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Gym memberships can be pricey. Gyms are intimidating. I don't have a babysitter. It's too late to go to the gym. I'm tired, I just want to go home!

These are all valid rants, but not valid excuses for not working out. Equating working out' with going to the gym' is old news. You can get a complete strength training work out in the comfort of your own home. Try these simple, basic moves to get started.

Push Ups

Push ups are the best complete upper body exercise you should be doing. If you have trouble doing a standard push up with correct form, do modified push ups with your knees on the ground as opposed to your toes. Keep your back straight and core tight. Bend at the elbows and don't forget to breathe! Once you are able to complete 20 modified push ups with correct form, try just 5 regular ones, then 7, then maybe 10. Who knows how many you can do! But you won't know unless you stay consistent.

Squats

Again, it's all about form. Use a chair as your guide and slowly pretend you are going to sit down. Right before you bottom hits the seat, push through your hamstrings and glutes to raise yourself back up. Keep your back straight and make sure your knees don't go past your toes. Need more? Hold anything heavy against your chest or hold two small slightly heavy items on each shoulder.

Stair Climbs

Besides your own body, stairs are one of the best pieces of exercise equipment you may have access to. Instead of just dragging your feet upstairs, try double stepping. Carefully plant your foot on the step after the next one and push up through your hamstring to bring your back foot toward the next double step.

Add weight to this for an added challenge. Hold some heavy books in your arms and concentrate on your form to feel a burn in your hamstrings and glutes.

To add an interval training, cardio component, try jogging up stairs while double stepping. Repeat jogging up and walking down for about 30 seconds. Walk around your house for 2 minutes and repeat. Interval training has been shown to deliver massive health benefits.

Calf Raises

Put the balls of your feet on a step, slowly lower and slowly raise. This is an easy and effective exercise to shape your calves.

Tricep Dips

Sit on a chair or bench. Place the heels of your hands on the chair next to your legs. Move yourself forward just in front of the chair and begin to slowly lower and raise. Move your legs farther away for more resistance.

Work sets of these simple exercises into your daily life and you will see a difference in your body. During commercials, while on the phone, in between loads of laundry, every set counts. No gym, no membership fees, no one watching, but you will still find the changes you are looking for.

Learn more about this author, Michelle Homan.
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