Sneaky Ways to Get in Shape for Spring

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It’s no secret that January is a key month for all of us who want to lose those Christmas pounds! However, the sad thing is that many of us lose our motivation and resolve to stay with our January resolutions once the initial ‘buzz’ has worn off.

I don’t know about you, but I find going to the gym can be really difficult – on cold, wet nights the last thing you want to do is trek out of your way to queue for machines and pound away for an hour hoping you’ll see the fruits of your labour!

Staying in shape needn’t be a chore, or take up too much time and energy – in fact, regular exercise is one of the best ways to give you more energy and ‘get up and go’. Exercise can easily fit in and around the nooks and crannies of your life, and if you do it regularly, you’ll feel so much better that you’ll start to look forward to your daily workout!

We all know the benefits of exercise for our mind, body and soul and it’s true to say that you never regret exercising after you have done it – its just getting started that’s the hard part!

Personally, I think the key is to develop the habit to sneak exercise into your life, in the pockets of time that you have free or combining exercise with something else you love! I’ve put together a couple of sneaky ways for you to get exercise into your everyday routine – you’ll barely notice you’re doing it!

Housework Workout

While many people say they simply don’t have the time to work out, a UK study has shown that the average British woman spends 143 minutes per week cleaning the house! Many household chores are considered medium-strength cardiovascular or strength training exercises, so this is an ideal way to ‘sneak’ your exercise into a part of your life you are doing already.

Vacuuming alone burns 190 calories per hour. Why not incorporate lunges or squats as you vacuum to increase your workout! Putting on some lively pop music will keep you moving quickly. Another great trick is to do calf raises as you are washing dishes.

Related Post: Hate Cleaning? Try Speed Cleaning

Home Exercise while Watching TV

Home exercise DVDs have come a very long way! There are now a host of highly popular options available which focus on different body parts if wished, with a combination of cardio and strength routines which will allow you to see results in minimum time.

The best thing about these is that they require no gym membership (so you can save your pennies!) and you can fit them neatly into your routine at home without trekking to the gym. Once you are familiar with the workout, you can watch TV as you do it! Many workouts are about the half-hour mark – so perfect to start and finish during an episode of Eastenders! That’s what we call ‘multitasking’.

You may also like: The Workout Essentials You Need to Have the Best Home Gym

Dance

Dancing is certainly an amazing way to keep a body toned. Dancing is also a super-fun hobby and a great alternative to a night in the pub for hanging out with friends. We can guarantee at least as many laughs along the way!

Zumba is fantastic fun and is becoming more popular with classes springing up all over the country. Other options might be – Argentinian tango, salsa lessons or even samba for some feisty Latino flavour! Get kitted out in advance with the right move dancewear and supportive shoes – your feet will thank you for it in the long run.

This is a guest post written by Sue Williams.