A gym in your home
A gym in your home
Ten ways to take the weight off this summer-without ever leaving your living room.
Rememberthat New Year’s resolution to finally shape up/lose weight? You know the one that lasted until January 2, when the leftover Christmas cake came between you and your good intentions. To add insult to injury, the fashion magazines and your favourite stores are suddenly full of spring and summer clothes. Thanks a lot. As if you needed a reminder of those two dreaded words: Swim. Suit. Deep down, you know exercise is the answer. But who wants to walk in muggy summer heat? As for swimming, bit of a chicken-and-egg question, isn’t it? (If you could get into the suit…) As for the gym, you hated going when you were five kilos thinner; so why face that treadmill now?
There’s another choice: Turn your home into your workout station. Not only will you lose weight, you’ll have a toned physique that makes warm-weather clothes more comfy. (Sleeveless shirts? No problem!) This routine can be performed in a relatively small space and needs nothing you don’t already have at home. Do these exercises three times a week (the whole regimen takes 25 minutes) and you’ll see results in less than a month.
What you’ll need
• Small ball about the size of a football
• Bath towel
• Chair on wheels, such as a desk chair
• Furniture-free area
• Favourite dance music
• Tall glass of water
WARM UP
Preparing for exercise Time: 4 minutes
To get your heart rate to healthfully accelerate, head for the staircase. Take one step up with your right leg, then with the left; then down with your right leg, and down with the left. Repeat for one minute, then starting with the left leg, do one more minute of stepping exercises. Repeat both sides. Step gently to protect your knees. If you don’t have a staircase, run in place or walk briskly around the house.
AB TWIST GREAT FOR:
Stomach, side’s repeats 12. Time 2 minutes
Sit on the floor (on a rug for comfort), feet shoulder-width apart, and toes up so you are resting on your heels. Holding the ball in both hands, extend your arms in front (A). Slowly lay back, tucking in and tightening your abdominal muscles all through. Stop halfway to the floor and twist to the left, reaching toward the floor with the ball (B). Hold for a beat, and then slowly twist over to the right. Breathe normally and concentrate on contracting your abdominals.