I made it work, and you might too.
At first, I was skeptical about making progress.
Still, I forged forward.
For science (and my own convenience).
The Case for Bodyweight Workouts
Ive always known about theadvantages of bodyweight workouts, of course.
Theyre beginner-friendly, and perfect for changing things up from a gym routine.
But more than anything, theyre great if you dont have access to equipment.
The best way to get strong on a certain lift is to simply do that lift.
The research consensus on bodyweight training seemed to be optimistic as well.
These benefits include increases in strength and power, bone mass, and general athleticism.
All those sound pretty good to me!
Somewhat bolstered by reassuring evidence, I figured I could make a bodyweight program work.
It was just a matter of how.
For this new program, I emphasized maintaining what I had.
Each bodyweight workout takes me about 30-40 minutes to complete.
The kick in the pants here is that those 30-40 minutes are reallyto put it lightlyunpleasant.
Its not about the duration, but how hard you make the workout.
But Ive been pleasantly surprised: Im getting stronger in some areas, while at least maintaining in others.
More importantly, Im having fun again.
These days, the world is truly my oyster-gym.
Freedom from the weight room has allowed me to get creative and view almost everything as a fitness possibility.
I can use it as a pull-up bar.
Step-ups, crawls, and calf raises.
Oh, man, thats the bodyweight workout jackpot.
You get the idea.
But making the right progressions do wonders to increase the resistance, challenge, and intensity.
There are many ways tobuild a bodyweight routine.
These all target bigger muscle groups, require more effort, and generally produce better results.
Bodyweight exercises should be no different.
These are important for keeping the workouts interesting.
Bodyweight exercises are just one trick in a big bag o tricks.
Best of all, theyre free.
Illustration by Fruzsina Kuhari.
Stephanie Lee is a nomadic writer with a Sriracha problem.
Visit her blog athttp://thefyslife.comfor her lighter takes on travel, fitness, and digital nomad life.
you might also follow her onTwitterandFacebook.
