BEACHWOOD, Ohio — January is typically the month for setting resolutions and kickstarting a healthier new routine, but its still all too easy to make excuses.
"Some people just come up with the excuse...because of the time that they have a time crunch that they have to do this they might have to take their kids," said Jordan Short, Co-Founder of The Combination Challenge in Beachwood.
And the truth is, with the holiday season behind us, you may notice a big change involving your weight.
"[You're] sitting at home not burning as many calories not having to...go out with the family outings people are actually gaining weight," he continued.
The pandemic has only made it harder. I gained about 16 pounds. But our program with Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Center encouraged us to fit in as much exercise as we could. So, I headed back to the gym.
And, it started to work! Initially, I lost 15 pounds. So, feeling motivated, I decided to take up an old hobby… boxing. I enlisted Jordan's help, and after just five minutes of the workout, I instantly remembered how intense these workouts could be.
"The combinations change every week. We do cardio boxing. There’s no type of contact. We just use it as a tool of fitness," Short explained.
But, you don't have to be boxing, or even in a gym to lose weight. There are a few simple things you can do inside your house right now to get into shape.
"The most important thing for you to do is get your heart rate up. If you have stairs in your house, run up and down your stairs 10 times just to get your heart rate pumping," he suggested.
Russian twists are another great at-home workout move. The twist involves sitting on the floor with your legs straight, twist your body from side to side using a ball. If you have another person that’s willing to help you, you can twist from one side and throw the ball back at the person as you turn to the other side.
But if you feel like you need more structure, Short says there are plenty of great fitness options available online and on streaming platforms.
"I would recommend starting off with some type of live streaming or zooming just to try and get it going 3 days a week. Go out and try everything. You don’t know what you’re going to like until you experience it."
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Editor's Note: The below story aired on January 4, 2021