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Wellness > Health

5 Tips for a Lazy Girl to Stay in Shape

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Iowa chapter.

If you’re anything like me, you don’t exactly get excited at the thought of a workout. And if you’re even more like me, working out is essential to your routine in order to not gain “college weight.” Luckily, over the years I have become accustomed to getting a great workout in that makes me feel better and look better, while also not having to leave the house. So stick around for some tips and tricks that will make even the laziest of girls satisfied.

Tip #1: Wall Push-Ups

If you are just starting out in the arm department, this is a great starting point. They aren’t as challenging as push-ups on the floor, but you do start to feel it after doing 10-15 reps. You also won’t get as discouraged if you can’t quite do floor push-ups and as a result, will build your self-esteem right off the bat.

Tip #2: Use a Yoga Ball

Oh my gosh, I cannot stress this tip enough. The yoga ball can be used for so many exercises, it’s crazy. My favorite is definitely crunches. With crunches on a yoga ball, you are getting almost twice the amount of range you would if you only did floor crunches. Because you extend past parallel to the floor, you are using your abs to lift your torso from almost upside down to upright. Let me tell ya, you will definitely feel the difference after only 10 of these babies. I like to do 50 regular crunches and 15 to each side (in sections of course) in the morning. You will most likely feel sore, but this is the best part because you can actually feel the results coming and you can watch TV, Netflix, YouTube, etc. while doing these. 

Tip #3: Calf Raises

You can do these seriously anytime you are standing up. Sure, maybe you don’t want to do them in public, but if you do these when you are standing watching TV, doing your makeup, doing your hair, etc, a quick rise up on your toes and your calves will automatically flex, working your calf muscles. Thirty of these a day, which take maybe 2-3 min, and the next time you wear heels, you will for sure be showing off.

Tip #4: Squats

I love squats because they are quick, they don’t take up a lot of room and you see results fast! These are super easy to do in your room and can be done when you wake up in the morning. Personally, coffee hurts my stomach, but mornings aren’t always my friend either, so I like to wake myself up with a set of squats to stretch the legs and wake up my body. With this in mind, I recommend looking up the correct way to do a squat because when done wrong, it can hurt the knees, be ineffective and not deliver results. Once you get the hang of it though, you’re golden.

Tip #5: In-Place Lunges

These babies are similar to squats in that they can be done in the comfort of your own home. They also don’t take up a lot of time and the results are delivered quickly when done correctly. I like lunges because they focus more on thigh muscles rather than the booty (although they do that too). These also can become a bonus ab exercise if you are tight and squeeze your torso while lunging. A few of these every day and you’ll be ready for a swimsuit-filled spring break!

It is my wish that every lazy girl who loathes the gym tries out a few of these exercises and absolutely loves them for their simplicity and near-effortless nature. You don’t have to love working out to have a good body or spend hours at the gym, the key is to find alternatives that work for your lazy ass and implement them into your Netflix-watching schedule. Get it going loves because your rockin’ body is just around the corner.

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I am a motivated journalism major here at the University of Iowa earning my certificate in entrepreneurial management as well. I love videography, fashion and music, and am looking forward to publishing my work as a writer.