6 Ways to Stay Fit Indoors

With the colder months upon us, conjuring up the motivation to exercise outside in the elements can be difficult. But there are many ways to stay fit indoors — and they don’t have to involve expensive gym memberships. Consider the following suggestions and maintain a year-round exercise routine. It will help you lose weight, stay healthier and more energetic, and even sleep better. And you never have to leave the warmth of your living room.

1. Find room

Having enough room to stretch out, move freely, and not touch any furniture or walls while lying on the floor is important. Your exercise space does not have to be permanent: Simply clear an area when you’re ready to move, advises eHow.com. Invest in a good exercise mat to cushion your body from the floor or for added comfort on a carpet.

2. Invest in free weights

Strength training with free weights or resistance bands boosts metabolism by building lean muscle, and muscle burns up to 50 calories per pound each day. So if you gain five pounds of muscle, you could drop 26 pounds of fat in a year, says former tennis star Martina Navratilova in a column for AARP.org. Strength training also helps build and strengthen bone, reducing risk of fractures. Be sure to include an exercise for each major muscle group, including abdominals, calves, chest, back, thighs, shoulders, and arms, she advises.

3. Exercise while watching the tube

Some people complain that they don’t have the time to work out, but experts argue that if you have time to watch television, you have time to exercise. Use resistance bands or walk in place while watching the news. You can also use Tivo to skip commercials and watch an hour-long program in 40 minutes, buying 20 minutes to exercise, James Hill, PhD, co-founder of the National Weight Control Registry, tells WebMD.com.

4. Buy home equipment – carefully

Be a smart shopper. Don’t be seduced by expensive equipment that promises spot reduction or results from working out just minutes a day, advises About.com. And consider how much space you have — do you really have room for that rowing machine? Also, think about whether you will really use the equipment. Does it provide you with an activity you actually enjoy?

5. Exercise DVDs

Remember Jane Fonda and her exercise videos of the 1980s? How about Richard Simmons and his striped shorts? Exercise videos have come a long way since some of us sweated to the oldies with Richard. Today, there are DVDs featuring nearly every coaching style you might imagine — from drill sergeant to nurturer — and even more celebrities. (Yes, Kim Kardashian has a workout video, in case you were wondering.) For an exhaustive selection, including the Navy SEALs workout, check out Amazon.com. And don’t forget active video games like Wii Fit and Wii Sport.

6. Sneak it in

The U.S. Surgeon General’s Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans call for two hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes) per week of moderately intense activity like brisk walking. Increments of at least 10 minutes of exercise count toward that goal, the guidelines say. To help achieve this, make small changes in your daily routine such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator. If you’re working, close your office door and walk in place for at least 10 minutes.