How to Get in Shape Without a Gym Membership

Tired of that sluggish feeling and those clothes that don't fit unless you try creative closure options like rubberbanding the front of your pants together? Sure, you can take pills or get surgery, but that just cuts down on weight. You still won't be able to streak up a flight of stairs. Getting in shape means developing muscle tone and endurance through exercise. If you can't find time for trips to the gym, try some of these creative workout tips for how to get in shape on the go.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Yourself
• Perseverance
• Creativity

1. Forget those front row spots. Park further away and count the number of extra steps you've walked. Give yourself bonus points if you are carrying a mini-fridge that you need to return to the store. Subtract points if you are carrying a new mini-fridge out of the store so you can stock it with beer and sodas for when you veg out in front of the television set.
2. When someone says the word elevator, scream in terror and run for the stairs. People who are claustrophobic and avoid elevators get a nice cardiovascular workout every time they jog up the stairs to their cubicle on the 20th floor.
3. Shop at the warehouse stores. Trekking through the maze of aisles at a brisk pace is workout enough. When you carry all of those boxes filled with 10 pounds of bananas and 50 bottles of water, you are burning some serious calories.
4. Get a push mower and leave that deluxe riding mower in the shed. Avoid self-propelled models. For added benefit, stop mowing and lift a few hand weights every few steps. Don't have hand weights? Pick up some of those beer cans that guy up the street tosses in your yard every night when he roars past and fill them with small pebbles until they are nice and heavy. You've got a twofer - free arm weights and litter removal.

Tips & Warnings

• Be creative. You can do a lot to get in shape just by avoiding all the little luxuries and time savers we use throughout the day.
• Never run up 23 flights of stairs or do any other strenuous exercise without consulting your doctor. Seriously.
• If you have a heart condition, don't even play tag with your kids without your doctor's ok. People have literally died from this.