With the New Year comes the aftermath of Christmas. The “treat yourself” season is officially over and it’s time to get you out of the January slump. With exercise being known to release positive endorphins, you’re guaranteed to feel happier (and healthier!) afterwards. No need to worry about reaching into your post-Christmas purse for that gym membership, here are some exercises you can do in the comfort of your own home.
- Sit-ups
Sit-ups are an important part of any workout, especially after indulging in those Christmas dinners. They tighten and tone the abdominal muscles, ultimately leading to a flatter stomach. Do them in sets of 10-15, making sure to give yourself a 30 second break in between reps.
- Squats
Squats can be done with or without weights and are very effective when it comes to toning up. Not only does it tone and strengthen your legs, it lifts and tightens your bum. To increase this effect, squeeze your glutes as you return to a standing position. Squats also engage your core muscles, as they are needed to retain balance.
- Lunges
Basic lunges take advantage of your body weight in order to strengthen and tighten your leg muscles. This exercise improves balance and subsequently, engages your core muscles, so you’ll be getting a toned stomach as well. For more effect, make a conscious effort to tense your abdomen as you go into each lunge.
- Push Ups
These might be everyone’s least favourite exercise, but we can’t forget about those arms. Push ups are classified as a compound exercise, meaning they cause you to use every major muscle in your body. So not only does it give your arms some much needed attention, it also includes your abdomen, back, legs and glutes. The perfect way to train those important muscles.
- Walking
This is an exercise we tend to over-look, as walking does not seem to make that much of a difference. However, you can burn up to 75 calories from walking for 30 minutes at 2 mph. By ditching the car or bus when going to places that are within walking distance, not only are you saving money but burning those calories too. If you want to lose weight but need to get from A to B quicker, why not start cycling?
The New Year does not have to be as daunting as you think. By adopting simple lifestyle changes such as walking or cycling along with those workouts, you’ll be back to your pre-festive season self in no time.
If you enjoyed reading this, check out our last blog post on how to stick to your new years resolutions here.
Tips for Keeping Your 2018 New Year’s Resolution to Lose Weight
For further exercise inspiration, take a look at our blog on the benefits of cycling here.