Strength training at home No gym required

We know that exercise does wonders for body, mind, and spirit, but it’s not all about the cardio. Strength training is important, too, especially if you have blood glucose management problems.

“Think of your muscular system as a huge storage tank for the carbohydrate you get through your diet,” says Dr

Sheri Colberg, researcher, professor of exercise science and author of The Diabetes Breakthrough. As a normal part of ageing, muscle mass diminishes, and the muscles you lose fastest are the ones you don’t recruit daily.

What’s the best way to engage those disappearing muscle fibres? Strength training, which both maintains and builds muscle mass. “With more muscles in your tank, your body can then store more carbohydrate,” Colberg says.

Newbies can start at home, says personal trainer and founder of Diabetes Strength Fitcamps, Jonathan Kolowich. “Then you’ll gain confidence to join a gym or class if you want.”

There are many ways to train at home using DVDs, books, or online fitness sites. You can buy equipment, but your body weight is all you need.

Kolowich designed this at-home program to give your muscles the attention they need. What do you need to do? Don your training shoes and some comfy clothes, and get moving.

Get in shape without leaving the lounge room