I’ll just stay indoors for five minutes longer...
Sound familiar? Unfortunately, as we’re sure you all know, it’s far too easy to procrastinate during the winter. However good our intentions may be, when it’s cold, wet and dark outside, going to the gym just doesn’t seem as appealing as collapsing onto the sofa with a hot chocolate. Shame we spent so much money signing ourselves up in the first place, then...
There is an easier way. Whether your gym subscription has proved a fitness failure or you’re simply looking to add another activity to your new regime, exercising at home could be the ideal solution. And living room fitness isn’t just for the winter months, either – with more and more people working from home, it’s a handy way to balance work and play.
Of course, ideally we’d all live in mansions with our own swimming pools, tennis courts and fitness rooms – but in the real world, space is often a constraint. Luckily, exercising at home can be done without the need for much equipment – so why not push back the sofa, roll up the rug and have a go at one of these...
Skipping
Who said exercise had to be boring? This childhood favourite is a great way to get fit, lose any excess Christmas weight and tone up those muscles. Popular with Madonna and Katy Perry, skipping is perfect for burning calories and having plenty of fun at the same time. Well, what are you waiting for? Time to dig out that old skipping rope...
Hula hoop
Another popular playground pursuit, hula hoop is our secret weapon of choice when it comes to fighting the flab and toning that tummy. You can’t just grab any old plastic hoop, though – you’ll need a special weighted workout one if you’re going to channel your inner Beyonce or Kelly Brook.
Wii Fit
Whatever did we do before the invention of Wii Fit? With millions of copies sold, this clever collection of workouts is proving a pretty popular way to stay in shape. Choose from yoga, strength training, aerobics and balance games – all designed to help you get healthy. The impressive technology will also keep track of your progress, so that you can manage your goals more easily. If only it'd wash your kit afterwards, too...
Table tennis
If you thought table tennis was nice and gentle, think again - get good at it and you'll find that ping pong can be a very fast-paced sport. A fun way to burn calories and improve coordination, table tennis is also a sociable game - install a table in your living room and you'll constantly have friends on your doorstep clamouring to play.
Kettlebells
Follow in the footsteps of Jennifer Aniston and Matthew McCounaughey and introduce some kettlebells into your daily exercise routine. If you're not sure quite how to use them why not try a fitness DVD such as KettleWorx? You'll be lifting like a pro in no time...
Of course, if you’re determined to brave the elements and think that staying at home is for wimps, you can always have a browse of our New Year’s fitness deals – there are plenty of different offers to suit all interests. Alternatively, why not batten down the hatches and have a read of our New Year’s resolutions for gym haters whilst you wait for Spring to arrive.
