Diana Chaloux

Are you convinced that the only way you can get fit, lose weight and start living a healthier lifestyle is by spending hours at the gym?

If walking into the fitness facility filled with fit people is a dreaded thought for you, or you simply don’t have the time to squeeze in a workout at your local health club I have some great news! You do NOT need a gym to get in shape and achieve your fitness goals.

With a little creativity you can get to work on an effective fitness program right in the comfort and convenience of your home!

Millions of Americans have gym memberships. However the percentage of people that actually utilize the gym on a regular basis is minimal. It is amazing how many people are dishing out monthly fees to a facility that they don’t even set foot in!

In fact, approximately 40 to 50 percent of people who sign up for gym memberships stop using them within 90 days. Unfortunately, just paying for a membership is not going to get you in shape!

If you are not a “gym rat,” an NGN fitness routine – No Gym Necessary – is just the ticket for you to get back on track.

The first step to making an NGN fitness plan work is to commit to exercising on a regular basis. Distractions are abundant when you are trying to work out at home, so set aside a special exercise time each day. Ideally this will be at least 30 minutes, but if you start with even 10 minutes a day you will begin to reap the benefits of exercise!

Look around your home and find a spot that can be your workout area. Gather together any exercise equipment you have available, such as dumbbells, exercise balls or resistance bands and keep them all together in your mini homemade “gym”.

Think outside the box when it comes to your strength training equipment. A countertop can serve as a great spot for push ups. A sturdy chair is an excellent tool for triceps dips, one-armed rows and squats. If you have a step in your home you have the perfect location to perform a wide variety of step up movements as well as lunges!

A staircase is a great place to get in some cardiovascular activity, add in a couple trips up and down the stairs during your session to get your heart rate up and burn some extra calories!

Canned goods can provide adequate resistance for shoulder raises to the front, rear and side, as well as bicep curls. Use laundry detergent containers, or a basket full of magazines to add extra resistance to squats or lunges.

When you take a good look you will see that your home is filled with tools that can aid you in reaching your fitness goals!

There are a wide variety of fitness DVDs (including mine!) that can guide you through an efficient and effective workout right in your home. If you are working out without the guidance of a structured fitness routine, be sure to perform exercises for the lower body, upper body and core muscles. Choose one or two movements for each body part and work your way up to performing 2to 3 sets of approximately 12-15 repetitions for each. When you first start your fitness program remember that you will progressively get stronger, so be sure to challenge yourself but don’t overdo it!

Prior to beginning your NGN fitness routine warm your body up for 3 to 5 minutes by marching in place or even dancing if you feel like it! Include stretching movements following your workouts. Remember that in addition to strength training, cardiovascular activities and consistent healthy eating choices are the keys to complete fitness!

Do you need a health club to achieve your fitness goals? Absolutely not! Leading a fit and healthy lifestyle, improving your health and transforming your physique are all completely attainable within the comfort and convenience of your home. What are you waiting for? You can start your No Gym Necessary fitness program today!

Diana Chaloux is a certified personal trainer, Fitness Coach, Nutrition Specialist, NPC Figure Competitor and owner of Destined 2 Be Fit (www.d2bfit.com) in San Antonio, TX. Contact Diana at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it