In the continuing to quest to stay fit, time can become an issue. If you work a full time job, it can be difficult to fit in a good workout which means you need to optimize the time you have to burn calories and tone those muscles. One sneaky little secret for staying fit is to exercise at the office. Here are some ideas on how to get a little more fit without leaving work:
How to stay active at the office: Bring some hand weights to work
If you have a private office, shut the door several times a day and do biceps curls and lateral raises using hand weights. Make sure you use enough weight to make your efforts challenging. Even five minutes of upper body exercise can help to tone muscle, build lean body mass, and optimize your metabolism. A pair of six to ten pounds hand weights is easy to store in an office drawer.
How to stay active at the office: Use your chair to do abdominal exercises
You can actually do a very effective abdominal workout without leaving your office chair. Spend five minutes each day doing leg lifts while seated. Bring both knees up to your chest and then extend them. Continue doing reps until you feel the abdominal muscles burning. The abdominal muscles are relatively easy to tone up with simple exercises such as this.
How to stay active at the office: Take advantage of your lunch hour
Even if your lunch hour is more like thirty minutes, you can get your heart pumping by taking a brisk walk around the building or by doing fifteen minutes of stair climbing. When the weather's nice, find a coworker who also wants to get into shape and head out for a fast lunchtime stroll. You'll feel invigorated after your workout and will probably accomplish more later in the day.
How to stay active at the office: Park as far away as possible
Instead of looking for the closest parking space, park as far as possible from the building. When you head to and from work to your car, walk as rapidly as possible to get your heart rate up. Those extra steps you take by parking far away can add up over time and result in weight loss and better cardiovascular health.
How to stay active at the office: Wear casual shoes
Studies have shown that people who wear casual or sports shoes during the day expend more calories than those who wear dress shoes. If your office is casual, wear flat, comfortable shoes or even sports shoes if possible. This will allow you to move more quickly up and down the hall and stairs.
How to stay active at the office: Find reasons to leave your office
Be alert to every opportunity to get your blood pumping. Volunteer to run office related errands or make copies. Make a conscious attempt to move as rapidly as possible from point to point. Pretty soon this will become second nature and people will marvel at you walk so fast. Moving rapidly can also win points with your boss as it looks like you're an enthusiastic employee.
With a little effort, you can burn extra calories at the office and help to tone your heart and muscles. Why not get moving?
