Wednesday, June 4, 2014

10 WAYS TO GET SLIM WITHOUT THE GYM

1 Join the dark side...

When it comes to chocolate, that is. It’s much harder to munch your way through a whole block of good-quality dark chocolate (we’re talking at least 70 per cent cocoa solids, or 85 if you can hack it) than  the milky stuf    – which means you’ll ration it better. Plus, while the kilojoules may be the same, the dark stuf  is low in sugar and high in healthy monounsaturated fats and antioxidants known as polyphenols.  Yep, that means this sweet treat is de? nitely doing your body good.

10 WAYS TO GET SLIM WITHOUT THE GYM

2 Mess about

It might sound a little silly, but being childish can be really good for your body  – so make like a kid and get to the park. A kick-around with a soccer ball, basketball  sesh or impromptu Frisbee game are all  activities that are perfectly capable of burning kilojoules, raising your metabolism  and leaving you smiling from ear to ear.

3 Pump up the volume

Whether you’re outside walking or inside  doing the housework, blasting some of  your favourite tunes is a sure-fire way to  max your motivation, get you moving
faster and burn more kilojoules. Invest
in a new iPod, compile an upbeat playlist,
and let the music get you going.

4 Rope in a hot bod

Looking for a cheap piece of workout kit  that of  ers excellent value? Step away  from the Ab Blaster and pick up your old  skipping rope. Not only does a skipping  rope cost and weigh next to nothing, it  also provides an intense, time-ei   cient cardio workout that you can do pretty  much anywhere. Just ask Rocky Balboa.

5 DITCH THE DAIRY

If you down a large latte every morning, your daily  cuppa could be adding extra  weight. The average adult  doesn’t need that much milk – you can get more calcium  from leafy green veg – plus,  milk has a sugar called  lactose in it, which makes  it high in carbs (yep, even  skim milk).  Time to  develop  a taste for  long blacks.

6 Skip low fat

Don’t waste money on ‘low-fat’ snacks such as cereal bars or skinny mui   ns – they’re  overly processed, packed with sugar and guaranteed to leave you ravenous in half  an hour. Eat more protein, such as chicken  or fish, with your meals instead. It will keep you fuller for longer, saving you money on diet snacks that don’t of  er any benefits.

7 Use your own body weight

One of the most ef  ective weight-training tools around is your own body. It’s free,  open all hours and provides awesome results. Perform 20 of the following  moves back to back and see how you feel:  burpees, push-ups, jump squats, lunges and narrow push-ups. Out of breath yet?

8 Get fit on your commute to work

Make a conscious ef  ort to move more in your daily routine: try taking the stairs  rather than the lift, walking to meetings  or going for a quick stroll on your lunch  break. Even better, leave the train or bus  ticket at home and try jogging, cycling or  walking to work each day. Then go treat  yourself with all the cash you saved!

9 Eat smarter

It’s not easy, but if you’re absolutely  determined to trim down, then cutting  out alcohol and re? ned sugar is the  fastest way to lose body fat – look to  supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley  or the awe-inspiring Beyoncé for evidence. Struggling to curb your sweet tooth? Plan your healthy meals in advance and  pack lots of nutritious snacks such as raw  nuts, natural yoghurt and boiled eggs so  you’re not tempted to dip into the office lolly jar. Combined with your new gym-free exercise tricks, it’s a total winner!

10 GET A PUP

Okay, okay, getting fit shouldn’t be your first reason for becoming a dog owner,  but if you’ve been umm-ing and ahh-ing for a while, it’s a good incentive to make a date with the RSPCA. Dog walking helps you keep active all year round, whatever the weather, because it’s not only yourself you’re letting down if you feel too lazy to go out, it’s Rover, too.

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