There used to be a time when I would look forward to unemployment because it signified the beginning of my “I’m going to get in the best shape of my life” mentality. Now, I look at people that walk into the gym at noon and wonder where they find the time to have those leisurely day trips. When you have a 9-5 (or in some cases a 9-9) job, finding the time to mosey on into the gym can be limited. I’ve found that there are still a couple of ways to get in your daily exercise without having to spend the remainder of your free time in a sweatbox.
I used to be a real pessimist about Zumba classes. I’d look inside the classroom and it would appear to be really weird YMCA/Macarena type dance moves. As a (former) dancer, that didn’t seem appealing to me in the least. That is, until I came across Zumba Fitness videos. The routines are much more Latin inspired (salsa, rumba, calypso) and really fun to do! For $60, (which is much cheaper than a gym membership for a year of non-use) you get a multi pack of DVDs that include a range of 20-45 minute workouts. Each is easily done at home and simple to learn. I’m able to sneak in a fun 20-minute session most weeknights in the comfort of my own room. When time permits, I have the option to do more and/or longer workouts. Editor’s note: there’s also some nice eye candy for both men and women. Great motivation and great cardio!
Another quick and easy workout that still gets the heart pumping is walking. For me, I have an excuse… (well, two excuses) my dogs. Just a quick walk around the neighborhood with those two can work up a sweat. However, if you don’t have any pets and still want a little bit of a challenge, try walking with some light hand or ankle weights. This gives your body a little more to work against and bumps up the difficulty. It’s cheap, less strenuous and easy to do. All you need is a sidewalk and your own legs.
Perhaps the EASIEST and most time efficient workout I snuck into my schedule is all thanks to this balance ball. Since this is designed for core work, I use this ball when I’m sitting in my room, sitting at work, sitting watching TV…basically, anywhere I’m sitting. Substitute your chair/bed/floor with this ball and immediately your abs are engaged. For a little more “oomph”, I do sit-ups and push-ups on the ball while I’m watching TV. Instead of fast forwarding through those pesky commercials, I squeeze in 3-5 minutes of exercise every 20 minutes. You can easily get through 100 sets in the course of an hour without having to set aside any actual “free time” to workout. It’s super quick and easy! Plus, trust me…you will feel it. It may not be intense cardio, but every little bit counts!
