Simple Home Workouts to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

The holidays are over and it’s time to shed that winter fat. You’ve probably resolved to live a healthier, more active life for your New Year’s resolution. If so, you’re probably eyeballing a gym membership or some home workout equipment. Before you make any big purchases, though, take it slow. Check out some of these simple home workouts that don’t require any equipment or gym membership. These are some of the easiest ways to keep those New Year’s resolutions!

Simple Home Workouts

Before you Start
Before you start any of these workouts, here’s a few quick words of advice. Make sure you drink plenty of water and don’t overdo it. You should also stretch thoroughly before any strenuous physical activity. If you’re not very used to working out, make sure you don’t throw yourself in too haphazardly. You don’t get good results if you over-exert yourself! Take two minute breaks between each rep and catch your breath.

Incline Push-Ups
Get a surface like a bench or box that is sturdy enough to hold up your body’s weight. Brace your arms in a push-up position against the raised surface. Keep your body as straight as you can from your feet up to your head. Keeping this straight profile lower your body with your arms until it dips beneath your elbows. After a brief pause, return to your neutral position as rapidly as your arms can safely manage.

If you find this exercise difficult, you can increase the incline. The greater the incline, the easier it will be for you. Likewise, if you find this too easy, you can instead do a traditional push-up, with your hands on the floor. In either event, 12 to 15 repetitions is a good number for a session.

Side Plank
Start by lying on the side of your body your non-dominant arm is on. Prop your body up on your elbow and forearm and make sure your arm is right under your shoulder. Place your other hand on your hip and tighten your core. Using your core, raise your hips from the floor and keep your arm locked in place. Keep your core tight and hold there for half a minute. Then, flip over and repeat this process for your other side.

If you find it difficult to hold this for a full thirty seconds, you can try a modified version of the side plank. The modified version involves the same motions, but instead of holding it for a full thirty seconds you can drop back and then restart the movement. Do this until you get thirty full seconds across whichever number of repetitions you need to do.

Squats
Square your shoulders and stand as up as straight as you can. Set your feet a little further out than your shoulder-width and hold your arms out in front of you, parallel to the floor. Flexing your ab muscles, keeping your back straight and arms out, slowly squat by bending your knees and keeping your hips back. Once you get as low as you can, pause briefly before slowly returning to a standing position. Repeat this motion 15 to 20 times for a full session.

Hip Raise
While lying on the floor on your back, bend your knees and place your feet flat on the floor. Put your arms out at an angle from your body and face your palms up towards the ceiling. Tighten your core and breath normally as you squeeze your leg muscles and push your hips off the floor. Keep you body in as straight a line as you can while pushing your hips up off the floor. Pause when high in the air for about five seconds and then and then lower back to the floor slowly. 10 reps make for a full set!

Jogging
After doing reps of each of the body-weight exercises, you can round out your exercise with a light jog. Make sure you stretch your legs well and get hydrated before heading out. Stay safe when you’re out jogging, watch out for cars and make sure you don’t trespass. Jog for a few miles every morning or every other day and get in the habit of exercising regularly. If you make it a habit, it’s much easier to get up and get your workout in before work!

If you stick to these easy exercises and make sure you do them consistently then you may find you have better luck with your resolutions. Happy New Year, and we hope your resolutions go well!