Oh dam it’s raining! Guess I can’t go on that run anymore… oh well! Who wants to go to the movies?
Sound familiar?
In winter it’s so easy to avoid exercising. Too cold, too wet and too dark, they’re all perfectly good reasons to stay home and cuddle up on the couch instead. If like me, you’d much rather spend your money on a new pair of boots than a gym membership, it can be really hard to motivate yourself to go for a walk or a run when it’s such horrible weather outside. So here are three exercise routines that I’ve found can be done in the safety (and warmth) of your own home. No equipment necessary.
1. Jumping Jacks and Squats
Jumping jacks are a great way to increase your heart rate and any woman who’s ever tried to shrink the size of her behind will know that squats are essential. All you need for this exercise is a bit of room.
Start with 40 jumping jacks.
Followed by 40 squats.
Work your way down by 10 and once you reach 10 go to 5 to finish off. Once you’ve completed your set of 5 you can rest for two minutes and then repeat.
2. Jumping Burpees and Lunges
Jumping burpees are a combination of cardio, strength and agility. When done properly they can be very beneficial to your health. To do a jumping burpee, start off in a standing position, then bend your knees and jump as high as you can. When you land, jump down into a push up, do one rep and then jump up into a standing position and start again.
Start off doing 15 burpees, followed by 30 lunges (15 each leg).
Decrease your burpees by 5 each set and always do double the amount of lunges.
Once you get to 5 burpees, go to 2 for your last set. Rest and repeat twice.
3. High knees, step touch, sit-ups and plank
If you like to dance, try doing this one to music. With step and touch your arms are free to do what they wish, so try adding some dance moves in.
Start off with 20 high knees, followed by 30 step touches. Do 5 sets of this or for the length of 2-3 songs.
Next do 30 sit-ups.
Repeat your high knees and step touches. This time only do 3 sets or for the length of 1-2 songs.
Do 20 sit-ups.
Do one more set of high knees and step touches or for the length of 1 song.
Do 10 sit-ups.
Finish of with a plank. Try and last for a whole song, but if not aim for a minute.
The great thing about these exercises is that you can mix and match. I’ll usually match at least one cardio with one strength exercise, depending on what I feel like on the day. So now that you have no excuse not to, pop on those runners and get to work!
Do you have a favourite exercise that can be done at home? What motivates you to exercise?
