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Getting healthy and fit tops the New Year Resolutions lists every year. No surprises there. But we all know resolutions are as permanent as the current version of iOS; itching to update into a state of inaction. The best way for habits to stick is to make them convenient (has anyone bought often-not-required-products via e-commerce Apps). So to help you make your fitness goals last beyond the first 2 weeks of 2018, here are 5 simple home equipment you can buy to exercise conveniently at your own home. This equipment will cost you almost a month’s subscription to a gym (I’ve assumed approximately $100) and will hopefully last you at least a year. So here goes, 5 things that will help you stick to your fitness goals in 2018:

1. Door-frame Pull Up Bar ($15)
Upper body strength is fundamental to basic movements like lifting or pushing things. Pull Ups are the best way to build upper body strength. But we are often limited by the presence of a pull up bar or station. The solution: Door-Frame pull up bar. This is a simple bar that fits in your door frame or any 2 closely spaced walls and doesn’t require drilling (although you could drill for additional support). Most bars have rubber grips to keep your hands from hurting and can be extended to fit a variety of widths. Start with as many pull-ups as you can do (zero is normal) and then practice everyday. Within a month you should be able to go up by 2-3 pull-ups. Additionally, you can also isolate Core, arms and back via appropriate exercises. Shifting homes or travelling for long: Detach it from the door frame and pack the bar in your bag.

2. Kettlebell ($30)
If a pull-bar builds upper body strength, Kettlebells can weigh in (literally) to provide excellent conditioning and strength for the entire body. You can squat to build legs, you can lift to build arms and shoulders. And the king of all – Kettlebell Swings, which has been called the Perfect Exercise to improve posture, build posterior strength, increase cardiovascular endurance and lose weight! Start with a weight that you can use for your primary exercise (e.g. 10 kg for swings). Focus on mastering the right form.

3. Resistance Bands ($10)
Resistance bands are extremely versatile and complement pull-up bars and kettlebell in a number of ways – they provide continuous resistance across the range of motion, they are safer when recovering from injury or soreness, they can help you target specific parts with a low impact option and they help you add variety to your home workout. Most of all – they are highly portable and can be stashed in your bag for your travel workouts.

4. Weighted Vest ($30)
Workouts are all about intensity. The best way to increase intensity for body weight exercises is to add a weighted vest. These are vests that can add additional weight to your body (2-20 kgs) cranking up your intensity. Because the form factor is a vest, the weight distribution is uniform and therefore builds all round strength, helps in increasing bone density and raises heart rate. The weights can be easily added or removed basis exercise. Try running with a weighted vest to super charge your calorie burn rate; a “normal” run will feel like a breeze subsequently!

5. Foam roller ($15)
With all the exercise comes optimal and adequate recovery. Foam rolling is a form of self massage and helps to ease out muscle tensions, enhances blood flow and creates better mobility helping to recover faster. It also helps to avoid injuries. An unintended consequence I’ve noticed is deep restful sleep! It may sound boring but 10 minutes spent on massaging and foam rolling is the best way to prepare your muscles for a gruelling workout the next day. Add a massage ball if you run a fair bit.

So here are 5 home equipment solutions to help you achieve your 2018 health resolutions. This is the best $100 (or thereabouts basis the brands you choose) you can invest in yourself. If you stick to this for 6 months, upgrade your workout by rewarding yourself with a bonus equipment: Adjustable Dumbbells ($200) that help you lift from 5 to 50 pounds, using minimum space. So go ahead – all the best for fitness unlimited in 2018.