1. Take the Stairs
Do you live in an elevator-equipped apartment community? Rather than catching a lift to your floor, take the steps whenever you do not have too much to carry. Stair climbing works several muscles in your legs and is a great way to burn calories and get fit. If you live on the first floor or do not have an elevator, elect to take the stairs rather than an escalator or elevator at work, shopping malls, airports, and elsewhere when practical.
Shape Up Your Home
We don’t mean clean up, although housecleaning is a great way to work a variety of muscles that do not get regular attention. By rearranging any exercise equipment in your apartment so that it is more prominent and accessible, you will be more likely to use it. Keep your yoga mat on the floor next to your bed or rolled up under it, and get down on your hands and knees for a few stretches each night and morning. Alternatively, you can do stretches in your bed. Store dumbbells next to your entertainment center, where you will be more likely to pick them up and do a few repetitions every time you tune in for some regularly scheduled programming.
3. Go Dancing!
Rather than stay in for cocktails with friends or visiting your local pub, dust off those old dancing shoes and call up your friends for an active night out on the town. Limit your alcohol intake, and you will burn far more calories than you take in.
4Work Out While You Watch TV
Does the gym you belong to have personal televisions attached to its exercise equipment? Do you have a treadmill or elliptical at home that you could re-position so that you can work on your cardio while catching up on your favorite shows? It is possible to get a great workout without missing a second of Homeland or Modern Family, so start today! Even a normal-pace treadmill walk at moderate incline can help you burn 300 calories during a 60-minute program.
Use Work Breaks Wisely
Stepping aside from work for a few minutes every hour or two can actually increase your productivity and the quality of your work. Choose to spend this time doing leg lifts on the floor or squats behind your chair, and experience a surge in creative, mental, and physical energy. Given the fitting moniker deskercise, this type of physical activity is picking up fast and is even encouraged by many employers. Inexpensive computer programs such as BreakPal can walk you through these office micro workouts, if you are looking for inspiration.
6Schedule Your Workouts
In a fast-paced world, it is easy for busy individuals to brush off exercise with the excuse that they simply don’t have time. If you do not want to fall into this totally understandable but just as avoidable trap, squeeze workouts into your daily schedule so that you can stay fit.
Enlist a Friend
For many of us, workouts are easier and more enjoyable when carried out with a partner. Employ a friend to help you get fit, and catch up during your regularly scheduled workouts. Whether it is a brisk walk around the neighborhood or a session of pumping iron at the gym, exercise is a great bonding experience. Your workout partner can also keep you accountable so that you meet your fitness goals.
8Make Use of Fitness Facilities
Is there a complementary gym for residents on your apartment community’s grounds? How about a tennis court or a swimming pool? Or maybe your office has a fitness studio? If your answer to any of these questions is in the affirmative, you have great fitness resources at your fingertips. Use them!
9Invest in a Fitness Assistant
Maintaining motivation and keeping track of your progress in the fitness arena no longer requires a human personal trainer. Several electronic exercise assistants, such as the Fitbit wireless activity tracker, are available to help you keep track of the calories you’ve burned and the steps you’ve taken. These tech gadgets are affordable and portable, weighing just a few ounces.
10. Pump Up the Jams
Clinical studies have proven that music influences the brain and body during exercise. If you are struggling to muster up the motivation required for a simultaneously productive and enjoyable workout, create a new playlist for your daily run or bodybuilding routine. Classic rock, heavy metal, and electronic dance music generally serve as great exercise motivators. If you are in need of inspiration, plenty of fit playlist suggestions are available online.
11. Eat Smart
While exercise is a must if you are looking to add tone to your body, health-conscious eating can be immensely helpful for those looking to perfect their physiques. Complement your fitness efforts with the introduction of more super foods into your diet. Substitute regular soda for diet or cut back on your alcohol consumption to lower your calorie count. And if you are trying to build muscle, chase your weight-intensive workouts with protein shakes.
12. Play with Your Pet
Pet owners, on average, spend five hours every week engaged in some form of physical activity with their pet. Dog walking, catch, and Frisbee are just a few examples of the calorie-burning, fit living fun you and your pet can enjoy together. If you have been yearning for a furry friend and live in a pet-friendly apartment or house, let this newly acquired knowledge serve as another pro to add to your list of reasons to adopt or buy a pet.
Focus on HIIT
Is your schedule jam-packed? Did you scoff at tip #6, thinking to yourself: I don’t have time to fit workouts into my schedule? If you really want to keep up with your fitness, high-intensity interval training may be just the outlet you are looking for. In just fifteen minutes, you can complete an entire anaerobic workout. Researchers and medical professionals agree that HIIT has profound aerobic, metabolic, and cardiovascular benefits.
Getting in shape doesn’t have to be difficult. It can also be fun. Pick and choose from the fitness strategies outlined above, and you should be feeling and looking even better than you already do in no time. In addition to improving your self-esteem and boosting your energy, regular exercise can reduce your risk of several chronic health conditions. Remember to consult with your physician before you start any nutrition or fitness program.
Now get out there and Live Live + Love Life, in fit lifestyle fashion.
View All Posts by Jason Ernst