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I’m not a huge fan of exercise. As a matter of fact, I’m not even remotely enamored of exercise, but in the summer, I have a much easier time hopping on my road cycle and doing the requisite hour every couple of days. There are days, though, when I have an absolute revulsion to going outside, especially in the winter months. There is simply nothing attractive to me about going out in the cold, the rain, or the dark (hello, 4 hours of daylight …ugh).

So what’s a girl to do to get in that suggested amount of physical activity when it’s gloomy outside and she just wants to lie in bed with her kitties and a cup of hot chocolate (don’t judge me)? Once that hot chocolate kicks in and you have to get up to head for the potty, think about doing some of these at home exercises that won’t necessarily make you feel like you’re “working out,” but will still keep you moving (plus your house will be tidier!)

Please note: I am not a doctor. Please check with your doctor before attempting any of these suggestions to be sure that they are not above your recommended activity/ability level.

Warm up by briskly roaming the house looking for out of place things. Make a mental note of things that need to be tidied, but don’t move on them yet … just keep up the brisk walk, even if you’re in a small space. Notice cobwebs at the ceiling, scuff marks on the walls, and anything else that you might not notice if you only go around one time.

Keep those legs moving. When you’re warmed up, grab a bag and collect those things on the floor, bend at the knees for a nice slow deep knee bend. Not much out of place? Get clumsy and drop something 20 times … slow deep knee bend to retrieve it. (You love me, you do …)

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Photos courtesy of “The Strength to Care” blogger, Jennifer

Get your cardio on! Now that you have a bunch of stuff to relocate, take the stairs to return them. Don’t do it the way you normally would, though … no need to be efficient. Return something to the top floor, then the first floor, then back up to a higher floor. Keep moving for at least 10 minutes. Live in a ranch house? Do quick walking laps around it! Were you one of those folks who didn’t have anything out of place? Come to my house … there are plenty of stairs and loads of stuff out of place. Or, just take the stairs up, then briskly walk around the top floor a bit, then go down and do the same. Repeat!

If you don’t feel like you got much of a workout from the stairs, or would prefer to just walk the stairs for safety reasons, try doing 20 jumping jacks … that will pump your heart rate right up!

Still feel like you need a little more cardio? Take a cleaning break and turn on some tunes! Dance around your house like no one’s watching (because unless you have a weird voyeuristic neighbor, no one is!)

Lunge up and down your hallways to sweep/dust/clear up cobwebs. I generally try to lunge my way through my hardwood floor sweeping. It’s a challenge, and I won’t lie, I’ve often thought about attaching the floor pads to the bottom of my feet rather than using my sweeper to keep it simple, but once I get into a rhythm, I’m a lunging maniac!

0972117001576172603.jpgFinish with a plank.  Alright, your house is glistening and your body’s feeling good, right? Finish off your workout with a nice 30 second plank. Think that sounds like an eternity? No problem. Start out on your knees (Keep your back straight! That voyeuristic neighbor’s watching …), or do a full plank for 10 seconds, then rest for 15 seconds, repeat two more times. Now that your floor is clean, feel free to turn that plank into a plunk collapse right down into a heap.

Keep yourself healthy by eating every color in the rainbow (not Skittles … fruits and veggies, folks), drinking plenty of water, cutting back on sugar, and having your spine checked regularly at Gulph Mills Chiropractic. Face it, you won’t want to exercise if your back, neck, and hips hurt, am I right? Call today for a Complimentary Initial Assessment: 484-751-5037.

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Our Regular Hours

Monday
7:30 am - 12:30 pm 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Tuesday
10:00 am - 12:30 pm 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Wednesday
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Thursday
7:30 am - 12:30 pm 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Friday
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Saturday
Select Saturdays from 9am to 11am Mar 30, Apr 13, Apr 27, May 11
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