Parenting might feel like a non-stop workout, but if you want to get serious about your fitness, you’re going to have to carve out some time for exercise. Whether you have a toddler at home who needs constant entertainment or if you’re trying to fit in fitness around the school run and your child’s extra-curricular activities, it can seem like the whole world is against you when you decide you want to exercise.
Not everyone has the space for a home gym or the money for expensive equipment. And finding the time to hit the gym when you’re caring for a little one can be a nightmare, which is why home workouts you can do in front of the TV will soon become your best friend.
The best workouts don’t even need any specialist equipment. So you can wait until the kids are down for a nap or in bed for the night and blast through a high-intensity workout that will soon leave you feeling strong and powerful. If you’re a busy parent, follow these tips for fitting a workout into your non-stop life.
Increase your NEAT intensity
NEAT stands for non-exercise activity thermogenesis. It’s all the time in the day that you aren’t sleeping or actively exercising. Things like tidying up, mowing the lawn and walking to the shops can all burn more calories if you aim to work a little harder.
Set a timer and try to get the whole house clean in an hour. Or choose to walk to the shop instead of drive. Basically, you want to cut down your sedentary time throughout the day to keep your metabolism boosted.
Try HIIT workouts
If you don’t have a lot of time to focus on fitness, HIIT is perfect for you. HIIT stands for high-intensity interval training. You can find HIIT workouts that don’t need any equipment and just use your own body weight as resistance.
You’ll quickly work up a sweat and you’ll even enjoy the after-effects of a boosted metabolism. Find a boxing fitness workout that you love online and you’ll soon be sweating away in front of the TV and burning a lot of calories in a short space of time.
Grab a kettlebell
If you decide to invest in fitness equipment, the kettlebell is one of the most versatile pieces available. There are so many kettlebell workouts videos available that will help you to burn more calories while toning up your upper body.
The best part about a kettlebell workout is that you can do it pretty much anywhere, so if you find yourself with a spare 20 minutes throughout the day, you can quickly fit in a workout. Once you’ve mastered the basic kettlebell swing, you’ll soon be able to add more moves and create an at-home workout that works for you.
Try these quick challenges
If you’re struggling to find the time in the day to dedicate to a workout, you can still sneak in some workout moves. If you wear workout clothes during the day, you can be ready for a quick workout at any time.
For example, you can do squats while you’re brushing your teeth, hold a plank while you wait for the kettle to boil or lunge your way out into the garden to hang out the washing. Make it a fun family activity by getting the kids involved. For example, make it a family rule that you have to get up and dance when the adverts are on the TV. Or better yet, turn the TV off and put some music on instead.
