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When I first started working out I worked really hard to turn fitness into a habit. I’ve mentioned it a few times in earlier posts, but health and fitness do not come naturally to me. In fact, I spent two decades very overweight and didn’t become physically fit until I was in my early thirties!
Things finally changed for me when I realized the truth about why I wasn’t losing weight. Which I talk about in this post here. Anyway, one of the things I finally realized was that I wasn’t burning enough calories each day.
At least for me, healthy eating is a long road. I couldn’t rely on that as my primary way to lose weight. I needed to become more fit and burn more calories each day if I truly wanted to hit my weight loss goals. And I had huge weight loss goals. So, it came down to finding new ways to be active each day.
Finding New Ways To Be Active
Aside from starting a fitness program, I started trying new things to add more fitness to my day. I had kind of realized at that point that being fit is a lifestyle. And to live that lifestyle I needed to adopt new habits.
The biggest habit that I needed to adopt was simply to move around more. Once I got an activity tracker I learned that I wasn’t moving around nearly as much as I thought I was. I seriously recommend buying a Fitbit, Garmin or Apple Watch because my Garmin was a real eye-opener to my activity and calorie burn.
Once I realized I wasn’t moving around as much as I had thought, it all became about finding small ways to be more active each day.
12 Easy Ways To Be More Fit And Active
It can be so easy to sneak extra fitness. All of these tips are ways to be active at any fitness level and ability. Check out some of my favorite ways that I add more exercise to my day:
Park Far Away From Entrances
I never park near the entrance of a store. Parking as far away from the entrance as you can is a great way to get in extra steps. Walking is a great form of exercise and adding in as many extra steps as you can will only benefit your body. Just make sure that you are parking in a safe spot and that you’re not putting yourself at any risk.
Take Stairs Two At Time
When I first started exercising, I lived in a house with a ton of stairs. Taking the stairs two at a time every single time was a great way to work my booty and strengthen my legs. Doing things to strengthen my legs outside of my workouts only made my real workouts easier. When taking the stairs two at a time started to become too easy, I switched to taking them three at a time. Or I would two at a time with squats in-between steps.
Squat While You Wait
Ever find yourself just waiting around for a kettle to boil or a microwave to finish? That’s when you should be squatting! Squatting is another great leg and glute exercise. And it something you can do anywhere at any time. The next time you find yourself waiting for something for a few minutes, try squatting. A few squats here and there add up over the course of a day.
Walking Meetings
If you work in an office, it can be hard to fit in extra exercise. But a good way to give your legs a stretch and add in some extra steps is to have walking meetings. Instead of sitting, take the meeting outdoors or walk around the office. You’ll get some fresh air and a much-needed energy boost. Walking meetings don’t have to be one-on-one, they can even be larger groups who collaborate together while getting some activity. Try a walking meeting!
Counter Push-Ups
I still do counter push-ups all the time. Whenever I’m in the kitchen I try to remember to do 15 counter push-ups. Using a counter is a great way to modify a regular push-up. It will build arm and shoulder strength while taking a lot of pressure off your joints. The more counter push-ups you do, the easier you will find regular push-ups.
Take The Stairs
This is an obvious tip. But whenever possible, take the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator. Again, make sure you are in a safe space (don’t take the stairs of some creepy building) but otherwise try to take the stairs when you can. Even if it means going up a couple of flights of stairs before jumping into an elevator to carry you the rest of the way. Some steps are better than no steps at all.
Wall Sit
A wall sit is a good alternative to squatting while you wait. A wall sit sculpts your hips, thighs and calves, and are easy on your joints. When first starting wall sits, try to hold your wall sit for as long as possible. Then try adding 5 extra seconds each time you wall sit to increase your endurance.
Exercise At Your Desk
You can work almost your entire body while working in the office. Every so often take a couple of minutes to do an exercise or two at your desk. Here are some ideas:
Walk On Lunch Break
Taking a walk on your lunch break will help clear your head, give you more steps, and help with stress. Walking is also a time to have a few moments to yourself while getting some exercise at the same time. You don’t have to be walking fast, even if you walk slowly your body will benefit from the activity.
Set Timer Once An Hour To Walk Around Office
If for whatever reason you’re not able to schedule a walking meeting during your day, try to take the time to go for a short stroll by yourself. Walk around the office for a few minutes to stretch your legs and increase circulation. So many studies have shown that walking is just simply good for your well-being so try to fit in a tiny walk as often as you can.
Calf Raises In The Shower
The shower is a surprising place to add in some extra exercises. While shampooing and conditioning try doing two sets of 25 calf raises. Calf raises will strengthen and tone your calves muscles which make your legs look strong and sexy.
Leg Raises and Kickbacks While Stove Cooking
Strengthen and tone your legs while cooking in the kitchen by doing leg raises and kickbacks. Why stand around when you could be working your booty? Leg raises and kickbacks are low impact and therefore easy on your joints. Try incorporating these moves into your cooking routine!
Which tip are you going to try?
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