Gym from home for free

It seems to be the time of year for fitness kicks, whether that's due to the idea of New Year's resolutions or following having had a bit too much to eat over the Christmas break, there's a bit of a general idea of January as being the time to start getting fit and healthy. Gyms everywhere seem to be advertising membership deals, and healthy foods, and recipes are taking prime position on the shelves (along with all that reduced chocolate!).

If you were aiming to start the year with a bit of a fitness kick but can't quite afford a gym membership, or aren't sure if you'll use it, why not create your own home gym? A great way to trial whether you'll keep up the dedication to fitness, or maybe to work out that a gym membership is what you need to get you motivated, exercising from home can be a great way of saving money, and time.

We've come up with a few top-tips to get you motivated and exercising from home...

• Grab a mat- Exercise mats are pretty cheap to come by, or you could use a towel if you find yourself without. There are a whole range of floor work exercises you can do on a mat, from sit-ups to planks, leg-lifts and crunches, there are hundreds of workout plans online which can provide some great exercise workouts and routines.
• Slightly more active, are the burpees and star jumps. Include them into a workout with some floor work, and get the heart rate rising. Repetition of these sorts of exercises is the way to ensure you get a great workout.
• If you're wanting to include a bit of light weights into the workout, to tone rather than build muscle, grab a couple of cans from the larder and do some bicep curls with them. They should start off feeling pretty light and gradually get heavier the more you use them.
• If you have stairs in your house, set yourself a target number and do some step-ups, either by stepping on and off the bottom step, or walking all the way up and down the staircase. Make your body work harder by adding a bit of weight, by holding carrier bags or again cans of food for a lighter, more subtle weight. Walking up and down the stairs can burn over 500 calories an hour, and the more effort you put in, the greater the outcome will be.
• For a more subtle workout that you won't notice so much, turn up the music and get moving. Dancing around the house at your own pace will burn calories, and as long as you're moving and get get your heart rate raised, it's exercise. 
• Don't panic if you don't think you've got time to exercise, as did you know that housework burns a fair few calories? Not only can you exercise and burn the calories, but you'll also be getting the house clean at the same time. The more effort you put in, the greater the benefit, and it won't only be your body that benefits, but your house too! Hoovering burns over 190 calories per hour, as does mopping floors. If you're after a bit of fresh air as well, then gardening is also a great calorie burner, around 290 calories per hour.
• If you're feeling a bit more adventurous, or just don't have much space in the house, then going for a run, jog or even a brisk walk can get you on the right path to fitness, while enjoying some fresh air too.

Race for 2015- Sign up now!

If your New Years resolution is to get fit and running, you might find it helpful to have something to aim for. Often the big events aren't noticed until the day, when you might find yourself wishing you'd signed up if you'd known about it (or being glad you didn't!). Why not make 2015 the year you sign up for a race or event, and give yourself the January kick-start to get up and out?! We've found a collection of local running events for you to choose from...

The Milton Keynes Half Marathon and Festival of running take place on the 8th March, which gives you just under 2 months to train if you start now! The races start on the central dual-carriageways of Milton Keynes and then continue around some great scenery. There are 5K, 10k, the half marathon and a new one for this year, the MK20 miler. This means you've got the choice with whether to aim high and train hard, or go for the shorter 5k, which will still be a challenge but a bit more fun and relaxed (you'd hope!) Entry fees vary depending on the distance, but prices start at £8 for the 5K. For more information, prices and to sign up, click here.

Walk walk walk with the Newport Pagnell Muster!

The Sixth Newport Pagnell Muster takes place this Saturday, and is set to be a great day out for all the family. Each year a great number of people take part in the community walking event, many walking to raise money for charities. This year, there are five different walks to choose from, with varying difficulties taking different lengths of time. Each of the walks begins at the United Reformed Church on the Newport Pagnell High Street, and can be started any time from 10am. Full instructions and details of each of the walks will be given at the start from the United Reformed Church.

The key objectives of the Muster are to promote health, charity and fun. It also gives an opportunity to demonstrate the numerous benefits of Bury Field as a well-used amenity, and helps raise money for a number of worthwhile causes. As well as building on community spirit and helping local people get to know one another, it's a great event to invite visitors to the town and share some of the sights and local history. We'd really encourage you to get involved if you can!