If you know you need to exercise more but don’t want to spend your time working out at a gym, there are plenty of other ways that you can work your body and lose weight without making exercise your primary focus. For many people, finding a way to get in a great workout while distracting your mind with something else can help them to exercise more often and for longer periods of time.
To help you see how this could be possible in your life, here are three ways to get a great workout in without going to the gym.
Get A Dog
Sometimes, you need another thing to be accountable to in order to help you get the exercise you need.
One great way to get an accountability partner without having to put this burden on someone else is to get yourself a dog or other pet that needs to get outside and run. Depending on the breed of dog you choose, you might need to help them get more or less exercise during the day. But according to Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, a contributor to EatThis.com, playing with your dog for just 10 minutes each day can help you burn over 15,000 calories each year. So if you go on a longer walk or play on the ground together, you’ll easily burn more calories than this, too.
Help A Friend Move
While this likely isn’t something that you’ll be doing on a regular basis unless you start a career in the moving industry, helping a friend move from one home to another can give you a great workout.
With most moves, you’ll be carrying things between the home and the moving truck over and over again. While some of these items won’t be that heavy at all, other items will likely be very heavy. With the variety in sizes and weights of the items you’ll be moving, you’ll be able to work various muscles in your arms, legs, and core while also getting a good cardio workout with all the walking.
Start An Active Hobby
If most of your hobbies are more sedentary, you may want to consider starting a hobby that’s a little more active.
There are tons of different active hobbies that you can choose from. While some of them can be sports related and require a bit of coordination, there are plenty of hobbies that don’t have to be done on a team or even with another person. Some examples of this include things like hiking, biking, swimming, yoga, walking, rock climbing, dancing, and much more. As long as it’s something that gets your body moving, this active hobby can be a great addition to your life and your health.
If you’re looking for ways to get more exercise without having to visit the gym, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you find some options that might work for you.