6 Ways to stay active without leaving your home
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Our newsThe gym is shut, we’re all in lockdown, many of us are just a few short steps from a fridge at any given moment… there’s no point even trying to stay fit is there?!
Wrong! Yes it might take a bit more willpower, but staying active during lockdown isn’t impossible, as long as you’re creative. Plus, it can really boost your physical and mental wellbeing.
Here are our top six tips for working out at home without a treadmill in sight!
Turn your garden into an obstacle course – think of it as your own version of Tough Mudder, but with less fear and public humiliation. Use whatever you can find – lawnmowers, paddling pools, footballs, stray toys flung across the garden (in fact maybe your garden already resembles an obstacle course?!), and get the whole family involved for exercise which is also fun!
Follow a fitness DVD or workout video on YouTube – again, this can be completely free, and there are plenty of “equipment-free” videos you can follow at home, from your living room or garden. Why not get into a routine of starting or ending your day with one? Rope in your partner, family, or housemates to make sure you complete it. First one to drop out cooks dinner?!
Try yoga – not only do you not need any equipment, but you also only need a very limited amount of space – perfect for those who live in flats, or in households that have become a bit cluttered over the past few weeks! It’s also a great way to de-stress, so ideal for those working from home, who want to switch off for the evening.
Substitute household items for weights – if you’re really missing your usual gym routine, it’s time to get creative. Find a can of beans (that you aren’t stockpiling ��) as dumbbells, or a filled bottle of water also works. Try tights instead of resistance bands, or have a go at bench pressing pet food.
Get cleaning – if the idea of cleaning bores you to tears, instead start thinking of those gains! Not only are you scrubbing the kitchen, you’re shifting those calories. Whizzing around the house with a hoover? That’s cardio. You’re combining a workout with your chores, and by the end of it you’ll have a nicer environment to live in – perfect!
Get round to the gardening – again, some of those items on your to-do list also provide a great work out! Pushing a wheelbarrow and digging the weeds out can really work up a sweat, plus it does you good to be outside in the fresh air too.
Now you’ve got no excuses to stay fit during lockdown! Let us know if you’ve got any tips of your own.