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Singaporeans aren’t getting enough exercise, unless you count typing in an office cubicle exercise, and it’s getting so serious that even the government is worried, hence the free ActiveSG credit.
Let’s get things straight here—the reason so many people say they don’t have time to exercise is because:
1) they’re spending too much time at work trying to make money, and
2) things are so expensive in Singapore that they don’t want to spend more money trying to get fit.
Well, with these free ways to exercise that don’t require you to even leave your home, you can’t use any of the above excuses anymore.
Watch YouTube workout videos
Singaporeans are pretty addicted to online videos. A recent survey showed that 9 out of 10 Singaporeans aged 15 to 34 watches shows online. Instead of using all that bandwidth to listen to online gamers rattle their mouths off or ogle your favourite Korean stars, use that internet addiction to get fit.
There are zillions of YouTube workout classes that require nothing more than an exercise mat. If you’re looking for a fat-burning workouts, subscribe to the BeFit channel, which is features rah-rah personal trainers. Instead of spending money on yoga classes at some fancy studio where everyone shows up in $100 lycra pants, follow the classes on Yoga With Adriene’s channel. And if you think zumba is cool rather than cringey, Liveloveparty.tv might be your thing.
Body weight training exercises
You don’t need fancy gym equipment to get in shape, and you definitely don’t need to pay $150 a month to use it at some Raffles Place establishment.
Bodyweight exercises let you use your own body to get fit and strong. That means doing push ups instead of bench press and so on. There are loads of videos and instructional materials online like this list of 50 bodyweight exercises you can do at home. If you don’t find the repetitive movements of working out at the gym snooze-inducing, try applying your discipline to doing body weight exercises instead at home.
Use your neighbourhood’s free fitness facilities
HDB has used taxpayers’ money to install all sorts of fitness facilities just downstairs—there are those fitness corners that nobody seems to use, badminton courts, jogging tracks and even street soccer pitches.
So if you’re not too lazy to just take the damned lift down to the ground floor and walk the 10 metres to the fitness corner, you can get a free workout and then hop upstairs in minutes to take a shower afterwards.
If you live in a condo, you already have a swimming pool and possibly tennis and squash courts at your disposal. You pay for them, so you might as well use them.
Run around your neighbourhood
God (or whomever you believe in) gave you two legs, but it seems people only use them to stand in the MRT or balance on a lurching bus. Once you’re home, the four legs of your bed or chair take over for the rest of the day.
The easiest, cheapest, most straightforward form of exercise you can get is to just take a run around the block. If you’re a guy, you’ll thank yourself when it comes time for the dreaded IPPT when you earn extra cash.
Video games
So your kids/spouse are addicted to video games and refuse to get off the couch? Limit them to games that require them to move around. Pokémon Go isn’t out yet, but when it arrives in Singapore don’t be surprised if you find yourself walking round and round your estate like a confused hungry ghost.
In the meantime, those with a Wii can make use of games like Wii Fit, Just Dance (which is like Dance Dance Revolution for the new generation) and Exerbeat to sweat it out, all while continuing to stare at the TV screen.
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