Thursday, 30 May 2013

Get Your Groove Back


It is a struggle to keep in shape these days especially with trying to meet up impossible deadlines at the office, coping with several annoying co-workers, and balancing family. Oh don’t get me started on Nigeria’s economic, social and security challenges (in other words, inflation, N.E.P.A P.H.C.N and Boko Haram in the same order).  We sign up for fitness programs at the gym; we don’t show up. We stay dedicated to our diets only long enough for Lagos’ stress to have us reaching for our favorite comfort foods.  While we wouldn't claim to have found the solution to all of these problems, at least we know where to begin.
First of all, you need to set out time for our easy, breezy exercises. Realize that these “cents’’ would add up with time and in the long run, you would be fitter, healthier and happier. Our funniest exercises now!
DANCE: shake up your bodies and move to the rhythm of the music. Dancing is no doubt one exciting and enjoyable aerobic exercise. Simply get your playlist ready and start grooving. One tip, dance in front of a full length mirror so that you can marvel your own self. And with African inspired dance steps such as Azonto, Etige, Alingo and many others propping up by the second, there are many   dance options to choose from. If you asked me, these funky, young and hip songs should make any playlists
Shake your bum bum by Timaya
Antenna by fuse ODG
Azonto by Fuse ODG
Alingo by Psqaure
Gobe by Davido
kukere by Iyanya
Gangnam style by PSY
Or you could just ditch our playlist and go ahead with your own choice of fast paced music!
ENTER COMBAT MODE: pick up taekwondo or boxing for the fun of it. I know it feels out of place for us to do something combative but you may just fall in love, try it. Pour out all of your anger (your horrible boss, family crisis) on that sand bag while “box-conversing” with the bag. You can’t imagine how tension relieving that would also feel. You don’t have a bag? Improvise. Get something, it’s boring when there’s nothing (or nobody) to hit.
STRUT across the house continuously for 25 minutes. Do you love the runway and models and fashion? This one’s for you. Glide, stride and strut your “thang’’ wall to wall in your room while listening to your favorite songs. And you don’t have to get it right, just be in your own imaginary run way show. To ramp things up, play dress up with friends. The more the merrier!

RACE-CLEAN THE HOUSE: if you love to do house chores then it’s time to turn your hobby into a fat burning workout. Set a time target to clean the whole house (yes, I mean everything cleanable) and stick to it. You would be forced to move about faster so you are bound to sweat something out. I tried it once, and I must confess, it’s like going on a triathlon (rather, make that a string of a trillion activities). I slept all through the afternoon. I recommend this not more than once a month, laughs.
TAKE A HIKE: Walking is probably the lazy man’s alternative to exercise but it’s literally a step in the right direction. I often say that if all you can do is walk, then walk.  Walk as fast as you possibly can. Nevertheless, I would always stress the need for proper snickers to avoid injuries. Also, try to wear clothes like sweaters that cause you to heat up so that you can activate the fat burning potentials in walking.

Try these fun activities and see the fat disappear with time. Thanks for reading. Bye for now


Tobi.

No comments:

Post a Comment