Daily Vanity Logo

We get it! Sometimes, we just don’t have the motivation to step outside and work up a sweat. Applying for a gym membership, you say? Who are we kidding, right? We may be spending time there for a month or two to make us feel good about fulfilling a new year’s resolution, but most of us don’t have the discipline to keep up with it later.

If you’re one of those who find it hard to step out of your house to get active, your only bet is to exercise in the comfort of your own home. Start with these five easy and effective exercises and we promise they will get your heart pumping!

1. 10-minutes cardio without the use of a treadmill

There is no need for a treadmill when you want to do some light running indoors. The thought of running on the spot with a countdown timer in front of you can be quite a turn-off, so try this workout instead.

This consists of five minutes of easy cardio workouts and four to five minutes of active stretching. You will be surprise how marching on the spot can get you perspiring.

2. Bodyweight squats

If you are a high-waist shorts lover, this exercise is build for you! Stand upright with your feet spread slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Spread your arms forward at shoulder level, parallel to the ground. Lower your body as far as you can by lowering your back and bending your knees. Make sure that your knees do not go pass your toes to prevent any potential injury.

Pause and push yourself back up to your original position to complete one repetition. Do this for a good 15 to 20 repetitions.

Challenge yourself if you feel that you want to kick it up a notch. Try a combination of lunge jumps and sumo squats. This exercise will definitely get your heart racing!

3. Tone those arms with incline push-ups

Get ready to flaunt those arms in your favourite sleeveless top! Get into a push-up position and place your hands on any raised surface. It can be a box, a bench, or a step on the staircase. Ensure that your body forms a straight line from your ankle to our head, so don’t arch your back. Lower your body until your upper arms reach your elbows. Pause and push yourself back up to your starting position as quickly as possible. Do this for 10 to 15 repetitions.

If you find this exercise too challenging, change to a higher surface to place your hands. The higher the surface, the easier the exercise becomes.

4. Target belly fat without doing crunches

This exercise is called the floor Y-T-I raises. By using your body to form the letters, “Y”, “T” and “I”, you can wave bye-bye to your flabby stomach.

Lie face-down with your body completely straight. Bring your both arms diagonal up to form a “Y”. Lift your upper-body, arms and legs off the ground (Imagine your are flying like Superman). Pause and immediately go back down to complete one repetition. Do this for 10 to 15 repetitions.

After completing this, move your arms out to your side s to form a letter “T”. Repeat the same movement as before for 10 to 15 repetitions.

Move on to placing your arms close to your body. Your body should be a straight line, forming a letter “I”. Ensure your palms are facing the ground. Repeat the same movement and lift up your upper-body, arms and legs for 10 to 15 repetitions.

5. Side leg raises to rock those slim-fit jeans

Lie on your left side and rest your head on your left arm. Place your right hand on the floor and in front of your chest. Ensure that your right leg is on top of your left leg. Slowly raise up your right leg as high as you can but do not move any other part of your body. Pause and go back to your starting position to complete one repetition. Do this exercise for 10 to 15 repetitions for both your left and right leg.