Do Home Workout's Count?

BC (Before Corona) I used to believe that a home workout just wasn't good enough. It didn't satisfy me mentally and I believed I could never make any progress outside of a gym.

Now? I'm hooked on them. The boost of happy hormones I feel after a home workout sometimes feels even better than what I can remember of those post gym feelings.

I took to Instagram and posted a poll on my story, asking how people felt about the recent announcement from the UK Government stating that Gyms must remain closed. The results truly shocked me.

26% voted for 'I'm so gutted' where as 74% voted for 'I'm okay with it.'

After seeing multiple posts on my feed about how people 'cant wait to go back', I was surprised to see how my audience really didn't mind. Which led me onto thinking if more people have developed a new opinion like me in the case of working out from home?

The main (ignorant) reasons I didn't justify a home workout BC as enough were:

• No equipment

• Didn't get the mental payoff from going to the gym

• It didn't feel validated as 'enough'

With the gym going public having to take matters into their own hands the past three months, it has been proved that equipment isn't everything. Yes, theres nothing quite like a cable machine or leg curl that is easily re-created at home, but equipment isn't EVERYTHING. I've seen people get so incredibly creative in replacement of weights and benches, it's impressive.

I've seen a workout using milk pints, another using books. Sure, we can't expect the same results from books as we would get from a weight plate - but with a bit of creativity and experimentation even the basic 'props' can give some serious burn.

When it comes to the mental payoff, it's extremely individualised. In my case, I felt that going to the gym gave me a space that I could go to and get in the zone. I found that hard to do at home until I was forced to. It took me the first couple of workouts to realise that it isn't about 'getting pumped', it's about having fun.

I put my music on, danced around (No ones around, unlike the gym!) and let the corner of my bedroom to become my new 'space'.

Funnily enough, the serotonin flowed. I have felt happy and relaxed since loosening my grip on having a designated 'space' for working out. Not only this, I have really honed what I like and do not like in a workout. I have felt so free in deciding what workout I want to do. That's invaluable to me!

Finally, the validation. My main issue with working out from home was just not feeling like I had done enough. Down to my own internalisation, but also think the promotion of gym workouts on Instagram constantly added to that. At the start of lockdown I worried how I would keep on progressing without the gym.

Yet I found that after getting into the flow of it, the happiness that came with the workout was enough for me. I am not ignorant in the fact my strength might have decreased, but the different type of exercises I have found that I really enjoy makes that worth it. I feel like my stamina has really increased. Let me tell you, Instagram Live workouts are tough!

You don't need a gym to get a sweat on and make progress.

So, do home workouts count?

Absolutely.

Don't let the 'progress only happens in the gym' mindset suck you in. Progress, physical or mental doesn't have to include a smith machine.

Are you dying to get back to the gym? Or are you comfortable working out at home?

Whatever the answer, be safe, be healthy, and remember to always put your happiness first.

See you soon,

Bethany xx