Health
Best Home Exercises For Weight Loss in 2024!
Living a healthy life or lose weight doesn’t always require expensive gym memberships or fancy equipment. In fact, you probably don’t even have the time to head out to the gym with your busy schedule. However, you definitely have time to achieve your weight loss and health goals in the comfort of your own home. If there is one thing, we all need to make time for, it’s a little exercise in our daily routine! And effective home workouts are the most accessible and convenient way to do it. If you’re looking for the best home exercises for weight loss and better health in 2024, we’ve got you! We’re here with all the tips and tricks to get you started!
Weight Loss is a Holistic Approach
Before diving into exercises, it’s crucial to emphasize that weight loss is a holistic process. Who better to turn to than @sonali_swami for some inspiration as she lives her fittest life in her 40s! While exercising is highly effective, remember that sustainable weight loss hinges on a combined effort of healthy eating and regular exercise. If your goal is weight loss, ensure you maintain a calorie deficit to create the ideal conditions for your body to shed unwanted pounds. Once you have lost that extra weight, you can focus on regular exercise and a balanced diet with sufficient calories, depending on your daily activity levels. Now, let’s jump into the exciting world of home workouts!
Variety is Key
If you’re not like some of the health buffs out there, you probably have difficulty sticking to your plans to workout. And if you’re like most people out there who struggle with weight loss, you’re probably approaching exercise the wrong way. Variety is key! When you keep doing the same workout too many times, you lose motivation at some point. Trying a variety of exercises is key to keeping your workouts engaging and preventing plateaus.
Best Workouts to Try at Home
So, if you want to work out at home and lose any unwanted weight, try these:
1. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
HIIT workouts are probably the best way to lose weight at home. And it may sound intimidating but is not as difficult as you may think. The goal of trying HIIT workouts is to benefit from compound exercises. By engaging multiple muscle groups simultaneously, you will maximize calorie burning, build overall strength and improve stability. If you are a beginner, you can simply try the easier variations of each exercise at first and slowly move on to the harder variations. There are many HIIT workouts available online for free or you could simply try a circuit with these staple exercises:
Burpees:
- Easy: Start with a modified burpee, eliminating the push-up and transitioning from a squat to a plank position before jumping back up.
- Harder: For an extra challenge, incorporate a full push-up or add a jump squat at the end for explosive power.
Squats:
- Easy: Wall squats are a beginner-friendly option. Lean your back against a wall and perform a squat as if sitting in an invisible chair.
- Harder: Increase the intensity by adding jump squats, pistol squats, or holding dumbbells or water bottles for added weight.
Lunges:
- Easy: Start with stationary lunges, stepping forward with one leg and lowering your hips until both knees are bent at 90 degrees.
- Harder: Push yourself with walking lunges, moving forward continuously, or add weights for increased resistance. You can also try Bulgarian split squats, balancing on one leg with the other leg extended behind you.
Push-ups:
- Easy: Wall push-ups are a great starting point. Place your hands shoulder-width apart on a wall and perform a push-up, bringing your chest closer to the wall.
- Harder: Knee push-ups are another beginner-friendly option. Perform the push-up from a kneeling position instead of a plank. As you progress, transition to full push-ups on your toes. For an extra challenge, try incline push-ups with your hands elevated on a raised surface or decline push-ups with your feet elevated.
Planks:
- Easy: Start with a forearm plank, resting on your forearms and elbows with your body in a straight line from head to heels.
- Harder: Progress to a high plank, supporting yourself on your hands with your body in a straight line. For an extra challenge, try side planks or alternating side planks.
2. Yoga
Yoga isn’t just about flexibility; it can be a potent tool for building strength, improving metabolism, and reducing stress, all of which contribute to weight loss. Radhika Bose (@yogasini) is always posting some great content on her channels to inspire you to stick to your Yoga routine!
- Power yoga, vinyasa flow, and ashtanga yoga are dynamic styles that elevate your heart rate and burn calories.
- For targeted weight loss, focus on poses like warrior pose variations, boat pose, and chair pose, which engage core muscles and promote calorie burning.
3. Cardio Machines
If you want something easier and have the space for it, get an at-home cardio machine. Seeing that treadmill right in front of you will make it more likely that you take that walk or run. These cardio machines are great for the whole family and sometimes easier to use than pushing yourself to do a workout.
- Treadmill: Get your heart rate soaring with interval training, brisk walking, or even incline walks for an added challenge.
- Stationary Bike: Combine high-intensity bursts with steady-state cycling for efficient calorie burning.
- Elliptical Trainer: Engage your upper and lower body with low-impact cardio that’s gentle on your joints.
Essential Tips for Effective Home Workouts:
- Warm-up: Prepare your body with light cardio and dynamic stretches for 5-10 minutes.
- Cool-down: Stretch your muscles and gradually bring your heart rate down.
- Maintain proper form: Focus on correct technique to avoid injuries and maximize results.
- Challenge yourself: Increase reps, sets, or weights as you progress.
- Consistency is key: Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week.
- Listen to your body: Rest when needed and avoid overtraining.
- Track your progress: Monitor your weight and fitness level to stay motivated.
Weight loss is a journey, not a sprint. Embrace these home exercises, find inspiration from your favourite fitness influencers, and prioritize consistency and healthy habits for a sustainable and successful journey towards your fitness goals.