Don't Miss Your Workout!

(Image courtesy of Stacy Spensley)

Now that the weather is getting colder, the idea of getting dressed and going all the way to the gym can seem like such a hassle. On the days that a gym-run just doesn't seem like it’s going to happen, you don’t have to worry about missing your workout! There are simple exercises you can do in the comfort of your own apartment to make sure you burn calories and keep in shape for the next beach season!

Your health, and your workout, don’t have to hinge on you leaving your apartment. This article from renters.apartments.com has a great list of simple exercises to do at home. Keep reading to get toned while you stay in!

Quick Cardio Blast: Burn up to 150 calories

• Minutes one to two: High-intensity cardio, jump rope or run up and down stairs.
• Minutes three to four: Do as many push-ups as you can.
• Minutes five and six: Jump rope or run stairs again.
• Minutes seven and eight: Do squats by standing with your back against a wall and squatting as low as you can. Focus on form rather than speed.
• Minutes nine and ten: Back to the high-intensity cardio, but this time give it your all. Try to get in ten more jumps or stairs in the same amount of time.

Tone and Strengthen

Do each of these exercises for one minute. The goal is to move continuously for the entire series.

• Squats against a wall: Stand with your back against wall and squat down as far as you can.
• Push-ups: Focus on form, not quantity. Knee push-ups are perfectly fine until you have the strength for military style.
• Walking lunges with a front kick: Step forward with one leg and lunge until your knee is above your front foot. Stand and kick up, lower your leg and repeat with the other side.
• Squats/Chest squeeze: Hold a weighted object and pull it in towards your chest as you lift up.
• Dead lifts: Stand with a weighted object in your hands and bend forward until your back is parallel to the floor. Keep your back lifted the entire time. For an extra challenge, stand on one leg and alternate.
• Shoulder raises: Keeping your arms straight, lift the weight to the front of your body and hold. Lower slowly and repeat.
• Side raises: Stand with your upper torso parallel to the floor. Raise your arms to your sides with your thumbs pointing up. Squeeze your shoulder blades together and hold.
• Triceps Dip: Support yourself on a couch or sturdy chair with both hands behind you, facing away from the chair. Bend your knees and lower yourself using only your arms. Lift and repeat.
• Wide-leg squat: Stand with your legs spread open past your shoulders and squat as low as you can.
• Crunch: Lie on the floor and do a set of traditional crunches, with your arms behind your head and your knees bent. Lift up your upper torso, squeeze in your abs, lower slowly and repeat.

Stretch and Lengthen

These five stretches will target the major muscles in your body. Hold each stretch for one minute on each side.

• Hamstrings: Sit with your legs in front of you and reach for your toes with your hands, keeping your back straight. Then alternate the same stretch on each leg, bending your other leg inwards.
• Triceps: Hold one arm under your head, bend it and use your other arm to gently push it back, stretching the muscle on the front of your arm.
• Shoulders: Stretch one arm across your chest and hold it in place with your other arm. Gently pull the straight arm towards your chest.
• Quadriceps: Stand up and bend one leg back behind you. Pull the leg in with the same-side arm until you feel a stretch.
• Spinal twist: Sit with one leg straight and the other bent. Twist your torso toward your bent leg, supporting yourself by resting the opposite elbow on your leg. Use your other arm to hold yourself up by resting it on the floor behind you.