Rams Walk
Shopping Workout
On your next trip to Rams Walk follow our shopping workout and you'll find yourself losing pounds! Not the usual outcome of a shopping trip!
A workout does not have to mean a trip to the gym or an aerobics session, but really, anything that makes your body exercise and burn calories is a workout. Things like carrying heavy bags does not have to be a chore, be positive and think of it as an opportunity. So the team at Rams Walk has put together some tips to help you workout while doing your everyday chores.
Shopping can help relieve stress by completing a task and burning calories. An hour of shopping general housework can burn 150 calories for a woman and 220 calories for a man.
Perfect Posture
Remember to keep your back straight and not hunch over as you look at products in shops, always bend at the knees.
Unload and Lift
Target: waist and abs
While loading your shopping into the car is a great opportunity to stretch side and back muscles. As you put the shopping bags into the boot of your car, turn your body from side to side, allowing your hips and torso to twist. When you get home do the same getting the bags out of the car. To make the most of this stretching exercise, move one bag at a time.
Putting away your new purchases
Target: legs and thighs
Do squats and lunges while folding and putting your new clothes away in the drawers. Separate the bags of shopping and make frequent trips up and down the stairs. Do bicep curls and/or shoulder shrugs as you lift the bags.
Full-Bag Squats
Target: buttocks and thighs
When you have two full shopping bags, hold one in each hand, slowly squat and lower the bags to the floor, keeping your back straight and your heels on the floor. Do not let your upper back round forward. Stand and squat 10 times.
Shelf-Organising Overhead Press
Target: upper arms, back and shoulders
Take any item that has weight - a bottle of water or a book - and lift it above your head, using one or both hands. Hold it for 10 seconds, then slowly lower it. Repeat 10 times. As you get stronger, you will need more weight to feel fatigued.
Waiting your turn
Target: buttocks and thighs
While standing in the queue waiting to pay for your purchase, clench the muscles in bottom for 30 seconds then release. Rest for 30 seconds and repeat. Next, squeeze your thighs together as hard as you can. Keep squeezing until your legs quiver. Take a quick rest and repeat.
Walking
Simply walking briskly will get those pulses racing. Why not attach a Two Rivers pedometer before you leave the house and work out how many calories you burn just walking round the shops – you will be surprised!
Smile
Smiling uses x no of muscles in your face, so by smiling at people you pass in the street you giving your face muscles a work out.
Take time out
Make sure you give your self time to relax. X shop stocks a wide range of relaxation takes and DVD’s, a popular one is ‘Paul Mckenna Think Yourself Happy’.