How to Use Everyday Objects as At-Home Weights

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

For many of us, a new year means a renewed interest in taking better care of our bodies and minds. One great way to do that is by adding a little weight or strength training into your routine.

And while you may not have a gym membership, we’ll let you in on a little secret. You don’t need a gym in order to have dumbbells and weights at your disposal.

In fact, we’d venture to guess that you have plenty of items in your home right now that double as weights.

So what are you waiting for? Put on your favorite workout leggings, lace up your tennis shoes, and let’s get lifting.

5 Simple Items that Can Level Up Your Home Workouts

Whether it’s a milk jug or books you have laying around, all it takes is a little creativity to create a solid at-home strength workout.

Laundry Detergent Bottle

Laundry detergent bottles serve as a perfect weight for squats and lunges. You could also use it as an overhead press.

Water Bottles

Water bottles are the perfect size for arm weights. Try doing an overhead press or tricep curls.

Milk Cartons

A 32-ounce carton of milk will roughly even out to 2 pounds. These are ideal for working out your arms with exercises like a curl and press.

Bags of Rice

Uncooked rice never expires, so there’s a good chance you probably have some in your pantry. Grab the bag and do a few lunges, holding the bags down low or above your head to switch things up.

A Suitcase Filled with Any Items You’d Like

Fill your suitcase with anything from books to cans and you have yourself a hefty at-home weight. We’d recommend weighing the suitcase before you start lifting and aim for 10 pounds if you’re new to lifting and 20-pounds if you weight lift fairly regularly. Then you’re ready to workout your lower body with some squats.

Our friends at adidas shared this helpful infographic that details even more items that double as weights so you can create your very own at-home gym. It also offers tips for how to stay motivated while working out from home.

SEE ALSO: 5 Ways to Set Up Your Home Gym