Surjit Singh Flora
These days, it seems like everyone wants to be fit and healthy. We’re all constantly busy with work, always on the go to make ends meet and provide for our families. But in the hustle and bustle of our daily routines, we often fall prey to various health issues like sickness, stress, high blood pressure, and diabetes. This is mainly due to our lack of physical activities and exercise. We rarely find the time to prioritize our well-being. Even if we manage to find a few minutes in the morning and evening, there’s no need to join gyms or clubs to maintain our fitness and health. We can make use of everyday household items.
Then comes the question of not having the financial means to purchase weights. What are some household items that can support my fitness and well-being?
Discover the versatility of everyday objects as exercise equipment. Here are a few examples: water bottles, canned goods, bags of rice or beans, and even books. Ensure that the items are firmly held and have a suitable weight for your workout. It’s important to exercise caution when incorporating household items into your workout routine to prevent any potential injuries.
The wall: Every home must have a minimum of four walls! Walls offer a sense of stability during stretching exercises or when engaging your quads and glutes with wall sits.
Stairs: If you have a set of stairs in your home, you have a wide range of exercises at your disposal! Using stairs for exercise is an excellent way to get your heart rate up and engage in a challenging workout. Ascending or descending the stairs is an excellent method to invigorate your cardiovascular system and engage your gluteal muscles-without incurring any expenses. Try alternating between running up and down the stairs for 30 seconds, followed by a 30-second rest. Perform this exercise multiple times to incorporate interval training into your routine. Another way to incorporate a calf exercise into your routine is by standing on the edge of a stair, holding onto the railing, and allowing your heels to hang over. Here is where you begin. Start by standing on the balls of your feet and then return to your original position.
Couches and chairs: Just like push-ups, sit-ups, and squats, utilizing your own body weight as a form of exercise equipment is an incredibly efficient way to achieve a muscular workout. Utilizing your living room couch or dining chairs as a workout bench can help you enhance your workout routine. You can incorporate challenging triceps dips, abs workouts, and even shoulder drills to add intensity to your exercises.
Children Swinging: Young ones Swinging your child around is a wonderful way to strengthen the bond between us and our beloved little ones. However, it’s also quite a challenging workout. One creative way to incorporate exercise into your routine is by involving your children. You can try using them as weights for bench press, having them lay on your back during push-ups, or even incorporating them into squats and kettlebell swings for some fun-filled laughter.
A countertop: The countertop Improve the strength of your arms and chest with the help of countertop push-ups. Practice several sets to see the desired results. These activities are perfect for filling in those moments when you’re waiting for water to boil or the oven to pre-heat.
Broom Besides sweeping: Broom In addition to its cleaning capabilities, a broom can also provide a workout for your core, hips, and glutes. Next time you’re sweeping the floor, why not add some fun and dynamic movements to your usual routine? Try incorporating hip hinges or oblique twists to make it more interesting! Shovel: A shovel can be utilized in various ways to enhance your at-home workouts, with the most apparent being the act of digging holes or transferring soil or gravel from one location to another. Nevertheless, it proves to be valuable in unilateral training and strengthening the core. Elevate the shovel above your head with one arm during core workouts or squats to intensify your exercise and provide additional challenge.
Towels: Towels are incredibly versatile and user-friendly, making them an excellent choice for incorporating into your exercise routine. They offer a wide range of possibilities for various workouts and can be easily adapted to suit your needs. They provide a viable option to resistance bands and increase the challenge of your at-home push-ups and planks. Additionally, they can serve as an improvised core disk glider to enhance your core strengthening routine.
Jerry cans: Containers for liquids, such as jerry cans, water bottles, and detergent cans They can be used as makeshift dumbbells and kettlebells for arm workouts, and can also be incorporated with a pole or sturdy stick to simulate a barbell for exercises like squats and bench press.
Tote bags: Tote bags Another option is to use a sturdy tote bag to hold heavier items like books or cans of food, creating a makeshift substitute for exercise equipment. It may feel uncomfortable initially, but you’ll soon realize how challenging it can be to navigate. Indeed, it functions similarly to a resistance band, necessitating a slower, more focused movement of your muscles. Here’s another fantastic choice for curls, deadlifts, and dumbbell presses.
In general, there are numerous everyday objects that can serve as makeshift weights for your workout routine. Embrace your creativity and prioritize the use of durable items that won’t pose any risks of breakage or injury.
(The writer is a veteran journalist and freelance writer based in Brampton)
