Nadine Mustafa Summer is here! Although this year is way different than what we had in mind. Sadly, lots of places had to shut down their business, including gyms and sports labs, but we’ve come to realise that working out at home might, in some ways, be even more convenient. As you strive towards a great summer body, following some simple online workouts and making use of accessible household items might just do the trick for you.
Most of us are aware that the perfect method to sculpt your inner abs and obtain your ultimate shape is through lifting weights. The ideal approach to your body goals relies on the combination of lifting dumbbells with your usual aerobic exercises. Research has proven that body-weight training holds an incredible effect in toning the body – just like using free weights. Seems like a handful? Fear not! You don’t have to strut out and purchase a weight set or wait till the gym reopens. Start looking around the house for your best dumbbell replacements if you want to earn that summer body. Here are some of the easiest-to-find alternative weight items you can use at home.
A Backpack
Stuffing a backpack adds slightly extra weight to your body, which increases your heart pace, blood flow and muscle engagement. It is an effective doppelgänger to a weighted vest, which can make full use of your core engagement. Fill your pouch with water bottles or even books to add a little pressure on your cardio exercise and wear your filled backpack in the front for maximum engagement. Just make sure that you are not experiencing any pain or struggling, to avoid any back injury.
Large Water Bottles
Let’s count the perks of this method. Most bottles are conveniently designed to fit your grip, which makes up for any dumbbell shape and weight. Not only that, but you will literally have your source of hydration right at hand. According to the American Council on Exercise, power training is one of the top three essential aspects of either cardio or aerobics programs. Even if a bottle of water is the only item in the household you have access to, you can still conduct strength exercises effectively.
Canned Food
Would you like more recommendations for simple equipment? You will find a treasure in every household full of the ideal alternatives to dumbbells; that would be your pantry. Canned food comes in different shapes and sizes that suit various body shapes and weight ranges. While holding your body up and maintaining a good back posture, you can plank and pull any can over the midline from one hand to the other. Another fun exercise is to put your feet together and knees open on the ground. While sitting in that position, pull a stack of cans behind your head. You can do it with family members or close friends for fitness motivation and quality time, as well.
Furniture
Believe it or not, using a sofa or a chair can lead to more transformative, quicker results. For a more defined body shape, you have to amp up the game, don’t you think? You can use a medium-sized couch and lift one end of it while doing a squat. That way, you will create more resistance and add enough pressure to your glutes and lower back. If the couch is too much for you to handle, a chair could be as efficient. It will provide you some leg burn if you do a single leg sit-up or a squat-down.
Big Bags of Rice
It’s safe to say that rice is probably one of the most reachable items you can spot in any Egyptian kitchen. Its weight is equivalent to that of sand so it adds excellent pressure to your workout, and most importantly, it’s pretty affordable. Not to mention, you can workout then steam-cook it later for a healthy meal. While grabbing the bags from the middle with a firm grip, hold them at your sides with a straight arm. Step your left foot forward a couple of feet from your right, then with a slow pace, bend your right knee to move your body down. Hold this pose just before your left knee touches the ground. And repeat!
