get started with working out from home:

1) Find and set the time

With any fitness routine, whether it is at a gym or not, you need to find the time you are going to workout. When working out from home it is extra crucial that you stick with the time you designate because it is way to easy to binge your favorite TV show instead of getting your sweat on.
For me the best time has always been when I get off work. However, there are some weeks I need to workout in the morning instead.

“The best time to workout is the best time that works for you and your schedule.”

2) Designate your space

Growing up when I was younger and following at home aerobic videos, I would always follow them in the living room. To this day this is still my designated and preferred space to workout in.
I have my workout equipment sitting inside and on our entertainment center, so that serves as a nice reminder to not watch TV and get my workout in. It also makes it easy for me to do some strength moves while I watch an episode of a show if I want.
I think the reason why I lean to the living room space so much is because I am in our living room 80% of the time I am home, so it seems only fitting to workout there.

My workout gear stays front and center of our entertainment center.

3) Find your workout program

Growing up and throughout college I used magazine clippings, had workout videos and DVDs, and used Pinterest to help me find workout programs.
For me I am always more likely to stick with something if someone has done the work of creating the program and I just need to follow it. If I have to decide what I will do on my own with moves, sets, and reps, I know I will not be successful.
There are a LOT of platforms out there, both free and paid versions.
When I graduated from graduate school I found Katie Dunlop at LoveSweatFitness.com, and she has been my go to platform for five years. She lost 45 pounds on her own and has an inspiring story!
She used to primarily post workout videos to her YouTube channel when I first discovered her, but has grown to having her LSF Workout App that you can pay by subscription, or her 8 Week Hot Body Sweat Guide (HBSG) workout programs.
I have used both the App and 8 Week HBSG and can say they are well worth the price, and have been a foundation to my working out from home routine for years.

4) Get some basic equipment

First off, you do not need any equipment to get a workout in from home because your body is an amazing tool. Go back to PE and do some push ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, squats, and lunges. You will be amazed at how much they will work you out. However, if you want to up it you can get some equipment for your at home gym.
Dumbbells are still somewhat hard to get because of COVID, and are very bulky and expensive. Resistance Bands are a good alternative and take up far less space. I just got the new LSF Resistance Tube Bands, as well as the Sculpting Slider Discs, to go along with my resistance booty bands for my at home workouts. I love the colors and designs, and they give me enough challenge in my workouts without taking up extra space in my living room.
You also can get two gallon water jugs from the grocery store and use that as weights also. This is probably the cheapest option next to using your own body weight to power your at home workouts.

All of my workout gear fits on half of my yoga mat.

5) Stay Accountable

This tip all depends on your personality type. For some people they are able to set a goal or task and stick with it. Others, need somebody or something to keep them accountable.
Finding a fitness buddy like a close friend can be super helpful with sticking with your workout from home routine. You also can engage in already established communities, like Love Sweat and Fitness.
For me, something I do is write out my workouts each week in my planner and print the Monthly Yoga Calendar from Yoga With Adriene and place it on my fridge. Both of these approaches help me stick with my workout routine even if I am doing it solo, and not physically going anywhere.

Well friends those are my top five tips to creating an at home workout routine. Did any surprise you? Which ones do you already do and feel are the most helpful? Any others you would suggest to somebody?

Let me know in the comments!

Until next time,