Lose weight by turning your routine tasks into a workout routine

With gyms and other fitness facilities in a cycle of closing-and-opening amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, most of us have put our weight loss mission on the back burner. However, if you are truly determined to shed those extra kilos, you can do so by turning your everyday chores into effective exercises. Here are some daily tasks that we all do, which can be turned into your workout routine with some easy moderations.

A simple act of drinking water can be turned into an exercise. If you have to sit for long hours during work, then instead of keeping a bottle of water by your desk, choose to keep only a mug or a glass of water. This will help you in two ways – the constant presence of a glass of water will remind you to keep yourself hydrated and when you run out of water, it will make you get up for a refill. Make sure to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day as it will help in boosting your weight loss journey.

Cleaning is an essential chore which some people practice everyday while others push later for the weekends. In any case, the act of cleaning your home or even just your room can be turned into a workout routine by using a dash of creativity. All you need to do is pay attention to your body when you clean and involve yourself physically and mentally in the activities. Put on some music, tighten your core and use your energy when you do any cleaning task. Squat while mopping, stretch while dusting and do weight-lifting by moving around heavy furniture to clean under them.

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Shopping for everyday essentials can increase your daily step count, work your hamstring muscles and fetch you some delicious ingredients for a rewarding dinner later. Instead of ordering groceries via apps or calls, take a walk to your local market or drive to a departmental store. If you choose to drive, try parking far from the store’s entrance and use stairs instead of elevators and escalators. Once you are done shopping, use the loaded grocery bags for working those arm muscles.

This simple trick to pace up your steps whenever you get or make a phone call, can work wonders to boost your fitness. Whether these are work calls, catching up with your friends or family members, or waiting to connect with some customer service representative – get moving as soon as your phone rings. Every extra step counts and breaking your sitting routine will prove beneficial for your back muscles. The movements will also help you feel refreshed, focused and alert.

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Swimming is considered one of the best exercises but if you can’t go to the pool everyday, use your bathing routine for a refreshing workout. Use a bucket of water instead of the shower and do not sit on a stool while you bathe. This will make you squat every time to fill your bucket and by the time you are done, you would have completed some 40-50 squats like a pro. Remember to keep your back straight while doing the squats to achieve best results.

Your sitting time which becomes one of the biggest causes for weight gain can be transformed into a routine for weight loss. Get some hand weights and do biceps curls while reading emails. Replace your desk chair with a stability ball. This will give you a low-intensity abdominal workout every time you sit down and will also fix your posture by inducing proper spine alignment. Practicing minute-long stretches at desk such as torso twists, leg extensions, shrugging your shoulders and circling your wrists can go a long way in helping you achieve a fit and active body.

Bring back running around the house like we used to do when we were little kids. Every time there is a ring or knock at the door, instead of waiting for someone else to get up, dash to the door and answer it as soon as possible. The rush will make the mundane task fun and help shake off any lethargy in your body. If you follow these little everyday routines, you will be burning calories throughout the day and losing weight in no time!