At Home You don't have to have an expensive membership to a fancy health club to get in shape. Working out at home can be a very effective way to lose weight and stay in shape. A recent study found that people who exercised at home were more likely to stick with their exercise program than people who left home to exercise. More than 78 percent of the women in the study who were assigned to walk on treadmills at home stuck with their programs for a year, and they each lost an average of 25 pounds. Of the study participants who were assigned to work out with a group, about half finished the program, and they lost an average of 15 pounds each.
Doctors speculate that convenience and time savings have a lot to do with the study results.
Home exercisers can work out whenever they can fit it into their schedules. Having to leave home can keep people from exercising. Doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas say whether you work out at home or at a gym, the important thing is to stick with your program on a regular basis. If you decide to work out at home, be careful about selecting fitness equipment. You might want to sign up for a short-term membership at a health club so you can try various kinds of workout equipment and choose the one you enjoy the most.