Get Trim Without The Gym

You’re not alone if you’re wondering how on earth women find the time to hit the gym every day. You’d think holding down a job, a man, a house and possibly a family would be enough to make any girl red in the face, without the added pressure of running and rowing machines.

But what can you do if you can’t get to the gym? Whether it be for financial reasons, a busy schedule or just plain laziness – there are lots of things you can do to stay trim without going to the gym…

The Little Things

First and foremost, it’s the little things that can help you stay in shape. If the gym is not an option, be sure to go that extra mile throughout the day. What I mean is take the stairs instead of the lift, walk to the shops rather than drive, walk to another department rather than e-mail…you get the picture. The trick is to make a conscious effort to do little things here and there that’ll help you to burn a few extra calories whilst keeping your body in shape.

Eating Less

This is a valuable lesson that should be learnt sooner rather than later so listen up ladies. It’s very easy to pile your plate when you’re hungry but this will almost certainly lead to unnecessary calories. Make yourself a modest portion and after you’ve eaten, wait about 20 minutes. If you’re still hungry after this time then help yourself to seconds, if not then you’ve just saved yourself eating another portion! It sounds bizarre, but it takes approximately 20 minutes for your brain to register how full your stomach is, which is why we can over eat until we feel sick.

Dancing

Dancing is the most enjoyable substitute to the gym. When you get home, turn the music up and dance your way around the house while you do your evening chores. Grab a hair brush and let out your inner Diva. It’s more fun than any gym work out and it’s in the comfort of your own home. The same works for evenings out, if there’s music and a dance floor then don’t sit on the side lines – show them how it’s done!

Jogging

If you can face the embarrassment of stray glances from on-looking traffic, jogging is a great substitute for the gym. The best way to jog is slow and steady, breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. Keeping this steady rhythm raises your body temperature, increases your heart rate and allows your body to do aerobic respiration (exercise that actually burns fat.) There’s no point running a marathon straight away – start by doing two minutes steady jogging and one minute walking; repeating this for as long as you can building up your stamina slowly. If jogging is built up gradually and kept up for a couple of weeks, you’ll definitely start to see a difference.

Toning

Toning is the most underestimated exercise technique you can do at home. People think you have to strain yourself on an exercise machine to loose weight, but simple toning techniques can have the same effect and make you feel great in the process. A proven tip to tone your arms is slow press ups, for your stomach paced sit ups and for legs; raises and squats. It’s important to keep your movement fluid and really feel your muscles working. It’s quality rather than quantity – there’s no point rushing, and becoming tired quickly – that won’t get you anywhere. As with jogging, slowly building up your regime will have greater effects in the long term giving you a trimmer body without stepping foot in a gym.

Healthy Diet

There is little point doing anything unless you establish a healthy, balanced diet. Try to keep carbs to a minimum, and eat lots of fresh fruit, meat and vegetables. My rule is if you spend less than five minutes cooking it – its no good for you. Good food doesn’t have to take ages – but a little care in the kitchen reflects a lot on the hips.

Good Luck staying trim without the gym!