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Monsoon fitness: Easy and creative ways to walk 10,000 steps when it’s raining outside

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Monsoon fitness: Easy and creative ways to walk 10,000 steps when it’s raining outside

Monsoon rains bring relief from the scorching summer heat and the season is associated with chai, pakora and paper boats – all the soul-soothing things. However, incessant rains in some regions in India could make mornings dull for some people as it may not be possible to step out for a walk or the parks may be filled with water and dirt. This of course doesn’t mean that there is no way to burn those extra calories accumulated by a plate of pakora or samosa. Indoor exercise can help your fitness routine stay on track. One of the ways to motivate yourself to stay fit is to count your steps. The target of 10,000 steps is usually followed by fitness enthusiasts and this could be achieved from the confines of your house. (Also read: Minimum number of steps you should walk to avoid lifestyle diseases; fitness experts reveal)

Rainy days can dampen our outdoor plans, but don’t let the weather discourage you from staying active. There are several ways to get your step count up even when you’re indoors.(Pixabay)

“Staying active during the monsoon is imperative, because the weather can easily tempt us to curl up and snooze. Day-to-day changes can be achieved via choices like taking the stairs versus the elevator, and remembering to walk around when on phone calls or while watching your favourite TV show. This is an easy fix to hitting your steps goal, each day. Bigger changes involve moving your workout from the outdoors to an indoor space. For runners and other athletes like those who play football or cricket, and fitness beginners alike, the monsoon is a great time to join a gym or a fitness studio and focus on strength training, stretching, recovery and increasing flexibility – which will allow you to perform stronger and better once you’re back outdoors,” says Mallika Tarkas Parekh, health and wellness expert, M.S., M.P.H., Owner of Physique 57 India.

Dr Ramniwas Gupta, Consultant, Dept of Internal Medicine, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad in an interview with HT Digital suggests ways to achieve your 10,000 steps target when it’s raining outside.

1. Walk while watching a TV Show

One option is indoor walking. Simply walk in place while watching your favorite TV show, listening to music, or talking on the phone. It may not feel like you’re going anywhere, but the steps will add up.

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2. Dance to your favourite number

If you’re looking for something more dynamic, try dancing to music or following an aerobics routine. Activities like zumba, skipping, jumping jacks, and hopping are also excellent exercises that can be done at home.

3. Walk hallways of office, apartment

Don’t limit yourself to just your living room. You can explore other indoor spaces too. Consider walking the hallways of your apartment building, office complex, or a large shopping mall. These enclosed environments provide ample space for walking and help you stay dry while you clock your steps.

4. Walk the treadmill

If you have access to a treadmill or stationary bike either at home or at a gym, make use of them for indoor walking.

5. A game of badminton of table tennis

Additionally, you can engage in indoor games like table tennis, badminton, or mini golf with your family and friends. These activities not only keep you active but also add a fun element to your indoor routine.

6. Dusting and mopping

Even everyday activities like climbing up and down the stairs, dusting, and mopping can contribute to your step count. Make the most of these opportunities and keep moving throughout the day.

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“Remember, the rain should not hinder you from reaching your step goal. Embrace indoor options and find ways to stay active regardless of the weather. If you’re up for a more adventurous experience, put on a raincoat, grab an umbrella, and embark on a journey where every step becomes a delightful dance with nature. However, always ensure you take appropriate precautions for slippery surfaces to stay safe,” concludes Dr Gupta.

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Fitness

Avoid doing these gym exercises now! Orthopaedic doctor reveals exercises that do more harm; the answers may shock you

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Avoid doing these gym exercises now! Orthopaedic doctor reveals exercises that do more harm; the answers may shock you

Did you know that some popular exercises that we all do at the gym to stay fit and healthy may be doing more harm than good? Dr Venkatesh Movva, an orthopaedic doctor trained in Sports Medicine, sat down with Ranveer Allahbadia for The Ranveer Podcast, where he talked about the exercise one should avoid at the gym. The answers will surprise you.

Dr Venkatesh Movva, an orthopaedic doctor, in a podcast with Ranveer Allahbadia.

(Also Read | Ranbir Kapoor ‘decides to clap’ in between his pullups. Guess how Alia Bhatt reacted?)

Avoid doing these gym exercises now!

In the clip shared on The Ranveer Show Podcast Instagram page, with the caption, “Dr Venkatesh on Which Exercises you should Avoid in Gym?”, Ranveer asks Dr Movva which exercises he would recommend gymgoers to avoid as an orthopaedic doctor. He suggested three exercises which are quite popular among gymgoers aiming to get fit, lose weight or stay healthy. According to him, one should not do overhead exercises, deadlifts, and crunches.

Dr Movva stated in the clip, “Overhead, heavy [exercise]. I mean, you can go stretch, but no military press, number one. Number two crunches; avoid them. Number three, deadlifts. (sic)” To this, Ranveer replied, “So, I’d replace the military press because it’s for the anterior delts with just front raises.” As an alternative, Dr Movva suggested people to ‘bend down’ during such exercises. “You can go bend down, raise it [weights], rather than overhead (sic),” he said.

