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Not everyone has access to a gym. Not everyone wants to go to a gym. They are often overcrowded, loud and emanate an unseemly odour. Thankfully there are many other methods and places one can use to get fit and stay in shape.
You can maintain a good health and fitness routine by jogging, swimming and working out at home. All of these are viable and popular methods. They are accessible, cheap and personally rewarding.
Below we discuss the benefits of getting fit and staying in shape without using the gym.
Jogging
Running is a great way of improving your health and fitness. Whether you are jogging through parks, city streets or country trails, running with fresh air in your lungs is a great way of staying in shape.
Developing a regular running routine is an easy and hassle-free way of getting fit. At first jogging may seem a bit like a chore. The best way to combat the pain and fatigue at the beginning of your running journey is to start slowly, check out Couch to 5k if you need a plan. Gradual and incremental progress is the way to go with it comes to jogging.
There is no point trying to complete a marathon on your first run. If you dive headfirst into long distance running straightaway, you might injure yourself and hamper your chances of staying in shape.
There have also been many studies to suggest that running can improve your mental health as well as physical fitness. There is evidence to suggest that running, particularly interval training, can improve cognitive flexibility and aerobic power in young adults. A jog is beneficial to your body and your mind and is a worthy alternative to spending time in the gym.
Swimming
A few lengths in the local public swimming pool is a fantastic way to get fit and stay in shape. Swimming is a great aerobic workout that can be accomplished without spending lots of money or dedicating too much time.
A half an hour swim before or after work can be great for your heart and muscles. Additionally, working out in the water puts less stress on your joints. This will ensure that you can exercise regularly and with increasing intensity.
Whether you are a front crawl, backstroke or breaststroke enthusiast, swimming is an ideal alternative to getting fit and staying in shape at the gym. If you are looking for tips on how to design your swimming workouts have a look at Speedo's recommended routines.
Home Workouts
More and more people are choosing to stay at home to workout. Home workouts can be achieved with or without equipment and could be the perfect solution if you don’t want to go to the gym.
There is a plethora of effective workouts that can be done on a gym mat following correct instruction. Home workouts are also a great place to experiment with different exercises and levels of intensity.
The internet is an endless source of instruction and expertise when it comes to exercise and fitness. Make sure you base your home workouts on reliable fitness routines that suit your body and lifestyle.
Staying in Shape
Ultimately, it is a question of personal preference. You may end up going to the gym but above we have mentioned a few worthy alternatives. Whether you chose to go jogging, swimming or decide to workout at home all of these methods can provide great results.
If you are really keen you may want to combine a few of these fitness routines. Variety is important. A good way of preventing monotonous exercise would be to combine home workouts, jogging and swimming in your weekly fitness routine.
