The Best Ways To Get In Shape This Winter
Free weights (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
For people that enjoy outdoor activities such as jogging, mountain biking and rock climbing, it can be difficult to stay fit during the colder months of the year. However, if you do not mind spending a little money on some home gym equipment, you can ensure that when the mercury in your outdoor thermometer starts to rise again, you are not ashamed to strip off and head for the beach.
The best type of equipment in which to invest will depend on your personal preferences and what type of activities you enjoy participating in during the summer. Below are a few recommendations that could help you to make the right choices and ensure that you lose any holiday weight that you may have gained.
Stationary cycle
This is a good option whatever type of summer sports and outdoor pursuits you enjoy but it is especially suitable for people that enjoy cycling of course. Retaining strength in your legs can be hard when you are out of the saddle for several months but if you invest in a stationary cycle, you can give yourself an aerobic workout and maintain lower body strength at the same time. To build endurance, choose a high resistance setting and follow an interval training programme.
Treadmill
This is another general purpose choice that can help people to get in shape before the weather warms up again and if you like to run in the summer, it is a particularly good option. There are many different types of models available, the more advanced ones costing considerably more than basic models. The advantage of spending more money on a high quality treadmill is that you can set them at an incline to simulate running up gradients and they come with a better feature set that allows you to follow pre-programmed routines or create your own.
Free weights
One of the best ways to maintain muscle tone or increase mass if desired, is to use free weights such as dumbbells and barbells. Whilst resistance training machines are useful, free weights work secondary stabilising muscles more and are therefore a good choice if you prefer compound muscle exercises. Their low cost also makes them an attractive option when buying home gym equipment. Adjustable sets are the cheapest but if you want to be able to move quickly from one weight to another for different exercises, a set of fixed dumbbells could be your best option.
Accessories
Whatever type of equipment you decide to use, and the above is just a small sample of what can be found for sale online, there are a number of accessories that can make it easier to get into shape without suffering from any setbacks due to trying too hard.
Heart rate monitor
When performing aerobic exercise, it is handy to be able to keep a close eye on your pulse, especially when you are just starting out. There are many articles on the Internet that discuss the ideal pulse rate to maintain during exercise but whichever advice you follow, you will find it much easier to stick to if you have a heart rate monitor to which you can refer whilst you are cycling, running or lifting light weights.
Exercise mats
If you fancy trying yoga or wish to perform sit ups and other exercises on a hard surface, a good quality rubber mat will ensure that you are comfortable while working out. They can also help to prevent injuries if you happen to fall at any time during your workouts. You can buy a number of rubber tiles to cover the whole floor if you are planning to turn one of your bedrooms into a home gym.
Category: Health
