Turkey rendang, roast potatoes, cakes, sweets, wines; these are some of the things that I am looking forward to indulge in during Christmas and New Year’s.
Seeing as I, and probably most of you, have a plan to indulge in some scrumptious treats this festive season, a good plan to ensure those sneaky holiday pounds stay away is needed. But if going to the gym prove too much of a hassle, might I suggest some easy activities to get the blood pumping, and sweat pouring, with all the comforts of home?
The list below is specifically for those who do not have any exercise equipment (treadmill) at home.
Here are my top six suggestions:
1) Jump Rope
Remember how you used to have fun skipping as a child (this probably only applies to girls)? Well then, get out your old ropes and start skipping. Boxers do it and it has been proven to burn a lot of calories. If you don’t want to go outside, find a wide, open space at home, or push some furniture’s around so you can watch television while skipping. (Careful not to hit the fan though!)
1 hour of skipping = Approximately 684 calories burned (Based on a 150 pound person)
2) Jumping Jacks
Sounds torturous, but the results don’t lie. Put some fast paced music on and start doing your jumping jacks. Do about 50 jumps (for beginners), then rest for 10 seconds, and then continue jumping. You can also do this while watching television; it helps to distract your mind from how much longer you have to go on.
1 hour of jumping jacks = Approximately 306 calories burned (Based on a 150 pound person)
3) Dance Aerobics
You do not need to go to aerobics class to get your exercise. Just do it at home! Put some funky music on (best to sort a playlist in advance), and start dancing as vigorous as you can. Throw in some random hand and leg swings, jumps, squats, burpees, and anything else you can think of. You can even carry some light weights for certain moves.
1 hour of dance aerobic = Approximately 408 calories burned (Based on a 150 pound person)
4) Burpees
Never heard of burpees? Well, then, it’s going to take a while for you to accomplish 10! To do a burpee, start in a squat position with your hands on the floor in front of you. Then, kick your feet back to a push up position before immediately returning your feet to a squat position. It’s not over yet, once back in a squat position, leap up as high as you can. Do 10, rest for 20 seconds, and then repeat.
1 hour of burpees = Approximately 563 calories burned (Based on a 150 pound person)
5) Yoga
Yoga is super good for burning calories and toning your muscles. It is not as easy as it looks though, which is why this workout is great for you. If you want to look slim, trim and toned, some of the yoga moves you should definitely try are Warrior I, II & III Pose, Bow Pose, Plank, Cobra Pose, Reverse Warrior, Sun Salution, Tree Pose and Forward Bend. Practice doing yoga on a regular basis and you will soon start to see results.
1 hour of yoga = Approximately 269 calories burned (Based on a 150 pound person)
6) Stair Running
Running up and down your staircase will definitely get your heart beat up while burning those tough calories. It might get a little tiring after a while, but take a 20 second break after each set before starting again. Be careful though; if you think your legs are going to give out then stop. You don’t want to slip and fall down the stairs.
1 hour of stair running = Approximately 885 calories burned (Based on a 150 pound person)
Exercising alone is not enough to lose weight, nor will it help you retain your desired weight. Combine it will a healthy diet, with an occasional indulging treat. Remember, balancing exercise and healthy food is the right way to maintain a healthy weight and fit lifestyle.
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