30 Fast And Simple Exercise Tips For The Lazy Person

Quick, easy exercises to help you stay active and healthy.

Do you absolutely dread exercising?  Does the thought of you lacing up your running shoes and hitting the streets for a couple mile jog make you want to sink into your couch and hide?  Don’t worry you’re not alone.

Easy ways to get off the couch and exercise

Trying to balance everything life throws at you can be stressful. Work, family, bills and so on make it hard to find time to exercise and even if the opportunity presents itself do you really have the motivation and the desire to work out?

There is, however, a glimmer of hope to get you off the couch and burning calories.  It’s possible to fit a quick and easy exercise plan into your lifestyle and still have time for everything else you enjoy.  Exercise doesn’t require going to the gym or long hours of heavy lifting or running.  In fact, you can get a healthy, sufficient amount of exercise doing the things you enjoy or by slightly modifying the things you already do every day. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

The Importance Of Exercise

Let’s first take a look at the importance of exercise.  As I’m sure you’re aware, exercise is good for you.  It impacts many different aspects of your life such as physical health, your mood and self confidence.  It’s great for lowering the risks of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and many other ailments.  It releases powerful endorphins that improve your mood. And it can boost your self confidence by helping you reach your body weight goals, boosting strength, coordination and your energy levels.

Exercise Myths And Facts

The diet and fitness world is full of myths that keep people from even wanting to improve their health.  Separating these myths from the facts will help you get past the initial barrier that may be preventing you from exercising in the first place.

No Pain, No Gain – I still remember as a child my gym teacher shouting this at us as we had a contest to see who could jump rope the longest.  While it might have a certain positive motivational effect for some, it can be a little misleading and even prevents others from exercising.  Many forms of exercise like walking or swimming are truly helpful without the pain.  In fact, if you feel pain while exercising that may be a sign that you are overdoing it.

I Need To Exercise Every Day For An Hour To See Results – Not true at all.  In fact, in some cases a ten to fifteen minute burst of exercise can be just as effective as working out for a half hour to an hour.

Exercise Makes You Tired – Exercise actually gives you more energy and helps you sleep better at night, resulting in being less tired during the day.

I Have To Join A Gym – Simply not true.  If joining a gym helps motivate you then by all means do it, but it is not a necessity.  In fact, you never even have to use a piece of gym equipment to effectively exercise. If you would like to join a gym, but are concerned because you’re new at exercising then check out DietsInReview.com’s Beginner’s Guide To The Gym.

30 Easy Exercise Tips

We now know why it’s important to exercise and debunked a few of the myths that surround it, now let’s take a look at some easy ways to get up and finally do it.  The key here is to pair exercising with something you enjoy doing.  Or in some cases it’s as easy as making some small changes to the things you are already doing on a day to day basis.

1. Park a few blocks away from work.  If it takes you 5 minutes to walk from your car to your desk and another 5 minutes back, then that’s ten minutes of exercise a day right there.
2. Do simple exercises such as jumping jacks, sit-ups, pushups, etc. during the commercial breaks of your favorite program.
3. Take the stairs instead of the elevator.  This can be particularly effective if you bounce from floor to floor quite often.
4. Take a dancing class or other activity you find enjoyable.  Ask a friend to join you.
5. If you’re a parent, spend extra time playing with the kids.
6. Sign up for yoga classes.  This will help burn calories and relieve stress.
7. Turn up the radio and dance in the privacy of your home.
8. Only watch your favorite shows while riding a stationary bike or walking on a treadmill.
9. Find a partner to exercise with then go out for a snack or movie afterwards.
10. Take up golf and walk the course whenever possible, don’t rent a cart.
11. Kill two birds with one stone and get a workout by finally do that yard work you’ve been putting off.
12. Start a garden.
13. Sign up for kickball, volleyball or any extracurricular activity put on through your employer.
14. Go for an evening walk after dinner.  Bring the family with you.
15. Walk the dog around the block.
16. Take up a seasonal activity like ice skating in winter or biking in summer.
17. Learn a new activity.  Have you ever wanted to learn how to roller blade?  Or learn how to swim?
18. Walk with your child to the nearest park.
19. Buy a pedometer and try to achieve at least 8000 steps in a day.
20. Don’t drive around the grocery store parking lot until you find the closest spot.  Purposely park at the farthest away spot and walk.
21. Wash and wax you car at home instead of going to the carwash.  Save some money too.
22. Walk around your building on your lunch break at work.  Invite a co-worker to join you.
23. Walk around your local mall.
24. Try a rock climbing wall if you have one available.  They can be very fun and are a great exercise tool.
25. Have (more) sex with your partner.
26. Weather permitting, ride your bike to work.  Even doing this one day a week will be effective.
27. Trade your riding mower in a for a push mower.
28. Keep items you retrieve on a daily basis, clothes for example, in your basement so you have to walk up and down the stairs.
29. Help make a difference while exercising by volunteering at a local non-charity foundation.
30. Walk to appointments or errands that are within a comfortable distance.