Fitness hacks at home

Here are a few tips to intelligently incorporate your workout schedules in to your daily routine

August 06, 2016 05:12 pm | Updated 08:30 pm IST - Bangalore

A man walks past the the Bank of England in central London on August 4, 2016, ahead of an expected interest rate reduction.  
The Bank of England is expected to slash interest rates to a record-low 0.25 percent later Thursday and could pump more stimulus into the economy as it battles the fallout from Britain's vote to leave the EU, economists say. The announcement, due Thursday after the British central bank's latest monetary policy meeting, would take rates to their lowest level in the BoE's 322-year history 
 / AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS

A man walks past the the Bank of England in central London on August 4, 2016, ahead of an expected interest rate reduction. The Bank of England is expected to slash interest rates to a record-low 0.25 percent later Thursday and could pump more stimulus into the economy as it battles the fallout from Britain's vote to leave the EU, economists say. The announcement, due Thursday after the British central bank's latest monetary policy meeting, would take rates to their lowest level in the BoE's 322-year history / AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS

“I want to stay fit but do not have the time.” It’s one of the most commonly used lines when it comes to being fit. Long hours at work, not enough money for a gym, have to hang out with friends, just don’t feel like it.

There are many reasons why we cannot or will not exercise.

However, a few simple things you can incorporate in your daily life will help keep your body active, energised and toned.

Drink up: Fitness trainer Selvakumar says, “Start your day with a large glass of water. It removes toxins from your blood and hydrates your body after a long sleep.”

“It also acts like an alarm clock for your metabolism,” he adds, “and increases your calorie-burning potential throughout the day.”

Stretch: “For people with sedentary lifestyles, stretching is a must. It relaxes your muscles, increases blood circulation and calms your mind,” says Divya fitness trainer at Pink. Simple stretches like arm circles, toe touches, bridges and neck rotations can be done in your pajamas.

Multitask: You brush twice a day, don’t you? Now make the most of those few minutes. Instead of just standing there staring at the mirror, do a wall sit, which is a quickie butt and thigh workout, or simple calf raises.

Make it fun: “Make the most of your TV time by working out as you watch your favourite show,” says Divya. Replace the sofa with an exercise ball.

This helps increase core strength and improves posture, balance and stability.

Also take advantage of the ad breaks and do squats, lunges or planks till the show returns.

Move it: Keep moving through the day.

Take your dog for a walk; park your car some distance away from your destination; drink lots of water so you have to keep going to the bathroom; walk around when you answer a phone call; and at home dance around to your favourite song.

Cardio is not hard: Cardio is the best way to burn those extra calories.

It’s easy to get your heart rate up at home and it requires nothing more than your body weight. Selvakumar says,

“Spot jog for three minutes, as it is easier than jogging outside or on a treadmill.

Climbing stairs is also one of the best exercises when it comes to fat burning and strengthening your lower body.”

Kitchen workout: Squeeze in your workout while cooking.

“Fill water bottles and use them as dumbbells to get those long and lean arms,” says Divya.

Use your kitchen countertop as a personal push up space to help reduce those flabby arms.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.