With new babies in both of our lives, our personal time has definitely been limited and we’ve had to figure out what truly is a top priority to get done in those small breaks in our schedules. Whether it’s the near-constant feeding at the beginning of having a baby, or the (hopefully) couple of hours during a nap, one of the biggest adjustments around becoming a parent is simply adjusting your time management expectations and realities. Because of that, and because exercise is still a thing we both love and want to make time for, we’ve both been heavy into figuring out more ways to work out at home. Making it to a class (yoga, kickboxing, etc.) just isn’t quite as feasible in this season of life. That being said, there are so many ways to accomplish working out at home, and so many articles and lists of “must have” fitness products to accomplish that goal. We’re here to tell you it’s just not so. You can get a home workout in without myriad gear and outfits. Here are 4 things we don’t recommend adding to your home gym*.
* gym = This means many things for many people! Laura uses her office slash closet room or backyard depending on the time of year; Stella has an amazing treehouse-esque porch that she’s dubbed “the yoga porch.” Find a space (it might be small!) that works for you, and then figure out exactly what gear you can accommodate with that space.
1. Stationary Bike or Treadmill
Because we live in Los Angeles where square footage is at a premium in both houses and apartments, the name of the game is to keep things small. We both have a fairly minimalist approach to gym accessories, and while a stationary bike or treadmill sounds like a great way to easily and efficiently get a home workout in, for us it’s not tenable for space concerns.
If you already have a bike, we definitely recommend using a trainer stand instead. Cheaper, smaller, and easier to store, this piece of equipment is definitely worth the investment if you’re an avid biker that just can’t get out of the house as much as you’d like. Instead of the treadmill we love a good ‘ol fashioned run. It’s definitely harder to schedule this in because it involves leaving the house, but even 10 or 15 minutes can get your heart rate up high enough to burn some calories. Try sneaking a run in before or after your kid is asleep, during your lunch break at work, or as a nice excuse for some me-time on the weekend.
2. Trampoline
These things seem to be making a comeback, and all we can think about is the 90s! Small trampolines are sold as way to up your cardio, but they also introduce a risk of ankle and knee injuries. Beyond that, it’s a bulky piece of equipment to find a place to store, so we’re going to recommend a solid pass here.
Replacement exercises include standing broad jumps and burpees, accomplishable in your driveway or backyard; stair climbing (we love a good multi-level parking garage for this!) or step aerobics where you can use a low chair or short staircase if you have one available in or outside of your home.
3. Kettlebells
Also very trendy of the moment, kettlebells are a good way to introduce heavier weights into your routines; however, the momentum movements often associated with kettlebell workouts are ripe for injury-inducing gestures. These are better used in a gym or class under instruction.
We like to stick to hand weights instead. You can even up the ante a bit by holding multiple weights in each hand to up the heft factor. We both have sets like this that we add into yoga exercises, carry while walking, and keep nearby during a Netflix binge to keep our bodies moving and blood circulating.
4. The Flex Belt and an Ab Wheel
Ab accessories like the Flex Belt and Ab Wheel look great in a solidly produced infomercial… but the truth is they’re hard to use correctly and can be a larger monetary investment with not much benefit.
Because these types of gym accessories are pretty easy to use the wrong way, lots of fitness instructors are in the “they don’t even work” camp. Crunches and variations of sit-ups do the best work. We like these exercise routines [1], [2], [3], [4] to keep on hand for sit-up alternative inspiration!
P.S. – Two things we can really get behind? A foam roller and the TRX system. Both make working out (and recovering) at home a breeze!
Have you had any luck subbing in something from around the house in place of an expensive tool? Does your neighborhood offer any shortcuts to avoid buying a stairmaster, treadmill, etc?? Let us know in the comments!
P.P.S – This post is part of our ‘30 Blog Posts We Want to Write in 2019‘ list. Be sure to check out the post for the rest!