#SugarBalancedLiving

If you want to get fit in the new year and heading to a gym doesn't make you feel confident, don't worry. There are plenty of ways you can work out outside of a gym and still hit your goals. People exercise every day and achieve their goals by doing a range of activities that don't require an expensive gym membership at all.

Intrigued? Read on to learn how you can still work out and hit your goals without joining the hordes of people who are ready to sign up for a gym in January, only to quit a few weeks later.

Home Gym

One alternative to a commercial gym is to build your own. Figure out what equipment you want to use, i.e., a weight rack, Rubber Coated Hex Dumbbells from Titan Fitness, static bikes, elliptical machines, etc., and create a space in your home or garage where you can go to workout and exercise in a private area that cuts out all of the stress of going to a gym and is in a convenient and comfortable location.

Online Fitness Trainer

If exercising outside of the house isn’t for you, then why not look at working with a trainer from the comfort of your own home via an online platform? You can connect with your trainer to work out regularly, and they can work alongside you, set your exercises to do, and help you with any issues you might be having.

The plans offered will vary from coach to coach and will depend on their particular experience and expertise. However, finding someone who can support your goals and work with you to help you become as fit and healthy as possible without you having to leave your house or exercise in public.

Free Workouts

Taking inspiration from online trainers, as mentioned above, there are literally thousands of free workout videos online on various platforms that you can use to help you get in shape. Depending on your current abilities or skill level and the equipment you have, again, you will be doing these at home but following along to a pre-recorded session if you're following a YouTube video or taking notes if you're getting ideas from a reel or TikTok you have found with something you want to try.

If you're unsure where to start, find beginner workouts, try them, and see what you prefer. At this stage, the aim is to do something so take your time trying different types of exercises online to see what you are capable of and what you can realistically do. You don't want to push yourself too hard yet; you want to build a habit of adding exercise to your routine, so it becomes automatic Once this habit is in place, you can progress with more complex workouts when you are able to.

Go for A Walk

One of the most underrated exercises is walking. It's something most of us do on a daily basis anyway, but don’t always appreciate how effective it can be.

Start by walking for an extra 10 or 15 minutes per day. Around your yard, your neighborhood, in a park, or anywhere you choose. You can make a day of it and drive out somewhere nice for a walk to change it up, or you can simply decide to walk further and further every week and see how far you get.

Something to bear in mind is that you do not need to be hitting 10,000 steps per day unless you can. Aim to do 500 or 1000 more steps than you were and build from there. Walk at a pace that gets you out of breath slightly and raises your heart rate to get the blood flowing and the endorphins released.

Take A Class

If a gym is too intimidating, what about taking a class? Again, you can find virtual or real-life classes you can join, and if you don't like it, you don't need to go back. There are classes of all kinds of dances and exercises, from Zumba to line dancing, aerobics, spin classes, ballet to HIIT workouts, and everything in between.

Try a few different classes in your area and see what works for you. While you will still be working out in the presence of others, you won't be in front of people more in the throngs of the class (or hiding at the back whatever you prefer), and everyone will be too focused on what they're doing to watch you. Remember,everyone has to start somewhere, so there is no shame in being a newbie and learning the ropes.

Get Into Sports

Lastly, why not take up a new sport? Sports are a great way to keep fit and stay active and don't require you to head out to a gym. Rope a friend in to join you on the tennis courts, join an amateur league baseball team, take up track, play hockey, absolutely anything that requires you to be active is a good thing.

And it doesn't even matter how good you are or aren't, as the case may be, it is about joining in, playing and participating, and most of all, having fun. The more fun you have, the less likely it will feel like exercise and the more enjoyment and health benefits you will derive from each session.

You absolutely do not need to join a gym to get fit and healthy. While gyms are excellent places for you to hit your fitness goals, they aren't the only option you have if the gym environment isn't for you.

The options listed in this post are all excellent ways to get moving and keep fit; all you need to do is find one that works for you, that you can stick to long-term, and that you enjoy. The more you enjoy something, the easier it will be to make it a habit, and then you can benefit from a more active and healthy life doing something you can look forward to. So whether you sign up for an online gym, hire a personal fitness coach or trainer, or build yourself a home gym, do what works for you and see how exercise can improve your life.

*contributed post