iStock 000013893723XSmall Skip the Gym, Sweat at Home 3

*This is a continuation of a series of workouts you can do at home. *

As I mentioned previously, earlier in the year, I wrote a post called Skip the Gym, Sweat at Home that shared one of the workouts that my hubby and I do at home. The article went viral online. It got over 20 thousand stumbles alone. This kind of response got me thinking that there are other people out there like me who value their health and want to do what they can to keep it as optimal as possible and not pay a fortune to do so.

Well, today as well as in coming weeks,  I will be sharing with you a series of workouts that will cost you nothing and ones that you can do in the comfort of your home. I  have said this before and I will say it again;  Just like saving money and investing in our financial future, we need to put that same effort into investing in our health. Eating well and being active are the keys to a long healthy life.  So without further adieu, get your comfy clothes and you sneakers on and get ready to sweat.

Note: Remember you should always check with your physician before starting a exercise program. 

Warm-up – 5-10 minutes              

  • Hallway Warm-up – you need a long hallway for this warm-up.
    1. Face the wall at one end of the hallway and perform 5 wall pushups, keeping body in a straight line.
    2. Side-step to the other end of the hallway and repeat wall pushups. Repeat the whole 4 times.
    3. Lunge stepping – take a long step into the forward lunge position till your front thigh is parallel to the ground. Lunge step with the other leg and repeat to the end of the hallway.
    4. Walk backwards to the end of the hallway twice. Repeat at a slow jog.

For strength and core – 15 minutes 

  • Squats – stand feet apart, toes slightly turned out. Keeping your back straight and eyes ahead, Lower your body into a squat, as though you were sitting down on a chair. Raise arms to the front as you squat and lower them as you return. Aim to have your thighs parallel to the ground in the squat. Start with 10 squats and gradually increase to 50.
  • Knee Push-ups – kneel on hands and knees, then walk your hands forwards until your body is in a straight line from knees to head, hands underneath shoulders. Bend you arms to lower your chest towards the ground and straighten again. Go as low as you can, hold for one second and straighten again. Do 5, rest for 10 seconds and repeat. Do a total of 4 repeats.
  • Biceps curls – use hand weights if you have them or fill milk or juice containers with water as a substitute. Stand with a weight in each hand, arms down by your sides. Slowly bend your elbows to raise the weights forward towards your shoulders. Slowly lower. Do 5 repeats, rest for 10 seconds and repeat. Do 4 repeats.
  • Side lunge – stand with feet slightly apart, arms by side. Step right leg wide to the side into a lunge position, toes turned out and the thigh parallel to the ground. Using your legs, push off from this position to return to the start. Do 5 on the right leg and then 5 on the left. Repeat 2 times.

Cardio – 10 minutes

  • Star jumps – stand with feet together. Jump the feet to the astride position, and raise your arms to the side above shoulder height at the same time (to form a star). Jump back to start position and lower arms. Do 20 star jumps, rest for 10 seconds and repeat. Do 5 full reps.
  • Burpees – start standing. Jump to land in crouch, hands on the ground. Lean on hands and jump your feet backwards so your body is in a push-up position. Jump feet back to crouch. Jump up, raising arms above head, to a standing position again. These 4 steps form one burpee. Do 5, rest for 5 seconds and repeat 4 times.
  • Side jumps – you need a straight a line to jump over. Stand side-on to the line, arms by sides. Jump over the line sideways, on landing lowering your heels and bending your knees. Keep your body erect and at right angles to the line. Repeat back across the line. Repeat 20 times.

Cool down – 5 minutes

  • Jog gently on the spot, keeping your toes in contact with the ground, extending your ankles. Continue for a count of 100.
  • Side-bends – stand with feet hip-width apart, arms to the side at shoulder-height. Keeping knees straight, bend the body to the left, running the left hand down the side of the leg and raising the right arm above your head. Return to starting position. Repeat to the right side. Do a total of 5 each side.
  • Cat curls – kneel hands and knees, hands under your shoulders and knees under hips. Take a deep breath and arch your spine by pulling your abs in, tucking in your tail-bone and dropping your head between your arms. Breathe out as you lift your head, tilt your pelvis and reverse the arch in your back. Repeat 10 times.

Well, I hope you find this workout effective and as user friendly as the last couole. Trust me, taking care of your health will feel great in the long run. Your body and bank account will thank you.

If you are interested in previous workouts I have put together, they are listed below:

Skip the Gym, Sweat at Home 1

Skip the Gym, Sweat at Home 2

 

Skip the Gym, Sweat at Home 3 Miss T has written 582 articles on this blog.

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