You don’t have to belong to a luxury gym in order to stay in shape. The gym closest to my apartment is “only” $65 a month. No thanks. Instead, I’ll have to settle for my small apartment, which I’m OK with! Because guess what? You can get in an effective workout right at home–without any expensive equipment. You just have to know how to go about doing it. Here are some exercises you can do in your small apartment:
Cardio Exercise in an Apartment
Your downstairs neighbors might not be too happy with you if you take to running laps around your apartment for a half hour. There are better ways of breaking a sweat so it doesn’t sound like Chewbacca is frolicking about your living room.
Quiet Burpees: I’ll never understand why this exercise is named the way it is, but it sure does burn calories and make you sweat. In this quieter variation, you do everything one step at a time. Step down into a plank one foot at a time and do a push-up. Move back up into standing position one foot at a time, and extend yours arms overhead to complete one repetition.
Up and Over Steps and Knees: Step laterally with your arms up and over your head during the side-stepping motion. Once there, bring a knee up to your elbow and repeat. Be sure to keep your steps light.
Get-ups: You can thank rapper 50 Cent for this move, named for his rap ballad, “Get Up.” Lie flat on your back with your legs fully extended on the floor in front of you. Then fully extend your right hand over your head and stand up without using that arm. Lie back down, still without the use of that right arm. Do 10 “get-ups” with your right hand and 10 with your left. Take a rest after completing all 20.
Strength Exercise in an Apartment
It’s important to include strength exercises in your home workout to torch those calories and give your metabolism a boost. Here are a few easy moves to tone and tighten:
Elevated Lunge: Grab a stable chair and place the top of your left foot on its surface, keeping your right leg straight. Then bend your right knee, engaging your left glute and lowering your pelvis toward the ground. Keep in mind that your right foot should be out far enough so when you lower your hips, your knee stays directly above your ankle. Then straighten your right leg and rise back up to the starting position. Do 10 repetitions on each leg.
Tricep Extension: Get rid of the jiggle under your arms with this fat-blasting move. Grab a set of dumbbells and lay on your back. With one dumbbell in each hand, raise your arms above your chest, making sure to avoid locked elbows. Slowly lower both arms toward your head, bending your elbows at 90 degrees. Lift your arms back up to the starting position. Do 20 repetitions.
Toe-Touch Crunch: It wouldn’t be a conditioning workout without some ab work. Lay on your back and reach your arms behind you, pointing your legs at the ceiling. Then swing your arms toward the ceiling while simultaneously lifting your head and shoulders off the ground to touch your toes. Do two sets of 10.
