Effective Workout at Home - No Gym Equipment

[PauletteGoddard]

Does anyone workout at home with a minimum of gym equipment and apparatus?
I have resistance bands, a mat, and dumbbells. I want to sculpt my abdominal muscles at home but I find that an apparently effective exercises, the captain's chair lift, or vertical leg raise, relies on gym equipment. I'd have to pay to visit a gym. What equally effective exercises for the abdominals are there that I can do with what I have?

[QuarterMillionMan]

I like your way to save money using home equipment. After paying $35 a month for the past 7 years at 24 hour fitness I've decided to use what I have at home too. For abs I just wedge my feet under something (ie., bed frame, shelving, etc.) and use a rolled up towel to cushion my feet and do sit ups or crunches. A specialized "sit up bar for door" can be bought for $10 - $15 by doing a search. I might buy one myself.

[Tabs]

For frugal home workouts, all you need are dumbbells. Resistance bands are gimmicky and unnecessary. Mats are nice, but with carpeting, it is also unnecessary.

There is the cliché "Abs are made in the kitchen", meaning that diet is the key.

Of course, you will still want to work your core (and not just abs), but diet and low % body fat is about the only way to really let your ab muscles shine through.

[corn18]

Try doing You Are Your Own Gym (YAYOG) there's an app for it. No equipment. Body weight only. If you can make it through all of that, you are very fit.

Also, try Convict Conditioning. No gear required. Very tough.

And I'm sure you know this, but abs are made in the kitchen not in the gym. You can't outrun a bad diet.

[lightguy]

Hook your feet to the bottom of your bed and do like 15-30 push ups every morning. It will help.

[midlifefinance]

Does anyone workout at home with a minimum of gym equipment and apparatus?
I have resistance bands, a mat, and dumbbells. I want to sculpt my abdominal muscles at home but I find that an apparently effective exercises, the captain's chair lift, or vertical leg raise, relies on gym equipment. I'd have to pay to visit a gym. What equally effective exercises for the abdominals are there that I can do with what I have?

Just do a simple Google search OP. Try searching for resistance bands full body exercise, dumbbell full body exercise. I'm sure you'll find a lot of great work out plans using resistance bands and dumbbells only.

[Save24]

Ab workout

I do 2 things that work well.

1. Before I turn in for the night, I lay down on the bed and lift my legs for 30 seconds. If you keep your legs straight and just raise them a little, you will get a good ab hit.

2. I have one of those low cost ab wheels (Gold's Gym Ab Wheel - $8 at Walmart). I'm still working up through this exercise as it is deceptively simple, but really hits the abs (and forearms).

Cheers

[LittleMissSplendid]

I really liked the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred dvd, which can probably be found at the public library. That and some yoga or pilates dvds also from the public library. I just needed a yoga mat or beach towel and some dumbbells. When the weather is nice nothing beats walking or hiking.

[TheKayla]

Theres always apps like Fitocracy, and sites like FitnessBlender. Or running/working out outside for free. You could always workout at an empty community playground, do sports at a park, etc.

[midlifefinance]

I am working out at home without any equipment. There are smartphone apps that you can download and use for free as a guide. There are also workout programs that are developed by Neila Rey and they are also pretty effective and well put together.

[GREENBACK]

I want to sculpt my abdominal muscles at home

Every exercise expert I've ever heard talk about "sculpting" abs or any other muscles has always stressed that diet is as critical as any exercise.

[bjl584]

Every exercise expert I've ever heard talk about "sculpting" abs or any other muscles has always stressed that diet is as critical as any exercise.

+1

Your ab muscles are basically already there. It's all about diet if you want them to show.

[GrimJack]

+1

Your ab muscles are basically already there. It's all about diet if you want them to show.

Just like the sculptor said "just remove all the material that is not muscle - there you go" If you have a short attention span and need some prodding try the meditation timer to prompt you (I have no connection with them and as far as I know they don't charge and "NoScript" says the links are what you would expect - google, pinterest, facebook, twitter - all stuff I block but that is just me)

[Chris73]

I really liked the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred dvd, which can probably be found at the public library. That and some yoga or pilates dvds also from the public library. I just needed a yoga mat or beach towel and some dumbbells. When the weather is nice nothing beats walking or hiking.

Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred is also on youtube. I found this out after I had bought the DVD. Killer workout, but very good!

[John Doe]

Walk up stairs
Wash your clothes by hand
Mow your lawn with a push mower
Wash your car by hand
Wash your floors by hand
Stand up at your desk while you work (if you have a desk job)
Ride a bicycle instead of drive to most errands within a few miles of home
Rake your leaves with a rake
Rake your leaves with a broom
Mow your lawn with hedge clippers
Wash your towels, sheets, and blankets by hand
Wash your dishes by hand
Stand up while you're watching television
Do knee bends, sit-ups, or squat thrusts while you watch television
Carry your groceries around the store in your arms instead of in a shopping cart
Strap weighted bands around your ankles when you walk anywhere
Strap weighted bands around your wrists
Ride a unicycle instead of a bicycle
Carry your trash to the curb, one bag at a time, high in the air, rather than with a rolling garbage bin
Walk around your house on all fours
Walk around by hopping on one leg

None of these cost money. Most of these save you money.