Hard Bodies At Home

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How often do you find yourself watching an infomercial on television for a fitness product while you're grabbing a quick snack? You stop, you watch and you reminisce about when you looked that fit and start saying things like, "My body looked that good before the kids, before the career, before..."

Your next thought - "if only it were that simple, if only I had the energy, if only I had the time?"

Most of us are not as fit as we would like to be. If you struggle with finding the time to get to the gym, why not simply bring the gym to you?

Keeping fit is more than just about looking good. When we make exercise apart of our daily rituals our minds become sharper, our bodies are healthier and we have more energy.

photo credit: IKEA

Working out at home is easier than you think. You simply need to design and decorate an area where you'll be motivated workout and get that hard body you've always wanted.

Start by asking yourself the type of exercise you prefer doing: weights, running, yoga, Pilates, etc., and when you are going to slot in the time to workout.

If you happen to be a morning person, then perhaps the most convenient and enjoyable scenario for you would be to plan getting up half an hour earlier than the rest of the family to do yoga. I f you're a night owl, plan to do a late evening Pilates workout, or how about half an hour on the exercise bike well you watch your favorite sitcom on TV?

Your next job is to design the gym area. Don't panic or start with excuses about the lack of space. A gym can fit anywhere. My favourite spot to do some stretching is in the upstairs hallway in front of the mirrored doors on my linen closet. The light is great up there and the atmosphere peaceful.

Mirrors are a good addition to a workout area. We need to keep an eye on our progress. Disguise a workout mirror as a lovely framed wall mirror.

My husband enjoys 20 minutes on the exercise bike before work in the morning. The bike sits in the kitchen looking out onto the River Valley. In the summer, move your stationary bike out onto the patio for a taste of the outdoors while you bike (cover it with a tarp when not in use).

Photo credit: Cheryll Gillespie

There are also many "fold away" gyms on the market today. These beautiful armoires open to reveal a treadmill or bike inside, and can look great in a bedroom or a dining room. Wherever you prefer to "workout."

Music is a great motivator, so plan your workout space where you have access to music, or a television set where you can watch one of the music stations (all those gorgeous fit singers are great motivators) or where you can plug in your workout videos. Even if your "gym" is a corner of your office, you can mount a ceiling bracket for a small TV or stereo.

Next, think colour. Try using reds for your high-energy workouts such as weights or aerobics and soothing blue and violets hues for yoga. You don't have to paint the entire room but you can add colourful floor mats and wall art that will introduce the appropriate workout colour.

Scents can also help motivate you to workout. Think calming jasmine for yoga and citrus scents for energizing.

Working out at home makes it much more convenient for me to workout everyday. It also saves me money on gym memberships and the costs of driving to the gym, not to mention the privacy and comfort of workout in your living room compare to a gym full of strangers.

We should look as well designed as our rooms do. Design your life and rooms to include regular fitness, half an hour 3-5 times a week is all that it takes to look and feel great!