Gym-free workouts

"The gym". This word has been haunting me for years. As part of the Fit Girl team, the gym is a place I should feel comfortable in and should love to go to. Well, let me tell you a secret; I'm not a huge fan of the gym. Seeing all the machines and the sweaty people that I don't know surrounding me and having them stare at you if you do something wrong. No thank you. However, I still love to feel healthy and fit and therefore I have listed 8 gym-free workouts for those Fit Girls who are anything like me! 

1. Walking

As simple as it may sound, walking can get you a long way! By walking just ten minutes a day, you improve your life expectancy, burn 2000 extra calories a week and improve the blood flow to your heart. Just ten minutes? Yes, just ten! But, us Fit Girls can do better than that! By walking half an hour every day we can burn 6000 calories a week. It's time to take a stroll down to the supermarket instead of driving or simply taking the stairs rather than the elevator! This is also a great reason to get that dog you always wanted, time for a daily walking buddy ;)

2. Dancing

Dancing is one of my favourite ways to burn calories, stay fit and feel confident about myself. Did you know that you burn up to 700 calories by taking part in just one dance class? Dancing has made me stronger, less stressed and it is just fun! Salsa, Hip-Hop, Zumba, take your pick and go to any dancing class you like. It's time to get that booty shaking and channel your inner Beyoncé.

3. Biking

Growing up in the Netherlands there is one thing that you just can't avoid, and that is biking. Apart from being cheap and great for the environment, biking helps strengthen your thigh, hip and butt muscles, burn calories and is an activity that can be performed by anyone of any age. Take a look here for even more benefits that biking can offer!

4. Hiking

Think walking is too easy for you? Well, lets take it a step further and go on a hike! Hiking has much more benefits than you may imagine, including lowering your risks of cardiovascular disease, increasing your bone density, reducing risks of cancer, providing you with your daily dose of vitamin D, reducing stress levels and most importantly is elevates your mood and makes you happy! Hiking simply improves your overall health. Here are some tips and tricks for when you decide to go on a hike.

5. Swimming

Swimming is a type of exercise that is quite underestimated by many. An easy swim of about an hour can burn around 500 calories, while putting some more effort into it can make this number jump to 700 calories! In addition to burning calories, swimming is stress relieving, good for your lungs and improves your balance.

6. Yoga

Yoga has an abundance of benefits for your body as well as your mind. To start off, it is a great way to release stress. It improves your breathing, which in turn boosts your immunity and circulation. Depending on what type of yoga you do, it may also encourage weight loss. It is a perfect way to develop strength, tone your muscles and become more flexible in the process.

7. Pole fitness

One of my friends has recently started pole fitness classes, and believe me, it's a must-try! Pole fitness is much harder than you may expect it to be, however, it brings lots of benefits with it! Pole fitness is a great way to burn calories, become more flexible and develop greater balance. It helps you gain more strength and improves your self-confidence (at least once you get the hang of it). For all those Fit Girls who wanted to try out something new for a while, here you go ;)

8. Home workout

Are you not into any of the activities above? Then doing exercises in the comfort of your own home might be something for you. Some dedication and 30 minutes of your time is all you need! There is no one-specific way to do a home workout as everybody focuses on something that is specific to them. Click here and here for some inspiration and take a look at our Fitgirlcode guide to give you some guidance with your home workout.

As you can see, there are many fun and simple alternatives to the gym. No more excuses! ;)