subject: Some Tips To Get A Workout Without Going To The Gym [print this page] A lot of people want to be able to exercise regularly but they just don't have the time to squeeze it into their hectic schedules. This should not mean however, that these people should resign themselves to a sedentary lifestyle. Exercise does not always have to follow a strict format. According to researchers, doing several shorter exercise sessions throughout the day provides the same health and fitness benefits as one long exercise session in the gym.
Aside from the fact that you can do your workout in increments, you can also modify your exercises to make them fit into your regular routine and activities.
The following are 12 ways in which you can incorporate exercise into your daily schedule.
1. When you make a call and are put on hold, keep yourself busy. Do knee-ups, march in place, or do isometric buttock exercises. Aside from burning a few calories, this will help you release stress and keep you from becoming irritated by having to wait.
2. Avoid drive-thrus. It would be better to park and walk rather than do business while sitting in your car. Whether you are going to the drugstore, bank or a fast food restaurant, choose inconvenience. Move your muscles!
3. Stop using your cordless phone. Everytime the phone rings, answer it using the extension that is farthest from you. This will force you to move, and fast. Make sure to set your answering machine so that it will pick up in five rings to allow you more time to get to the phone.
4. Use your coffee break to exercise. Forget about raiding the snack machine, take a quick walk instead. You can go up and down the stairs or do step-ups. This short exercise session will make you more alert and energized. The boost will make you more productive once you go back to your desk.
5. Whenever you take the stairs, take two steps at a time and try to go faster. The added stretch will tone your buttocks as well as the front and back muscles of your thighs. The increased intensity will also make you burn more calories.
6. Workout while watching TV. Place your exercise equipment near your TV area so you can do your exercises while watching your favorite show.
7. Work while you workout. As you do your cardio training on the stationary bike, you can read work-related documents or record a report in your tape recorder while you brisk walk on the treadmill. You will find that doing a physical activity while managing a mental task actually works and that ideas and concepts flow more easily.
8. Do those tasks which have been left pending for a long time. Mow the lawn, clean out your garage, repaint the kitchen. To get you moving, play some upbeat music and get to the first task. Enjoy yourself and soon enough you will be ticking off items in your to-do list. At the end of the day you will have also burned a lot of calories.
9. If your home is less than five miles from your workplace, walk to work at least three times a week. If you live far, park your vehicle at a distance where you still need to do quite a bit of walking before you reach your office building.
10. When you do your errands, plan them out so that you do a lot of walking, or running. If you have several to do in one location, park your car near the place of your last errand. If you have packages, bring them to your car before doing your next task.
11. When you go on a date, plan on something that will make you and your date work up a good sweat such as hiking, rollerblading or backpacking. Finding someone whom you can enjoy such activities with is worth considering as a partner.
These are just some of the ways to get your blood pumping without having to go to a gym. Not only will you be burning a lot of calories, you will be saving a lot of time and money.
