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Exercise as an Outlet: Household Items that Can Used as Exercise Equipment

Admin
October 13, 2022


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Whether it’s baking, gardening, doing DIYs, or working out, almost everybody started a new hobby during the pandemic. With the lockdowns imposed, we had to find new ways to pass the time. Enter: hobbies. Even after the restrictions loosen up, it’s never too late to start a new routine. Isa sa mga magagandang gawing hobby ay ang pag-eehersisyo.

 

There are many benefits to regularly working out, with lots of workout videos online to help you get started. You don’t even have to break the bank for exercise equipment–some household items at home will do just fine! Here are a few benefits to working out, even at home:

 

The Importance of Exercising

 

Exercise combats health conditions and diseases

 

Exercising goes beyond aesthetics. Apart from weight loss, regular exercise reduces the risk of developing chronic illnesses such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. Avoiding these health conditions should be much easier with regular workouts, as it aids in improving insulin sensitivity, body composition, and heart health. Exercising also decreases cholesterol levels and levels your blood pressure. 

 

Exercise can make you feel happier

 

 

Exercise has proven to improve people’s moods by stimulating the brain, allowing it to produce more hormones such as endorphins, serotonin, and norepinephrine. These “happy hormones” contribute to lowering feelings of stress and depression. Kaya mommies, magandang subukan ang pag-eehersisyo lalo na kung stressed sa mga gawain at alagain.

 

Exercise can increase energy levels

 

Have you ever felt like you’ve been getting tired more easily? This may be because you have been inactive, weakening your stamina for physical activities. Working out might just be the pick-me-up you need. Studies have found that regular exercise can remedy persistent fatigue. As you do more physical activity, the lungs and the cardiovascular system can adapt and deliver oxygen and nutrients more efficiently to different parts of your body. This allows you to do more and not get tired easily.

 

6 Household Items That Can Be Used as Exercise Equipment

 

Chairs

 

Image from Well+Good

 

Chairs are an excellent tool for triceps dips. You can try placing a chair behind to make sure you’re getting the right angle for when you’re doing triceps dips. As you bend downward, it should almost feel as if you’re in a sitting position but don’t sit on the chair. Aside from this, chairs are also useful for inclined planks and push-ups. Meanwhile, chairs of lower height can work as step stools.

 

Gallon Water Bottles

 

Gallons of water bottles weighing around 4 kilos can serve the same purpose as a kettlebell. You can either do some swings or lift the bottles while doing bicep curls. Using this household item can also work for other muscular strength workouts for the upper body.

 

Paper Plates

 

Hindi lang para sa mga handaan at kainan ang paper plates; they also make for great gliding discs! Gliding discs are used in a variety of exercises, especially for those strengthening muscles such as the biceps, triceps, glutes, core, and hamstring. Paper plates can allow you to glide easily on the tiled or wooden floor similar to a gliding disc.

 

Beer Bottles

 

Your husband’s beer bottles can be put to good use before he drinks them. You can use full beer bottles as weights, and they make great dumbbells. So go ahead: kumuha ka ng isang bote ng SanMig bago pa ito inumin, at gamitin mo for your workout.  Just make sure the bottles are not so slippery as they are cold so that you don’t drop them. 

 

Towels

 

Image from Verywell Fit

 

Towels can double as a yoga mat, most especially on carpeted areas. These can be placed under your hands and feet and serve the same function as a yoga mat. It can aid you in core exercises like mountain climbers or planks, and you can use smaller towels similarly to a resistance band.

 

Bags of Flour, Sugar, or Rice

 

Sealed bags of flour, sugar, or rice you may have lying around your pantry can also function as weights when doing overhead weightlifting exercises. You can also use this for bodyweight exercises such as pushups, lunges, planks, squats, or sit-ups.

 

Benefits of Exercising at Home

 

Work out Around Your Schedule

 

Forcing yourself to work out can already be hard for some. What more if you needed to leave the house and drive to the gym? Exercising at home means you can decide on the duration of your workout and when you’re going to work out. You can fit it in between your duties at home meanwhile, going to a gym may require you to create a schedule as it involves leaving the house for a certain amount of time.

 

Privacy is Not an Issue

 

Isa na ata ito sa pinakamalaking benefit of exercising at home. No need to be self-conscious kapag sa bahay nag exercise, lalo na sa mga mommies na kakagaling lang sa pagbubuntis. Hindi naman talaga maiiwasan ang mahiya sa ibang tao lalo na kapag nag-eexercise. At home, there’s no pressure, there is only you. You wouldn’t feel the need to compare yourself with other people and you can keep going at your own pace.

 

No Crowds

 

Bukod sa privacy, sa bahay there are also no crowds. Walang kaagaw sa mga equipment or space, ‘di tulad sa mga gym. This is also crucial, considering that we are still in the middle of a pandemic. Using gym equipment that others also use poses a risk of catching the virus. Exercising in gyms also means that you would interact with other people which could also increase your chances of catching the virus.

 

You Can Pick Your Own Music

 

Image from Huffpost

 

Hindi na kailangan magtiis pa sa music na pinapatugtog sa gym, but you can choose the music you’re going to listen to. You can curate your own playlist according to what gets you motivated and moving. This may be your 80s jam or today’s popular hits, it wouldn’t matter because you can listen to whatever you want at the volume you want at home. Keep your workout fun and chill with music.

 

It’s Budget-friendly

 

Most definitely exercising at home is a huge money saver. There’s no need to shell out money for gym membership, personal training, group classes, or parking. The only thing you would need to spend on is equipment, which shouldn’t be as expensive as all of the expenses combined when working out in a gym. At hindi naman kinakailangan na isang bagsakan ang pagbili ng mga workout equipment na ito. Paisa isa lang kung ano lang yung magagamit sa ngayon.

 

Exercise offers incredible benefits both for our physical and mental health. Even the smallest of changes in our daily routine can make a big difference to our health. And exercising does not even come with much of a price. You can do it in the comfort of your own home using household equipment. If you’re still looking for a sign to work out: ito na ‘yon. Who knows? It might just become your new outlet.

 

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