Skip to main content

How to Stay Fit at Home


With gyms and parks closed, the thought of trying to stay fit might seem impossible. But don’t feel defeated. There are countless ways to stay in shape, lose weight, and even increase muscle mass from the comfort of your home. Today, I’ll provide a few tips for keeping a healthy mind and body through diet, water intake, cardio exercise, strength training, and stretching.

Seared pork with asparagus and cherry tomatoes on the side.

Eating Healthy at Home:

Just because restaurants are closed, that doesn’t mean you can’t eat great meals! Use this time as an opportunity to start new habits of preparing healthy meals, saving money, and reducing waste. There are tons of free, healthy recipes available online; just do a quick google search for: healthy chicken recipes, easy healthy recipes, healthy vegan recipes, or whatever else you are craving. Who knows, you may even discover your new favorite dish! Delish.com has “81 Healthy Dinners You'll Actually Look Forward to Eating”

How to Drink More Water:

One easy way to lose weight, stay healthy, and keep a healthy immune system is to drink lots of water! I drink a gallon of water a day and it helps me stay awake, stay alert, and stay full. Bodybuilder.com recommends men drink approximately 1 gallon and women drink 96oz (roughly 75% of a gallon) per day. The more water you drink the less you will have the urge to snack. If you are uncertain about exactly how much to drink, here is a link to a free water intake calculator. 

Cardio Without A Gym:

It’s true that you can’t outwork a bad diet, but exercise, along with healthy eating habits, is a recipe for success. Cardio (exercise that raises your heart rate such as running, swimming, biking) is an important element to staying fit. My favorite cardio exercise is swimming! If you have a pool nearby, swim laps or tread water for a great workout that’s easy on your joints. If you don’t have access to a pool, use a treadmill or stationary bike to get your heart rate going. Running and biking outside are normally great cardio options, however it’s important during social distancing to stay at least 6 feet away from other people. If none of the above options are available, you aren’t totally out of luck. Try jumping rope, jogging in place, or jumping jacks for an awesome caloric burn. Whatever you do, get moving and get your heart rate up! 

Strength Training without Weights:

With gyms closed, you may think the opportunity to do strength training is over, but you’ll be surprised how much you are still able to do in your own home! The easiest solution for toning up without weights is to use bodyweight exercises. Push-ups, sit-ups, and planks will help you build muscle – to increase difficulty, increase the number of reps. DAREBEE has great 30-day challenges for every different skill level. Do the challenge alone or ask your friends to join! 

Stretching and Yoga from Home:

Stretching is often overlooked, but it’s a crucial element to staying fit, healthy, and injury-free! I try to stretch twice a day and when I do, I can tell a huge difference. Healthline.com has a 5-minute stretching routine that will keep you lose and help prevent injuries. In addition to basic stretching, yoga is a great way to build strength and flexibility. Youtube.com has yoga videos for any skill level.

Regardless of what exercise you choose to do, something is better than nothing at all! I hope these health tips will help improve your daily routine, improve your mood, and help you to stay fit!