Squeezing in a workout doesn’t have to be a challenge. In fact, there are plenty of everyday items in your apartment that can double as fitness equipment in a pinch. Here’s how to get creative with what you have on hand, whether you’re too busy to head to the gym, or simply want to workout in the comfort of your own apartment.
Lift Soup Cans Like Weights
Soup cans (or cans of food in general) can be used as small hand weights. You can do bicep curls, weighted lunges, tricep kickbacks, and more. You could also use aluminum cans, wine bottles, or bags of rice for upper body exercises. Check out this Cosmopolitan article for even more dumbbell alternatives.
Turn a Towel Into a Yoga Mat
Yoga mats provide a bit of padding when working out or stretching on a hard surface. If you don’t own one, reach for a bath or beach towel. A single towel probably won’t feel as thick as a traditional yoga mat. If it’s uncomfortable, double up and use two towels instead of one. You can also try using a blanket or working out on a carpeted surface.
Use Dish Towels for Sliders
Sliders make traditional ab exercises more challenging. If you don’t have exercise sliders, hand towels or washcloths will work just as well. Try placing one under each foot and sliding between a plank and a pike position or doing sliding mountain climbers. This Self article has 11 different slider exercises you can try.
Tone Up With Your Couch
Believe it or not, there are plenty of exercises you can do from your couch. Try sitting on the edge of the couch while doing Russian twists or placing one foot on the couch and one on the ground for Bulgarian split squats. You can also place your hands shoulder-width apart on the edge of cushions for tricep dips. Use this article from Dick’s Sporting Goods to do a full couch workout.
