Staying fit at home without a gym

Health , , ,

Whether you love staying fit or you’ve never really gotten into it, the fact is, we’ve been a lot more sedentary than we should be this past year.

 

Unfortunately, scrolling through Netflix or getting up to open another bag of chips doesn’t actually count as calorie-burning activities. Only real and consistent sweat-inducing exercise can help you improve your health, lose weight and reduce your risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

 

But, you say, “I don’t have fancy equipment at home and I certainly can’t afford it right now.” We knew you’d say that J and the good news getting fit doesn’t require a lot of bells and whistles. All you need is 30 minutes a day, a towel and the consistency to perform a few basic exercises four to five times a week.

 

Here are four simple exercises, according to celebrity fitness coach Gunnar Peterson, that you can do to activate and firm up your muscles, keep your body moving and get healthier:

 

·       10 body-weight squat repetitions – these work on your legs, abs and posture

·       10 push-ups – these work on your chest, shoulders and triceps

·       10 Supermans – these work on your lower back and core

·       20 crunches – these work on your abdomen and core

 

Do each of these exercises five to ten times with a short rest (one minute is enough) between them. Your entire workout session should take you about half an hour. If you begin finding it too easy, you can experiment by raising the number of repetitions you do for each exercise – for instance, instead of doing 20 crunches in a row, try 30.

 

Remember, speak to your family doctor before beginning any exercise regimen. If you feel mild muscle pain in the days following your exercise, that’s a good thing. If you feel any nerve or joint pain, again, speak to a health professional.

 

How have you kept yourself in shape during the pandemic? Share your exercise tips with the Shop Talk community – we love hearing from you!

 

Did you know? Home exercise gets a boost

 

The sale of fitness equipment, like kettlebells, dumbbells and stationary bikes shot up 55% when COVID-19 lockdowns began. (Source)

34 thoughts on “Staying fit at home without a gym”

  1. I’m so out of shape it’s pathetic. I can actually feel myself getting fatter. Since lockdown, my cholesterol has shot up to 199, up from 150 previously. Too much junk food, too little walking around. I have a treadmill here but I am SO uninspired. My neighborhood is full of irresponsible people who let their big dogs run off leash, and I’m afraid to take walks outside.

  2. I have a stationary bike at my home and I have kept up exercising on this bike. I am 81 years old and try to do at least 30 minutes a day and love it.

  3. yeah, you can do these if you’re 20 & in good health. What about older people or those with handicaps?
    I used to be a PE Teacher and did everything with my students, so I’d like to see you post some thing for older folks.

  4. I have been actively exercising during Covid. I have set up our WII fit and set a routines and run around the “park”. It’s a great way to keep my interest and my health.

  6. I put in extra effort to stay active during these times. Taking a parking spot further away from the entrance to the grocery store, walking to get the mail rather than driving, going for walks. Those extra steps help keeping you energetic and healthy!

  12. I am reassured that my home workouts are similar to those suggested above. I guess I am ahead of the curve!

  13. I am doing the exercises listed on the site with my grandson. He enjoys it and it helps me physically.

  15. i have a stationary bike and do light yoga and pilates to keep me moving and sort of limber.

  20. This survey asked very personal questionsThought survey was related to employee recognition at Safeway store which directed me to this site

    FYI: Safeway Store #174 in Phx, AZ has one of most accommodating friendly staff. We appreciate them

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