Easy Ways to Stay Toned and in Shape
How to Fit Exercising into Your Daily Routine
 I have spent a lot of money on gym memberships in the past. I would do really
well at first going almost every other day. Then a few weeks would go by and I
would only go about once a week. Then from there it was less and less until I
had $40 coming out of my checking account every month for no reason. I had
simply quit going and could not muster the will power to continue. By then
I was usually back to eating bad and being a couch potato and letting all the
good hard work I had done go to a complete waste. I guess mostly it was just the
hassle of physically getting to the gym, and also figuring out when I would be
able to go because that particular gym did not have child care. Then I
discovered what was there right in front of me. My home! I changed little things
in my daily routine to increase my toning, strengthening, and calorie burning. I
am going to show you some examples of exercises I do in my home at my own
convenience. Stretching Exercises
Upon awakening, before I will even get out bed, I will do a few simple
stretches. I lie on my back and slowly lift up my hips, up and down, usually
about 20-30 times; every few reps you can hold in place a few seconds. Then
while still lying on your back just lift each leg vertically one at a time and
try to hold it straight about 2 minutes each leg.
Arm
Exercises
Every time I am done using the bathroom I do about 20-30 wall push-ups when I
walk out of the bathroom.
Calf Exercises
I do calf raises when I need to get things out of the kitchen cabinets.
Core Exercises
If I am watching TV, during the commercials I do not allow myself to sit. I get
up and do crunches, jumping jacks, or jog in place until my show comes back on.
Leg Squats
Before I open the refrigerator I always do 15-20 squats or lunges
Addition Exercises to Challenge You Through the Day
-
 Park
in the first parking space you see instead of looking for ones close to the
door of a store. Use the baskets and do arm curls with them while you shop.
- Stand up straight and keep my abs/core tucked in and tight when
walking and even while sitting;
it takes a minute to get used to, but It really helps with breathing and
posture.
- Go up stairs 2 steps forward and 1 step back. Sometimes instead I
will run up and down 3 or 4 times.
- Enjoy a brisk walk with your children, family members or
a pet.
- With extra time, put on the radio or a CD ( or iPod for all the
high-techies) and freestyle dance and move. This is also super fun too!
- It is easy to burn calories when you do cleaning, mopping, scrubbing, and other
miscellaneous chores around the house at a rapid pace.
- Skip elevators and opt for stairs.
- Power walk at the local mall.
These are just some examples of how I can incorporate exercise into my day very
easily. This way there are no more excuses. It is important to remember to stay
active as well as eating properly. This method has worked wonders for me since I
am a person who hates to exercise.
There are even video games for the Nintendo Wii and Xbox Kinect such as "Wii
Fit" or "Zumba" that can be very fun to do at home and could end up
being less expensive than a gym membership.
As you can see, the possibilities are endless. Having a busy life should never
get in the way of being a happy, healthy, person. Everyone can follow these
ideas and I promise that it will make a big difference. Especially if we are all
mindful of our eating habits as well.
Physical Fitness
Aggression in Sports
7 Simple Easy Ways to Stay Active
Exercise Tips for Busy Working Mothers
The Media's Role in Obesity
Easy Ways to Stay Toned and in Shape |
