In-Office Fitness
If there's a gym at or near your workplace, that's probably your best bet for a lunchtime workout, since many have programs tailored to get you in and out quickly.
But what if the nearest gym is a 45-minute drive, or costs more than you can afford to spend on lunch? And supposing a rainstorm or heat wave precludes an outdoor walk or bike ride?
You can still get in a quick workout, right in the office.
If you have a private office and you can shut the door for 30 minutes, that's ideal. If not, try a ladies' room, an employee lounge, a conference room. All you really need is a few feet of space where you can do some exercises without disturbing anyone.
Here are some office-friendly moves that really work:
- Chair squats: Pull your chair away from the desk, then stand up and sit down in rapid succession as many times as you can.
- Leg stretch: Sitting on a chair, bring one leg up so that the ankle of one foot is resting on the opposite knee, then stretch and bend over 4-5 times. Repeat with the other leg.
- Wall push-ups: Stand facing a wall, with your arms up and palms touching the wall in front of you. Lean into the wall, then push yourself back to starting position.
- Chest stretch: Sit in your chair and stretch your arms wide out to the sides until your feel your chest start to rise. Bring arms back to center. Repeat five or six times.
- Knee bends: Still sitting in your chair, rapidly bring your knees as close to your chest as you can. Lower and repeat as many times as you can. You may need to hold onto the chair arms at first, but work toward using only the muscles in your abs and trunk to pull your knees up.
***Most important: If you work at a computer, set up an on-screen reminder to tell you to get up and stretch once every hour
