You may think that you have to head to the gym to get a workout, but nothing could be further from the truth. Lots of people exercise at home, by choice or because of necessity, and are seeing fantastic results. You can too by incorporating the following exercises into your daily routine.
1. Define exercise. You may already be getting exercise and not even know it. No, I do not mean lifting up the remote to change channels! There are a lot of things you may be doing around the house that are benefiting you.
For instance, any mother of small children is likely getting a very good daily work out. Keep toddlers in check and you’re running, lifting and pushing all day long. Lifting boxes, picking up toys, arranging the kitchen cabinet or a work room can help you burn calories. Consider these routines as the basis for your overall work routine.
2. Get realistic. Most television ads are simply unrealistic. “I lost 80 pounds in six months!” “I went from a size 18 dress to a size 6 in time for my daughter’s wedding. Although such accomplishments are admirable, they rarely reflect what most people want to do.
For yourself, you should have a good idea of what you want to get out of your exercise. This may include losing 15 pounds, dropping two dress sizes, getting rid of excess flab, or simply feeling better about yourself. Identify your goal and start tracking your progress.
3. Evaluate your chores. As mentioned earlier, there may be chores you are already doing that are beneficial to your exercise regimen. You can go further than that by adding in more chores or counting what you didn’t consider before. It isn’t so much what you do, rather it is that you’re doing something.
You may be surprised to know that something as simple as gardening can benefit you immensely. Getting down on your knees, planting bulbs, pulling up weeds and trimming bushes can do wonders for your body. Vacuuming, dusting, polishing furniture, cleaning the bathroom and straightening a closet can help too.
4. Exercise in place. Your chores are done, but you still feel that a workout would help. This is where an exercise bike can make a big difference for you. Set one up in front of the television and watch your favorite show. If you have little ones, wait until they take a nap or rise early before they do to begin your regimen.
Besides the exercise bike, you can incorporate sit ups, chin ups, stretches, small bar bell lifts and other routines. Even if you can grab only five minutes here or there, take advantage of it. You don’t have to exercise all at once — spread it out and you’ll enjoy the benefit throughout the day.
5. Include your children. Little ones need to exercise too. They can’t always get outside because of the weather, but they can get exercise in your home just as you do. Include your children in your exercise routine and you’ll both benefit from it advises Fitness19.com.
Show your children how to touch their toes. Then, do jumping jacks. You can also show them how to do somersaults, jump up and down on one leg, do leg lifts and roll their bodies over and over. Make it a game and it will be something they’ll want to do every day — giving you the chance to exercise.
Exercise Considerations
If you live in an apartment and are on one of the upper floors, you’ll have to modify your exercise routine in consideration of people below you. That doesn’t mean you can’t exercise, rather it may mean limiting your workouts to certain times of the day and modifying your routines accordingly.
Getting exercise should be fun whether it is done in the home, outside or in the gym. Chances are you’re doing several routines already, now raise it to another level by incorporating a wider variety of exercises.