After getting a Lap Band in Salt Lake City, it is important that you begin to focus on fitness. Increasing your physical activity is important as you are trying to lose weight. While gym memberships and group fitness classes are a great way to burn calories, there are a number of basic exercises that everyone should know. These exercises are easy to do anywhere in just a few minutes, making it easy to stay in shape even as your schedule becomes busy.
- Leg Raises. Balance your head upright with your arm as you lie on your side with one leg on top of the other. Tense the thigh muscle in the top leg and gradually lift this leg into the air, reaching as high as you can comfortably stretch, and then switch legs. If you want an added challenge, try using ankle weights or resistance bands as you do this activity.
- The Push-up. Chances are you remember this exercise from dreaded gym classes, but there is a reason that the push-up is so popular. This is a great workout for your arms as well as your core. The trick to doing a proper push-up is understanding form. Make sure to keep your arms straight without locking your elbows, and then to lower your arms to a 90-degree angle. Keep your back straight with your chest and stomach off of the ground, and don’t hunch your shoulders. If you think that you are having trouble with form, then it is a good idea to use your knee’s until you build up some more arm strength.
- Downward Dog. A popular yoga pose, this exercise is a great way to stretch out your calf muscles and Achilles tendons, which get particularly tight among both athletes and women who commonly wear high heels. While lying on your stomach, place your palms flat on the ground and your feet hip-width apart. Extend your body upwards, straightening both your arms and legs and pushing your midsection in the form of a “V.” Relax your head and neck and spend 30 to 60 seconds taking deep breaths. If you are having trouble keeping your back straight as you do this exercise, then it is ok to bend your knees.