Five unusual ways to stay fit at home

With lockdown measures still in place, a trip to the gym for a workout isn't an option. But there are plenty of fun and engaging ways to burn calories, even if you don't have the 'proper' exercise equipment.

Exercise bikes, yoga mats and other home exercise equipment have had a huge popularity boost in the past few months as people have looked for ways to stay fit at home.

But if you're looking for more interesting or varied ways to get in shape, digging in the garden or having a dance in the living room with a virtual reality headset can also get your heart beating. If you're living in a shared household, there are even ways to get the whole gang up off the sofa.

Below, we've rounded up some of the weirder and more wonderful ways Which? staff have been staying fit during lockdown.

With UK families spending more time inside, fitness professionals are running their own online shows that you can follow along with at home to burn calories.

Joe Wicks is one of the better-known personalities doing this. You might recognise the name from his appearances on various breakfast shows. Joe is a fitness expert who, during lockdown, is putting on free interactive fitness classes every morning (you can also watch them after the live show has aired).

You can tune in to 'PE with Joe' by visiting Joe's YouTube channel, The Body Coach TV, on your laptop, smartphone or smart TV. But don't feel you have to rely on Joe's classes - have a rummage around YouTube to find a class that's right for you. Yoga with Adriene, for example, offers a less high-octane alternative.

If you have a smart TV in your living room, you can get YouTube videos playing on a big screen so the whole family can get involved. Just make sure you have enough floor space to avoid bumping into each other.

Not owning a set of gym-quality weights shouldn't hold you back from building strength in your arms.

If you want to work your biceps and triceps during lockdown, have a search around the house for objects that you could use as a weight substitute. One member of the Which? team told us that she has been using full bags of rice to lift as part of her regular exercise regime.
Other picks for weight alternatives could include heavy books or wine bottles - try to resist the urge to drink the wine beforehand. And, of course, if you're planning on using something with a lid as a weight, make sure it's securely fastened before lifting it.

A smart speaker that supports Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa voice commands can help you stay motivated and manage your workouts. Simple suggestions include:

• Use your smart speaker as a timer for reps.
• Set voice reminders to tell you to roll your chair away from your desk and have a stretch or move around.
• Use voice commands to control your music without having to pause your audio, thanks to smart speaker support for music streaming services.

Try smart speaker fitness apps

If you explore the world of third-party smart speaker apps, you'll really feel the benefit when exercising from home. For example, you can use Google Fit to check your daily step count, or the Quick Workout app to run you through a 7-minute routine.

In the morning, you might not fancy a burst of intense exercise. If so, try experimenting with the many yoga apps supported by Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa smart speakers. Headspace is one of the most popular options - with a single voice command, you can tell your speaker to start a guided meditation course.

At a time where it feels like the world is on pause, you might want to take advantage and tidy your home. You probably won't burn as many calories as you would at the gym, but it all counts.

Working through your house room by room, decluttering and redecorating can take a lot of physical effort. But on the plus side, you'll be burning calories as you spruce things up - expect to feel the burn in your arms.