Use Your Weight to Lose It: 6 Best Equipment-Free Exercises

A gym membership can be a great way to work out regularly. However, if you’d rather exercise at home (occasionally or every day), you can. You don’t need fancy gym equipment or even any equipment at all to tone, shape, and sculpt your body. Here are some of the best exercises you can do that use only your own bodyweight and nothing else.

1. Squats

Squats work all of your lower-body muscles including your glutes, quads, and hamstrings as well as your core and back. Proper form is important: keep your torso upright and don’t let your knees pass your toes as you squat.

2. Push-ups

Push-ups are one of the best exercises you can do because they work your entire upper body: chest, back, arms, and abs. Line your shoulders up with your wrists and keep your elbows tucked in at your sides for the best results.

3. Lunges

There’s no better way to get great legs! Start with your feet together, and step forward with one foot, lowering your body until your back knee is not quite touching the floor and your front knee is bent at a 90-degree angle.

4. Planks

Nothing has the power to define your core like the plank. If keeping your arms straight is too difficult, you can “plank” on your forearms. Gradually increase the length of time you can hold the position.

5. Bicycle crunches

Bicycles work the core thanks to deep abdominal stabilisation and rotation. They also offer more of a workout for your obliques than standard crunches.

6. Double leg lifts

Lie flat on your back (keeping your lower back pressed to the floor the whole time) with your legs raised together perpendicular to the floor. Lower your legs together as close to the floor as possible without actually touching the floor with your feet. This exercise is great for your lower abdomen and back.

These are just a few of the exercises you can do with no equipment whatsoever – there are also jumping jacks, sit-ups, burpees, squat jumps, and many, many more. So the next time you find yourself without any exercise equipment to work with, do some of these exercises instead and rest assured you’re getting a great workout.