If I’m totally honest with you, I was never into sports as a child and neither did I ever bother to exercise in my adult (-ing) years, but as I’ve aged, I have come to realise that my body NEEDS exercise and it NEEDS to be healthy. I have also realised that it is not so much about the intensity of exercise, but more so consistency, because let’s be honest – that’s the key to maintaining perfectly good health….right?!
So today I want to talk about my Top 5 Exercises that you can do in the comfort of your own home or at the gym (without the need for a trainer) and I’m sure that these will help you to get the ball rolling towards good health, a flat tummy and a gorgeous booty!
Squats
Aha! Why not start with one of my favourite exercises! This is one exercise that will involve more muscles than any other exercise I’ll be talking about today.
Begin by standing with your feet shoulder width apart or maybe a tad bit wider for comfort. Now bend your knees and lower yourself without leaning forward…almost like you were leaning back to sit on a chair. Remember to keep your back straight at all times and not move your knees past your toes. Hold for a second and then stand straight up. Repeat this move about 12-15 times.
Squats help to strengthen your core and helps with better posture. Not to forget, you’re also constantly working your glutes and your thighs in this move…win-win!
Jumping Jacks
Ok, now this is a relatively easy one and I’m sure you all know how to do it, so I won’t be explaining it. What I will say though, is that you can modify this move based on how intense you want your workout to be.
If you are a beginner, I suggest you start with the basic jumping jacks and do about three sets of a minute each. If you want more intensity, add in weights to the move.
Jumping jacks is fantastic to get your heart pumping and is perhaps one of the easiest, yet most effective exercise you can do.
High Knee Pull
Want strong legs? Well, here’s what you got to do! High knee pull is a great move if you want to work on your balance and coordination alongside building leg muscles.
To do high knee pulls, stand straight and engage your core (abs). Lift your knee up towards your chest as high as possible (and comfortable). Now go back to standing position and lift the other knee towards your chest.
If you want to ‘up’ the intensity, hold the position when your knee is up in the air, close to your chest. Try and balance on your standing foot and be very mindful that you are not locking the knee on which you are bearing your weight. You can also increase the speed and height of your high knees as you advance.
Mountain Climbers
One of my least favourite exercise, but oh well! Mountain climbers are one move that looks really fun and simple but is quite challenging. On the brighter side, it is a wonderful exercise to burn calories if you are looking for some heart-friendly moves.
Start in plank position with your arms extended out. Then start to bring your knees, one at a time, into your chest, almost like you were running, but in a plank position, if that makes any sense!
Once again, if you want to ‘up’ the intensity, increase the speed or tie some weights to your ankles. Remember to always keep your core engaged, back straight and your hips in line with your feet.
The Plank
Another beautiful move that works on multiple muscle groups and another one of my favourites. Planks are fantastic for strengthening your core and improving your balance.
You can do a variety of planks depending on your fitness and comfort level- the knee plank, the forearm plank, the classic plank, side plank or a single leg plank.
I’m going to talk about the most basic one, the forearm plank because that is the easiest for a beginner. Begin by placing your forearms on the ground, elbows aligned right below your shoulders. Your arms should be parallel to your body and around shoulder-width apart. You can also clasp the hands together if you feel there is too much pressure on your wrists.
Your feet are straight out behind you and your toes are firmly grounded. Once you are comfortable, squeeze your glutes and stabilise yourself. Hold the position for at least 30 seconds to begin with. Remember to never lock your knees and keep your spine and neck neutralised. Your head must always be in line with your back.
So those were my Top 5 Exercises to start losing weight and toning up. Remember, consistency is what will show you results, so if you are having a tough time exercising by yourself, ask a friend, roommate or even your partner to join along with you, because that will surely make the journey a lot easier and more fun.
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