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While Ranveer, a fitness enthusiast himself, said that he would replace crunches with planks, Dr Movva suggested ‘planks and bridges’.

Lastly, for why one should avoid deadlifts, an exercise you must have seen many celebrities doing at the gym and fitness influencers pushing their followers to include in their routine, the orthopaedic doctor said, “I see more injuries than benefits with the deadlifts. If you are really well-trained and have a good muscle balance, do it. But if you are trying to get better, that’s one thing you may want to avoid. Because the risk of injury is very high. There are so many other exercises that you can compensate without doing these things.”

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

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Woman who shed 54 kg shares 7 back and bicep exercises that helped transform her body

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Woman who shed 54 kg shares 7 back and bicep exercises that helped transform her body

Carrying excess fat in your back and arms can cause health concerns for many. Sorting out this issue is important, not just for how you look, but also for your general health and ability to move around easily. If you are on a weight loss journey and looking for exercises to help you target these areas, worry not. We have found seven exercises to help you develop and tone your back and bicep muscles. The routine was shared on Instagram by Meredith Hutson, who shed 120 lbs (approximately 54 kg) naturally. Check out the exercise that helped her transform her body.

Woman, who lost 54 kg, shares back and bicep workout that helped her in her transformation.

(Also Read | Avoid doing these gym exercises now! Orthopaedic doctor reveals exercises that do more harm; the answers may shock you)

Back and bicep workouts to try

In the video, Meredith suggested exercises like the Smith machine or barbell mid-grip rows, outer curl into Zottman curl, cable rear delt fly, straight arm pulldowns, reverse seated rows, cable hammer curls, and cable lat pulldowns. She also demonstrated how to do each exercise in the clip and showcased modifications she added to make the routine effective.

The fitness influencer also had an inspiring message for those trying to lose weight or tone their muscles. She said, “Nobody saw my potential the way that I did…” Check out the exercises.

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According to Meredith’s video, each exercise targets different areas in your back and biceps. Talking about the Smith machine or barbell mid-grip rows, she said that the exercise targets your ‘middle back for a balanced development’. For the Zottman curl, she modified the exercise by adding an outer curl, which helped her target the long head of her biceps and forearms.

While the cable rear delt fly exercise (a personal favourite of the fitness coach) targets the real delts, upper back muscles, traps and rhomboid, the straight arm pulldown helps work out the rhomboid and ‘big muscles’ on the back, thus helping create the V shape.

As per Meredith, the reverse seated rows also target the rhomboid along with the traps, biceps, rear delts, and the ‘main muscle in our backs that helps us in doing pulling movements’. Lastly, the cable hammer curls work the entire upper arms ‘focusing on the front of the arms and the outside of the forearm’, while the cable lat pulldowns target ‘lats, rhomboid, traps, and biceps’.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

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Manayunk gym aims to provide source of physical and mental wellness

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Manayunk gym aims to provide source of physical and mental wellness

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — GoalsFit, nestled in Philadelphia’s Manayunk neighborhood, has been a community staple for 16 years.

Kasey Manwaring-Loos, who is at the helm, has created an environment that gets people coming back for their fitness fix.

“Kasey has a superpower, she has a lot of them,” said Dan Leinhauser, who’s been a client at Goals for eight years. “But one of them is she can take old guys like me, and young, very fit people, and somehow everybody gets an incredible workout out of it. No one is made to feel less than the other person.”

When COVID-19 hit in 2020, Manwaring-Loos realized the impact her gym had on her clients. It was an outlet for their physical and mental wellness. So, she felt the push. She decided to enroll in a master’s program at her alma mater, Saint Joseph’s University, to pursue a degree in mental health counseling. Her hope was to provide her clients with more tools in the future.

“I happen to have a client who was in eighth grade, and after six sessions I just saw how good she was feeling,” Manwaring-Loos reflected. “I remember one session saying, ‘You look so strong.’ And she was like, ‘I just feel so good.’ So, I thought it was the perfect spot to start with because I think it will be so impactful.”

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So “Generation Move” was born. It’s a program launching in the New Year for 7th and 8th graders who may experience anxiety surrounding sports, exercise, and movement.

Manwaring-Loos said it will be a combination of exercise and “chit-chat.”

“One week will be called ‘Lifting to Feel Empowered,’ one week will be ‘Moving for a Clearer Mind,’ one week will be ‘Teamwork Makes Dreamwork.’”

At a time when professional athletes like Eagles tackle Lane Johnson have spoken out about the intersection between sports and mental health, people like Manwaring-Loos are doing the work in our communities.

“When it comes down to it, I want to do this because at least they will leave feeling in a good mood,” Manwaring-Loos shared. “Sure, there will always be struggles, sadness, problems, but at least they will find a tool that will put them in a better mood.”

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Generation Move is set to begin its six-week program on January 15. You can learn more about the various offerings at GoalsFit at goalsfit.com.

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