Creative ways to shape up!
No more excuses! There is a plethora of opportunities for improving your health through exercise. As a bonus, you’ll feel better and your clothes (and swimsuit!) will fit better, too. Read on for 21 different ways to get in shape, each with a link to give you more information. Happy moving!
1. Hike.
Hiking is a great opportunity to get good exercise and enjoy the great outdoors. And the great news is that every U.S. state has opportunities for hiking. Take a look at 7 Reasons to Go Take a Hike.
2. Kettlebell.
Kettlebell workouts are one of the best exercise ideas because they challenge your entire body and pack strength and cardio into one small, simple to use piece of workout equipment. Here are our Top 3 Kettlebell Workout Routines.
3. Yoga.
Yoga is very helpful in the weight loss journey and has many benefits, including reduced stress, lower blood pressure, and increased flexibility. Check out this Yoga Workout for Weight Loss.
4. Run.
Running is one of the most popular ways to get a complete body workout. Interested in running but need a boost of motivation to really get you going? Try signing up for a fun race like these 10 Races That Will Get You Hooked on Running.
5. Walking.
Walking is a cheap and easy way to lose weight. It’s a smart exercise for people of any fitness level, but it’s an especially good way for workout newbies to ease into a fitness routine. Take a look at 8 Ways to Walk Your Way to a Fit Body.
6. Household chores.
Many of the maintenance tasks you do routinely offer the same benefits of a strength training or cardio workout. Depending on the time you spend on specific chores, the amount of calories you burn could be enormous. Check out our Top 10 Calorie Burning Household Chores.
7. Lift.
If you are still struggling with your weight loss or body sculpting goals, weightlifting can reduce your overall body fat by about 3 percentage points in 10 weeks if you lift weights two or more times a week. Here are 25 Reasons Why Women Should Life Weights.
8. Climb and Descend.
When you don’t have time to get to the gym for your favorite strength class, climb and descend workouts will definitely give you the challenge you are missing. Try this 10 X 10 Climb and Descend Workout Challenge.
9. Pilates.
Pilates is another great, inexpensive workout option you can do at home. It can help you get killer abs, too, through workouts like this Pilates 7 Day 100 Ab Challenge.
10. Tabata.
Tabata training provides a high-intensity workout that blasts fat without a long time commitment. Repetitions include 20 seconds of full-level effort with 10 seconds of rest. The entire workout from start to finish takes only four minutes, but it is possible to combine several Tabatas to create a longer workout. Here are 8 Workouts to Get Lean – The Tabata Way.
11. Bootcamp.
Bootcamp exercises are meant to burn excess fat, bring out the best in you, and prove that you can do things you never thought possible. This Insane Fat Burning Boot Camp Challenge gives you 20 minutes of high intensity interval training using only your body weight – no additional equipment needed.
12. Stability Ball.
The Stability Ball is great piece of workout equipment that makes it super easy to get a total body workout in the comfort of your home. Try the Stability 7 – Total Body Workout.
13. Circuit Training.
Circuit resistance training is a great way to burn fat and build muscle. It is designed to get your heart pumping while at the same time toning and defining muscles. If you’re new to fitness or returning after a long break, this Circuit Training for Beginners workout is a good one to try.
14. Resistance bands.
Resistance bands are one of the greatest pieces of fitness equipment because they are small, portable, and so affordable! You can find them for only a few dollars and they’ll give you a great total body workout. Check out how you can Transform Your Body with Resistance Bands.
15. Jump Rope.
You don’t have to be a kid or a boxer to reap the cardio and muscular benefits of jumping rope. This Jump Rope Tabata Challenge is a great way to sculpt killer thighs.
16. Foam Rolling.
While foam rolling isn’t a workout, it will help keep relieve pain and help prevent injury so you can keep exercising. It’s similar to deep tissue massage, but you can do it yourself at home using just the roller and your body weight. To learn more about foam rolling, read Foam Rolling: The Best Kept Secret.
17. Bosu.
Use the Bosu ball on either of its sides for over 40 different exercises that can target all areas of your body. The Bosu provides a multitude of variations on moves that allow you to progressively make your workout more challenging. Learn how to Bosu Your Way to Fit.
18. Medicine Ball.
The medicine ball is one of the simplest, yet most effective pieces of exercise equipment out there. Medicine ball workouts can help you sculpt and tone every area of your body with one simple, easy to use device – and to make matters easy, it’s a pretty cheap investment! Try this Medicine Ball Workout.
19. CrossFit.
CrossFit combines many different types of exercise including strength training, plyometrics, speed training, and endurance exercises. This approach embodies all the major components of fitness including endurance, flexibility, agility, power, balance, coordination, strength and speed. Take a look at CrossFit: 3 Reasons You Need to Try It.
20. Aqua Jog.
This summer, grab a friend, turn up the tunes, and incorporate aqua jogging or treading water into your workout routine. Exercising in the pool can burn 235 to 590 calories per hour, depending on your intensity. That’s a great burn! Read more about how to Aqua Jog Your Way to Fit This Summer.
21. Spinning.
Stationery bikes, whether alone or in a spin class, are a great, fun way to accomplish a trim physique. By alternating periods of high-intensity effort with periods of low-intensity effort, you’ll be able boost your metabolism, blast fat, and improve your overall cardiovascular health in no time. Try this Fat Blasting Spin Workout.
Be sure to like our Facebook page and follow us on Pinterest to be the first to try out new workouts and view our latest fitness resources.
Have you just started a new exercise program or challenge? We’d love to hear about it. Leave us a comment below.
