Exercise Without Equipment: A Healthy Diabetic View

One of many books with a view of exercising
without expensive equipment or slick gym memberships

You can get into shape without expensive gym membership, a personal trainer and the latest fashion in sportswear. You also don't need to spend thousands of dollars on exercise equipment or a bicycle most popular on the last Tour de France. This idea is not new and actually, there are excellent resources to show you how. That is what Men's Health magazine, free weights proponents and Pilates trainers would tell you. There are many reasons to exercise without expensive equipment. The same goes for exercises that do not require specialized equipment you see in most gyms. Besides saving money, you can save time, you can exercise anywhere and even have a great experience jumping rope in a park or biking along the beach.

      The first hurdle in exercising without equipment, usually that means without an organized gym or class, is learning how to exercise alone. Starting out alone is very hard for most people. Trainers and coaches will tell you how Nike's slogan "Just do IT" is not going to help in the beginning. To learn how to build muscles, stretch, keep an aerobic fitness routine (running, cycling, swimming) and actually doing it with good results is hard. This is where gyms, trainers and organized classes (or groups) can be useful. You can also use one of the many self-guide books like "You Are Your Own Gym" or "Jump Rope Training For Weight Loss And Toning". Try to do something you like doing. If you like biking along a beach or on city streets, start there. If you like walking in a park, take a jump rope or resistance bands (not just for women). With your own exercise routine, you can achieve many different goals. In most gym routines, the equipment is targeted toward one goal, usually increasing strength and muscle tone. With your own routines you can be flexible and also learn more than just the routine, you get a true understanding of exercise fundamentals.

      Finally, if you need real life examples take a look at how professional sports teams, the military and amateur athletes exercise without any equipment. Football and basketball teams, tennis, running and bicycling athletes, spend most of their time practicing by playing and racing. These athletes exercise their bodies simply by running, stretching, moving and pushing against gravity (push ups, crunches, sit ups, etc.) This type of exercises keeps them in top shape and gives them all the strength and agility to perform. If most athletes do not need much equipment, you can learn to do the same for yourself. Most people who are not athletes do not have experience in running, tennis or biking. Taking up a sport to exercise is similar to learning how to lift weights or stretch. There are basic exercises to learn and a routing to make into a habit. The option of exercising without equipment, both in strength or as a sport is a great way to keep fit. We will cover more of these options as we write more specific posts. Note: If you want specific exercise information, resources (books, videos) or simply want to know about different type of exercise routines, leave us a comment. THANKS ! Enjoy getting into shape !