You’ve heard the expression, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” When it comes to exercise, there are many ways to make it happen. No gym? No problem. No equipment? Yes, you do have some! Your own body can be your ‘equipment’.

Time is precious and the stress of work, family and everyday life often make a workout the last priority. These tips for working out with or without a gym can easily help you stay on track with your health and fitness goals.

Lift Yourself Up (Literally)
Using your own body weight for strength and conditioning is free, offers plenty of versatile exercise options and can be done just about anywhere. Try a few of these exercises on for size (and strength):

  • Pushups
  • Squats
  • Lunges
  • Planks

You can turn all of these exercises into a ‘circuit’ by doing a set of each exercise without stopping until you’ve completed one set of every exercise, which equals one ‘circuit’. Do as many ‘circuits’ of these exercises as you can (resting in between each ‘circuit’) in 15, 20, or even 30 minutes.

Get creative
Those large cans of beans, soup and bags of rice aren’t just for cooking. If you don’t have access to dumbbells or machines, canned staples in your kitchen pantry will do the trick. You can even grab a couple bags of sand from your hardware store (different sizes can challenge your muscles and add variety to a workout).

Move outside of the kitchen. Pillow, chairs, towels and other household items can help shake up your routine by supporting your body weight and adding nontraditional movements that engage additional muscles, especially your midsection, and improve your balance.

Lift your morning fog
If a 5:00am (or earlier) alarm isn’t your idea of starting the day, don’t fret. While there are great benefits to exercising early in the morning, doing so later in the mornings can be practical for your busy schedule.

Still can’t find time to squeeze in an early morning workout? Take the stairs, park farther away from your destination, or bring lunch from home and take a brisk walk during your lunch hour.

Exercise can be a key factor in weight management and weight loss and you should consult your GP before starting a new exercise program. Have an IsaLean™ Shake or Bar following your workout to help supplement your nutrition. The delicious combination of protein, good fats and carbohydrates is essential to staving off hunger while providing your body with the energy and nutrition it needs throughout the day.