Looking for lockdown workouts? Chris Hemsworth, Nicole Scherzinger and Mark Wahlberg will make you sweat
We’ve all heard the recommendations: don’t become a couch potato just because we’ve been advised to stay home and practice social distancing. For those who want to keep active but lack a home gym or equipment (and yes, there was a shortage of dumbbells and kettlebells for a while), it may be challenging just to motivate yourself or think of a programme.
Fret not, we’ve tried and tested a series of no or minimal equipment workouts touted by celebrities. Take a look and give it a go.
Molly Sims: household objects circuit training
How: No equipment? No problem. The model and actress got creative with her #WorkoutWednesday routines on Instagram. Who needs dumbbells when you have a couple of bottles of rosé for arm circles and bicep curls? Forget kettlebells – the mother of three picked up her child as a weight, used towels as gliders and basically let her creative juices flow while still working up a sweat.
Our verdict: Molly Sims lists out the programme on her Instagram caption ready for friends and followers to join her in her quirky yet challenging home workout. While you can’t workout alongside her as her cheeky Instagram posts simply show her doing a set while pulling faces. This one is perfect for people who already regularly work out, know what they’re doing and just want to have a little fun while in lockdown.
Note: if you don’t have a child at hand, we suggest using a bag of rice … if you managed to stockpile.
Nicole Scherzinger and Thom Evans: partner workouts
How: Simplicity at its best, the Pussycat Dolls leading lady and her beau rugby player Thom Evans show the world how quarantining with your (equally fit) partner can be oh-so-fun. The couple have posted TikToks of their workouts, as well as longer videos of workouts inspired by British personal trainer Glenn Higgens (@glennhigginsfitness on Instagram).
Our verdict: Well … I don’t live with a rugby playing beau and didn’t quite manage to persuade anyone to join me in a partner workout so I replaced a hunky rugby player with a chair for plank jumps changing it to a bunny hop exercise and used a wall instead of a partner for other exercises. Was it as fun doing it alone? Probably not. Is it worth doing anyway? Your abs will thank you once we have got the all clear to socialise again and junk season is upon us.
Chris Hemsworth: circuit training from the actor’s Centr programme
How: The actor launched his at home fitness programme in 2019 after developing it for about 2 years. The purpose was to introduce the actor’s fitness team (from exercise to diet to all around wellness) to subscribers. The actor wrote on his Instagram live story caption on March 30: “Haven’t seen any home workouts out lately, so wanted to be the first to get one out there”, and he offered one from his Centr 6 programme.
Our Verdict: Hemsworth suggested using laundry detergent as dumbbells and a full laundry basket as a weight. The routine was simple – 6 exercises and 6 rounds. From burpees to a push press to a tricep dip to front squats using items you can find around the house, it’s as simple or as challenging as you want to make it. The Instagram workout was by no means a Hollywood production – Hemsworth fumbles with his words in the beginning – but you truly feel like you’re working out alongside and get a glimpse at his bromance with Luke Zoochi (@zocobodypro on Instagram) who designs the workouts for Centr.
Mark Wahlberg: F45 training at home
How: Among the fitness circle, F45 is a household name. The Australian-based franchise has taken the world by storm with its functional training programme. While lockdown and other laws and regulations have prevented regulars from attending the gym, Wahlberg (an investor in F45) who regularly posts F45 workouts on his social media took part in a live class now available on YouTube.
Our verdict: Maybe it’s just me … but I have no motivation to complete a full 45-minute workout alone in my apartment – but for those who do and for the regular F45 goers, this is the perfect at-home exercise. F45s in Hong Kong are also hosting Zoom classes and Instagram Lives for their members to follow through, but if you don’t have a membership already this is a good way to get familiarised with how the franchise works.
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Trying to keep fit during lockdown and emerge with a great looking bod for summer? Here are a few workouts you can try at home if your gym is still shut