Fit Villains: Selfish, Shameless, Sassy, Fitness.

Hey there,

I did. :)

I’m not a gym person (though I try to go once a week for the equipment). 80-90% of my workouts are done at home. All you need is a wee bit of space (if you can do a snow angel on the floor, you’re good), and you NEED to make an area to workout in (like having an office). This may mean some changes to your layout, but it’s worth it.

It’s not about the workout, but rather what YOU put into it. The gym will not help you lose weight, neither will any specific DVD or workout program: YOU are the one who decides how much effort you’re putting into it, and whether or not it’s going to work for you. If you’re pushing yourself (not just going through the motions), you’ll be fine. There are also tons of great workout programs & DVD’s for the home that you can take advantage of.

Remember that exercise changes the composition of your body, gives you a metabolic boost and can burn a few extra calories. But DIET is where you’ll really need to make changes to lose the pounds. Don’t snack away all your results because you’ve earned it: stick to the plan. I take both seriously: the fitter you are, the better you feel, the more calories you’ll burn longterm and the more confident you’ll get (that burst of confidence will help when you finally decide to head to the gym). But so many people workout and don’t watch their diets: since you have a lot of weight to lose, you need to be vigilant about your diet too. :)

Basic Tips To Workout At Home

1. Make room.

Space is the number one complaint I hear for people who want to work out at home. Truth is, most of us need only 6’ by 6’ of space. To make the room you need, lie down with your arms outreached once in each direction. This is about the space you need.

It helps to declutter your space. You need your room to be multidimensional and EASY to workout in. Get rid of the space obstacles. See what can easily be on wheels, moved or rearranged. It’s easier than you think. Once you get used to how things move, you can transform your room within seconds.   

2. Get yourself ready & keep yourself ready.

Make sure you have a bottle of water (or two) and a towel within reach. Weights, mats, tools you’ll need: have items ready so you don’t break momentum. Some people like to pack these items away, but having them easily accessible is key. Out of sight really is out of mind. Find a place for your equipment that’s OUT but not in the way.

3. Dress the part.

Workout in workout clothes, not pajamas! No, you don’t have to do your hair or makeup, but wearing clothes that are designed to lounge in might set the wrong tone. You want clothes that inspire you to move, not relax.

Invest in some cute workout wear. You don’t need to spend a lot of money (H & M, Walmart, Target), just find something that you would ONLY wear to workout in. You can also trick yourself with some costuming. For example, I like legwarmers. They don’t serve a purpose, but I associate them with working out. I also wear little cotton gloves with the fingers cut off. They make me feel bad ass & I’m lost if I can’t find them.

4. Shoes.

Now, this is a tough one. A lot of people starting out HATE wearing workout shoes. I’d advise you to wear them. They distribute your balance, support your back & knees. If your feet hurt, after broken in, the shoe is probably not the right one for you. Tips for choosing the right shoes.

5. Unplug.

Phones, computer, ANYTHING distracting. It’s okay to tell people that you’re busy for the next hour and it’s GOOD to take that time for yourself. Remember that nothing is urgent enough that it can’t wait an hour. Turn your phone to silent, minimize distractions.

6. Pump yourself up.

Your attitude and head space is half the battle. There are two types of people, those that need to work themselves up and those that need to stop talking themselves out of it. If you notice that you can talk yourself out of workouts, don’t give yourself the time to. Just go, don’t think. Start, push play, turn off your brain. If you need to work yourself up, you can try dancing around for a bit before starting. It gets me revved up. Play a few songs that get you pumped or do something else that gets you motivated.

7. Don’t think about the time.

Sometimes an hour can seem like FOREVER to commit to. Instead, focus on the movements & getting the most out of each part. Time only becomes a motivator when you realize how little you have left! I often use the 5 minute motivator. I think about the next five minutes and nothing else.

8. K.Y.O.A. - Kick Your Own Ass.

No one else is there to do it for you. No trainer, no instructor, no one. When the workout gets too easy (which it WILL), it’s up to you to keep the challenge up. Increase your weights, do the higher intensity, get IN to your moves, add more resistance, tighten your muscles. It’s REALLY good to feel the workouts get easier, but don’t get too comfortable or you’ll lose out on quicker results.

9. Have fun with it!

No one’s around to judge you. Bust a move or two, don’t get discouraged. Try your best and SMILE while you workout.

It can be challenging to keep DVD workouts fresh. I’ve done some DVD’s so many times I can recite them verbatim. Many times, I put them on mute while I play my own soundtrack. Once you know the DVD well, and your form is perfect, you can give this a try to keep your workouts fresh. (I will add though, that every now and then the cues are GREAT form reminders. Play them through once in awhile to keep your form up).

My ULTIMATE Guide to Fitness DVD’s

Hope this helps! Keep me posted, would love to see how you’re doing!

xo