Not many personal trainers will tell you to skip the gym but that's just what I promote! The benefits of working out at home are so great that as a Certified Strength Coach, I find it helps people stay more consistent with their fitness routine, and that's just one benefit! Learn more about working out at home benefits and how you can easily make the switch.
More often than not, going to the gym multiple times per week is a total event and the number one reason people don't stay consistent with a workout routine. This is especially true for moms with little kids when planning to leave the house is a challenge.
Between planning childcare, packing a gym bag, and making sure the kids have snacks while you're gone, the gym ends up on the back burner because the effort is too much.
Taking travel out of the equation is just one benefit of working out from home and why moms have been so successful in the SMASH Home Workout Plan. Read on to learn more working out at home benefits and how to easily make the switch and be more consistent to a workout routine.
Benefits Of Home Workouts
Below are the top 6 reasons most parents choose to work out from home. In summary, once you nail it down it just makes life easier. That said, there is challenges and learning what to do with kids while you work out is one of them.
However, there are lots of ways to get around that one obstacle and so many more benefits of making the switch.
1. Flexibility
Working out at home means that you have a lot more time options of when to get your routine in. You're not scrambling to make an exercise class, you can vary the workout towards your abilities and not just what machine is available and you can break it up if need be due to kid chaos. Here's the perfect mom workout to squeeze in on busy days and you don't even need to go anywhere.
2. Working Out With Your Kids
It's no secret that I am a huge advocate for working out with your kids (read more about why you should include your kids in your workout). I do it every single day and while it's crazy sometimes it's also effective.
Working out with your kids solves any childcare issues. While it might make the workout a little crazy and not fully "you" time, it still makes you more consistent than if you were to try and hit the gym.
Here are some great tips on keeping toddlers entertained while you work out. If you have a younger babe, simply include them as much as possible. Lots of stories between sets, kisses, and giggles.
One thing I preach in the SMASH workout program is that it's okay to take longer breaks or even split your workout up as you find your groove. Showing up is a huge win, embrace that and I promise eventually your kids do learn to leave you alone.
3. Feeding/Napping/To-Do It Can All Be Planned Around
The to-do list won't end just because you need to get a workout in. But, one of the benefits of exercising at home is that you can schedule around the list a little bit easier.
Instead of forcing babe to eat at a certain time so you can get out the door to the gym, you can go with the flow a bit more: feed then hop into your workout (and then probably feed a bit more haha).
It makes to-do lists and schedules far more simple when you're not planning on leaving the house.
4. You Save Time
Be practical, an outing at the gym takes about 90 minutes to two hours. You need to factor in:
- travel time
- parking
- changing
- the actual workout
Now do that multiple times per week. Didn't think so.
I have yet to meet a mom that has an extra 6 hours per week of "wiggle room". It just doesn't happen. And that's not to say that you're not dedicated, simply that leaving the house with young kids is a thing.
Save your time (and sanity) and turn that two-hour trip into a 20-30 minute sweat session at home.
Need help with a workout routine? Check out my SMASH Fit For Life workouts. 25-minute sessions specifically to help busy moms get strong and increase energy.
5. Working Out At Home Keeps Consistent
The reason most fitness goals aren't achieved isn't due to a lack of knowledge. Something is always better than nothing.
It's due to a lack of consistency. Sporadically hitting the gym twice once a week, once the next and three the following won't do you any favors.
Exercising at home helps busy moms stay consistent because it eliminates all the struggles (time, childcare, travel, even workout clothes!).
The more consistent you are the better results you'll see. Always.
6. It's Private
Now, this doesn't matter to everyone. But for the moms just getting back into a workout routine who may stumble around as they relearn moves or have to check their app a few times to nail down the sequence, privacy is wonderful.
There's no need to feel uncomfortable rocking glute bridges or hip thrusts when you're home in your pajamas and no one is watching.
Quick Home Workout Tips
Though there are a lot of working out at home benefits, there's also a lot of misconceptions as well. Below are a few crucial tips for when you're making the transition or even just getting started with home workouts.
You don't need fancy equipment for a home workout. A set of dumbbells and bands are more than enough. However, these are my favorite pieces of gym equipment for beginners. If you're serious about the benefits of exercising at home, you can set your home gym up for under 100 bucks with basic equipment.
Your workouts don't need to be sixty minutes. Cut that mindset and learn more about tabatas (4-minute workouts!) or find some wicked 15-minute at home workouts. I have 50+ at-home workouts on this website (with video demos) and even more on my YouTube Channel. You got this mama.
Ditch the All-or-Nothing Trap
The Kickstart & Thrive Bundle is where busy moms keep things simple with quick, strength-building workouts you can actually fit into your day, plus protein-packed snacks that give you energy and taste like dessert but don't add extra time in the kitchen.
