The first step is always the most difficult one. If you have decided to do something about all the excess fat in your body but do not want to go to the gym, here are a few home workout routines that you can do from the comfort of your home. These are basic exercises but provide a complete body workout and can also be scaled up to higher intensity.

Cardio and warm ups: Before starting with more rigorous exercises, the body needs to be prepared to take the strain of physical activity. The heart needs to beat faster and increase the pumping of blood throughout the body. Blood carries oxygen and increased physical activity means that the muscles need more oxygen than normal. People can get the heart rate to increase by performing basic cardio exercises like brisk walking, jogging or cycling.

Leg lunges: Leg lunges might look simple but they are very effective in giving the entire lower body, a complete workout. The procedure is to bring the left leg forward and place it a little away from the body. Both feet must be firmly placed on the floor, pointing forward. Then, the left leg has to be bent from the knee up to 90 degrees. This must be repeated at least eight times after which the right leg must be flexed for eight times. One set of eight each for each leg is a set and three sets must be done.

Pushups: This is the most complete upper body home workout routine. The position of the person must be like this: body facing downwards; feet and palms resting on the floor at shoulder width, pointing in the same direction. The body has to be pushed upwards by the hands and then lowered back to floor level (but must not touch the floor till the set is complete). This must be repeated eight times t complete a set and three sets must be done.

Crunches: The body must rest comfortably on the floor and must be straight. To begin, the upper body must be lifted, waist upwards. Care must be taken to ensure that the neck does not move forward on its own accord; it must match the movement of the entire upper portion of the body. Three sets of eight repeats must be completed.

The entire set of exercises must be done on alternate days to ensure that the body gets adequate rest for recuperation.