Anyone who ever thought that doing housework is no substitute for going to the gym, probably wonders why they were exhausted at the end of a day spent cleaning the house. That’s because the whole point of the exercise is to get the body moving, which is precisely what happens when time is spent cleaning a home. Want cardio? Just add chasing a child to the mix. Want weight training? Try hauling a vacuum cleaner up and down a staircase a few times. All this goes to show that when it comes to turning household chores into a weight loss exercise, two birds really can be killed with one stone. It’s all in how it’s done. This article will show how to accomplish it.
Anyone who thinks that losing weight is a matter of using one particular method obviously hasn’t spent too much time checking out the magazines of the local market. Instead, there are numerous options from First Fitness Nutrition. Just take the right stuff internally, rev up the internal motors, and enjoy watching the pounds peel off your body.
One of the most effective strength training is body-weight training, and using proper form and technique throughout each body-weight exercise, anyone can get the most benefit and avoid injury. Here are some of the Best Bodyweight Exercises you can do to help strengthen your body.
Working your abs.
Need to clean the floor? No mop will pick up everything, and with a simple rag, the abs can be worked by cleaning the dirtiest floors. Just spread a rag on the floor, get down on both knees, place both hands flat on the rag, and brace the abs. Next, slide both hands out while extending into a plank and hold it for a moment, until returned to the starting position. This might not make you feel like Cinderella, but the chances are good that it will cause Prince Charming to stop dead in his tracks before the ball.
Miss those lunges?
If you like your rag (not to mention your body) to multitask, work those upper thighs with the same rag used in the exercise above. Just place the rag flat on the floor, stand up, and put one foot on the rag. Next, put a hand on each hip, then extend the leg that has the foot on the rag. Slide out as far as can be extended several times. Repeat this action with the other leg.
Grab bar abs.
You don’t need a gym Bullworker to have abs of steel. All that’s needed is a horizontal grab bar, the same as is often found on your oven or dishwasher. Just sit on the floor with your back to the appliance that has the horizontal bar. Scoot out about a foot from the appliance, and raise both hands and arms up to grip the grab bar. Next, keep both legs together, raise both legs up straight in front of your torso. Now, when you lower them, set them down to one side. Next, raise them again back in front of you, then lower them to the other side. This action works not only for abdominals, but if loved ones are crazy about obliques, they are sure to lose their mind over yours.
Playtime planks
If you want to develop stronger, flatter abs, and a child’s toy shelf needs straightening, both can be done by forming a plank while the work is done. Just get into a plank position with one arm extended to the shelf that needs to be cleaned and the other arm underneath your torso as if you were about to perform a push-up. Now, brace yourself and raise your body and hold that position. Want to get in a little playtime with the kids and while they play London Bridge? Have them sit on your back while you plank. Just make sure you do this after some experience of doing it for a while. Otherwise, you will be very sore, or maybe even in traction.
Dust bunny leg ups.
Strengthen your leg muscles while conquering all those dusty surfaces that most often escape cleaning by performing these handy moves. Put a sturdy chair or step ladder under a ceiling fan or next to a tall appliance and stand on the top (the chair or ladder, not the appliance). While dusting above you, contract the glutes while extending one leg behind you, then the other. Repeat this until the fan or appliance is clean.
Cooktop calf raises.
Performing calf raises can be done anywhere while doing anything, but they are especially easy when you aren’t particularly busy with the upper part of your body. Fortunately, while the upper body is occupied, spread both feet on the floor about a foot apart. Now, tighten the glutes and both legs, raising yourself up, then lower yourself without touching heels to the floor. If feeling particularly wild, add squats to the routine.
Dishwasher squats.
How many times have you bent over to empty or fill the dishwasher? Now, make cleaning your dishes into an athletic event by squatting down to perform the same function. Stand with both feet about a foot apart and about a foot from the dishwasher. Now, when you want to add a dish or take one out (we won’t tell that it hasn’t been emptied before now), just squat down, then stand up. Do this until the dishwasher is empty or filled.
Make the bed tricep dips.
Tired of those flabby triceps, aka “Bingo wings”? Make them a thing of the past by making the bed and adding a number of dips on the sides or the bottom. Sit on the bed with both hands flat on the side of the bed. Now, scoot off the side of the bed with both hands remaining on the bed. Slowly lift yourself until both arms are extended again. Now lower them again. Repeat this until you can no longer resist the urge to climb back into bed.
T-shirt twist.
Need to fold clothes and put them away? Make it athletic by placing the clothes basket on the floor and sit down next to it. Keeping the abs tight raises both legs off the ground while picking up the clothes, one item at a time, and placing them in the basket. The exercise is over when the folding is done.
Leave a Reply