All right Newport, it’s time to get in shape!
Summer is coming, meaning bathing suits will be going on, and it’s time to dust off the workout equipment and get moving again. April and May are usually the months where we all realize we should’ve been working off our winter weight and then panic when we realize we haven’t.
I know that the first reaction most people have is to join a big, expensive gym and spend hundreds if not thousands on a personal trainer, but there are tons of exercises you can do right in your front yard, garage, or even on the sand with a couple of home workout items.
Newport has so much open space prime for exercising it seems ridiculous to spend your workout time in a stuffy gym. If you’re not sure how to use these items properly, there are endless workouts posted online, some downloadable and even workout videos on your cable’s on-demand listings.
First thing you want to buy if you’re looking to lift weights, burn fat, and put on some muscle is a pair of dumbbells. You can either go with the simple bar type with add-on weight or you can spend some more money and get the type with all of the weight contained on the bars where you can simply select how much you want to lift. Either way, dumbbells are an excellent workout tool since you can basically work every single muscle group in your entire body with them. Since they’re free weights you have to use your entire muscle to stabilize and balance the weight, meaning you get a more complete workout than you would using machines.
Kettle bells are also great for full-body workouts. If you’re not familiar with them, they’re the big round weights with a handle on the top for swinging and lifting. Using these engages your entire body, notably your core, which we all need.
One of my favorite workout tools is a simple yet amazing children’s toy – the jump rope. They even have weighted handle jump ropes and using one is an amazing cardio and core workout. There’s a reason boxers still use a jump rope to train, it works.
I don’t know about you, but jogging for hours on end is one of the most boring things I’ve ever done. To switch it up and do much better cardio work, try sprinting drills and exhausting yourself for 20 minutes instead of lightly jogging for an hour. You’ll work off as many or more calories and you won’t waste your time.
The final things to get are a scale, if you’re trying to lose weight, and a body fat meter, if you’re trying to burn fat and gain muscle. Seeing your daily progress is terrific, positive reinforcement and will make you feel good about yourself after your workouts.
However, don’t work out every day if you’re using weights since your muscles need time to recover.
Have fun out there Newport, and I’ll see you on the beach!
