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Home Workout To Lose Weight Without Equipment

Home Workout To Lose Weight Without Equipment

The Malaysian government has just announced a Movement Control Order which start from 18th March to 28th April 2020. In these period, please stay health and safety at home and don't forget to workout at home to strengthen your immunity system.
Check out the workout you can do in your home without any equipment.

Exercises

High Knees

High knees are a great warmup exercise that brings up your heart rate gets you moving. It helps increase your glute and leg muscles’ strength.

Steps

Start by standing up with your feet hip-width apart and your hands in a running position
Lift your left knee and bring it close to your chest, then switch quickly to your right knee
Repeat this alternately at a fast pace so as to mimic running in your place

Easier Variation

If jumping is too difficult for you or if you want to switch to an easier variation in the middle of the exercise, you can simplify the cardio exercise by eliminating the jumping.

Simple lift your knees and bring it to your chest without jumping.

Jumping Jacks

Jumping jacks are an easy and versatile exercise which works on all major muscle groups of your body like thighs, calves, shoulders and many more. So for a beginner cardio workout at home, I could not have skipped this easy one.

Steps

Start by standing up with your feet close together, knees bent and hands by your side
With a slight jump, open your legs and arms to your sides. Your feet should land beyond your shoulders and arms above your head
With a slight jump again come back to the starting position
Try to keep your core (abdominal muscles) engaged throughout the exercise and always have a slight bend in your knees

Easier Variation

Instead of jumping, alternately bring your legs side to side, one leg at a time. Arm movement should be the same.

Downward Dog Pose

Downward dog is a popular upper body yoga pose that works on your whole upper body including shoulders, chest and back muscles. Even though it is a stationary exercise, you will notice that it brings your heart rate up and you will definitely feel the burn.

Steps

To practice the downward-facing dog pose, start by coming onto the floor on your knees under your hips and placed on the mat and hands apart and placed farther than your shoulders
Then gently lift your knees and straighten your leg and try to press your heels on the mat
Firm your shoulder blades, straighten your back and pull up your sitting bones so that your body forms a triangle shape
Now slightly swing your body by gently lifting your ankles alternately, one at a time.

Easier Variation

To make this easier, you may pause for a few seconds in between and get back to the pose again.

Front Kicks

Front kicks are a fun kickboxing exercise which will, apart from elevating your heart rate, also work on your core and hamstring muscles.

Steps

Start by standing up with your feet hip-width apart and lift your right leg and kick in the forward direction
Then keep your right foot down and repeat the same with your left foot and so on alternately
Remember to push through your heel

Jump Squats

Squats and especially jump squats work on core, leg and glute muscles and strengthen them.

Steps

Start by standing with your feet hip-width apart (or slightly more than that) and slightly pointing outwards
Now slowly sit back till your butt is parallel to the floor while keeping your abs engaged.
As you sit back, feel your weight shifting to your heels. Do not put your weight on your toes. All your weight should be on your heels.
Then from this position, jump up explosively and come back again to the squat position.

Easier Variation

Many beginners may find jump squats challenging, hence they may switch to regular squats which replaces jumping with simply standing up.

Alternating Forward Lunges

Alternating forward lunges work on your whole lower body as well as your core. This exercise helps to work on each of your legs individually and hence improves your balance.

Steps

To start with forward lunge also known as the split squat, start by standing straight with your feet hip-width apart and your hands on your hips
Now take a step forward with your right foot and place it in front of you so that both your knees form a right angle
Make sure all your weight is on your right knee and engage your core throughout
Now lift your right foot and come back to the starting position while driving back off your right heel
Repeat alternately on both legs

Easier Variation

You can make the exercise easier for you by lunging down only halfway, rather than forming a right angle on both your knees.

Alternating Lateral Lunges

It is very important to include lateral movements in our workouts as they work on muscles that may be missed by other exercises that target our legs. Alternate lateral lunges mainly work on your quads, inner thighs and outer thighs.

Steps

Start by standing up with your feet hip-width apart and step your right knee to the side and come into a lunge position by bending your knees
Come back to the start position and repeat the same on the other leg

Easier Variation

This exercise is pretty easy but you can still make it easier by lunging halfway instead of a full lunge.

Plank Jacks

Plank jacks are an excellent cardio exercise which can challenge you and increase your endurance. It works mainly on your core muscles and strengthens it from inside out. Apart from that, it also works on your legs, shoulders, chest and back muscles.

Steps

For performing plank jacks, all you need to do it come down on the floor with your hands extended and placed on the floor and align them right under your shoulders
Your legs, glutes, back, neck and head all should form a straight line like a plank. This can be done by engaging your core, squeezing your glutes and holding a firm and neutral spine all the way up to your head
Then, similar to jumping jacks, open your feet wide apart with a slight jump and then place them back together again with a slight jump.

Easier Variation

Plank jacks can be quite challenging for some beginners. In that case, you may make it simple by just tapping on the sides.

Instead of jumping and opening both your legs together, first place one leg away, then bring it back and then repeat the same with the other leg.

Alternating Leg Drops

Alternating leg drops work on your abs, especially your lower abs.

Steps

Start by lying on your back and both legs raised at a 90-degree angle with the floor.
From here, drop one leg and lower it as much as you can with an exhale. Do not touch your heel on the floor and keep your core engaged throughout.
Bring the leg back to starting position and repeat the same with the other leg.

Easier Variation

An easier variation would be to keep your legs bent at a right angle and then doing the same exercise with your knees always bent.

Plank Pose

Planks are the ultimate total body exercise that works almost on every muscle of your body. Holding a plank pose for even 10 secs instantly gets your heart rate up and increases your endurance to a great extent.

Steps

For holding the classic plank pose, all you need to do it come down on your elbows by aligning them right under your shoulders
Your legs, glutes, back, neck and head all should form a straight line like a plank. This can be done by engaging your core, squeezing your glutes and holding a firm and neutral spine all the way up to your head
You may keep your forearms parallel to your body or you may even clasp both your hands to together

Easier Variation

The easier variation of a plank would be doing planks on your knees.

For doing the plank on your knees, come down on your knees and you may even rest your knees on a towel for comfort. You may straighten your arms completely and hold this position.

Doing plank on your knees reduces the stress on your back and core to a great extent. Hence this plank pose can be held for a longer time.