You get home from work, tired and hungry. You feel you should do a workout but can’t bear to face it, especially when you’re so hungry. You decide you will make dinner and eat first, and then see how you feel for a workout. Typically, it doesn’t happen after dinner as more work or perhaps relaxation kicks in.
Is this your daily schedule? Are you finding yourself falling into a routine like the above? Whether you are on such a schedule or are just looking for more ways to incorporate fitness into your life, here are some tips you can try to improve your fitness while cooking:
1. Practice your balance! Try balancing on one leg while you’re cooking. You can alternate legs at regular intervals, such as every 30 seconds or one minute. If you’re cooking with a sharp tool, over fire, or with anything that could possibly be a hazard or dangerous, do not try this.
2. Use a whisk! Put that mixer away, and use a whisk. If you have to mix things in a bowl, use a manual whisk to work your arm muscles. Try doing 10-20 circles in each direction, then switch arms. You can do this throughout your cooking. If it is something that needs a lot of whisking, you can use different grips, such as overhand and underhand grips to work slightly different muscles.
3. Work those arms as you mash or knead! Whether you are mashing potatoes or kneading dough, you can get an upper-body workout. Try to keep your shoulders from slumping forward to keep good posture.
4. Reach and squat for those cupboards! When you are grabbing that cup from the back of the top cupboard, you probably end up on tiptoes, giving your calves a nice workout. Why not do 5 reps of calf raises each time you reach for something high? The same goes for the low cupboards. Do 5 squats each time you go for a low cupboard.
5. Do counter push-ups! While your food is cooking, pass the time with counter push-ups. Clear the counter top and make sure the floor is dry so your feet won’t slip. Then do push-ups against the counter. Use your abdominals to keep your body in a straight line and push with your arms, just like a normal push-up but easier. The farther away from the counter you stand, the harder it gets.
Have some fun with these fitness tips in the kitchen. Please be careful with hot and sharp implements and use common sense.
Happy cooking! 🙂
I do tip #1 a LOT when cooking. Also, I think bonus tip #6 should be “Dance!”. I love dancing around the kitchen while I’m cooking, it makes the whole process more fun!
Thanks for your comment, Liz! Great job for already improving your fitness while cooking with tip #1! I love the idea of tip #6. 🙂 I agree, that dancing around the kitchen is great fun! Have a great day.
thank for your tips, but i don’t have time for that 🙂
I do tip #1 a LOT when cooking. Also, I think bonus tip #6 should be “Dance!”. I love dancing around the kitchen while I’m cooking, it makes the whole process more fun! thanks fr great post.
I often do counter push-ups when I wait for my food cooked. Because I am very busy so this is the best way for me to keep fit. I’ll try your other tips. Thanks for sharing useful information with us.