Share This… Not Your Oats & More
Much like those good intentions in the new year, a sudden burst of enthusiasm to get fit comes when the good weather begins.
Fret not ladies, you do not have to spend the bright evenings sweating it out at a spinning class or put a strain on your bank balance with gym membership – make the most of what you’ve got at home
Bikini season does not have to be a dread thanks to these ten simple steps to get fit at home.
1. Swift Squats
Lunchtime is another great opportunity to work on those legs so make sure to put your time to good use. While you’re waiting for your lunch to cook in the microwave, do some squats and firm up those thighs.
2. You’ll End Up In A Hoop
Swing your way into better shape with an unconventional way to keep trim. Studies show hula hooping can burn the same amount of calories per minute as a gruelling boot camp, and nobody likes boot camp. Over an average 30-minute powerhooping workout, you’ll burn 250 calories.
Conditioning & Toning – Combining cardio and strength training, getting out the hula uses all of your core muscles, tightening the sides of your body, centre, hips and even legs.
Stamina – The short burst of energy provides a low impact workout that promotes a healthy heart and increases stamina.
Improves Balance & Coordination – Hula hooping trains the brain and body to work together, challenging the body to maintain rhythm and time, and if you stick at it, an increase flexibility.
3. It’s Always Nice To Do Something For Someone Else.
Even though your motivation may not be completely selfless, there’s also body bonus for your good work as carrying an infant for an hour burns 230 calories.
While you’re you’re feeling in the giving mood – cleaning your elderly neighbour’s gutters for 60 minutes gets rid of another 330 and helping someone move house burns up to 420 calories an hour!
4. Work On Your Abs During The Ads
We all get irritated by long avert breaks during our favourite TV programmes. Instead of using them to take a trip to the kitchen to pop on the kettle you can use this opportunity to get your heart rate up and your metabolism pumping by jogging briskly on the spot until the show returns.
Research has shown that short bursts of intense exercise are more effective than long, low-intensity sessions so you should see a definite improvement by the time you get to the end of that box-set.
5. Get Busy In The Bedroom
This one definitely shouldn’t take too much persuasion. Horizontal exercise is, in our humble opinion, the best kind so even if you’ve only got half an hour to spare a quickie can burn off up to 100 calories.
Keep it as acrobatic and challenging as you can and you’ll get the endorphins and brownie points for free!
6. Stop Lounging Around – Start Those Lunges, Crunches And Plank
Lunges can be quite gruelling but strong legs will help you to maintain your stamina and support your body in loads of different positions… on the exercise mat, people!
We all dream of having a flat tummy and crunches will contribute to a taunt and toned stomach.
The plank pose is one of the only poses that works almost every single muscle in your body. Yes it’s tough, but hey, it’ll tone you up super-quick.
7. Jumpstart
You may not feel like it when you stumble out of bed in the wee hours but ten minutes of jumping jacks will wake you up, kick your metabolism into high gear and start the day as you mean to go by burning anything up to 90 calories.
8. The Chair Challenge
While your job may necessitate spending hours at a desk, there are a few things you do to make those hours count.
- Sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor for better posture and try this simple exercise.
- Contract your abs, lift your foot about six inches from the ground, hold for ten seconds and relax your abs as you lower your foot.
- Alternate your feet and repeat.
Congrats, you’ve already worked out before even having lunch! If your work environment permits, swap your chair for a Swiss ball for even better results.
9. YouTube Yoga
The world wide web is a wonderful place and YouTube may just very well be one of the greatest things on it. Although when we think of the social media platform we instantly think of music, YouTube is a fantastic outlet to source fitness videos perfect for your living room or bedroom.
10. Dance Your Way Fit
As the saying goes, ‘staying in is the new going out’, so why not invite the girls over for a catch up and why not break into a boogie – not only can it do wonders for our mental health but it can also boost your fitness levels.
Two hours on dance floor is said to burn up to a total of 800 calories and if your routine includes getting down low, low, low to Flo Rida, then you’re working those glutes as well.
