Lose Baby Weight and The Healthy Mummy are celebrating their 5th birthday this October and as part of the celebrations we’re sharing loads of helpful information around the number 5.
Information that will help you with your healthy eating plans and exercise routines to ensure they are a real success towards reaching your weight loss goals.
Have you got 5 minutes? Then you’ve got time to fit in some exercise. If you’ve got time to catch up on your favourite TV show or a few minutes before you have to pick the kids up from school or kindy, then you’ve got time to fit in some exercise. Here are our top 5 minute exercise tips:
1) 5 Minutes of HIIT
High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is proving to be one of the best ways to lose weight as you burn calories but also continue to burn calories after you’ve stopped exercising. Read about why HIIT is so good for you here.
Following the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge exercise plans will give you loads of HIIT routines you can do in 5 minutes. Or choose a cardio exercise e.g. jumping jacks or high knees and a strength exercise e.g. burpees or push ups on knees, and do each one for 20 seconds on, 10 seconds rest, two times through each. That’s 1 minute per exercise, so do 5 rounds and you’ve done a good 5 minute routine.
2) Just Get Moving
Just tell yourself that all you need to do is a 5 minute run or walk around the block. Get started and you’ll quite possibly increase the 5 minutes to 10 minutes or more.
Just getting moving without thinking about any excuses or reasons not to exercise will get you started and make you feel great that you’ve done something. These good feelings often lead to wanting to do more exercise.
3) Multi-Tasking
Mums are some of the best multi-taskers around. Are you hanging out the washing? Well add in 5 minutes of squats, jumping jacks, high knees and a few burpees when you’ve finished with the washing.
Watching the tele? Add in some exercise during the ad breaks or just get up off the couch and run on the spot. Doing the ironing? Add in a few push ups or squats after ironing each item of clothing.
There are loads of ways you can challenge yourself and add in a few exercises in between your daily tasks.
4) Make It Fun
Turn on your favourite tune of the moment and dance around the lounge room. Get the kids to join in too – you’ll all probably laugh and get the blood pumping and some calories burnt.
Challenge the kids to some sprint races in the backyard or park, or jumps on the trampoline. They’ll love that you’re including them in a competition and you’ll all be getting in some exercise without even thinking about it.
5) Stretch & Rest
An important part of losing weight is to also take some time out for yourself to avoid excess stress. Too much stress can undo all your hard weight loss work as it increases the hormone cortisol in your system which can interfere with your weight loss goals.
So if you only have 5 minutes and you’ve had a really busy day or have a busy week ahead, do some stretches, try some meditation, lie down and focus on your breathing, do something quiet and restful and your body will thank you for it.
