Ditch the Couch: 8 Free Workouts to do at Home
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Hey internet friends, let's not use coronavirus quarantining as an excuse to sit around eating Cheetos from the couch (at least not all day). Adults need about three to five hours per week of moderate exercise like fast walking or dancing at MINIMUM, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, PLUS two days of strength training per week.1 Luckily, you can stay active without stepping foot inside a gym by doing these free workout routines at home.
For those who need a little mood lift, The Fitness Marshall's dance workout videos are really fun and a surprisingly aggressive workout. The music, dance and lighting are all choreographed together for the ultimate five-minute-or-less sweat session. Here are a few to get you started:
We get it. You miss sweating it out in your fitness center class. To replicate the in-person workout experience at home, follow your favorite influencers on Facebook or Instagram to catch their live workout streams or saved videos. The following are worth checking out:2
What do you get when you combine exercise with video gaming? Exergaming! For those of us who like to win, turning exercise into a game is genius. Dust off any of the following exergames to get your fit freak on:
A perennial fav for people who work out at home, yoga is also a perfect way to relax and destress while building muscle and increasing flexibility. Below are some video suggestions to get you started. Namaste.
If you?re tired of looking at a screen as your portal into EVERYTHING, try exercise the old fashioned way: walking. Walking strengthens bones and muscles, burns calories, and boosts your mood.4 Here are some ways to start walking:
Okay, this one is for all the real people out there trying to chase down fur babies, homeschool the kids, hold down a job, keep everyone fed, and maintain some sanity all at the same time. The good news? You don't have to carve out a bunch of extra time because household chores actually DO count as exercise! Calculate your calories burned per minute by visiting the CDC.gov.5
Building muscle does not mean bulking up! In fact, strength training is a necessary component of any fitness regime. You should plan to do 12-15 reps in two or three 20-30 minute sessions per week.6 Don?t have any weights at home? Here's how to hack it with common household supplies:
If you think you're going to get bored exercising at home, think again. There are apps galore to help you stay active while social distancing. Check out the following deals:
No matter how swank or scary your home gym is, you can stay active while staying at home. Try dance workout videos, Instagram Live, yoga, video games, walking, chores, soup can weights, and more. So get up. Put your scrunchie and sweatpants to good use. And get moving!
Sources:
1 ODPHP Staff. (2019, October 21). Top 10 Things to Know About the Second Edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Retrieved from: https://health.gov/our-work/physical-activity/current-guidelines/top-10-things-know
2 Mallenbaum, C. (2020, March 25). Quarantined at home and need to move? Here are 10 Instagram Live workouts you can join, for free. Retrieved from: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2020/03/25/coronavirus-10-free-instagram-live-workouts-you-can-join/2910274001/
3 Phelan, D. (2020, March 11). Coronavirus Means Nintendo Ring Fit Adventure Is Suddenly Super-Scarce. Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidphelan/2020/03/11/coronavirus-causes-nintendo-ring-fit-adventure-to-be-suddenly-super-scarce/#3ce403a02db3
4 NIDDK Staff. (2017, April). Walking: A Step in the Right Direction. Retrieved from: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/walking-step-right-direction
5 CDC. (n.d.). General Physical Activities Defined by Level of Intensity. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/pdf/PA_Intensity_table_2_1.pdf
6 Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019, February 23). Strength training: Get stronger, leaner, healthier. Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/strength-training/art-20046670