If your local gym is closed, it may be time to consider building a home gym.  By now, we are all aware that a healthy diet, in combination with regular exercise, is vital for overall well-being.  When it comes to working out, there are a myriad of exercise regimens out there.  It can be challenging to know which one is best for you and how to get started if you are new to the world of fitness.  If you are looking for a workout that you can do at home that is suited for all ages, consider strength training.

How to start strength training at home?

Strength training exercises are movements that you can do with your body and in combination with weights that help to build muscle, strengthen bones, and increase overall endurance.

Below we will discuss five types of strength training workouts you can start as a beginner.

Bodyweight training

This involves using the weight of your body as resistance while exercising.

What’s good about it?

• No equipment needed
• Helps your body to become less injury-prone
• Can do progressively harder movements to increase your strength

Getting started

Bodyweight training may be an excellent place to start since all you need is your body to perform the exercises. You can achieve different goals such as losing weight, adding muscle, and of course, gaining strength. Check out this beginner bodyweight workout.

If you’d like to learn more about bodyweight training, or want some examples of bodyweight training workouts you can do at home, check out Workout Cave’s article on Bodyweight Workouts.

Dumbbell training

This workout uses free weights to build strength.

What’s good about it?

• You may already own some weights (check in your garage or basement—or under your bed)
• Home gym friendly
• You can add weights and change your movements to increase the difficulty of the exercises

Getting started

Here is a 15-minute beginner dumbbell training workout that you can use to strengthen your entire body.

Kettlebell training

This consists of using a ball-shaped weight with a handle during strength-training exercises.

What’s good about it?

• Weights come in different sizes so you can increase your routine difficulty
• Can be easily accessible via your home gym

Getting started

If you have never used a kettlebell before, here is a beginner kettlebell workout to explain the basics and to get you started.

Barbell training

Strength training that uses a bar with detachable weights on either end.

What’s good about it?

• Can help you to get strong quickly
• Equipment can be a part of your home gym

Getting started

You can use barbells in a variety of ways to gain strength.  These barbell workouts illustrate some different moves you can use as a beginner.  Although barbells may be intimidating if you have never used them before, this workout shows that they can be useful for both men and women.

Functional training

Functional training uses your bodyweight and equipment to strengthen muscles used in everyday movements.

What’s good about it?

• Can help to prevent injury
• Slows down age-related muscle atrophy

Getting started

Doing exercises that can both protect your body and help you to perform everyday tasks better seems like a no-brainer. To get started with functional training, check out these five beginner exercises.

Tips for making the most of your home workout

With the different types of strength training outlined above, it may be difficult to know where to start. Consider sampling each type of exercise to see which is the best fit for you. Is the exercise something you can get into? Whatever your exercise goals, you want to develop a habit that will get you the results you want. If the exercise is not something you will do and stick with it, you will be wasting your time. So, find something you enjoy!

As you embark on getting stronger, here are some tips to help make your workout more effective.

• Begin slowly and build up – As was mentioned above, by varying your movements and increasing weights, you can increase the difficulty of your workouts and build up your strength.

• Don’t forego warming up – Before stressing your muscles with a workout routine, be sure to warm up first. It is a necessary preparation to get your muscles ready.

• Mix it up – Combine exercises dedicated to strengthening different parts of your body. This can give you an efficient total body workout.

• Eat a post-workout snack and drink plenty of water – Make sure you are giving your body the necessary nutrients it needs to sustain your workouts. And of course, staying hydrated is essential.

• Listen to your body – If you need to take a rest day, do it. You may need time to allow your muscles to recover.

If you’re ready to learn more about how to begin strength training from home, contact Fitness Gallery today to check out the products and services we offer that will help you to reach your goals.