Everyone and their dog seems to be doing workouts at home during the nationwide lockdown. While many people have committed to staying active during this period, some days you just can’t bring yourself to put on workout clothes or you just don’t have the time to do an at-home routine. For those days when working out just isn’t on the top of your to-do list, you can still burn calories throughout the day and offset some of those extra visits to the fridge. Check out these easy tips for sneaking in some exercise without all the inconvenience of breaking a sweat.
1. Walk and talk:
Spending lots of time on conference calls? Take advantage of any idle time you may have during calls by taking the call for a walk in the garden or around your home. If you do it right, walking is a very effective way to burn calories and even lose weight. If you really want to take it up a notch, try doing alternating walking lunges while you’re on the phone. Just make sure to reserve those for voice calls only as you don’t want to appear unprofessional whilst video chatting with clients or your colleagues.
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2. Exercise while you cook:
Optimise your time spent in the kitchen by squeezing in a few reps while you cook. You can try doing some simple exercises while you wait for the oven timer or water in the pot to boil. Think squats while you put dishes in the oven, a few calf-muscle raises as you chop vegetables, or stir a stew.
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3. Eat Smaller Meals Throughout the Day
This one really does require almost no work at all. Exercise is only half of the calories-in-calories-out equation, so it’s important to keep a handle on your eating habits during the time spent at home as well. When we move less, our bodies require less energy (or calories) from food, so rather than eating three big meals a day, try enjoying a few smaller meals throughout the day to keep you going. Drink plenty of water throughout the day as well, this will help you curb any false hunger pangs and prevent you from eating a lot more calories than you burn. Look for snacks and meals that are packed with protein as these will help you stay satisfied for longer, keeping you from grazing or mindlessly munching.
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4. Get cleaning:
You’ve no doubt heard this one before, but just in case you didn’t realise, cleaning is totally a legitimate form of exercise! Sure, nobody likes to clean the house but once you realise it’s a great way to also burn calories without even thinking exercise you might just be motivated to do it more often. Put on some music or your favourite podcast while you clean and soon you’ll be enjoying having fun whilst dusting away!
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5. Try the Netflix Workout
If you’re ready to put some effort in but aren’t quite prepared for a full workout session, then try the Netflix workout. Combining exercise with the act of binge-watching series, the Netflix workout offers a sure-fire way to trick your mind into thinking you’re taking a load off while also breaking a small sweat. Take 5 minutes to get your blood flowing in-between Netflix episodes or do a quick one-minute set for every 15 minutes of series you watch and your TV binge session won’t seem so bad. Challenge yourself to do 10 push-ups, 5 burpees, or 10 alternating lunges in-between episodes or every 15 minutes and you’ll get a decent amount of exercise in without even realising it. Set a timer on your phone to clock your effort before you hit play on the next episode.
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These 5 easy tricks take little to no effort and will keep you feeling good from the inside out, even if you’re not fitting in regular workouts.
