The Best Equipment for Losing Weight at Home
Walking into a gym can be daunting for many ladies. It can often be so intimidating it stops you from going altogether. This is what home workouts are for! You can get a great workout in the comfort of your own home, simply by using your own body weight or some basic equipment.
Even though I do most of my workouts at my local gym (purely because it gives me time away from work, home, and a break from Mamma duties), I’m a big ambassador of home workouts as there are so many benefits that come with them…
The Benefits of Working out at Home
Home workouts are convenient; you can set your alarm and get your workout done in the morning before your family wake up (you don’t even need to get out of your PJ’s). You’ve got your shower there with all your favourite toiletries, so there’s no need to pack a heavy bag full of gels, shampoos, or make-up, and you’ll never risk forgetting your towel!
If you’re working out in the morning, breakfast is easy to grab straight after and you can take on your day feeling energised, organised and productive.
One of the best things about working out at home, is its 100% free, you don’t even need to purchase equipment to start. The BEST equipment to use when you’re starting out is YOU. Your body weight can give you a challenging workout, so if you’re just starting out check out any one of my body-weight workouts. This really can be enough to help you lose weight, burn fat and look more defined.
Before I give you my recommendations on what to buy, I want to let you know what to avoid.
The Worst Type of Equipment for Weight Loss
From experience and listening to what works and what doesn’t work for my ladies, the worst type of home equipment for weight loss is the equipment that gets used once and never touched again. I’m sure there are hundreds of cross-trainers, treadmills and stationary bikes out there doing a fantastic job of holding coats and piles of washing. As these types of equipment are bulky and often expensive, there are many other types of equipment I would recommend first. However, if they are being used regularly – they are great.
There are plenty of pieces of equipment you can invest in which will take up minimal space, won’t cost you too much, and will be equally as beneficial for losing weight as any other equipment.
The Best Equipment for Losing Weight at Home
Here is a list of the 3 top pieces of equipment I love to use. All 3 are easily stored away in a cupboard or out of sight, and away from little fingers getting to them.
1) Dumbbells
This would be my #1 investment. You can pay up to £250 for an adjustable set, but if you’re starting off there’s really no need.
A set of 5 kg Dumbbells can be a great start to help you build upper body strength and still challenge your lower body. You can pick them up from £7-£10. Once you start using them them regularly, you could invest in a heavier set for you lower body. Start with one set to begin with, then further down the line you can invest in heavy dumbbells when you know it’s been a worthwhile investment.
2) Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are a super cheap piece of equipment that you can pick up for as cheap as £1, or you can purchase a set from £7.
The reason I love resistance bands is because you can stick them in your bag and take them anywhere you go. If you travel a lot you can use them for a hotel room workout, or even fit a quick workout into your lunch breaks at work. A set with different resistances would be a good choice as you can use a light one for weaker muscle groups (upper body) and a harder one for stronger muscle groups (lower body).
3) Kettle-bells
I’d probably only consider getting a kettle-bell once you’ve been using dumbbells at home and you fancy some variety with your workouts. There are so many exercises you can do to ensure you never get bored doing the same thing. They can also easily be hidden away and you can pick them up from £5. For your upper body you could try 4-6 kg and for your lower body try a weight from 10kg. They do get more expensive as they get heavier (as with Dumbbells) or you could get a set from £20 with a variety of weights.
Don’t Fall For The Gimmicks
Its easy to be brain washed by clever adverts showing you the “latest, most incredible home equipment which will help you look like the model/celebrity advertising it in only 30 days.” If it was as easy as the ads made weight loss look, everyone would have a body like J Lo. Remember if it seems too good to be true… it probably is. We will never get away from the fact that to lose fat and achieve a toned and defined body we need to eat better and exercise regularly, both which can easily be done from the convenience of your home.