Exercise Everywhere: No More Excuses

This article offers some of the simplest, most effective ways to get fit–gym or no gym.

Consider the coveted front-row parking spot at the grocery store or shopping mall. Sure it’s convenient, but it’s also an invitation to laziness. Let some other poor sap have the spot, then park your car near the outer edge of the parking lot. This trick is also perfect if you go to classes or work every day. You’ll find that every little bit (even if it is only an extra 50 feet) counts; over time, these small changes will have big results!

What is it about answering the phone that makes us want to plop down on the couch and stay there for the entire conversation? This is a perfect example of opportunities to burn more calories during the day. Stand up, walk around the house. Walk around the neighborhood, if possible. Think about it. If you are up and moving for the duration of the one hour phone conversation with your mother-in-law, you’ve burned as many as 500 calories, depending upon the conditions. Not bad!

It’s a wonder anyone ever takes the elevator anymore. Awful music, awful perfume and awfully intimate crushes of people might be the only things worse than sweating and Spandex. Do yourself a favor and ditch the elevator in favor of the stairs. You’d be amazed at the number of calories burned and the benefits this simple action has on your gluteal and leg muscles.

Of course, you could be one of those people who works on the 50th floor of your office building, in which case, you might consider taking the elevator halfway and finishing it off via the stairs. You can also challenge yourself by increasing the number of flights you tackle week by week. This strategy is also perfect for those who live in apartments above the ground floor.

Even couch potatoes can tweak their routine to include a few calorie-burning steps. Lose the remote control. Let your spouse hide it. Remove the batteries, whatever it takes. The goal is to encourage you to stand up and actually walk over to the television or DVD player to change the channels, fast-forward, adjust the volume and so on. Time-consuming? Sure, but it’s also a few steps closer to achieving your weight loss and fitness goals without hitting the gym.

Yes, gym memberships are expensive. Yes, Spandex workout clothing is hideous. Why should you let these things stand in the way of a longer, healthier and happier life? You don’t have to be a gym junkie to reap the benefits of physical fitness. Incorporating the simple changes from this article into your daily routine is cheap, painless and sustainable. Get moving!