Is your gym membership burning a hole in your wallet and racking up miles on your car? For a convenient and affordable alternative, consider working out at home.
There are many ways to incorporate exercise into your home activities. Whether you’re tackling your simple, everyday chores or indulging in couch potato time, there are abundant fitness opportunities.
Do you pay someone else to do your housework? Let them go. This is an excellent way to burn calories. After all, they don’t call it housework for nothing. Mopping floors works your biceps and shoulders. Thirty minutes later, you’ve burned about 115 calories. If you need to dust something up high, don’t rush for the stepladder. First, try your best to s-t-r-e-t-c-h for it. For low areas, don’t lean down. Instead, squat. You’ll have killer glutes in no time.
Now, head outside. Does the lawn need mowing? Ditch the riding mower. Instead, haul that push mower out of the shed and get to work. Don’t forget to rake the leaves first. Yes, you might be a bit sore tomorrow, but that’s your body’s way of thanking you for giving it some much-needed attention. Speaking of needing attention, how’s your garden? An hour of toiling in the garden burns about 250 calories. Bonus points for growing your own heart-healthy vegetables like spinach, cabbage and broccoli.
Couch potatoes are known for doing a whole lot of nothing. It’s possible, however, to squeeze in doing something good for your body, even when you’re not doing much else. You can actually burn calories during a marathon TV bender. The best way to do this: get rid of your remote control. You’ll burn loads of calories changing the channel manually. Sit up on the sofa rather than lying down. Own a stationary bike? Get in some pedal time while watching your favorite shows. A few episodes later, you’ll be back in your skinny jeans.
Walking is one of the best ways to get fit and stay fit. Try taking a short walk before breakfast, and another after dinner. Start with five or so minutes and work your way up to 30 minutes. Though a leisurely pace is nice, you’ll burn far more calories if you pick up the pace. Go for variety in your terrain. Tackle some hills and valleys. Also, swing your arms when you walk. All in all, you’ll burn about 175 calories on an average, 30-minute walk. Don’t neglect Rover! Grab that leash and hit the road with your pooch. Need a grocery item? Don’t drive to the corner store. Make the trip on foot.
Now that you’re a home workout pro, what will you do with all the money you save from foregoing the gym membership? Here’s a thought: consider buying your own gym equipment for home use. It’s a wise investment, not to mention a one-time expense. Other family members will also benefit from it, thus increasing the value of your investment. If you can manage to use your own home gym at least three times a week, we’ll think about giving you back your remote control to reward you for a job well done.