TUCSON, Ariz. - Gisella Long is a cancer survivor, who also suffers from asthma and has a compromised immune system. She works out at home to avoid being exposed to germs and keep herself healthy during the coronavirus outbreak.
“I’d rather workout from home because this way I feel more safe, it’s my own equipment I know it’s clean and I’m not touching anything anyone else touched," says Long.
With the closing of many establishments including gyms, many people like Gisella are working out at home, not only to stay physically and mentally healthy but to avoid going stir crazy. So if you’re not sure what to do, here are some options:
Online training or a virtual training app can give you fitness results with the flexibility of doing it at home on your own time.
If you’re lucky enough to have a treadmill or elliptical, now is the time to dust it off if it’s just sitting in a corner. Try doing a little cardio every day to boost energy and clear your mind.
If you don’t have a cardio machine, try going up and down the stairs, jump rope or even try some jumping jacks. You can also do some high intensity interval training.
Also, strength training helps preserve muscle mass and maintain metabolism, and can be done effectively using little more than your own bodyweight or small hand weights.
The goal is to stay active and healthy while at home with your family.
The minimum recommended amount of 2 and a half hours of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise a week has been shown to help reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and even depression.
