Work Out at Home

Q and A with Trainer Chris Powell

Chris shares tips on how to get fit at home without spending money on fancy equipment.

Fancy exercise equipment can be ridiculously overpriced and usually ends up in the garage after a month or two! To be honest, you can get the best overall workout with just your own bodyweight. In addition, trying to find time between work, spouse, kids, and household chores can seem almost impossible. For many of us, taking an hour to go to the gym is just not an option!

Did you know that you can get just as good a workout right in your own living room? It's true! With a little creativity, you can turn your living room into a home gym!

Try these amazing workout exercises that you can do in 20 to 30 minutes, and in the comfort of your own living room:

What you'll need:

Couch Open area in the middle of the living room (you may need to move a little furniture) "Dumbbells" (Two 1-gallon jugs work great for heavy dumbbells, but if you need a bit more or less weight, you can find "dumbbells" in all sizes around the house.  If you are just starting out, two small cans of food work just fine!)

Before you engage in any physical activity, you should consult with your physician to ensure that exercise is right for you. If at any time during the workout you feel short of breath, lightheaded, dizzy, or experience any pain, STOP. Listen to your body!

Back exercise – lawnmowers (using a "dumbbell")

1. Take a split stance position (right foot forward, left foot behind).
2. Using your left hand, brace yourself against a sofa, shelf, or other stable object.
3. Tighten your abs as much as you can and slowly raise the "dumbbell," bending at the elbow.
4. Hold for a brief pause at the top of the motion, and then slowly lower the weight (dumbbell) back down.

Shoulders – side shoulder raise (using both "dumbbells")

1. Grab two "dumbbells" and hold them down at your sides -- feet should be shoulder-width apart.
2. Keeping the knees slightly bent, slowly raise the dumbbells out to your sides until your arms are parallel with the ground (basically, you make a big "T" with your body).
3. Slowly lower the dumbbells back down to your side.

Check back next week and we’ll continue the workout from home with more exercise tips.

Learn more about Chris

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