What do I need to start exercising at home?
You really don’t need anything to get started at home. You can use your body weight for lots of different exercises including push ups, sit ups, tricep dips, walking, running, lunges, squats and of course Yoga.
However, if you’d like to add a bit more intensity to your workouts and be super comfy in your clothes I’d recommend the following:
Hand weights, Kmart and Big W have a great range that starts at $4, whilst Rebel Sport will give you a wider range of heavier weight training options.
A skipping rope can be a good indoor option to increase your cardiovascular fitness.
A Yoga mat or workout mat, this will protect your knees and hands when working out on the floor, my fav splurge brands include Lululemon and Yogi Peace Club, Kmart, Target and Big W also have good budget options.
Workout gear. As long as its comfy and breathes well that’s all you need. Again Kmart, Target and Big W have an awesome range of sports gear, as does Bonds and Rebel Sport. If you’re after a splurge I love the Dharma bums range, they’re Australian, ethical and as an added bonus they have awesome sales with workout tights from $35 which is a bargain for the quality.
Good shoes. Look for a well fitting pair of sports shoes that you can wear in a bit before doing too much training in them. Having a well fitting pair of sports shoes can help prevent injuries over time. You can find sports shoes in many stores ranging from Big W, Kmart, Target to Rebel Sport and in Hobart The Running Edge. If you’re looking to move into some serious running training or have a hip, knee, back or ankle injury I’d recommend being professionally fitted at somewhere like The Running Edge, the larger investment in a good pair of shoes will save money and pain over time in injury management and ideally prevention. They also have a great running club.
For the ladies a good sports bra, these can be found in specialist lingerie stores (if you’d like to get properly fitted) and sports stores or places such as Bonds, Kmart and Big W. Find what works for you as there are crop top and full bra options galore to choose from. If you’re looking at running or jumping activities make sure you go with a maximum support option. For Yoga and stretching a crop top can work well.
Good socks with lots of padding. These will help ensure you don’t get blisters when getting started or changing your exercise routines. I’ve had everything from $20 a pair Lululemon and Nike running socks however, I always end up going back to the comfy Bonds sock range when they’re 40% off!
A drink bottle with mls marked on it so you can keep track of how much you’ve drunk during the day. Generally 2 Litres a day is recommended plus a bit more if you’re exercising.
Music, find some beats you love this will help keep you on track and having fun while at home as it can be hard to get motivated at home. It can also make going for a walk or run more interesting. Although, if you are training for a longer distance run such as 10km+ run and you’re looking to improve you times, music may not be recommended as it can change your running pace. I have found Spotify or Apple Music good options if you’d like a wide range of music and are happy to pay a monthly subscription.
I always avoid using scales and tape measures for the first month of training at home. This means that I’m focused on changing my habits, finding what is manageable for me and enjoying my new routine. I find if I try to get started feeling crap about myself as I’ve put on some weight or lost my fitness, the scales only make it worse. Get into a happy routine that works for you with a long term and short term goal and once your on track go to the scales, tape measures and timing your runs or recording your max reps and change your goals from there.
