I love working out, but I stopped going to the gym last December. That is mostly because I am trying to save every penny, and I'd rather stay home to be honest, than go sweat with strangers. Recently, I noticed that I gained weight because I'm not physically active, so I decided to find ways to get fit without going to the gym.
Watch a YouTube exercise video
This is one of my favorites on the list! I'm a big fan of Rebecca Louisse -- I have been following all her social media accounts, especially her YouTube videos. My sister suggested I watch Rebecca's videos; she has complete training videos from intense workout to light exercises. I decided to download her videos so even if I don't have an Internet connection, I can watch them.
Riding a bike to work
I had a high school teacher before
as his daily transportation. He always joked with us that his BMW "bike" was really reliable. He was our P.E. teacher, and always reminded us of the importance of exercise. Not only riding his bicycle prevents him from getting stuck on traffic, it's also a good way to save on daily transportation expenses.
Jogging or running
Last May, I started jogging every day at 5 a.m. and felt like I could conquer the day afterwards. I stopped jogging because I noticed that my right side was really painful every time I made 1 or 2 rounds in the park. Running is really an effective way if you want to trim down. Many of my friends successfully lost weight running and training for marathons.
Doing the household chores
This is also one of my favorites! Did you know that when you sweep your floor, do dusting or even mop the floor, you burn 39 calories every 15 minutes?
Walk your dog
If you're a dog lover, walking with your dog will benefit both of you because it can also help to remove stress from your dog. Every time I get the chance, I have a quick walk with our German dog "Sheba."
Play sports
We only have a small garden, but we still manage to play badminton, volleyball or even basketball. Sometimes, I play basketball "with no rules" during the afternoon with my nephews. Make use of the space you have but if you don't have a place to play, you can go to the public playing area.
Learn yoga
I was really inspired watching best yoga poses in Facebook and Instagram, so I decided to buy a yoga mat! Again, YouTube would play a very important role in this one if you don't want to spend money, but if you want to take a yoga lesson then go ahead, you can ask some of your friends who are currently taking a yoga class if can join them. One of the good benefits of doing yoga is weight loss and increased muscle strength and tone.
Dancing or Zumba
Sometimes, when I get bored doing a normal routine workout, I switch to dancing. We have a Zumba class nearby, the price is really affordable so anyone can join. So if you want to try a different kind of workout, try to do Zumba or dancing, it is fun and easy to follow as the Zumba instructor guides you.
Play with your kids
I have a five year old niece and we always have a fun time with each other. We play hide and seek and lots of other fun games that make you run around. Sometimes, it's good to play like a child just like you used to!
Watch what you eat
Last but not least on my list is watching carefully your food intake. Everything would be totally useless if you are still eating junk food and drinking sodas. As Clint Eastwood said, "Try not to ingest a lot of fats, and just try to eat carefully." Chew your food carefully and remember, less meat but more vegetables and fruits. And of course, don't forget to drink water, water and water when you are doing all of these!
This post appeared first on The Savvy Scot