Ever volunteered to do work which your mom/wife does? When was the last time you let your maid take a day off, got into her shoes, and did all that she does? How about you getting the household groceries, rather than letting the boy run errands? Well, these are simple ways in which you can get the same amount of fitness, or may be even more than you would, if you had paid huge sums for a gym membership and had a go at fitness there.
When there were no gyms, there was housekeeping to aid in weight loss and body toning, quite literally so! Think about cleaning your wardrobe, or sweeping the floor for once, or even simply dusting the furniture, and you are already on your way to gradual weight loss.
Moreover, you require no weights, no equipment, no over-the-top dressing, simply a reason to see something that requires cleaning. And you would know that while you were getting your house in order, you actually achieved the right kilos without spending even a penny – probably saving some, on the contrary!
Before you hit it off - put on some lively music to keep you going 
Basic Housekeeping: Get in the act and start doing simple things like dusting the house every day, vacuuming and getting your drawers and cupboards cleaned and you would soon achieve the flexibility and movement needed to keep your body on the weight loss track. And then gradually start with either sweeping the floor, be it even once a day or maybe you can do it even after the maid has already done it, as an excuse to keep fit! Why pay your maid for cleaning during Diwali? Do it yourself!
Take the stairs: “Keep moving”, is the key mantra. Unless you wish to remain a couch potato, moving up and down the stairs is sure going to help you remain fit. And this is the same thing that will be done in a gym as well, that is step-aerobics. By the time you are done with the first two rounds, (depending upon your fitness level), you would already have felt the stretch in your body, breath gasps and the burn, and all of this, done on a regular basis, sure makes for a great cardio workout and tones your muscles too. And for those who are firmly grounded on the earth, a brick can replace the stairs.
Push ups: Push-ups hit the chest, shoulder and triceps areas, building core strength and overall power. These can be done at home, on the floor (preferably on a mat), and a beginner can start with about 10 pushups a day and increase it gradually over a period of time, when your body has turned flexible enough.
Pull-ups: For doing pull-ups at home, get iron rods attached near the door (either the bedroom or the balcony doors), or some suitable place and then regularly do at least 10 to 15 pull ups, as per your body’s convenience and fitness level and see the changes for yourself. Both pull ups and pushups can be easily done at home.
Dance: What better way to lose that unwanted flab, than by dancing to your favorite music at home, without inhibitions and without having to spent too much in a dance class, you can simply let your hair down, start the music, close the windows, and begin tap tapping for a good 40 minutes for a complete, overall body fitness and cardio workout. Moreover, dancing is an instant mood booster and keeps you feeling fresh and energetic all day long. In fact you don’t have a fixed time, dance whenever you can, for as long as you can!
Walk: For once you volunteer to go to the market to buy the daily groceries, instead of the maid or your mum, or even your poor spouse. And No, this does not mean driving down to the market, walk it up! Your daily walks, either to the market or the nearby park, or even walking your dog can help you get in shape, help your heart and even help you lose weight and tone your muscles. Preferably you must walk briskly to be able to see good results, but beginners can start by taking small walks down the lane daily for 30 minutes. Walking also helps ease the stress on your joints.
Get up for a glass of water: The worst thing you can do to your body is to remain glued to your sofa, and make silly excuses for not doing anything. This actually leads to excess weight gain and then your body gets so used to the sedentary habit, that you would no more feel like being active. So, even if you want a glass of water, make sure you yourself get up and get it and not ask someone to serve you, get up to see who’s at the door, move around the house while on the phone, water the plants yourself and volunteer to do everything that involves even a little bit of activity.
Skip the rope: Skipping can easily be done in your lawn or on the terrace or even inside home (provided there are no breakable things in the vicinity). Skipping has been with you since the time you were in school and chances are that you think yourself to be too grown to get into the ropes again, right? Experts believe that daily skipping, for even 30 minutes, can provide you with increased stamina and endurance and even tones your muscles while enhancing flexibility and athletic abilities and improving your reflexes, balance and posture. All you need is a rope and some space!
Crunches and Lunges: Crunches play an important role in building and strengthening abdominal muscles. Not only is it important in achieving a six pack, but also in preventing back problems. Moreover Crunches involve different muscles of the body including abdominal and lower back muscles.
So, the next time you think of joining an expensive gym, think first about these ultra fit homely options!
