By Brigette Polmar & Jenny Hein of SqueezeItIn.com
If a growing list of spring cleaning chores has you wondering how you’re going to make fitness fit, start seeing your to-do list as your own personal trainer with these 10 moves from SqueezeItIn.com and start putting the lean in clean.
- Va-Va-Va Vacuum
Why just vacuum when you can Va-Va-Va Vacuum?
While doing this exercise, keep your abs squeezed in tight and continue to breathe. From a standing position extend vacuum out in front. Start on your right side and lunge your leg out in front of you. Make sure your front knee does not go past your toes while lunging. The knee of the back leg should go straight down toward the floor, but not touch the floor. Return to a standing position, switch legs, and repeat. Continue for 2 sets of 12--or until carpets are clean!
- Stair Care
Squat your way up as you clean the stairs to work your legs and derrière!
Stand at the bottom of the stairs with your right side parallel to the first stair with feet forward and knees slightly bent, dust cloth in hand. Lift your right leg and place it two stairs up. Come down into a squat making sure your knees don’t go beyond your toes and keeping all of your weight in your heels. Clean the empty stair between your two feet. Come up out of your squat using your top or right leg to pull yourself up to standing. Continue this same movement to the top of your stairs. When you’ve completed cleaning one side of your stairs, return to the bottom, align your left side with the bottom stair and repeat, working the opposite leg as you clean the other side of your stairs.
- Potty Hottie
Scrubbing the bathroom doesn’t have to be a pity party if you become a Potty Hottie.
Holding on to your sink with one hand, bring one knee up in front of your body. Engage your abs. Leading with the heel of your raised leg, take the leg back (kneecap now pointing to the ground), now bring the leg around and up in front of the body again. Do not let your foot touch the ground between reps. Continue this exercise for a set of 12 before switching legs.
- Clutter Killers
Kill your clutter while getting killer thighs with this multitasking move.
Start on your right side. Step out bringing your right leg forward and across your left leg with both feet facing forward. Lunge down while picking up some clutter. Put your weight on your front leg as you push yourself back up to a standing position. Repeat, lunging as you put the piece of clutter away. Repeat until you have completed at least one set of 12 on each side or until your room is clutter-free!
- Dish Lifts
Hate unloading the dishwasher, but love shapely calves? Try this move.
While putting away each dish rise up onto toes. Hold for a 3-count of SQUEEZE-IT-IN. Come down slowly onto heels. Repeat until all dishes are back in cupboards or for at least 2 sets of 12.
- Squeeze Backs
Do more than the dishes while standing at the sink.
Face sink with legs shoulder width apart. Slowly bring one leg straight back. (To work more of the gluteal muscles, move leg back and out to the side at a slight angle.) Focus on the muscles you are working and keep your core engaged. Hold each repetition for a 3-count of SQUEEZE-IT-IN. Continue for 2 sets of 12 or until your dishes are done.
- Towel Time
Wring more out of your everyday dishtowel with this terrific stretch.
Grab a dishtowel with both hands pulling at each end so it creates some tension in your arms. Raise arms overhead. Keeping the towel taut and moving from your waist, bend to your right stretching your left side, abs, and ribs. Hold the stretch for 10 seconds and then come back to starting position with towel raised above your head. Alternate sides until you have completed 1 set of 12.
- Laundry Legs
Load your washer one tush-toning squat at a time!
Start with laundry basket in front of washing machine. With legs shoulder width apart squat down putting all of your weight into your heels, as if you were sitting in a chair. Pick up a single piece of laundry. As you come up squeeze your glutes tightly as you drop your item into the washing machine. Continue until you have run out of clothes or have done at least 2 sets of 12.
- Hold ‘n Fold
Feel the burn with this fierce folding move.
Grab a single piece of clean laundry and hold it in front of you with both hands at chest level and arms fully extended. Pull tightly on each end of the piece of the laundry creating tension throughout your arms. Keep your abs engaged and your knees slightly bent throughout this exercise. Hold for 10 seconds. Now, keep arms extended while you fold your piece of laundry. Relax the tension in your arms when you put the piece down and then get right back into it with your next piece. Continue until all of your laundry is folded.
- Cardio
Round out your spring cleaning workout with some classic cardio.
Jumping jacks and running the stairs will do the trick. Click here to see more examples of do-anywhere cardio from SqueezeItIn.com.
Look around. Start seeing the endless opportunities to squeeze some great moves into your daily routine and let life be your workout! For even more terrific ways to squeeze in exercise while spring cleaning check out the SqueezeItIn Workout DVD and save 20% with coupon code SPARK20.
How do you squeeze in a workout on busy days?
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