Life on the inside: 10 calorie-blitzing lockdown exercises

There are so many benefits from working out at home.

You do not have to go anywhere to get a sweat on, you save money in the long run, and it is really easy to fit a quick living room high-intensity interval training session around a busy work schedule.

If you are going to get a sweat on at home though, it is important to have a plan.

Not all exercises are created equal, and if you work at a desk and spend most of your day sitting down, it is a good idea to use effective moves that target multiple muscle groups and burn the most calories in the minimum amount of time.

Here are 10 easy-to-follow body weight exercises that can help you to keep toned and trim at home.

1. Air squats

Squats are great compound movements because they target your thighs, hamstrings, quadriceps and glute muscles in particular, helping you to build strength from the ground up. Adding an explosive jump at the end of each rep makes the move even more challenging too.

 – How to do it: Stand with your feet hip-width apart and squat down as though you are sitting into a chair. Shift the weight into your heels, keep your knees externally rotated and make sure your back is straight. Straighten your legs and explode into a jump as you come up, before landing back into another squat.

2. Burpees

There’s a reason why people hate burpees. Not only are they one of the most challenging body weight movements out there, but they are also one of the most effective at burning calories.

A round of rapid chest-to-floor burpees works your arms, back, chest, core, glutes and legs in unison. When done correctly, they also spike your heart rate, making it a firm favourite for cardiovascular training.

 – How to do it: From a standing position, squat down and place your hands on the floor ahead of you. Jump both of your feet backwards to a plank position and lower your chest to the floor. To complete the move, explode back up to a plank position, spring your feet in and jump into the air.

3. Bear crawls

 – How to do it: Start on all fours and lift your knees so they’re at a 90-degree angle and hovering an inch off the ground, then begin to crawl forwards. For an extra challenge, see if you can crawl backwards too.

4. Clap push-ups

Push-ups sculpt the triceps, pectoral muscles and shoulders, and they can also strengthen the core too. To add an extra calorie burn to this movement, try and clap between each rep.

It is a tough plyometric movement that requires explosive power and strength.

 – How to do it: During a standard push-up, propel yourself off the ground high enough so that you can clap your hands together before you land back into the push-up. Repeat.

5. High knees

As a vigorous cardio workout, jogging on the spot while lifting your knees towards the chest spikes the heart rate in short intervals. This type of HIIT training uses the body’s energy reserves and raises your metabolism, causing the body to burn calories for hours after the workout.

It sounds too good to be true, but post-exercise oxygen consumption is a very real thing, meaning you will still be reaping the benefits of your workout, even after you have showered and hit the sofa again.

6. Jumping lunges

 – How to do it: Lunge forward with your left leg until your right knee is almost touching the ground. Jump into the air, bringing your right foot forward and the left foot back. Land in a lunge and repeat.

7. Plank

 – How to do it: Place your elbows on the ground directly underneath your shoulders with your feet hip-width apart and hold this position, making sure your back is flat and your head is in a neutral position.

8. Frog squats

Just 45 seconds of this exercise is enough to feel a significant lower body burn.

 – How to do it: Stand with your legs in a wide stance and your arms out in front of you. Bend your knees and shift your hips back as you sit into a low squat, lowering until your fingers touch the floor. Lift back to a high squat and repeat.

9. Speed skater lunges

There is an emphasis is on the word speed for this move. It is important to jump explosively between lunges to reap the maximum benefits.

 – How to do it: Stand in a side lunge position with one leg bent parallel to the floor and the other extended in a straight line to the side. Jump explosively as you switch legs. Your straight leg should now be bent and the previously bent leg should be in a straight position.

10. Single-leg jump

Single-leg jumps not only improve your strength and power, but they will also challenge your balance and co-ordination as you try to land with control on one leg.

 – How to do it: Stand on one leg and squat slightly. Explode upwards, landing in a slight squat on the same leg. Keep jumping for 10 reps on one side, before switching to the other leg.