Starting a real fitness regime is enough of a challenge without adding on an extra hurdle. Unfortunately, for a lot of people, that hurdle is the people that they live with. Housemates or roommates can add a bit of trouble to those who want to get fit and healthy and use the home to do it. But it’s a challenge that can be solved in a lot of ways. So here, we’re going to look at a few.
Get them to join in
The best case scenario is that your roommate or housemate is not only fine with your exercising, but also willing to join in. There are lots of exercise routines, like cycling, that can easily be done together. Not only is it a lot more fun, but it’s also a much more motivating way to stick to your exercise. So ask your roommate if they want to join you. You might be surprised by the answer.
The trouble with food
When you’re sticking to a healthy eating plan, other people can be the biggest problem you have to face. As with every relapse risk, it’s other people indulging that can really make you itch. If you live with people who eat a lot of junk food, it needs to be addressed. You can ask them to not buy specific foods that are tempting to you. Either that or simply ask them to keep it out of sight, even hidden. Most people will be very understanding about this. Just make sure that you’re polite, not demanding about it.
Inconvenience
If you work out from home, there’s a lot of concern about how much of an inconvenience you might be proving to your housemates. If you’re lucky, housemates will let you know and ask you (politely) to adjust. One of the most embarrassing inconveniences is smell. You have to deal with it in your clothes and your room. Wash your clothes immediately, avoiding things like fabric softener which aren’t needed for sweat. Scentsy warmers and similar things, along with open windows and dehumidifiers, will be tremendous help for the room. Then there’s the noise. Always be considerate of when you’re working out, for one. Don’t do super early morning exercises if you can avoid it. Then use equipment like bike trainer mats to reduce the amount of noise you make.
Don’t be embarrassed
The point above is going to be even worse for those who have a natural sense of embarrassment about working out. This embarrassment can come from all kinds of places, but you shouldn’t let it stop you. When you’re starting to feel too embarrassed to exercise, remember that very few people will try to make you feel ashamed about efforts to get fit.
We hope that the tips above help you exercise and eat well more conveniently when living with others. A lot of this can be talked out, and will prove a lot less of a problem if you work your issues together. But these tips can help you get there.
