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For many of us, having to go to a gym to exercise is an all too easy excuse to skip a workout.  Don’t get me wrong; gyms can be a great way to get fit.  For some people, however, gyms serve more as a deterrent than a means.  Regardless of the reasoning, you needn’t be discouraged and give up on working out altogether.  Working out at home can be just as effective as going to the gym.  In fact, research has shown that having home-based exercise plans and equipment, along with dividing your workouts into short increments several times a day, can add up to greater long-term commitment to exercise and weight management. The most important thing to remember when it comes to working out at home though is to choose something that works best for you.  The following are some of my favorite home-based workout ideas.

1.  Cardio Equipment: When entering a gym, you will undoubtedly observe numerous pieces of equipment intended for aerobic exercise.  These machines range from treadmills, ellipticals, stair climbers, and others too numerous to name.  Though it is a bit of an investment, purchasing a piece of equipment like this for your home can seriously pay off in the long run in terms of your health…if you use it.  I personally recommend a treadmill or elliptical machine.  Using a treadmill allows you to walk for a less intense workout or turn up the speed and incline for an intense cardio workout.  An elliptical is a good alternative to the treadmill because it allows you to get a good cardio workout without putting as much stress on your joints.

2.  Free weights, medicine balls, and balance balls: This can be a great way to strengthen and tone and requires very little space.  Start out with a small assortment of varying weights and add to your collection as you discover more exercises or increase your resistance. A balance ball works your core and when combined with free weights you can get in a total body workout. An added bonus…many of the workout balls come with instructional DVDs or charts to help you get started.

3.  Exercise DVDs: In any video store you will find an entire library of exercise DVDs offering an easy way to try countless numbers of workouts at home right in front of you own TV.  Exercise DVDs are great because they allow you to do different kinds of workouts at home with each exercise demonstrated to ensure you do it correctly.  But it can be quite overwhelming picking out which type of exercise is right for you; pilates, kickboxing, abs, dance, yoga, and just about every workout under the sun.  When selecting a DVD choose a type of exercise that appeals to you, one appropriate for your level of fitness, and try to avoid videos that promise a “quick fix.” Not sure you want to invest in a DVD you might not like? Try a video/DVD rental program or your local library to try out some workouts at little or no cost.

4.  Wii Fit: This Nintendo game has received a lot of press and is being promoted as the ultimate at-home exercise device.  Not only does the Wii calculate your BMI, but it provides a number of workouts that can appeal to the entire family.  By utilizing a “balance board” the Wii Fit can offer instruction for different exercises, track your weight, and act as a personal workout mentor.  The Wii now has more fitness options that are also a great option for getting in shape. But like the treadmill and other aerobic exercise machines, the Wii Fit only works if you put it to use.

5.  Dance Dance Revolution:  This was the go-to workout video game before games like Wii Fit hit the market and is still a fun way to work out.  Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) requires a large dance mat.  Then you step on directional arrows in time with the corresponding onscreen arrows.  Upbeat songs make it a fun workout and the game even tracks how many calories you’ve burned for each song. The DDR workout plan has even been put to use in research studies aimed at helping adolescents get in shape and manage their weight in a fun way. Don’t have a DDR game? Crank up the music at home and dance to your heart’s content…we won’t tell.