More Fitness Tips To Help You Smash Goals
- 3 day workout plan
- No equipment shoulder workout
- 25+ home workouts for weight loss
- 6 week fat loss workout plan
- How to make at home workouts harder
- Everything you need to know about home workouts
- How to master push ups as a beginner
- 10 minute body weight workout
- Best bodyweight exercises for moms
- Follow-along at-home workouts
Frequently Asked Questions About Exercising At Home
Working out at home saves you time and keeps you consistent (which helps you better achieve your goals. It also means that you don't need to organize childcare, you can wear whatever you like, and you can work out whenever you can squeeze it into your day. Lastly, you can move at your own pace with an at home workout, as opposed to a fast-paced class.
It's not the equipment that makes a workout effective but the consistency, effort, and use of proper progression. So long as you are continuously pushing yourself in your workouts, home workouts are just as effective as a gym workout.
Caitlin
I love this. I have a 3 year old and 1 year old twins, and have YET to exercise ONCE since my twins were born. This is coming from someone who used to workout 5-6 times a week regularly. I'm looking forward to following your blog and getting more tips and inspiration to get back into working on my fitness! Thank you 🙂
Caitlin
fitasamamabear
Hey Caitlin! I'm pretty sure twins are a whole different BALLGAME haha. My best friend has twins and I give you kudos! It's definitely hard to adjust going from loving workouts to not having time for them but you'll get back into it 🙂 The hardest part (I think) is finding a system! So any small stuff you can do at home, even if it's only 1-2 exercises at a time is still a huge stepping stone! Besides, I bet all the kids keep you on your feet plenty 😉
lola
i love this, i used to workout in the gym but after having my daughter last year i wasn't able to find that time to commit to driving to the gym before or after work. So now i workout at home plus like you said i get to involve her in it somedays and its really fun!!!
fitasamamabear
Making a trip to the gym on a regular basis is HARD. It just seems to always get pushed to the back of the to-do list. It's definitely fun watching them try to mimic your workouts (my daughter comes up with crazy things some days!) and it's awesome because you still get the workouts in, laughter and all. It makes life simpler (to me anyways!)
Mary
Hi! I saw your blog link on mommy bloggers club. Nice website! I really could use work out tips. I make a lot of excuses to work out, but now I'm trying to do something - anything - to get into shape by May! I'll have to check out your home exercise equipment recommendations. I need to stop being lazy. That's my biggest hurdle. LOL Thanks for the tips!
fitasamamabear
Hey Mary! Glad you stopped by! I think everyone has to overcome the lazy hurdle haha until you get to be a nerd like me 😛 The easiest way is two fold: just start (anywhere!) & make it easy on yourself. Don't commit to anything crazy and make it easy to workout (which is why home workouts kind of rock). But the hardest part is getting started- you can do it!
Larissa
This is such a great idea, and really good reasons! I'm not a mom, but I can imagine how difficult it would be finding time to go to the gym.
fitasamamabear
It's definitely a bit more difficutl when trying to coordinate toddlers!
Mary Leigh
These are really great tips! I actually dropped my gym membership after having Little because I learned that I was so much more able to work out at home rather than having to pack everything up and hope he did ok in the childcare at the gym.
fitasamamabear
It's sooo much easier to work out at home! Getting to the gym with a little one (while nice) is an EVENT. Working out at home makes you stay consistent and adaptable 🙂
Dani
I love your dedication. With everything that we do...it's so important that we change our perspective...the results we want will follow. I have 3 little ones...although it was difficult at times...I always made it my business to take care of myself. I started with eating habits which was easier ..then I joined a gym with childcare. It was the best thing for me. I personally prefer to workout in a new place and have my children at the care . This is a great read for my friends who prefer to workout at home!
fitasamamabear
I love this! First off- congrats on staying consistent with self care (nutrition/maintenance) that alone is amazing with three little ones. But I agree, part of it is just definitely what we prioritize! There are definitely perks to working out sans kids (mainly sanity) but for moms where that's not an option at home gives them a shot at being consistent. The trick either way I think is just to find what works for YOU and YOUR schedule/routine and rock it! Thanks for stopping by and dropping a comment!
Mishelle Milne
Very helpful for new mums.
Aarika
Great post! I will share with my sister-in-law, although she has 3 kiddos 4 years-old and under, so it may take some epic skill to keep them all occupied while she works out at home. haha. Keep on being awesome!
fitasamamabear
Haha yes the more kids the more chasing becomes the workout.... 😉 But the biggest thing is that ANYTHING counts. it doesn't have to be a full workout or overly intense- just something 🙂
Chelsea
Consistency has always been my biggest challenge. I’m hoping that switching to home workouts will help me stick to a routine better. Thanks for the motivation!
fitasamamabear
Consistency is definitely the biggest challenge, let me know how it goes!