FITNESS 101: FOR THE BUSY (AND/OR LAZY!) – By Nneka Iheme
I just want to look like Toni Tones. Is that too much to ask?
Case in point.
Photo credit: @iamTONITONES Twitter.
So, even after noticing, and ignoring my belly’s annoying decision to increase in proportion, hence nicknaming it The Food Baby, it wasn’t until I had to visit a friend recently, that I remembered a pair of jeans I purchased just before the lockdown. I decided to wear it and getting this thing on was, as our dear Pastor Odumeje would say, a war and a fight.
Let’s just say that this was when I realized that kasala finally burst – and that I needed to start thinking along the lines of exercise and fitness. Maybe if I took it seriously this time, I’d finally get to add ‘Team FitFam’ to my bio.
P.S: if you’re wondering, I decided to swap the jeans for a cozy dress. Fashion’s no. 1 rule is comfort, afterall.
I took it upon myself to come up with exercises that would be both helpful and not very intense, so that I don’t burn out and lose all motivation to work out. If you’re always busy, or not a fan of high-intensity workouts, or just lazy when it comes to exercise, like I am, then these would be perfect for you too. Don’t thank me, I’m a cheerful giver like that.
So there you have it: Fitness 101 for the Busy (and/or the Lazy!)
• Take long walks: Walking is really underrated for an exercise that’s so easy while strengthening your heart, lowering your blood pressure and the risk of a blood clot as well. Walking tones your leg and abdominal muscles too. A brisk 30-minute walk burns as much as 200 calories. Over time, these calories burned become kilograms dropped. And what’s more? You get quality alone-time with your thoughts. Walking has too many benefits for it to not be a part of your regimen.
• Skipping: I’m pretty sure almost everyone enjoyed skipping as kids. Now, its time to resurrect that old habit and get your self a good skipping rope. It’s cheap, portable, and a convenient exercise option. According to a study, 10 minutes spent on skipping is comparable to 30 minutes spent jogging. It’s a full body workout as you engage both your upper and lower body, it increases your heart rate and it’s great for burning excess tummy fat.
• The Stairs workout: Growing up, your parents probably yelled over and over, “stop running on the stairs!”, but here you are now, doing the exact thing in your quest to be fit. Running up a flight of stairs puts more load on the muscles of your lower body, and gets your heart rate up, serving as a great cardio workout. So, at school or work, ditch elevators and use the stairs more often. Also, maximize your home stairs by getting a good run on them for a few minutes everyday.
• Keep track of what you eat: If you’re like me, this will probably be the hardest part, but no exercise will work without some kind of change in your diet. Your body is most definitely used to a certain amount of food everyday, so making drastic changes to your diet and the amount of food you eat, is not a good idea. Instead, make little changes. Changes that you should try to be consistent with. Go easy on fried and processed food. Instead of sugar, try honey. And most importantly, let fruits, vegetables and water become your best friends.
Overall, we just want a healthy body and mind, so incorporating these little changes till they become a lifestyle, is what’s important.
