With all of our car troubles, and lack of vehicle involvement, my husband and I have struggled the most with being able to workout at the gym. I cannot tell you the amount of frustration it has put on us. Both of us love to workout, and both have visions in our heads of how we want our bodies to look, and yet we have no access to our gym. What we do have, is a playground in the next block.
Playgrounds vary on the equipment that they offer. But usually, there are a few components that most playgrounds will have.
#1: A slide. What is it that slides have that are useful? The stairs. Not only can you use them for simply doing stair workouts, but you can also use them to do body weight calf raises!
#2: A field/Boundary of the Playground: Run Baby Run! Cardio is one of the easiest things to fit in, but if you lack the use of a timer, count laps instead! Run 2-3 laps around the playground, then walk one lap. Get in your HIIT by counting laps. Even run 1 lap, and walk 1/2 a lap. It’s so much easier to count with landmarks than trying to keep count in your head. If there is a field? Sprint to the other side and walk back, repeating several times. Even do lunges around the perimeter of the playground.
#3: Bars for assistance: Can’t do full push-ups on the ground? Do them from a bar on the playground. Can’t do one-legged squats without something to hold on to? Use the assistance of bars from the playground.
#4: High bars that children often use to swing from or climb on: Hello pull-ups and chin-ups! You can also do hanging leg raises.
#5: A very low bar over the ground: Lay out as straight as you can and do rows by pulling your body up to the bar.
#6: Platforms: Hello jumping! Do jump squats, practice jumping higher and higher, box squats if you would like. Many uses of a normal platform.
#7: Be creative! Just because you don’t have a gym, doesn’t mean you can’t still work out some major body parts by using playground equipment. Remember, something is better than nothing!
Bonus: Have children? Guess who can play while you’re working out! No babysitter needed!
My husband and I have been doing this for over a week now. And let me tell you, compared to what I was doing at the gym, I thought this was nothing! But by doing full body workouts, 3 days a week, I have been incredibly sore! It’s causing me to push my boundaries. There are no assisted machines here. It is all or nothing!
What I usually do is what is listed above, come home, and do more crunches, should raises using a kettlebell, and bicep curls using a kettlebell. You can find 5-15 lb kettlebells for fairly reasonable prices at many stores, and this way, you can have something to do even if you’re lacking a gym. Trust me, it works!
Just an extra website that I invite you all to check out: theworkoutmama.com
She has tonnes of other workout ideas for playgrounds and living healthy with children. Although it is geared towards people with children, she is has inspiring tips for busy people, as well as eating and living healthy. Seriously, check her out.
Calm in Christ and Fitness 