Ideas to Stay Fit When You Don’t Have Time to Workout

​

Ideas to Stay Fit When You Don’t Have Time to Workout

Part of losing weight and keeping it off is to get physically fit. That might be your goal, but you’re struggling to find time to work out on a regular basis. There are some things that you can do that will help you to stay fit when you just don’t have any time to spare.

You’ll still have to do your day to day tasks even when you can’t work out. So the key to fitness is to turn those tasks into the workout. When you go to the grocery store, don’t park up close to the door.

Choose a spot further away so that you can get in more steps. When you’re inside the store, walk the length of the store and back while pushing a cart before you ever place the first item in your cart.

Stretch to reach for things. Extras of the same item are often placed on a higher shelf or a lower one. So reach up and reach down to get the things that you need. This works your muscles out.

You can burn a lot of calories just by grocery shopping. When you get home, rather than carry as many bags in as possible, carry in one bag at a time and make several trips back and forth to your car.

Those extra steps count. Everywhere you go, choose the stairs and skip the elevator. It can be even better for your body if you skip every other step as you climb. This move works out your calf as well as your thigh muscles.

When you’re at work, take the long way to the breakroom or restroom. When you leave your desk, take a second to stretch your muscles. If you have the kind of job where you do a lot of sitting, use a balance ball instead of a chair.

You can also use a standing desk if that’s available. Standing instead of sitting can burn calories. You can burn almost 800 calories per every 8 hour day if you stand to do your job versus sitting.

Play a sports game with the kids. Get outside and toss a football or play a game of jump-rope. Join them on the trampoline. Make your household chores count. While chores such as vacuuming normally burns calories, you can take it to the next level by stretching out the vacuum to reach a spot rather than stepping closer.

You can also dance while you’re doing tasks. Put on your favorite fast paced music and dance while you sweep or make the bed or load the dishwasher. When you watch TV, move.

Walk back and forth, pace or sit on an exercise ball. Inconvenience yourself as much as possible. Walk while you do things such as talking on the phone or answering your email.

When you have to go to the bank or to pay a bill, park the car and walk inside instead of using the drive-thru. Use wrist and ankle weights when you’re walking around at work or home or put weights in your purse to carry around when you’re running errands. This forces your muscles to work out while you’re taking care of the stuff you’d normally do.