Lifting While You Work…
Being fit and achieving your goals is no easy feat, even if the basic idea is simple. Eat the right foods and push yourself. It doesn’t take a lot of time to figure these things out, especially with experts to guide you. It’s the execution where most people fail.
It’s hard to get fit, and it’s easy to skip that morning workout. It’s too cold, you need to go decompress after work, and the gym will be too crowded anyway… We make up a lot of excuses to get out of pushing ourselves. But the truth is, barring some serious circumstances, there isn’t an excuse.
While heavy gains require sticking to a fitness routine, if you really can’t make it to the gym, you can still maintain your fitness and be productive around the house. Homeowner projects provide plenty opportunities to maintain fitness, you just need to recognize that opportunity.
Let’s start with the big stuff: remodeling.
This sort of project is no joke. DIY isn’t appropriate for all remodels, especially concerning plumbing or electrical work, but lots of us have some sort of remodel that we probably could do ourselves, we’re just putting it off. Besides burning a decent amount of calories, repairing or remodeling your home maintains strength and encourages confidence in self. It’s part of being accomplished in every part of life.
When you remodel any part of your home, you’re lifting a lot heavy objects (opportunity for squats), and getting your steps in. You can work your core just by keeping good posture and tightening your abdominal muscles. Painting and replacing flooring are the best remodeling workouts, but there are plenty of other options.
Additionally, remodeling can save you a lot money, some of which could be used for better fitness equipment and gear. Make sure that read up on the how-to before you get started- you don’t want to create unnecessary work, just to be more intentional with the work you’re already doing.
There are also smaller projects that can still give you a great workout.
Yard work is notorious for being draining, whether in the hot sun or the bitter cold. Mowing the lawn is a great full-body workout, especially if you’ve got a lot of hills in your yard and you’re pushing, not sitting. So is shoveling snow. But if your grass is clipped and there’s no snow in the yard, there are plenty of other outdoor chores that can help you achieve your fitness goals.
Be careful here, though. Yes, you’ll get a better workout having to manually haul weight around than using a machine, but you don’t want to take on too much too fast. Machines can be necessary- power tools are unbelievably precise, riding mowers can cover much more area than a traditional push mower, water pumps can lift up to 25 feet.
The limits of machines are obviously not the limits of man. Get a good workout in, but don’t push yourself to the point of overstressing a muscle. That’s where the machine is supposed to step in.
Even daily chores can help you get swole.
- Do lunges as you vacuum.
- If you ever have to bend over, make sure you bend at your knees into a squat instead of at the waist. That will make putting away groceries, laundry, or even dusting a workout.
- Do an at-home HIIT routine while waiting for the oven to preheat.
- Hold a plank while watching the microwave countdown.
- See how many calf raises you can complete while in the shower, brushing your teeth, fixing your hair, etc.
- Stretch throughout the day. This will help decrease muscle stiffness, increase flexibility, and prevent injuries from muscle imbalances.
None of the suggestions above replace a good, hard sweat at the gym or around your block, but they are a great supplement to a fitness regimen. Stop using excuses for neglecting any aspect of fitness. You can reinforce a swole lifestyle from anywhere, no matter what chores need to be done.
Tags: DIY, exercise, fitness, home repairs, housework, working, working out