How to get in your steps without leaving the house — according to a celebrity fitness trainer
Harley Pasternak usually spends his time training celebrities like Ariana Grande, Rihanna, Robert Pattinson and Seth Rogen, but lately, he’s also been focused on how to stay in shape while stuck at home.
Because for those of us who use a Fitbit or Apple Watch to track our daily activity, quarantine has been a bit of a struggle. It’s not easy reaching 10,000 steps (or whatever your goal is) when your biggest journey is from the couch to the fridge.
Low on supplies? We’re regularly updating our list of retailers that are still selling household essentials, including toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
Pasternak has a few solutions for that problem. The celebrity fitness trainer and official Fitbit ambassador showed In The Know how to keep active during quarantine — with just five easy tips.
1. Make cleaning a workout
Pasternak admits he doesn’t love cleaning the house, but he knows it’s a great way to get moving. Any bit of activity — however tedious — that forces you to move around can help you rack up steps during a long day inside.
“Get out a mop, the broom, dust. Move your body all over the place and get things clean,” he told In The Know.
2. Take advantage of stars
Whether it’s in your building, your own house or somewhere nearby, most people probably have at least a few set of stairs they can safely access. It might sound simple, but eventually, you’ll start to feel the progress.
“Go up. Go down. Your legs are burning, you’re doing your steps and it’s great,” Pasternak said.
3. Pacing isn’t always a bad thing
A lot of us pace when we’re nervous, but we can also do it to log more steps. Pasternak suggests taking any opportunity — from a phone call to a great podcast you’ve been meaning to listen to — as a chance to do a bit of indoor walking.
“I even put the TV on and I pace around the living room and the next thing you know, I’ve knocked out 1,000 steps,” he added.
4. Learn to be a kid again
Pasternak says he stays active by playing with his kids — sometimes even more so than he originally planned.
“We run around, kick the soccer ball, sprint. Play all kinds of games and the next thing you know, they’ve tired me out and I’ve knocked out tons of steps,” he said.
We don’t all have children in the house, but that doesn’t mean we can’t act like them! Get moving with a ball, a toy or anything else you can kick around.
5. Plan a workout
The other tricks might help, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on good, old-fashioned workouts. If you have a treadmill or elliptical in the house, hop on! If not, find a way to get creative.
“Find an open place, do some moves,” Pasternak said. “Use whatever you have available to you to get your heart going and get some steps.”
If you liked this story, check out In The Know’s interview with a relationship expert, who shared their quarantine dating tips.
More from In The Know:
Chrissy Teigen officiates wedding for daughter’s stuffed animals
This online pharmacy is full of essentials to stock in your medicine cabinet
This celeb-loved skincare brand has a set that’s under $90 right now
The absolute best black bags to buy during Nordstrom’s spring sale
The post We asked a celebrity fitness trainer how to get in our steps without leaving home originally appeared on In The Know.
